Author: Sheila Lowe

ISBN: 13:978-0977627608

Sheila Lowe's first venture into the world of mystery writing is set in California where forensic handwriting expert Claudia Rose is on a quest to find out the cause of death of her friend, Lindsey Alexander. Did Lindsey commit suicide or was she a murder victim after her body had been discovered submerged in water in her bathroom Jacuzzi?

A suicide note in block printing with the following message: “IT WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED” was recovered from the floor beside Lindsey's Jacuzzi. The coroner's report pointed out that Lindsey had sufficient drugs and booze in her system to impair seriously someone even twice her weight. Consequently, with the suicide note and the coroner's opinion, the police were convinced that there was no foul play involved in the death of Lindsey Alexander and they decided not to further pursue the matter.

However, Lindsey's close friend and business manager, Ivan Novak is not convinced that Lindsey committed suicide. He emphatically declares to Claudia, “Lindsey may have planned her funeral, but one thing she never planned was to kill herself.” According to Ivan, it couldn't have been Lindsey's writing as she never printed nor did she ever write in black ink and she wouldn't have used the company letterhead.

Ivan persuades Claudia to use her talents as a handwriting expert to prove that Lindsey didn't write the suicide note. Apparently, the insurance companies are refusing to pay if Lindsey did in fact take her own life. Claudia reluctantly takes on the assignment notwithstanding that she and Lindsey were not exactly the best of friends.

Our mystery begins to take shape with a desperate follow-up call from Ivan to Claudia insisting that she must meet with him at Lindsey's place as he has something important to give to her. Apparently, he had found a letter from Lindsey's psychologist, Doctor Zebediah, Gold written to her that may contain some useful clues. He also found some tapes that he wanted Claudia to hold for him. Unfortunately, someone was not too pleased that Ivan was involving himself in Lindsey's death and when Claudia reached Lindsey's apartment, she was horrified to find that he was viciously attacked.

Joel Janovic is the lead detective assigned to investigate the ferocious assault and subsequent death of Ivan. During his preliminary investigation at Lindsey’s apartment Janovic meets and interrogates Claudia concerning Ivan’s unfortunate beating.  Claudia tells Janovic that Ivan worked for Lindsey and Janovic replies that he is aware of Lindsey's case. He then goes onto ask Claudia as to what makes her so sure that Lindsey's case isn't related to the attack on Ivan. Claudia counters, “What makes you think it is?” From this point onwards the duo work together in trying to find out what actually happened to Lindsey and Ivan.

The investigation leads to some very disturbing findings concerning Lindsey's behavior and personality. Although she may have been a successful publicist to the rich and famous, her character was from being impeccable.

Perhaps, some of her shortcomings could be attributed to having been molested when she was nine years of age. As an adult, she became involved in operating a kinky-sex bordello in the basement of a house located in the desert. It is here where she played the dominant role in sado-masochistic sexual encounters with some high profile men.  Moreover, Lindsey videotaped these encounters and blackmailed her victims into paying her in money or drugs. No doubt, this would be cause enough to have her knocked off, especially if among her clients was a senator who had presidential aspirations, a renowned plastic surgeon, and a priest.  All this leads us to an interesting premise but ultimately the novel jolts us with a very surprising ending that ties everything together.

Poison Pen is a perfectly paced mystery with an easy fluidity that propels the reader through the story at break-neck speed. Lowe's scenes work on all levels. Her characters are believable, particularly Claudia, and you know you have a winner when readers, after putting down the book, will take a moment or two to realize that the characters are only an illusion.

Lowe is a handwriting analyst with thirty-five years of experience, which explains why Claudia's voice is the most natural when Lowe effectively blends an inventive story with detail insights in the profession of handwriting analysis. Happily, Sheila Lowe is writing another mystery, Written in Blood, so readers will have another opportunity to hook up with this great new fictional character.

The above review of the Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) was contributed by:  NORM GOLDMAN:  Retired Title Attorney: Editor & Publisher of Bookpleasures. Here are more of   Norm Goldman's Reviews       

 To read Norm's Interview With Sheila Lowe CLICK HERE