Preaching to the Corpse

Connecticut is the setting for a surprisingly small number of mysteries, compared to its sister state New Jersey. (Then again people seldom make fun of Connecticut, so it all evens out). It's true that Connecticut is the third smallest state in area, but it is fairly thickly populated, and has a variety of classic mystery settings -- gritty cities, ritzy suburbs, small towns, museums, colleges and prep schools -- and churches!
When I saw that Roberta Isleib's second "Advice Column Mystery" dealt with a church pastoral search committee, I knew this was the book I wanted to read. My church (the same denomination as the one in her book) is currently seeking an interim minister and will soon be forming a search committee for a settled show more pastor; and my daughter recently graduated from seminary and is awaiting (or pursuing) her first call. I hope our respective search committees don't run into the same problems as the one at Shoreline Congregational Church did in the book!
Isleib's protagonist, Dr. Rebecca Butterman, is a recently divorced psychologist who sees patients but also writes an advice column. In a previous book she's made the acquaintance of a local, attractive, and unavailable policeman. A middle of the night phone call from him summons her to the hospital, where the head of her church's search committee has just died, after being found by the minister, who's very distraught. (The search is for an associate minister,) Reverend Wesley (Wesley is his first name) prevails on Rebecca to take on the chairship of the committee. She is also concerned to clear Rev. Wesley of suspicion, since he was the last to see the poisoning victim alive and hence is a major suspect.
Her policeman friend asks her to keep her eyes open, but of course she gets into a bit of trouble carrying her investigation farther than he would like. During the course of the investigation, Rebecca will learn a lot of secrets and deal with many of the major issues facing churches today. She will also see clients, meet deadlines, deal with family issues, start dating, and -- oh yes -- it's Christmastime. I felt Isleib kept a nice balance between the mystery elements and the other aspects of Rebecca's daily life.
The setting, a small-town area east of New Haven, is depicted realistically as far as I can tell (I lived west of New Haven for several years as a child and teenager.) I was a little surprised at the apparent condo-ization of eastern Long Island Sound, but then I remembered what's happened to my hometown area here in Maine and realized the same thing probably applies there. Except for a couple of minor quibbles which I'll communicate privately, I felt that the author did an amazingly good job with the ins and outs of Congregational (United Church of Christ) polity and the way churches work in general. I enjoyed the book greatly and will look forward to reading more "Advice Column Mysteries." I would definitely recommend this one. show less

When psychologist /advice columnist Dr. Rebecca Butterman gets a call in the middle of the night from the minister of her church she is not only thrust into a murder mystery (her minister found a parishioner dead in her home) but church politics. The deceased parishioner was a member of a search committee looking for a new assistant pastor and Rebecca takes her place on the committee. Rebecca soon learns how competitive and hostile church politics can be, not to mention dangerous. Rebecca is working with Detective Jack Meigs to solve the case - and fighting her attraction to the married detective.

"Preaching to the Corpse" is the wonderfully done second book in Roberta Isleib's Advice Column mystery series (the first is Deadly Advice show more (An Advice Column Mystery)). Dr. Rebecca Butterman is one of my favorite fictional characters - she is one of the most complex, well-written characters in a mystery series. She is a psychologist who tries to help other people while she is struggling with her own issues. Divorced, she is still puzzled by her relationship with her ex-husband while struggling with her attraction to Detective Meigs. She is also trying to track down her long lost father, much to the dismay of her sister. I liked the fact that Rebecca is aware of her shortcomings, she is a very human and realistic character. The series takes place in Guilford, Connecticut and the town is as much a character in the book as the humans are. The behind the scene activities of church life are nicely done. The mystery elements are also well done - it is nicely plotted with plenty of suspects and the motive for the murder is believable if sad.

"Preaching to the Corpse" is a good mystery for those that like mysteries with a bit of grit but not a lot of violence. Well done. show less

Pshychologist/advice columnist Dr. Rebecca Butterman's phone rang in the middle of the night. The minister of her church is in custody after visiting someone at home--and finding her dead. The murdered woman was the leader of a search committee charged with finding a new assistant pastor after the quick departure of the previous one. Rebecca discovers that the committee was divided between the applicants and wonders if someone had plotted to eliminate the competition. Putting her analytical skills to work, she plans to track a killer, all while resisting the urge to break a commandment with a married detective while praying she's not the next intended victim.

Fabulous psychological suspense story and definite good read for all mystery show more lovers. show less

In a word: OK

*possible subtle spoilers*

While I enjoyed the mystery part of this book and the setting (Christmas time in New England) I didn't really like the heroine much. The heroine is Dr. Rebecca Butterman, a divorced successful psychologist who writes an advice column. What I didn't like about her, was she was so judgemental of people. She came across as being self righteous and looking down her nose at the people around her. I didn't like that. Also, she was crushing on a married cop whose wife was dying of Lou Gehrig's disease- how freaking low can a person go? Every time she saw him she'd blush like crazy and act all stupid. The guy wasn't showing any interest in her that way, yet she acted like a little school girl around him. show more Totally irritating.

While I couldn't solve the "who-done-it" mystery part (which is a good thing, I hate figuring it out early in a mystery book), the mystery its self was sort of ... bizarre. I just didn't see why anyone would commit murder just to keep a good preacher in their church. That made no sense to me. I was thinking there was some deep dark secret as to why someone would be murdering people or trying to murder people and the only reason given was the preacher was so good, the nut job didn't want someone else taking over. Total disappointment.

What carried the book for me, was the setting and the numerous 'could-be' killer characters. There were a few people who looked like they might have motive and that carried the mystery along. Unfortunately for this book, the people with the 'might have motive' ended up having far better motives to commit murder than the actual murderer. It was just weird and disappointing.

This was the second book in a series and I did not read the first book. Perhaps I would have liked it better if I had, but this was a stand alone mystery so it should have worked, but it did not.

The best thing about the book: the cover art show less

Dr. Rebecca Butterman receives a frantic phone call in the middle of the night from her pastor. One of the parishioners was murdered and he's in police custody. After being questioned and released by the police, Reverend Wesley asks Rebecca to fill the Lacy's empty position. Lacy was the chair of the search committee to hire a new assistant pastor. Rebecca agrees hoping this will lead to clues to solving Lacy's murder. Was Lacy killed over her choice for the new assistant pastor? It's up to Rebecca to find out before the killer silences her vote too.

Quick read, not quite as entertaining as I thought it would be, but I still liked it.

I especially enjoyed the psychologist as protagonist.