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Advice Column Mystery #1
Deadly Advice
As a clinical psychologist and author of an online advice column, Dr. Rebecca Butterman is supposed to help people resolve their internal conflicts--not stir up her own. But when her next door neighbor allegedly commits suicide, Rebecca's investigative instincts make it hard to maintain appropriate boundaries.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 6, 2007
31 people are currently reading
1150 people want to read
About the author
Roberta Isleib
11 books52 followersNew Jersey born clinical psychologist Roberta Isleib (who also writes as Lucy Burdette) took up writing mysteries to justify too much bad golf. Her Cassie Burdette series was nominated for an Agatha and two Anthony awards. Her new series debuted in March with DEADLY ADVICE, starring a psychologist/advice columnist. PREACHING TO THE CORPSE will follow in December. Roberta is the president of Sisters in Crime National.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 74 reviews
September 26, 2021
I really enjoyed this!
August 24, 2015
I'm very conflicted with my review. I thought the plot was well thought out and although you guessed the outcome the author tossed some very believable twists in to throw you off the path. I liked a lot of the characters that are in the book and felt they were well developed. The conflict comes with the main character. She is a psychologist who bumbles through the mystery not believing the police are on the job, but not knowing what she is doing. That is all fine, but the constant insecurity and over analysis of every minute are overwrought. She even has her own therapist to work through her issues with, but he's on vacation and from the tone she doesn't even like him. I'm not an expert on the subject, but if you dislike someone that much I don't see how you could possibly trust them to help you analyze your life and work through any issues that you have. The main character keeps everyone except her immediate friend circle at arms length and is often "feeling forced" to interact or do what other people want her to do yet is absolutely surprised that her next door neighbor finds her to be a boring, cold prude. The main redeeming quality the main character has is that she took in a cat and falls in love with it. I've read books from this author before and enjoyed them so I am going to give the next book in the series a shot before I decide yay or nay on the series. Perhaps one of the other characters will be featured more prominently in the next book and that will resolve my conflict.
November 11, 2025
3.5 stars. This was a good story. It was interesting and kept my attention. Characters were enjoyable and I enjoyed the advice columns sprinkled throughout. It was also interesting seeing Rebecca use her psych background to solve the murder.
October 10, 2015
Read Micky's review, he pretty much nailed it. I'd emphasize his first point, the plot was strong enough and compelling enough that I recommend it and I will read the next in the series to see if it holds up. I gave this 4 stars so that, with Micky's 3 stars, it averages a solid 3.5
January 31, 2008
Dr. Rebecca Butterman is a practicing clinical psychologist who also writes a weekly advice column for an online magazine. Divorced and living in a condo in Guilford, Connecticut, Rebecca is distressed to learn her neighbor, Madeline Stanton, apparently committed suicide. Rebecca is unsettled that she had not made efforts to know her neighbor very well, and when Madeline's mother asks her to take care of Madeline's cat until she can find a home for it, Rebecca readily agrees. But when Mrs. Stanton expresses her suspicions about her daughter's death and nudges Rebecca to look for clues as to why her daughter died, Rebecca's wary. Consequently, Rebecca's editor wants her to branch out and begin writing about her experiences in the dating field, but Rebecca is reluctant. However, when she learns that her neighbor had been involved with a speed dating service, she thinks it wouldn't hurt to look into Madeline's death while obtaining information for her column. It isn't long before Rebecca's reeled into the world of fast-paced dating, Internet seduction, murder investigations, and a killer on the loose.
Dr. Rebecca Butterman was first introduced in Isleib's Golf Lover's Mysteries, and fans of that series will enjoy the Advice Column Mysteries series, as well. Butterman is an engaging character, a psychotherapist who is divorced, approaching middle-age and trying to move forward with her life while dealing with past traumas. Her strongest features are her compassion for humans and animals and her inner sense of rightfulness. Deadly Advice is a fast-paced mystery, with red herrings around every corner, and plenty of twists and turns. Recommended.
