Category: Mystery/Suspense Publisher: berkley prime crime
ISBN-10: 0425214745
Type: Fiction
Pages: 255
Copyright: March 6, 2007
DEADLY ADVICE by Roberta Isleib (Berkley Prime Crime, 6.99) Advice columnist/psychologist Dr. Rebecca Butterman traces the footsteps of a suicidal neighbor into the world of speed-dating and weblogging where no one is who they claim to be.
After her young next-door neighbor Madeline is found dead from an apparent suicide, Rebecca can’t believe that she, a trained professional, missed the signs. But not everything is adding up… Madeline’s mother insists the suicide note wasn’t written by her daughter. Rebecca puts that down to denial—until she finds Madeline’s blog, a zippy chronicle of dating adventures that suggests anything but depression. So when Rebecca’s editor assigns her to do a column on the modern singles scene, Rebecca finds herself re-tracing the Madeline’s steps into the dating world, looking for clues to the mystery of the young woman’s death. Over-eager suitors are the least of her worries. Dr Butterman is about to discover just how deadly some advice can be…
Professional Reviews
Romantic Times
Isleib's series debut shines with wit and suspense, thanks in part to an affable and intelligent heroine. Succinct plotting and expert pacing also help this well-crafted cozy shine.
Summary: Divorced Connecticut psychologist Rebecca Butterman writes an advice column for an online magazine. But she turns to sleuthing when her seemingly reclusive neighbor, Madeline Stanton, dies from an apparent suicide and Madeline's mother requests she investigate her death.
Rebecca incurs the ire of Detective Jack Meigs along the way, and when she attends some singles events as research for her column, she uncovers some disturbing facts about Madeline, who was an active participant in singles clubs. The suspense kicks into high gear when Rebecca must decide whom to trust. If she trusts the wrong person, she just might end up like Madeline. (Berkley Prime Crime, Mar., 272 pp., $6.99)
—Sheri Melnick
the Cozy Library
When Rebecca Buterman’s young neighbor Madeline dies, apparently by her own hand, the clinical psychologist chides herself for not recognizing any symptoms of depression. Then Madeline’s mother expresses doubts to Dr. Butterman that her daughter actually wrote the suicide note police found. The mother gives Rebecca access to her daughter’s condo hoping she’ll find something that can shed some light on the tragic death.
Dr. Butterman believes it is possible Madeline’s mother is simply in denial over her daughter’s death -- and that the police verdict of suicide is correct. But she has some niggling doubts, along with a sense of guilt. So she agrees to not only keep Madeline’s cat, Spencer, for awhile, she also agrees to do some sleuthing. Detective Jack Meigs of the Guilford (Connecticut) Police Department is not amused.
Rebecca discovers Madeline’s blog, with content that doesn’t appear to be that of a depressed person, and gathers hints that the young woman’s death might not have been what it appeared. She also learns Madeline had used the services of a speed-dating company. Coincidentally, Dr. Butterman is researching speed dating as part of her work writing an advice column for the online magazine, Bloom, under the pseudonym “Dr. Aster.” So, she decides to sign up for the service.
Dr. Rebecca Butterman is a delightful new sleuth, a character wonderfully fleshed out by the author, herself a clinical psychologist. Deadly Advice has great secondary characters, including Rebecca’s “Sunday friends” and the quirky residents of her condo neighborhood. Detective Meigs is a departure from the stupid, stubborn or too-hunky-to-be-believed cops that populate many mysteries featuring female amateur sleuths. Deadly Advice's ending not only wraps up all the loose ends, it offers backstories for both heroine and cop. My only disappointment – a tiny one -- was that those stories didn’t appear earlier.
By Diana. First published in the Cozy Library February 19, 2007.
the Mystery Reader
Psychologist and advice columnist Rebecca Butterman (aka Dr. Aster) is very good at handing out advice to other people; she is also very good at separating her professional life from her personal life to avoid handing out advice 24/7. One day after work, Rebecca returns home to learn her next door neighbor has committed suicide.
Rebecca is new to her condo complex and didn’t know Madeline well, yet can’t help wondering if in their few short conversations she missed a cue as to Madeline’s intention. Madeline’s mother insists that the suicide note that was found was not written by her daughter and asks for Rebecca’s help. Rebecca reluctantly agrees, and though she wonders how she missed gunshots through the wall, suspects Madeline’s mother’s insistence is denial and nothing will come of her investigation.
Finding Madeline’s blog quickly changes Rebecca’s mind. According to her blog, Madeline was full of life and dated often, frequenting speed dating evenings searching for adventurous men. Rebecca’s online editor asks Rebecca to do a feature on finding men later in life or after a divorce, giving Rebecca a perfect opportunity, one she does not relish, to make the same rounds Madeline did just before she died. Someone else may be following in Madeline’s final footsteps as well, trying to stop Rebecca before she finds out who was with Madeline when she took her final breath.
Rebecca Butterman, a supporting character from Isleib’s Cassie Burdette golfing mysteries, shines on her own. She is recently divorced, and though her ex-husband is expressing remorse for his misdeeds and attempting to get back in her life, she reminds herself why they are divorced and stays firm.
Rebecca is working on fitting into her new environment and shedding the last vestige of her former life, two Barcaloungers. Rebecca is very kind to Madeline’s mother and is patient, though wary of her two brothers. Rebecca keeps running into Detective Jack Meigs who grows increasingly frustrated with what he considers Rebecca’s interference in the case, but who also seems to be growing increasingly attracted to Rebecca. Through her investigation of Madeline’s familial relationships, Rebecca also begins to address her own family’s dysfunctions and begins to take steps to overcoming the ghosts from her past.
The mystery is carefully plotted and there are plenty of suspects and motives to keep readers guessing. Fans of the Cassie Burdette series will be pleased to hear how well things are going for Cassie when she makes a cameo. Roberta Isleib’s series is off to a strong start. An enjoyable heroine and an interesting plot will keep readers engaged while they forget about some of their own problems and see what advice Dr. Aster will dish up today.
