Asking For Murder (Advice Column Mysteries) [Paperback]

Roberta Isleib (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 2, 2008 | Series: Advice Column Mysteries

<B>READERS AND WRITERS ARE ASKING FOR ISLEIB</B><BR><BR>When advice columnist Dr. Rebecca Butterman’s friend and fellow therapist Annabelle Hart is found badly beaten and left for dead, Rebecca is determined to help search for answers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Clinical psychologist Roberta Isleib is the author of eight mysteries, including the Cassie Burdette golf mystery series and the Rebecca Butterman advice column mysteries. Her books and stories have been nominated for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She is the past president of Sisters in Crime National.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; paperback edition (September 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425223310
• ISBN-13: 978-0425223314
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #921,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a clinical psychologist and the author of the advice column mystery series (DEADLY ADVICE, PREACHING TO THE CORPSE, and ASKING FOR MURDER) featuring advice columnist/psychologist Dr. Rebecca Butterman.

I've also written the Agatha and Anthony-nominated Cassie Burdette golf lover's mystery series, including SIX STROKES UNDER, A BURIED LIE, PUTT TO DEATH, FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN, and FINAL FORE. You don't have to love golf to love Cassie!

As Lucy Burdette, I'm also the author of the Key West food critic mystery series. AN APPETITE FOR MURDER was published in January 2012, and DEATH IN FOUR COURSES will be out in September.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well Written and Plotted September 5, 2008

By drebbles TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

When Dr. Rebecca Butterman's close friend, therapist Annabelle Hart is badly beaten and left for dead, Rebecca not only takes on some of Annabelle's patients she sets out to find her attacker. The police, including Detective Jack Meigs, think it was either a botched robbery or an abusive boyfriend, but Rebecca disagrees and wants to find out what really happened. She's on her own - Meigs doesn't want her help, nor does Annabelle's sister Victoria. Rebecca is determined to find out who attacked Annabelle, even if it puts her own life at risk.

"Asking for Murder" is a nicely written, well-plotted mystery. Rebecca is a complex character - a psychologist who is good at her job but with plenty of her own issues. One of the things I like best about her is that she doesn't have all the answers and often jumps to the wrong conclusions, which makes her a very realistic character. She is a loyal friend to Annabelle but she struggles with her relationship with her ex-husband and Meigs as well as a new relationship with a guy who might be too nice for her. The psychology aspects are well done (author Roberta Isleib is a clinical psychologist) and I found the sand play therapy fascinating. Rebecca also writes an advice column and Isleib deftly weaves the advice columns into the plot. The mystery is well plotted and readers will have a hard time figuring out who Annabelle's attacker is. There are some surprises that are nicely incorporated into the book and at the end I went back to a few spots to see how cleverly Isleib had worked them into the plot. While the book sounds like a cozy mystery, it is a bit too gritty at times to be called that (it reminds me a bit of Diane Mott Davidson's catering mysteries).

"Asking for Murder" is the third book in the "Advice Column" mystery series (the first two are Deadly Advice (An Advice Column Mystery) and Preaching to the Corpse: An Advice Column Mystery) and the series gets better with each book. Well done!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A hot mystery for a cold winter's day December 10, 2008

By J. B. Santo

Format:Paperback

This was a terrific mystery that kept me guessing until the last moment. But even more than that, it made me want to be there with protagonist Rebecca Butterman as she figured it all out. Besides the mystery line -- who's attacking Rebecca's best friend and leaving her for dead -- there are fascinating details on sandtray therapy and a great romantic triangle. Plus, you can almost smell the pancetta frying when Rebecca has a dinner party.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A good therapist, cook and sleuth all in one October 16, 2011

By S. Warfield TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Dr. Rebecca Butterman is divorced, and grew up with her grandparents after her father left the family and her mother also left. She has issues of her own and isn't afraid to admit it, but when it comes to her patients, she is a very good therapist. She's also a great friend to Annabelle, who is a social worker. When Annabelle doesn't show up or answer her phone or door, Rebecca goes in and finds her severely beaten, and Annabelle remains in a coma. Her sister, Victoria, comes to see her, but is very rude to Rebecca and quite uppity since she writes a society gossip column and thinks herself a notch above the rest.

Rebecca takes on some investigating on her own after the police aren't interested in what she initially has to say. She also agrees to see some of Annabelle's patients until and if Annabelle gets well. Police are convinced that Annabelle's being left for dead was either from a robbery or a disgruntled boyfriend. With everything else going on, Rebecca must learn about sandbox therapy, because Annabelle uses it in her practice, and Rebecca isn't familiar with it. She doesn't pretend to know it all, and isn't afraid to say so. She also writes an advice column, as if she doesn't have enough to do. Add to the list that she's a fabulous cook, too.

I read this one without knowing it is the third book in the Advice Column Mystery series. I now have the first one to read and I'll be sure to read the third one, too. I really like the character of Dr. Rebecca Butterman and also her friends. I'm anxious to know how things work out that weren't wrapped up in this book. Rebecca has a good sense of humor, as do some of her friends, and she loves to eat. I think the author did a very good job of writing and putting the story together well, and only leaving enough loose ends that can be tied up in the next installment.

The information on sandbox or sandplay therapy was very interesting and informative. What little I know about it, I learned from this book. I wouldn't mind having that Red Velvet Cake recipe, either! This is a very enjoyable cozy mystery to include in one's library.