Dr. Rebecca Butterman was first introduced in Isleib's Golf Lover's Mysteries, and fans of that series will enjoy the Advice Column Mysteries series, as well. Butterman is an engaging character, a psychotherapist who is divorced, approaching middle-age and trying to move forward with her life while dealing with past traumas. Her strongest features are her compassion for humans and animals and her inner sense of rightfulness. Deadly Advice is a fast-paced mystery, with red herrings around every corner, and plenty of twists and turns. Recommended.
October 14, 2014
Deadly Advice is a cozy mystery series I have wanted to read for a while. I grew up with a fascination for Dear Abby and advice columns in general. I read Dear Abby with breakfast almost every morning and always turned to the advice columns in all my mom’s magazines…Can This Marriage be Saved…dun dun dunnnnn.
I really liked the main character here, Rebecca, a psychologist who also writes advice columns. Her neighbor commits suicide or so it seems and the victim’s mother begs Rebecca for help proving it isn’t so. The characters are really well done and the take on the mental health issues make for an interesting backdrop for the mystery and the side plots. The mystery has multiple twists and suspects with very probable motives to make it a challenging to solve.
This series is, to my knowledge, discontinued, which is really a shame. Very well written and really quite fascinating, it is a great addition to the cozy mystery genre. Deadly Advice has been released on Kindle and that is how I bought and I hope the other couple will be released that way as well. I think that perhaps this series suffered from that fact that it didn’t quite fit into the cozy mold. The sleuthing uncovers lots of alternative sexual practices and on top of that the book deals with mental illness and suicide, perhaps it was a little dark for readers looking for the typical cozy? I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.
I really liked the main character here, Rebecca, a psychologist who also writes advice columns. Her neighbor commits suicide or so it seems and the victim’s mother begs Rebecca for help proving it isn’t so. The characters are really well done and the take on the mental health issues make for an interesting backdrop for the mystery and the side plots. The mystery has multiple twists and suspects with very probable motives to make it a challenging to solve.
This series is, to my knowledge, discontinued, which is really a shame. Very well written and really quite fascinating, it is a great addition to the cozy mystery genre. Deadly Advice has been released on Kindle and that is how I bought and I hope the other couple will be released that way as well. I think that perhaps this series suffered from that fact that it didn’t quite fit into the cozy mold. The sleuthing uncovers lots of alternative sexual practices and on top of that the book deals with mental illness and suicide, perhaps it was a little dark for readers looking for the typical cozy? I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.
March 27, 2020
This book is a crime/psychological thriller masking itself as a cozy mystery. When I first looked at the cover with the laptop on the desk with the cat looking out the window, I thought this would be another regular cozy mystery with non-graphic violence, a quaint town setting, and adorable pets. Little did I know that by the end it I would feel like I was watching a scene from Criminal Minds. This book was addictive and I couldn't put it down. I read the whole thing in about 2 hours, but I found parts of it extremely disturbing. There's nothing cozy about this mystery!
September 12, 2019
Quite a well written mystery if not terribly exciting.
I guessed who the villain was about halfway through.
Although I realise the author must be loyal to her profession and her colleagues it began to annoy me that anytime she had to make an emotional decision the advice from both herself and her friends was to consult with a therapist!!!
I guessed who the villain was about halfway through.
Although I realise the author must be loyal to her profession and her colleagues it began to annoy me that anytime she had to make an emotional decision the advice from both herself and her friends was to consult with a therapist!!!
December 2, 2025
1.5 stars
It was interesting having an advice columnist as an MC and it’s what drew me to the book. The set up was a psychologist who became an advice columnist. It was a little different. Her columns were well done and made sense for the character. But I was glad there were very few because they were pretty boring.
I like cozy mysteries but generally when I have some interest in the MC’s job or hobbies or whatever. Mental illness is of big interest to me and the MC was a psychologist and the victim allegedly committed suicide. I really liked that the MC explained that people who commit suicide often seem happy before they kill themselves because they have made their decision, have a plan, and are at peace. There was lots of other good information that meshed with my experience and education on the subject. The stuff I didn’t know made sense.
She had excellent points about why it’s not okay to just let someone kill themselves when it’s due to mental illness, not the least of which is what it does to their family, their children, their parents. But then she said a couple of things that implied that she really didn’t get it personally. There were comments by characters that said things along the lines of questioning how a person could commit suicide and leave her children behind. What a horrible person a mother is if she kills herself and leaves behind her infant no matter how depressed she was.
