Book Review: Deadly Advice

Reviewed By: Carl Brookins - RAM

Deadly Advice     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Roberta Isleib
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth   Cozy
Series: Advice Column Mysteries # 1
Berkley Prime Crime, Mass market, 255 pages, $6.99

After writing five mysteries about a conflicted pro golfer and the psychological messes the pressures of the game and her own messy personal life herself in, Isleib has now turned to a new character in a new milieu. Her protagonist in this outing is a clinical psychologist named Rebecca Butterman. She's recovering from a failed marriage-something I find interesting in itself-and lives in one of those ubiquitous town house communities. You know the kind. Not quite gated but almost. The community has managers and resident busybodies and a range of tenants, mostly middle class and mostly a little desperate or a little nuts or both.

Butterman's other job, the one she has to help her financial recovery, is as an advice columnist for an on-line magazine. Think an electronic Dear Abby or any of the plethora of other questionable advice gurus that take up space in our newspapers.

A couple of immediate problems are apparent. Butterman's young editor at the magazine is pushing the magazine into a more aggressive stance toward a more youthful market. Butterman doesn't feel entirely competent in this area, especially when the editor enthusiastically endorses speed dating. But, because she's been out of circulation for several years, Butterman allows herself to be coerced into doing reality based research by joining some speed dating sessions. They sound creepy to me and sure enough, creepy creeps in.

The other problem that surfaces early is a suicide in the home next door to Butterman's. Butterman arrives home to find the area overrun with cops and other officials and as the scene develops, she's forced to realize that she hardly knew her close neighbor. Isleib handles these themes with an adept hand. While the novel is neither startling in its insights nor does it break new ground, it is true to its context. The novel is well-written, moves well and leaves the reader with some things to think about. With some fresh insights in succeeding books, Rebecca Butterman is a character readers may want to follow.

Carl Brookins - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Carl Brookins - RAM

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