The last person that Dr. Rebecca Butterman expects to
receive a phone call from in the middle of the night is her
minister, Reverend Wesley Sandifer. Her thoughts
automatically turn to her family and tragedy; however,
Wesley is calling for her help. Rebecca bundles up and
travels to the hospital to offer support for Wesley while
he talks to the police. It seems he found a member of
their congregation, Lacy Bailes, unresponsive, and now he
is a suspect in her murder. Lacy was the head of a
committee looking for a new assistant pastor, and the
reverend was meeting with her to discuss their progress.
Could Reverend Wesley have poisoned Lacy? What possible
motive could he have? If he didn't kill her, then who did?
The reverend asks Rebecca to fill in as chair of the
committee. He is persistent, and she agrees. The
committee is urged to choose a new assistant minister as
soon as possible, and Rebecca is left looking for the notes
that Lacy had meticulously taken on each of the
candidates. They are nowhere to be found. Juggling the
committee, her advice column, her regular job as
psychologist, and trying to understand her feelings for the
married detective on the case, leaves her little time to
concentrate on her sleuthing. She is keeping a wary eye on
the members of the church as more and more bizarre events
occur. She never expected to become a target herself, but
it is becoming more apparent that someone in the church is
capable of murder. Who could possibly have killed Lacy?
Why are they targeting her?
Roberta Isleib has written a fully satisfying mystery. It
contains the right amount of suspense and wit to keep the
reader intrigued and glued to the pages. Rebecca Butterman
is a lovable heroine who is interested in Detective Meigs,
a married man. Her friends and family are amusing, and
there is another possible love interest thrown in the mix.
Add to that the church members and the possible ministerial
candidates, and that makes the perfect recipe for murder.
PREACHING TO THE CORPSE is a fun and exciting mystery that
will take you for a ride.
When Dr. Butterman's minister is charged with murder, she
uncovers
cutthroat church politics. It seems the "thou shalt not
kill" tenet has
a qualifier: "...unless thou art eliminating the
competition."