A suicidal person can convince themselves of anything. They can truly believe that their children are truly better off if they are dead. Post Partum Depression is a terrifying thing. There are varying degrees but it can be worse than regular depression. Not only can a woman believe her child is better off with herself gone, PPD can cause a perfectly sane woman to suddenly fantasize about killing her babies and not because the child is difficult.
I’ve known someone who went through it. Initially her partner refused to let her get help believing it would go away and that treatment would harm the baby. She just got worse and ended up hospitalized. She was finally put on medication and got better. Yes she could no longer breastfeed but both she and the baby were still alive. She went off the meds a year later and the child is now a wonderful adult. The woman is the most devoted parent I know. The two are very close. She says it’s extremely hard to understand how she could have felt what she did when she loves her kid so much and knows he needs her but she did. I am so glad she got help.
The MC’s detective work was good. She asked good questions, she talked to the right people and she used her knowledge of psychology to question them in ways that would get them to talk.
There were lots of points I wasn’t fond of though. For example, a horrible woman was making security recommendations in a condo complex (they’re more like townhouses) because she believed a suicide was a murder. She suggests additional lights around the complex and a security guard. One person yelled that it prison or something like that. What is wrong with a few motion detector lights? I guess being a woman who has mostly lived in the city (and I’ve worked on several campuses that scary places after dark) has made me think that well lit common areas are a good idea. I guess if it’s a smaller community like a town, a single security guard would seem unnecessary but there must be some crime because she had a security alarm.
I felt like the person writing it was way older than the character. She referred to the women’s movement like she was part of it even though she was too young, still of child-bearing age in 2007. But then she came across as much older and quite socially conservative. Even in 2007, describing someone as “a” homosexual really wasn’t cool. She said other questionable things like that you can’t dance the Marimba without some Latin blood.
She isn’t very sensitive. She thinks that someone on disability “obviously” didn’t know that the number one thing women want is financial security. Well federal disability is far more assured than a job but I admit it’s a low income. But does that mean he shouldn’t date? Or that he should lie when asked what he did for work? She also said, “I wish our complex had more people our age rather a bunch of nervous old maids.” At least she went on a date with a guy she described as having a “pudgy face,” although that description came after she’d decided she didn’t like him.
The end game wasn’t right for a cozy mystery. I also think it’s being set up for both a love triangle and cheating.
I didn’t like this and I think it was mostly because I didn’t like the MC. But there was something else I can’t put my finger on. It was just icky. I ended up listening to it at double speed to get through it.
I’m not interested in reading another in the series even for a challenge.
The narrator, Cara Swingline, was quite good. She had a variety of voices. Although the way some women spoke was a little annoying I prefer that over everyone sounding the same. But she did an accent that sounded Scottish and it turned out that it was supposed to be like Italian or French or something like that.
It was interesting having an advice columnist as an MC and it’s what drew me to the book. The set up was a psychologist who became an advice columnist. It was a little different. Her columns were well done and made sense for the character. But I was glad there were very few because they were pretty boring.
I like cozy mysteries but generally when I have some interest in the MC’s job or hobbies or whatever. Mental illness is of big interest to me and the MC was a psychologist and the victim allegedly committed suicide. I really liked that the MC explained that people who commit suicide often seem happy before they kill themselves because they have made their decision, have a plan, and are at peace. There was lots of other good information that meshed with my experience and education on the subject. The stuff I didn’t know made sense.
She had excellent points about why it’s not okay to just let someone kill themselves when it’s due to mental illness, not the least of which is what it does to their family, their children, their parents. But then she said a couple of things that implied that she really didn’t get it personally. There were comments by characters that said things along the lines of questioning how a person could commit suicide and leave her children behind. What a horrible person a mother is if she kills herself and leaves behind her infant no matter how depressed she was.
A suicidal person can convince themselves of anything. They can truly believe that their children are truly better off if they are dead. Post Partum Depression is a terrifying thing. There are varying degrees but it can be worse than regular depression. Not only can a woman believe her child is better off with herself gone, PPD can cause a perfectly sane woman to suddenly fantasize about killing her babies and not because the child is difficult.
