The Critic

by L.L. Kirchner

Pittsburgh, 1995. When a notorious theater critic is poisoned through the U.S. mail, the FBI comes for the woman he took the column from — a PR account executive moonlighting as a theater journalist, whose history of psychiatric treatment makes her the perfect suspect.

Jessica Greer didn't do it. But she knows enough about ricin to sound like she did.

To clear her name, she'll have to outmaneuver the federal agent building a case against her, the newsroom that just dubbed her "The Mail Murderess," and a Pittsburgh arts world full of people with better motives than hers. The deeper she digs, the guiltier she looks.

For readers who loved God of the Woods, The Other Black Girl, and The Frozen Rivers.

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 18, 2026

About the author

L.L. Kirchner writes historical noir and psychological suspense about women who break the rules — and break them memorably. Her debut psychological suspense novel, The Critic (Book One of the Steel City Mysteries, June 2026), is set in 1990s Pittsburgh. She is also the author of the complete Queenpin Chronicles trilogy — Florida Girls, Vegas Girls, Havana Girls — historical noir praised as "a rollicking historical novel brimming with colorful characters...well-crafted entertainment" by New York Times bestselling author Jane Heller.
Before turning to fiction, Kirchner was a Pushcart-nominated author and award-winning screenwriter whose two memoirs about life as an expat in Asia drew comparisons to Eat, Pray, Love — "but funny," as an NPR interviewer put it — and earned praise from Foreword Reviews for her "discerning eye."
She co-hosts the writing podcast You Should Totally Write That and lives in Florida with her favorite husband. Follow her at LLKirchner.com and IllBehavedWomen.com.

Reviews

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

This was such an interesting and captivating read, that kept me on my toes!!
I loved the story from start to finish, particularly the reader didn’t know who the real murderer was and how it wasn’t clear till the story wanted the reader to know from the way the story was told. I especially adored how we got to see multiple pov‘s (Jessica, Lydia, Dina, the witness statements and more) as well as the way the story was generally told through unreliable narrators and always incorporated ways to make one question their own perception. Besides that, I also liked the complexity of every main character and how, LGBTQIA+ characters were included as well.
The story overall shines through it’s atmosphere though. Right from the beginning, one is thrown into this mess of a situation and, as I mentioned, always questions the motives and the motivations of the characters even if they might seem innocent.
A little downside is that some things did feel somewhat out of the blue for me and even a day after finishing, I’m still questioning whether or not, I just misread an important clue (haha).
Overall though, it was a really good read and I think people who enjoy mysterious novels with complex characters and a captivating plot as well as a great atmosphere should totally read it!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest and voluntarily given review.

[Tam Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me this Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jessica is our main character and also the main suspect. Her work colleague Ted, who just so happens to have taken Jessica’s job, ends up in critical condition in the ICU after eating a poisoned brownie that was mailed to him. Set in the 90s, the whole setup definitely gives off Unabomber-era vibes, and I loved all the nostalgic office details, like the reference to the Rolodex - remember them !?

Jessica was easily my favourite character because she does absolutely nothing to make herself look innocent. She’s awkward, she keeps showing up at the worst possible moments, and she even starts questioning whether she could have committed the crime herself. She’s a mysterious hot mess, but somehow you can’t help but like her. Especially as she becomes determined to figure out, if she didn’t do it… who did?

I’m still searching for an author who really nails a police investigation, and as someone who was very invested in the recent mushroom trials, this premise immediately caught my attention.

I really enjoyed the 90s nostalgia, the messy characters, and being led down a deceptive path before the twist finally arrived.

