Preaching to the Corpse
by Roberta Isleib
Published by Berkeley Prime Crime (December release)
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Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann
This is the second in the insightful and interesting Advice Column mysteries (after Deadly Advice) by psychologist Roberta Isleib.
Dr. Rebecca Butterman has a failed marriage, a missing father, a mother who committed suicide, and a prickly relationship with her sister. She lives in Connecticut, and is a somewhat active member in the Shoreline Congregational Church, but she is still surprised when she gets a call in the middle of the night from her minister Reverend Sandifer. He is at the hospital with a suspiciously dead parishioner; he discovered the body and he is the main suspect. Attractive Detective Meigs, known from a previous case, is in charge of the investigation.
Rev. Sandifer begs Rebecca to replace Lacy Bailes on the search committee for a new Assistant Pastor. The two candidates are their intern Paul Cashman, and Rev. Ellen Dark, from another New England church–and the search committee has unusually strong views. There appears to be no discernable motive for Lacy’s poisoning, and Det. Meigs asks Rebecca to keep him in the loop about the search committee meetings.
When Paul Cashman, the intern, suffers a fall on the stairway to this basement office due to a greased step, and Rebecca falls down after him, he re-considers his request, but Rebecca has to know so she continues her investigation. Add to this mixture the stress of the Christmas season, Rebecca’s feeling for handsome Det. Meigs, despite his marriage to the terminally ill Alice; Rebecca’s desire to find her missing father much to the horror of her sister Janice; and the possible shot at Rebecca when she goes out to get her mail– and the plot is truly steeped in angst.
Isleib has laced the story with the advice columns that Rebecca writes as Dr. Aster for Bloom Magazine. Isleib has created in Dr. Rebecca Butterman a professional who cares and who is better at her job for her own flaws and failings. Isleib characterizes a mystery plot as being similar to long-term psychotherapy: you look at the past, search for clues, and unravel threads of a story.
Armchair Interviews says: Our advice—pick up this good read.
Author’s Web site: http://RobertaIsleib.com