Publicist to the stars Lindsey Alexander is found floating in her hot tub in her luxurious penthouse apartment. At the post-funeral reception, Claudia Rose, handwriting analyst and former friend to Lindsey, is hired to determine if Lindsey wrote the so-called suicide note found near her body. The police have written it off as suicide, but Lindsey's business partner, Ivan Novak, has his doubts.

Shortly after Claudia is hired, mysterious and frightening events begin to occur. Someone does not want Lindsey's death looked into. When a vicious attack strikes someone close to Lindsey, Claudia becomes even more determined to uncover the truth behind Lindsey's death, the attack and other happenings. However, a hunky police detective may have something to say about Claudia's investigations.

Who wanted Lindsey dead and why? Granted, she made numerous enemies in her lifetime, but who hated Lindsey enough to kill her? Are Claudia's friends, Kelly Brennan and Zebediah Gold, really possible suspects? Is the killer behind the mysterious events and brutal attack? Just what secrets are in Lindsey's closet? And were they worth killing over?

POISON PEN is a tautly penned mystery that will leave readers guessing to the very end. I didn't figure out the solution to the mystery until the last minute. Sprinkled throughout are tidbits about Claudia's profession and her cases. Handwriting analysis is an interesting craft that's part science and part psychology. Ms. Lowe definitely knows her stuff, being a handwriting expert herself. Give this one a try if you like intriguing contemporary mysteries. I'm definitely looking forward to the second book in the series coming this fall.

Book Summary

Before her body was found floating in her Jacuzzi, publicist-to-the-stars Lindsey Alexander had few friends, but plenty of lovers. To her ex-friend-forensic handwriting expert Claudia Rose-she was a ruthless, back-stabbing manipulator. But even Claudia is shocked by Lindsey's startling final note: "It was fun while it lasted!" It would be easier on the police-and Claudia-to write it off as suicide. But Claudia's instincts push her to investigate further, and she quickly finds herself entangled in a far darker scenario than she bargained for. Racing to identify a killer, Claudia soon has a price on her head-and unless she can read the handwriting on the wall, she will become the next victim.