I’ve known someone who went through it. Initially her partner refused to let her get help believing it would go away and that treatment would harm the baby. She just got worse and ended up hospitalized. She was finally put on medication and got better. Yes she could no longer breastfeed but both she and the baby were still alive. She went off the meds a year later and the child is now a wonderful adult. The woman is the most devoted parent I know. The two are very close. She says it’s extremely hard to understand how she could have felt what she did when she loves her kid so much and knows he needs her but she did. I am so glad she got help.
The MC’s detective work was good. She asked good questions, she talked to the right people and she used her knowledge of psychology to question them in ways that would get them to talk.
There were lots of points I wasn’t fond of though. For example, a horrible woman was making security recommendations in a condo complex (they’re more like townhouses) because she believed a suicide was a murder. She suggests additional lights around the complex and a security guard. One person yelled that it prison or something like that. What is wrong with a few motion detector lights? I guess being a woman who has mostly lived in the city (and I’ve worked on several campuses that scary places after dark) has made me think that well lit common areas are a good idea. I guess if it’s a smaller community like a town, a single security guard would seem unnecessary but there must be some crime because she had a security alarm.
I felt like the person writing it was way older than the character. She referred to the women’s movement like she was part of it even though she was too young, still of child-bearing age in 2007. But then she came across as much older and quite socially conservative. Even in 2007, describing someone as “a” homosexual really wasn’t cool. She said other questionable things like that you can’t dance the Marimba without some Latin blood.
She isn’t very sensitive. She thinks that someone on disability “obviously” didn’t know that the number one thing women want is financial security. Well federal disability is far more assured than a job but I admit it’s a low income. But does that mean he shouldn’t date? Or that he should lie when asked what he did for work? She also said, “I wish our complex had more people our age rather a bunch of nervous old maids.” At least she went on a date with a guy she described as having a “pudgy face,” although that description came after she’d decided she didn’t like him.
The end game wasn’t right for a cozy mystery. I also think it’s being set up for both a love triangle and cheating.
I didn’t like this and I think it was mostly because I didn’t like the MC. But there was something else I can’t put my finger on. It was just icky. I ended up listening to it at double speed to get through it.
I’m not interested in reading another in the series even for a challenge.
The narrator, Cara Swingline, was quite good. She had a variety of voices. Although the way some women spoke was a little annoying I prefer that over everyone sounding the same. But she did an accent that sounded Scottish and it turned out that it was supposed to be like Italian or French or something like that.
May 28, 2012
Very good. It was a quick read and the end was a real twist. I ordered all her books. I wonder why she hasn't written anything lately.
October 6, 2019
I was initially very excited to read this book because by all outward appearance it sounds and looks interesting, but I actually felt as though I couldn't finish it. By page 40 I felt I had been duped into it, the outside cover mentioning several times that it was about a clinical psychologist, Dr. Rebecca Butterman, but I wasn't until about page 40 that it was revealed she was a former minister. She is actually fairly anti-feminist and has antiquated ideas about what a woman needs to do or have in place to enter the dating seen again, a frightful notion for a character who writes an advice column.
I found myself cringing as I read because the character is only 38 but she talks and thinks like a much older woman, and one who isn't very confident, and kind of a prude - like really, she's too good to try speed dating? Even though it's all paid for by her employer, just for fun, and she acts like she wouldn't be caught dead - it truly comes across as stuck up. And you're legs have to be shaved?
Don't get me wrong, the book itself is nicely written, but its clear that there are conservative leanings. By page 98, the start of Chapter 12, I decided I didn't want to finish the book - there is just a lot of religious-y, church-y stuff going on - which isn't something I'm interested in and which makes me uncomfortable. And again, don't get me wrong, if you're ok with that, or prefer that, then you might find this to be a more pleasant read. I just wish that it had been stated, somewhere, anywhere on the cover that it was going to have religious, conservative tones. I just wanted to solve a mystery, not feel like I'm somehow being judged by the main character or the author.
