The Talking Cure: A Sean Joye Investigation

by Kathy L. Brown

Sean Joye Investigations, Book 2

Haunted woman claws her way back to reality by reconnecting with her magical powers in The Talking Cure, a supernatural Yuletide follow-up to The Big Cinch.

Committed to an insane asylum, Violet Humphrey is isolated on the Illinois prairie with only her own thoughts and a persistent new voice in her head for company. When she is accused of murder, Violet suspects her road to both freedom and recovery lies through confronting her painful past and solving the crime.
Magically summoned, Sean Joye skids through an ice storm to help Violet, but can they catch the killer and defy an eldritch horror before Violet loses her tenuous grasp on reality?

"The Talking Cure is a marvelous story—an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery infused with a strong sense of the Weird... and a hearty dose of magic on the side. It's ideal for all fans of the sinister, the surprising, and the strange."
—Cherie Priest, award-winning author of Boneshaker

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2025

About the author

Kathy lives and writes in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Her hometown and its history inspire much of her fiction. When she’s not thinking about how haunted everything is, she enjoys hiking, crafts, and cooking for her family. Her latest novella, Wolfhearted is a departure from paranormal crime investigations into epic steampunk fantasy. Her novel, The Big Cinch, was published in 2021 by Montag Press. It went on to win a 2022 Imajinn Award for best urban fantasy novel. Two earlier stories in the same series, The Sean Joye Investigations, are the novella, The Resurrectionist, and the novelette, Water of Life. These are available in ebook and paperback from Amazon.com. Kathy’s short fiction has appeared in the Bards and Sages Anthology, Great Tome of Forgotten Relics and Artifacts (The Great Tomes Series, Volume One), with earlier works in Bards and Sages Quarterly, Golden Visions Magazine, and Mused Literary Journal. Follow her on Instagram at kathylbrownwrites, Facebook at kbKathylbrown, and Twitter at KL_Brown Kathy’s blog lives kathylbrown.com.

Reviews

[Gareth Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book even more than The Big Cinch. It has a lot of the trappings associated with classic 1920s era murder mysteries - locals and visitors trapped in a remote location, multiple amateur sleuths, secret passages, a succession of clues that point to one prime suspect after another - and then throws in a hefty dose of witchcraft, mythology and supernatural horror.

After the traumatic events of the previous book, polite society outcast Violet Humphrey is a reluctant patient at an asylum in the heart of rural Illinois. Her gradual healing hits a snag when she discovers a badly-injured man, whose murder she is subsequently accused of. She summons Sean Joye, the young Irish private detective, and together they try to solve the puzzle amidst an isolating snowstorm. Will their magical canniness be enough to survive their encounter with the creature in the well?

Distinct, relatable, well-realized characters and lively, economic prose will keep you turning pages all the way to the end, and have you wishing for more.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Brown's research shows on every page, a meticulous recreation of 1920's Illinois. The rating is due to the mystery's unfortunate inability to mesh with the occult aspects. In the latter, Brown references a legendary author of the supernatural. His work never gave the comfort of a mystery solved but let the unknown devour everything we take for reality.

[Rachel Whitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Talking Cure is a captivating blend of supernatural mystery, historical fiction, and suspense. Kathy L. Brown creates an atmospheric story filled with intriguing characters, eerie magic, and a compelling murder investigation that keeps the pages turning. Violet's journey is both emotional and gripping, while the supernatural elements add depth without overshadowing the mystery. It's an engaging read for anyone who enjoys clever mysteries with a unique magical twist.

[Kathy Brown]

Second novel of the Sean Joye Investigations art. I'm marking this here, in this way, so my friends can see I have a new book out. Since I avoid the star system, I won't be hypocritical and start now, but I do recommend it!

[Earsom Deryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written mystery incorporating history, magic and diverse protagonists.