Publisher's Weekly Review
In Hechtman's winning sequel to 2021's Murder Ink, freelance writer Veronica Blackstone welcomes the steady work of helping wealthy Maeve Winslow, the wife of art sensation Michael Angel, write her tell-all autobiography. Maeve has a big secret to reveal, but just days after starting the job, Veronica is horrified to find Maeve's lifeless body at the bottom of a steep stairway at her home in an exclusive Chicago suburb. Determined to finish writing Maeve's story despite threats from Maeve's charming yet ruthless husband, Maeve's greedy stepdaughter, and a YouTube influencer who's been profiting handsomely since discovering Michael and promoting his eye-catching paintings of an adorable Scottish terrier. Veronica could really use the help of her boyfriend, police officer Ben Monroe, in investigating what becomes a murder case, but he's out of the picture now that his not-quite-ex-wife is back. If Veronica can't discover who killed Maeve, the murderer might just have the last word. An appealing lead matches the intriguing plot. Mystery fans would do well to add Hechtman's sleuthing wordsmith to their reading lists. Agent: Jessica Faust, Bookends Literary. (Aug.)
Kirkus Review
A professional writer has an unfortunate propensity to get involved in murder. Veronica Blackstone has just finished her second detective novel following the modest success of her first, but she can't live on the proceeds. To supplement her income, she runs a weekly writers group and also hires herself out to write everything from love notes to descriptions of ice cream flavors. She hopes that an upcoming interview with Maeve Winslow, who's looking for help writing her memoir, may lead to a rewarding partnership. When she shows up at Maeve's house for her first appointment, though, the door is opened by a rude woman who tells her Maeve isn't home. Meanwhile, Veronica continues her low-key romance with Ben, her downstairs neighbor's police officer brother and a member of the writers group. But when Ben leaves a meeting without having read his work and then tells Veronica he "can't do this anymore," with no explanation, she's crushed. When she finally meets Maeve, she learns that her client is an art teacher who's married to a painter whose pictures of his childhood Scottie have become wildly popular, having been touted by an influencer who's selling T-shirts and posters of the artworks. Maeve eventually hands Veronica a pile of papers and a diary and explains that she's been secretive so far in order to keep the book a surprise from her nosy neighbors. By now, Veronica has everything she needs to complete the memoir except the ending, which Maeve tells her she may figure out for herself. When she finds Maeve dead after a supposedly accidental fall, she suspects that Maeve may have been marked for murder. Plenty of interesting characters add zest to a tale of murder and romantic pitfalls. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Writer-for-hire Veronica Blackstone, who has been reduced to penning restaurant menus and letters for the lovelorn, is thrilled when Maeve Winslow hires her to assist her on her memoir. Maeve insists on secrecy, only giving Veronica handwritten pages with her attempts at the narrative, along with notes and journal entries. When they meet in person, Maeve says, she will flesh out this information, ending with a big reveal. Unfortunately, Veronica finds Maeve dead before their first working session. Veronica is contractually required to finish the job, even against the objections of Maeve's husband, a well-known artist. A suspect herself, Veronica is determined to complete her assignment and clear herself of suspicion; to do that, she interviews people who knew Maeve, ultimately finding herself both sleuth and writer. Complicating matters, her blossoming relationship with cop Ben Monroe seems to be unraveling. An immersive first-person narration, a fascinating look at the life of a freelancer, and a believable romance distinguish this cozy, which is only marred by the fact that Veronica unbelievably forgets she removed a critical piece of evidence from the scene.