I will say this - that prior to writing the review, I looked up the sequels and the second book does in fact look religious, and the title "Preaching to the Corpse" kind of says it all. But here's my honest to goodness opinion - I think the series has an identity crisis. Is this an advice column mystery series about a clinical psychologist (as it's advertised), or is this an ex-minister church mystery series. I wish the author had picked a lane and stayed in it rather than giving the main character an identity crisis. Either series would have been good in their own ways (though still not for me), but combining them and not being clear with readers, for me at least, was damaging. I feel like I can't trust the author now and don't think I'll be trying another book.
I know it's not the review I was looking to give, and I tried to tough it out, but alas.
More Facts for Readers about our Sleuth:
Main Sleuth: Dr. Rebecca Butterman (age 38)
Business: Clinical Pyschologist (former minister)
Pet: Spencer, an adopted cat
I found myself cringing as I read because the character is only 38 but she talks and thinks like a much older woman, and one who isn't very confident, and kind of a prude - like really, she's too good to try speed dating? Even though it's all paid for by her employer, just for fun, and she acts like she wouldn't be caught dead - it truly comes across as stuck up. And you're legs have to be shaved?
Don't get me wrong, the book itself is nicely written, but its clear that there are conservative leanings. By page 98, the start of Chapter 12, I decided I didn't want to finish the book - there is just a lot of religious-y, church-y stuff going on - which isn't something I'm interested in and which makes me uncomfortable. And again, don't get me wrong, if you're ok with that, or prefer that, then you might find this to be a more pleasant read. I just wish that it had been stated, somewhere, anywhere on the cover that it was going to have religious, conservative tones. I just wanted to solve a mystery, not feel like I'm somehow being judged by the main character or the author.
I will say this - that prior to writing the review, I looked up the sequels and the second book does in fact look religious, and the title "Preaching to the Corpse" kind of says it all. But here's my honest to goodness opinion - I think the series has an identity crisis. Is this an advice column mystery series about a clinical psychologist (as it's advertised), or is this an ex-minister church mystery series. I wish the author had picked a lane and stayed in it rather than giving the main character an identity crisis. Either series would have been good in their own ways (though still not for me), but combining them and not being clear with readers, for me at least, was damaging. I feel like I can't trust the author now and don't think I'll be trying another book.
I know it's not the review I was looking to give, and I tried to tough it out, but alas.
More Facts for Readers about our Sleuth:
Main Sleuth: Dr. Rebecca Butterman (age 38)
Business: Clinical Pyschologist (former minister)
Pet: Spencer, an adopted cat
August 4, 2019
Oh, dear god this book was awful. Rebecca Butterman is a clinical psychologist living in a condo near a bunch of mostly older people. One day, she comes home to find that her immediate neighbor, one of the younger residents, was shot to death a few days ago and finally found. She had only had one conversation with the dead woman and laments the fact that she didn't reach out more. The woman's mother, for some reason, reaches out to her to look into the murder because the police are telling her that it's suicide, but she doesn't believe it.
This book just made no sense. Rebecca has ZERO reason to look into this. She didn't really know the woman and even her very mild guilt over not getting to know her isn't enough of a reason. And from her memory, the woman didn't seem like she was a very nice person in their one interaction. Rebecca is certainly not accused of the murder. I can see no reason why she should care.
Then, there's the fact that Rebecca is an awful psychologist. She cries non-stop and for any reason. She has her own psychologist, who seems odious, and Rebecca seems to feel the same way about him. So why not find someone new?
I just hated everything about this one. I have no idea why I finished it. The ending was also revolting. Needless to say, I won't be reading more.
This book just made no sense. Rebecca has ZERO reason to look into this. She didn't really know the woman and even her very mild guilt over not getting to know her isn't enough of a reason. And from her memory, the woman didn't seem like she was a very nice person in their one interaction. Rebecca is certainly not accused of the murder. I can see no reason why she should care.
Then, there's the fact that Rebecca is an awful psychologist. She cries non-stop and for any reason. She has her own psychologist, who seems odious, and Rebecca seems to feel the same way about him. So why not find someone new?
I just hated everything about this one. I have no idea why I finished it. The ending was also revolting. Needless to say, I won't be reading more.
October 20, 2021
Another “couldn’t put it down until I finished it” book from Roberta Isleib/Lucy Burdette. I’ve now read most of the books from all three of her series and I haven’t been disappointed yet.
