Book Review: Asking For Murder

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Asking For Murder     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Roberta Isleib
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth   Cozy
Series: Advice Column Mysteries # 3
Berkley Prime Crime, 2008, 239 Pages

When Annabelle Hart isn’t at her office when Dr. Rebecca Butterman drops by to pick her up for lunch, Rebecca is more perturbed than worried. Rebecca was looking forward to a lunch at Louis’ Lunch, a place in New Haven, Connecticut famous for the burgers. Rebecca is a clinical psychologist and also writes an advice column on the side. Annabelle is also a therapist and specializes in sand therapy.

After a question and answer period with Dr. Frazier, the therapist down the hall from Annabelle, and leaving numerous messages for Annabelle, Rebecca finally decides to go to Annabelle’s home. Rebecca finds Annabelle badly beaten to the extent that it will be amazing if she can survive.

Detective Meigs who investigates thinks the crime was a botched robbery or a relationship gone sour but Rebecca is not convinced. Not only does Rebecca have her own practice to handle, her advice column to write, she also has an agreement that she will handle Annabelle’s patients in case of an emergency. Rebecca sets out to find the real story behind the attack on Annabelle.

Annabelle’s sister comes to the hospital when Rebecca calls her but is very standoffish and doesn’t want to allow Rebecca visitation privileges since she is not family. It seems that no matter which way she turns Rebecca is met with an obstacle in her quest to find justice for Annabelle.

This is the third book in the Advice Column Mysteries but works very well as a stand-alone story.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM

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