The Second Mile

Pippa Hunnechurch Mystery #2

by Ron Benrey

Pippa Hunnechurch's life is back on track after seven years of living away from God. But her newly reignited faith is about to be tested.

Pippa, a corporate headhunter, hears from one of her placements, Barry Goodwin, that he is unhappy with his job. Not taking his concerns too seriously, Pippa gives him a pep talk and encourages him to hang in there. Two days later, Goodwin commits suicide in his apartment. Shocked and fearing she did not go the second mile in placing this candidate, Pippa launches her own investigation into what has happened. Dismayed, she tries to drop out of her Christian fellowship, but her church small group will not let her give up on herself or God that easily.

Pippa's persistence turns up what she feared all along. Goodwin did not commit suicide; he was murdered. But who would want him murdered and would smear Pippa's reputation to cover it up? Pippa's research uncovers a web of conspiracy and intrigue at the company Goodwin so desperately wanted to leave.

Genres: Mystery, Christian

Unknown Binding

First published September 15, 2002

About the author

Ron Benrey, the author of "Know Your Rights, a Survival Guide for Non Lawyers" (for Sterling), and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Christian Fiction" (for Penguin), is also a prolific novelist who has coauthored nine romantic suspense novels with his wife Janet: The Pippa Hunnechurch Mysteries, The Royal Tunbridge Wells Mysteries for Barbour, and the Glory, North Carolina, Mysteries. All three series are available at Amazon and as Kindle eBooks.

Ron "wrote his way" through college as a freelancer. After graduating, he became Electronics Editor at Popular Science Magazine. He went on to become a corporate communicator and speechwriter for several of America's largest companies. Ron is also an experienced oral presentation coach who has trained hundreds of managers and engineers to give winning proposal presentations - including several multi-billion-dollar programs.

Ron taught advanced writing courses at the University of Pittsburgh (member of the adjunct faculty). He currently teaches courses and workshops at major writers' conferences on topics ranging from plotting and publishability, to copyright law and computer technology for writers.

Ron holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master's degree in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a juris doctor from the Duquesne University School of Law. He was a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Ron and Janet live in North Carolina.

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series so much! I love all the aspects of headhunting, the technical information, and the business practices of Pippa, and James. Gloria is a great side character! The books keep my attention from beginning to end.

[Chloe Tankersley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Teelei · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have to admit, this one was a bit of a struggle to get through although the second half did improve. Didn't like that even though the main character was British and living in the States that the people around her would also use very British phrasing for things (expected the authors to be English, but no). Tons of little asides - 'but she would learn that later', 'but that was the last time...'. Distracting and don't always like being told/warned of what's coming next. Just seemed a bit amateurish in the writing department.
Another thing that took me by surprise was the large part religion took in the story. Not what I expected to see in a mystery book. Many of the characters discussing religion, quoting scripture, attending group meetings at church and using their religious beliefs to get through situations. Not sure that I appreciated this addition to a mystery story.