[Rhonda Woloshun · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Book Review: The Critic by
@Ilkirchnerauthor
The scene: Pittsburgh, 1995
The story: "A notorious theater critic collapses. A broke PR hack with a sharp mouth and a fractured memory becomes the prime suspect. The press calls her The Mail Murderess. And this 90s psychological thriller is a high-drama newsroom page turner you cannot miss!"
The Critic hooked me immediately as a
Pittsburgh girl
myself, the nods to Steel City landmarks made this relatable and painted such an aesthetic backdrop for this drama. (You'll find tons of yinzer-coded language too!)
If you want a smart, can't-put-down character-driven mystery…..where even if you think you have this one solved... you're actually only beginning to uncover the truth ...because this is one whodunnit that's well earned...this is for you!
I devoured this in a day and a half. I HAD to know what happened. Absolutely 5 stars - add this one to your TBR immediately

Tropes
Mental Health/illness
Strong FMC(s)
+ Multi-POV
Family/generational dynamics + investigation realism
“Red herrings"

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this book on a trip with me to NYC this week and finished it in two days. What a fun ride!!! If you are looking for a perfect travel or beach read and enjoy a fun and zany crime thriller, this one is for you.

I like the main character, but honestly love her mom, Jeannine. She brings the humor and the love for her daughter. I also loved that this was set in the 90s - so fun to reminisce about the early days of cell phones - and that it's set in Pittsburgh. I recently traveled there for the first time and it's always exciting when you have actually seen the setting the book takes place in.

I personally enjoy a mystery that doesn't make me need therapy afterward, so I deeply appreciated the author's take and style. Looking forward to the next one in the series, and not so secretly hoping for more of our FBI duo.

[Nicole Fincher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get ready to head to the 'Burgh circa 1995! This twisty psychological crime novel will have you guessing and second guessing yourself to the end! Follow the main suspect, Jessica, while she is trying to prove her innocence all while questioning whether she is actually innocent or not, talk about an unreliable narrator!!
The three POVs plus the witness statements give us so much information, yet still keeps you guessing.
Come for the suspense, stay for the setting! Set in Pittsburgh, the city itself is a special part of the story. See how many iconic references you can find, not just about the city, but from the 90s too. This was a thrilling blast from the past that I couldn't read fast enough!

[Paul Palumbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Critic by L.L. Kirchner was an outstanding read — sharp, clever, and impossible to put down. The story immediately hooked me, but what really stood out were the characters, pacing, and intelligence of the writing.

Kirchner delivers a book that feels sophisticated without ever becoming slow or pretentious. The characters are vivid, the tension keeps building, and the story unfolds in a way that constantly kept me engaged. One of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time.

I highly recommend this book!

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like reading a story that will have you guessing and second guessing yourself, where the characters tell you only part of the story and there are so many twists and turns that you get dizzy by them, this is the story for you!
The city of Pittsburgh in the 90's is as much as a character as the ones in the story, so come to this journey with an open mind and be prepared to hear from three different point of view about the plot of the story and try to unravel the mystery and get to the right conclusion, you will not be disappointed.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Critic was a complex and beautifully written read that, as others have said, kept me on my toes! L.L. nails the 90s nostalgia and pulls you in from the very beginning.

I can’t wait to see what she does with the next books in the Steel City Mysteries.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Being accused of a murder you did not commit is hard work. All the things you must do to be found innocent.

[Amy Rupp · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Critic by LL Kirchner is a character-driven psychological suspense novel that delivers on its intriguing premise — a poisoned brownie, a workplace conspiracy, and a cast of unreliable narrators across multiple POVs. The story unfolds partly through police interviews and witness statements, giving it a procedural layer that works really well alongside the workplace mystery.

The character development is one of the book's strongest elements. You become genuinely invested in these characters even as you're constantly questioning their reliability — and juggling multiple unreliable narrators is no small feat. The conspiracy-driven plot kept me engaged and guessing throughout.

A few plot points and character decisions didn't fully come together for me, and some details felt like they might be leading somewhere that ultimately didn't connect. But as the first book in a new series, there's plenty of runway for those threads to develop.

If you enjoy twisty, character-focused psychological suspense with a strong procedural element, this is worth adding to your TBR. I'll be watching for book two.

Note: Goodreads does have 1/2 stars but I rated this 3.5 stars.

Thank you to the author for early access to this title.