Kellerman was born in New York City and grew up in Los Angeles. He received a BA in Psychology at UCLA and a Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Southern California, where he is currently Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine.

His internship and post-doctoral fellowship were at the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles/USC School of Medicine, where he became founding director of the Psychosocial Program, Division of Hematology-Oncology.

Kellerman lives in Los Angeles with his wife Faye Kellerman, herself a well-known mystery writer. Both of them practice Orthodox Judaism. They also have four children. Their oldest, Jesse Kellerman, is a published author and playwright.

Jonathan Kellerman has publicly spoken out against what he calls the "misguided" release of mentally ill people into the community, where they must fend for themselves instead of receiving proper care. He has stated that such people should receive counselling as well as medication, as opposed to today's model in which they receive only medication and no other care at all.

Alex Delaware

For short introductions of the books of the Alex Delaware series refer to the article Alex Delaware

1. When The Bough Breaks (1985) (Edgar Award, Best First Novel, 1986)
2. Blood Test (1986)
3. Over The Edge (1987)
4. Silent Partner (1989)
5. Time Bomb (1990)
6. Private Eyes (1992)
7. Devil's Waltz (1993)
8. Bad Love (1994)
9. Self-Defense (1995)
10. The Web (1996)
11. The Clinic (1997)
12. Survival Of The Fittest (1997)
13. Monster (1999)
14. Dr. Death (2000)
15. Flesh and Blood (2001)
16. The Murder Book (2002)
17. A Cold Heart (2003)
18. Therapy (2004)
19. Rage (2005)
20. Gone (2006)
21. Obsession (2007)
22. Compulsion (March 2008)
23. Bones (October 2008)
24. Evidence (October 2009)
25. Deception (March 2010)
26. Mystery (March 2011)

Petra Connor

1. Survival of the Fittest (1997)
2. Billy Straight (1998)
3. A Cold Heart (2003)
4. Twisted (2004)
5. Obsession (2007)

Non-series novels

• The Butcher's Theater (1988)
• The Conspiracy Club (2003)
• Capital Crimes (2007) (with Faye Kellerman)
• True Detectives (2009)

Omnibus

• Blood Test, When the Bough Breaks, Over the Edge (1990)
• Devil's Waltz; Bad Love (2003)
• Double Homicide (2005) (with Faye Kellerman)

Nonfiction

• Psychological Aspects of Childhood Cancer (1980)
• Helping the Fearful Child (1981)
• Savage Spawn: Reflections on Violent Children (1999)
• The Best American Crime Reporting 2008 (2008) (with Thomas H. Cook and Otto Penzler)
• With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars (2008)