Bad Behavior

by Jacqueline Vick

“Vick can inject humor into a death scene while simultaneously providing an important clue.” Be careful what you wish for. It drives Nicholas Harlow crazy that his brother, Edward, the secret author of the Aunt Civility etiquette books, refuses to attend publicity events, instead opting to give lectures to like-minded societies as the allegedly agoraphobic Auntie's representative. When Nicholas tricks him into a public speaking event, the attendees include Edward’s former college English professor – a smarmy Lothario with his own book to hawk. Then the professor dies in a spectacularly public manner, and his last act is to point an accusatory finger at his former student. When Edward is brought in for questioning in front of the local paper’s star reporter, Nicholas adds damage control to a growing list of responsibilities that includes pegging the appropriate party for murder. But when he develops feelings for one suspects that no respectable sleuth should have, the investigation jumps off the rails. Unfortunately, the killer remains on course, and it’s only a matter of time before the brothers must make hard decisions in order to deliver justice.

Join the Harlow Brothers for another romp through murderous suspects, romantic possibilities, and the ever-present sibling rivalry.

384 pages, Paperback

Published January 25, 2021

About the author

Jacqueline Vick writes mysteries that include farcical situations and satirical humor. She writes about characters who are reluctant to accept their greatest (and often embarrassing) gifts.

She is the author of THE FRANKIE CHANDLER PET PSYCHIC MYSTERIES about a woman who, after faking her psychic abilities for years, discovers animals can communicate with her. The series evolved out of her desperate attempts to train a rescued mutt with fear-based aggression. Two visits with animal communicators inspired the article Calling All Canine Clairvoyants for Fido Friendly Magazine.

Her second series is THE HARLOW BROTHER MYSTERIES, featuring brothers Edward and Nicholas Harlow. Edward, a former college linebacker, now ghost writes the Aunt Civility etiquette books. Nicholas is his secretary and general dogsbody.

Her first mystery, Family Matters, was a semifinalist in the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Competition. Her short stories have appeared in numerous publications, including Future Mystery Anthology Magazine and The Best of Everyday Fiction Two Anthology. Her novella, Lovely As, was a finalist for the Black Orchid Novella Contest.

When she isn’t writing, Jacqueline enjoys acting as the neighborhood dog sitter and testing new recipes on her long-suffering husband.

Reviews

[Bonnie Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder in a bookstore starts this second book in the Harlow Brothers mystery series, with Edward Harlow’s book signing interrupted by the death of his former college professor—a death eventually ruled homicide. Edward is a prime suspect, but his brother/front man Nicholas sets out to clear Edward’s name. Sibling rivalry abounds in this novel, and it provides some comic relief from the grim task of crime solving. The settings are well described without overburdening the narrative—just enough details to help the reader step inside the world of the story, and the cast of easy-to-distinguish characters provides ample suspects. Several plot twists propel the story to a satisfying conclusion, but clues to the surprise ending are cleverly planted along the way so that I didn’t feel cheated by the end. And I have to add that only an author like Vick can inject humor into a death scene while simultaneously providing an important clue as to the perpetrator.