This book has it all: advice columns, life in a small condo community (neighbors!), speed dating, insight into the life of a therapist, scary episodes as a single woman, hunky cop, good friends, and of course, a puzzling mystery. And, character links to her Golf Lovers series which were a nice surprise.
I particularly enjoyed the main character – she is complex, introspective, both brave and foolhardy, and has an interesting backstory that I’m looking forward to learning more about.
This book has it all: advice columns, life in a small condo community (neighbors!), speed dating, insight into the life of a therapist, scary episodes as a single woman, hunky cop, good friends, and of course, a puzzling mystery. And, character links to her Golf Lovers series which were a nice surprise.
I particularly enjoyed the main character – she is complex, introspective, both brave and foolhardy, and has an interesting backstory that I’m looking forward to learning more about.
October 21, 2018
I just could not bring myself to care a lick about these characters. I was 3/4 of the way through and was having a hard time keeping the characters straight and there weren't that many of them. Don't know if it was the writing or just where I am at mentally, but this book just didn't stick with me.
November 19, 2020
Very enjoyable
I did like this very much. I’ve read the Key West series and discovered this very short series recently. I liked it and am sorry to see there’s only three books in this series. What a shame. It has a touch of darkness but the majority is in the cozy genre. I’d recommend it.
I did like this very much. I’ve read the Key West series and discovered this very short series recently. I liked it and am sorry to see there’s only three books in this series. What a shame. It has a touch of darkness but the majority is in the cozy genre. I’d recommend it.
May 21, 2025
When buttoned up psychologist Dr. Rebecca Butterman's neighbor is found dead, Rebecca's world is turned upside down. She knows her neighbor's death was no accident and tries to find out who and why and stumbles into a huge can of worms as her neighbor turns out to be involved in some truly bizarre things.
December 22, 2019
Good plot, characters fairly well fleshed out. I got tired though of Rebecca doubting herself all the time. The ending was a bit abrupt. I had figured out the bad guy way before the author revealed him. It was okay in the long run. Don't know if I will read the next one in the series or not.
July 22, 2018
The investigation is good
June 19, 2019
I want my cozies to be clean, no bad language or other adult-only content.
March 25, 2022
Rebecca Butterman, a clinical psychologist, moonlights writing an advice column. After an apparent suicide is her condo complex, she turns sleuth at the request of the victim’s mother.
May 11, 2022
Definitely didn't expect the ending
October 11, 2025
Dear Abbey and amateur sleuth meet in this delightful main character's personality. Some was fun, some was frustrating, but always interesting.
November 19, 2025
I will begin by saying I wouldn’t recommend it, but it isn’t a horrible book, just not as cozy as I like. The main character was not that engaging and her friends were a bit domineering of her. There is a bit of a suspenseful and graphic scene in the book that surprised me. There is a reveal near the end of the book that explains the main character’s personality. I probably will not continue reading this series.
March 7, 2017
Set on the Connecticut shoreline, places in this book are familiar (including Miegs Point, Branford, Hammonasset, and Guilford). The condo complex in which Rebecca lives has an interesting set of characters. Once her next door neighbor dies, their true colors show as Rebecca and the police work on the case. I did not expect the ending.
February 28, 2017
This is one of the oldie but goody cozy mysteries.
Clinical psychologist and online advice columnist, Dr. Rebecca Butterman’s job is to resolve the inner conflicts of her patients; however, she seems to have an uncanny ability to stir up her own inner conflict.
Is it an inner guilt, a need to assist a grieving mother or her own curiosity that takes over when her neighbor is said to have committed suicide, lying dead near a common wall Dr. Butterman shared with the deceased?
Even after several warnings to stay clear of a police investigation, Rebecca seems to be unable to steer clear of the investigation. But, is Rebecca’s fine tuned mind geared towards the proper channel or is a mysterious suicide about to claim her too?
Clinical psychologist and online advice columnist, Dr. Rebecca Butterman’s job is to resolve the inner conflicts of her patients; however, she seems to have an uncanny ability to stir up her own inner conflict.
Is it an inner guilt, a need to assist a grieving mother or her own curiosity that takes over when her neighbor is said to have committed suicide, lying dead near a common wall Dr. Butterman shared with the deceased?
