Sunday, December 20, 2009

Dead Air by Mary Kennedy


When a psychologist hits Florida's airwaves, there's no telling who she's reaching...

...and there's no telling who wants to reach back.


Maggie left her clinical practice in Manhattan and moved to sunny Cypress Grove, Florida, where she became host of WYME's "On the Couch with Maggie Walsh." From co-dependent wives to fetish fiends, all the local crazies love her show.

Then threats start pouring in against one of the station's special guests-self-styled new age prophet Guru Sanjay Gingii. When one of the threats becomes a deadly reality, Maggie's new roommate, Lark, is surprisingly the prime suspect. Now, Maggie has to prove Lark innocent while dealing with a killer who needs more than just therapy...

Maggie Walsh is a licensed PhD psychologist who gave up her Manhattan practice to become a radio "shrink" in Cypress Grove Florida. She fields call from women who are looking for advice on how to get out of an abusive relationship to an irate man who defends his life as a "furrie" (people who dress up as animals and have sex with each other).

"On the Couch with Maggie Walsh" frequently has special guests sit in for her talk show. Guru Sanjay Gingii is a new age prophet with a huge following. Maggie's roommate Lark is on the Guru bandwagon too. And when she finds out that he's staying at the inn right next door to their condo, well she MUST go over and meet him. Everyone seems to be in love with him. Until that is, he's found dead in his hotel room. Guess he isn't as loved as everyone thought! Unfortunately Lark is the last person seen going into the Guru's room and that makes her the polices prime suspect. Maggie knows that Lark had nothing to do with the Guru's death and will stop at nothing to prove her innocence. She begins to investigate on her own - much to the dislike of the very handsome detective Rafe Martino. Miriam is the Guru's right hand "man" who is about to be replaced by someone younger. Kathryn Sinclair is the mother of a young girl who went to one of the Guru's retreats and has never been the same physically or emotionally since. Lenore Cooper is the Guru's ex-wife, the driving force behind getting him where he is today. Together they wrote numerous bestsellers and had the world in their hands. Now she can barely get anyone to attend her book signings, and blames it all on Sanjay. Travis is one of the Guru's trusted employees who was cheated out of what could be millions. Working for years on his book. he mentions it to the Guru, who ends up turning in it as his own work, robbing Travis of the fame he believes he has earned. Ray Hicks is not in a forgiving mood. He purchased a house from the Guru on the bay, only to have it ripped right out from under him - taken by the City by eminent domain. Causing him to not only lose his new home but his money as well. And he's conviced the Guru knew what was going to happen and the whole thing was a scam. Despite being bashed on the head and receiving threatening phone calls, Maggie is deteremined to find out who the real killer is. But will she be able to figure it out before she becomes the next victim?

Dead Air is filled with a fantastic cast of characters. Maggie is young, smart and refreshing. Vera Mae is Maggie's redneck producer who also has some witty comment and always has Maggie's back. Ted is the love-sick owner of the Inn next door where the Guru is staying. He has it bad for Maggie, but she's just not into him. Lark is Maggie's roommate who is quiet, into all things "new-age", has a shocking secret in her past and is the prime suspect in a murder. Rafe Martino is the hottie detective assigned to the case. He is not happy with Maggie's involvement in the case, but might he want her involved in his life???? And then there is Lola ~ Maggie's mother. What a hoot!! A TV/Movie star who has played in a role for every situation they find them selves in (from a Russian hypnotist to a nurse who has dealt with a patient with a concussion). She will have you in stitches!

Dead Air is the excellent start to the Talk Radio Mystery series. The characters are fresh, fun and exciting. The story moves along quickly and constantly holds your attention. There are plenty of suspects to keep you guessing right up until the very end. And just the perfect hint of sexual tension to keep you turning the pages to find out what, if anything happens. I will definitely be tuning into to the next book in the series,
Reel Murder: A Talk Radio Mystery, due out on June 1st.




1 comment:

Mary Kennedy said...

So glad you liked DEAD AIR, Lori. I really enjoyed writing it and it gave me a chance to explore all my favorite south Florida settings. Sunmy days, ocean breezes and mojitos--all in the name of research!!