Even after several warnings to stay clear of a police investigation, Rebecca seems to be unable to steer clear of the investigation. But, is Rebecca’s fine tuned mind geared towards the proper channel or is a mysterious suicide about to claim her too?
May 17, 2015
Deadly Advice is the first book in the advice column mystery series. The main character (and sleuth) is Dr. Rebecca Butterman, who also writes an advice column under the name Dr. Aster. Dr. Butterman is a practicing psychologist and is shocked to learn that a neighbor of hers has committed suicide. Like I'm sure most psychologists would, she questions herself and whether or not there were any signs that she overlooked. The victim's mother then asks her to look into the death because she does not believe it was suicide after all.
Rebecca then begins to probe further into the case and begins to have her own doubts about whether it was suicide or murder. While digging into Madeleine's (the victim) background, she finds that she had used a particular dating service and attended an event shortly before her death. When Rebecca is then asked by her publisher to do a column about dating, she figures she can kill two birds with one stone and attend a similar event to the one Madeleine attended and discreetly question the men there about who she may have connected with. This starts her on an investigation that she delves deeper and deeper into as the book goes on.
I really enjoyed this book and found it very different and interesting. For one thing, the book includes some Dr. Aster columns in it so it's kind of like a story within a story type thing, which I like. Psychology is also a subject that I myself have been interested in for years, so I'm sure that contributed to my enjoyment as well. In addition, even though the subject matter was very serious, the author still managed to interject some humor into it. My favorite line in the book, which made me laugh perhaps more than was really necessary, was when Dr. Butterman meets the detective working the case for the first time and he mistakenly calls her "Dr. Butterball."
There were some parts that were slower than others, but it is the first in the series and there were a particularly large number of characters (i.e. suspects) in this book that had to be introduced. I admit, I did not figure out who the murderer actually was until just before it was revealed in the book. There were so many suspects and so many possible motives; it was very well done.
Overall, I'd give this book a 4.5 out of 5 and would definitely recommend it.
Rebecca then begins to probe further into the case and begins to have her own doubts about whether it was suicide or murder. While digging into Madeleine's (the victim) background, she finds that she had used a particular dating service and attended an event shortly before her death. When Rebecca is then asked by her publisher to do a column about dating, she figures she can kill two birds with one stone and attend a similar event to the one Madeleine attended and discreetly question the men there about who she may have connected with. This starts her on an investigation that she delves deeper and deeper into as the book goes on.
I really enjoyed this book and found it very different and interesting. For one thing, the book includes some Dr. Aster columns in it so it's kind of like a story within a story type thing, which I like. Psychology is also a subject that I myself have been interested in for years, so I'm sure that contributed to my enjoyment as well. In addition, even though the subject matter was very serious, the author still managed to interject some humor into it. My favorite line in the book, which made me laugh perhaps more than was really necessary, was when Dr. Butterman meets the detective working the case for the first time and he mistakenly calls her "Dr. Butterball."
There were some parts that were slower than others, but it is the first in the series and there were a particularly large number of characters (i.e. suspects) in this book that had to be introduced. I admit, I did not figure out who the murderer actually was until just before it was revealed in the book. There were so many suspects and so many possible motives; it was very well done.
Overall, I'd give this book a 4.5 out of 5 and would definitely recommend it.
January 30, 2024
Was going to give this 2 stars as the main character caused me to roll my eyes so many times. But the twist at the end saved it.
October 7, 2015
Rebecca Butterman is a psychologist who moonlights as an advice columnist for Bloom! Magazine. Rebecca is still struggling to move past her recent divorce, as well as having to come to grips with a few other personal issues.
Rebecca is shocked when she learns that her next-door neighbor, Madeline, committed suicide, her body lying dead in her bathtub for two days before being discovered. Madeline’s grieving mother, Isabel, talks Rebecca into investigating the suspicious circumstances surrounding her daughter’s suicide. As Rebecca digs deeper into Madeline’s risky lifestyle and sordid background, she makes a few enemies while putting herself in danger.
Roberta Isleib creates a likable, if not somewhat flaky main character with Rebecca Butterman. Although I figured out who the culprit was very early on in the book, Rebecca was utterly clueless until the very end. Since I’d always thought a good psychologist should possess a keen sense of observation and a certain amount of common sense, I had some difficulty buying that Rebecca could be that unaware. And the tearfulness! – Not exactly a great characteristic in a psychologist.
The book dragged a bit here and there, to the point that it became boring at certain points. The funny barbs and comic relief were enjoyable, however. When it came to the part where the “culprit” is revealed, I thought the author did it a little too abruptly, and took a slightly dark turn that didn’t really reflect the rest of the book. Since this was Book One in the series, I’m hoping Books Two and Three were an improvement. Although I wasn’t overly impressed with Deadly Advice, I’d still be willing to give another one of Ms. Isleib’s books a read.
Rebecca is shocked when she learns that her next-door neighbor, Madeline, committed suicide, her body lying dead in her bathtub for two days before being discovered. Madeline’s grieving mother, Isabel, talks Rebecca into investigating the suspicious circumstances surrounding her daughter’s suicide. As Rebecca digs deeper into Madeline’s risky lifestyle and sordid background, she makes a few enemies while putting herself in danger.
Roberta Isleib creates a likable, if not somewhat flaky main character with Rebecca Butterman. Although I figured out who the culprit was very early on in the book, Rebecca was utterly clueless until the very end. Since I’d always thought a good psychologist should possess a keen sense of observation and a certain amount of common sense, I had some difficulty buying that Rebecca could be that unaware. And the tearfulness! – Not exactly a great characteristic in a psychologist.
The book dragged a bit here and there, to the point that it became boring at certain points. The funny barbs and comic relief were enjoyable, however. When it came to the part where the “culprit” is revealed, I thought the author did it a little too abruptly, and took a slightly dark turn that didn’t really reflect the rest of the book. Since this was Book One in the series, I’m hoping Books Two and Three were an improvement. Although I wasn’t overly impressed with Deadly Advice, I’d still be willing to give another one of Ms. Isleib’s books a read.
September 15, 2015
SUMMARY: Psychologist Dr. Rebecca Butterman specializes in offering snappy relationship advice to lovelorn readers of Bloom! magazine. She rarely stumbles when solving the troubles of Dazed in Dayton or Anxious in Anchorage. But when her own husband double-crosses her and her next-door neighbor dies under suspicious circumstances, Rebecca is left without answers. While writing a column on the modern singles scene, Rebecca finds herself tracing her neighbor's steps into a dark dating world she never knew existed. Can she trust her own perceptions, or will she succumb to deadly advice?
Ask Amy meets Private Practice in this smart and twisty mystery. Readers who love psychological suspense from Stephen White and cozy mysteries from Cleo Coyle and Julie Hyzy will love this first in the series with Dr. Rebecca Butterman.
REVIEW: First I would not classify this as a cozy mystery but it is not grizzly either. I liked the format with the psychologist also writing an advice column, but there was a little bit too much "psychobabble" for my liking. I felt it was a little hard to connect with Dr. Butterman as she often came across as cold and uncaring, and the number of characters who were introduced in this opening book of the series was a little overwhelming. The storyline was well plotted, although a somewhat slow start, and definitely threw in enough red herrings that I did not discover "who done it" until the very end when it was revealed. The touches of humor that were interspersed with the nosy neighbors, speed dating, and the advice columns were enjoyable.. Overall, an easy to read mystery.
Ask Amy meets Private Practice in this smart and twisty mystery. Readers who love psychological suspense from Stephen White and cozy mysteries from Cleo Coyle and Julie Hyzy will love this first in the series with Dr. Rebecca Butterman.
REVIEW: First I would not classify this as a cozy mystery but it is not grizzly either. I liked the format with the psychologist also writing an advice column, but there was a little bit too much "psychobabble" for my liking. I felt it was a little hard to connect with Dr. Butterman as she often came across as cold and uncaring, and the number of characters who were introduced in this opening book of the series was a little overwhelming. The storyline was well plotted, although a somewhat slow start, and definitely threw in enough red herrings that I did not discover "who done it" until the very end when it was revealed. The touches of humor that were interspersed with the nosy neighbors, speed dating, and the advice columns were enjoyable.. Overall, an easy to read mystery.
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