Aspiring author Dr. Myaisha Douglas joined the Greensboro Women of Color Writing Group hoping to publish her writing, and never expecting to play amateur sleuth in a real-life murder mystery.
When someone murders a friend and member of the group, Myaisha believes she can help the police solve the crime. An avid mystery fan, she relies on the skills she gained from those stories to catch the killer.
Though determined to get justice for her friend, the amateur detective soon regrets her involvement when the deceased’s corruption and illegal dealings become public. The police warn Myaisha to stop investigating when their prime suspect is also murdered.
Drawn back into the case after the police charge another member of the group with murder, Myaisha uses her medical knowledge—and years as an armchair detective—to solve the homicide without becoming another victim.
Aspiring author Dr. Myaisha Douglas joined the Greensboro Women of Color Writing Group hoping to publish her writing, and never expecting to play amateur sleuth in a real-life murder mystery.
When someone murders a friend and member of the group, Myaisha believes she can help the police solve the crime. An avid mystery fan, she relies on the skills she gained from those stories to catch the killer.
Though determined to get justice for her friend, the amateur detective soon regrets her involvement when the deceased’s corruption and illegal dealings become public. The police warn Myaisha to stop investigating when their prime suspect is also murdered.
Drawn back into the case after the police charge another member of the group with murder, Myaisha uses her medical knowledge—and years as an armchair detective—to solve the homicide without becoming another victim.
She had dreamed of this moment, fantasized about it. But now, viewing the person she had wished dead splayed across the office floor … Her breath caught in her throat, stung by stomach acid. Hand trembling, she kneeled down and reached for the blue silk blouse. She froze, mesmerized by a spot where blood oozed onto the fabric. As she gaped, the dead woman’s eyelids fluttered.
Startled, she stumbled backward onto her buttocks, bumping up against a chair next to the desk. On hands and knees, she crawled forward along the floor, scrutinizing the face. The woman’s unseeing, glazed eyes never deviated, fixated on the ceiling. Disturbed by the image, she drew down the eyelids, careful not to touch any blood.
Cheap metal cabinets hugged the walls on both sides of the room. She scanned the space, considered whether to search for the documents or depart. A rich fragrance choked the air. The walls, eerily silent, pressed down upon her. The HVAC system kicked in. Cold pricked her skin and goose bumps erupted along her arms. Seconds ticked by. She struggled to remain calm.
The room simultaneously expanded and contracted when she stood. Her hand instinctively reached for the revolver inside her purse. Instead of engendering confidence, the cool, steely weapon instilled fear.
The office should’ve been empty. She couldn’t ransack the place with a dead body present, even if the deceased had been someone she loathed. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Did anyone hear the shot? She observed the areas where she stepped. Without thinking, her hand reached forward to shut the door. Fingerprints. She jerked her hand away and fled, leaving the office door ajar.
Deposited from the stairwell on the first floor, she hid behind a large plastic tree. A handful of people paraded through the lobby. At the building’s entrance, a woman stood next to automatic doors beside the handicap ramp.
In the opposite direction, she spotted a red neon exit sign shining like a beacon. Head down, pacing quickly, she crossed the lobby and escaped from the rear of the building.
Humid summer air smacked against her face. The sudden warmth caused more sweating. Before the door slammed shut, she raced across a small patch of pine trees separating the office complex from an adjacent shopping center. Her gait slowed. She intermingled with shoppers, crossing the parking lot toward her car.
Inside, she locked the car door, wiped her forehead, and leaned back against the headrest. Fear reeked from her pores, perspiration soaked her shirt. Bile refluxed in the back of her throat, leaving a bitter taste. She craved water.
Her heart rate slowed as she counted backward from ten, sweeping the area with her gaze and checking the surroundings. She listened for police sirens, while considering where to ditch the gun.
Murder is Revealing: A Write Club Mystery by Michelle Corbier introduces readers to a new mystery series that revolves around the Greensboro Women of Color Writing Group.Â
Dr. Myaisha Douglas is an avid reader of mysteries and an aspiring writer. Fueled by her passion for words, Myaisha has been working on expanding the writing club started by two of her friends by finding a more permanent space to attract new members. She is optimistic that she knows just the right person to ask for help. Candace, her friend from college, is a successful real estate agent who comes up with the perfect place for the writing group to set up. However, shortly after their first meeting in their new location, Myaisha finds her friend Candace shot dead in her office. Â
Myaisha soon discovers that her friend might not have been the person she thought she was. Candace's real estate dealings are turning out to be shady and underhanded, and the list of people she's crossed is getting longer and longer. Now Myaisha is embroiled in a real-life mystery and realizes that solving a murder is not quite like reading about it in a book. Will Detective Todd Gamble be an ally in her investigation, or will he see her as a primary suspect since she discovered the body! Â
I love "books about books," so I was sure it would be right up my alley, and I was not wrong. It is a solid first novel, and while the book is a bit shaky initially, Corbier finds her stride and style as the story progresses. There is a stack of potential suspects to throw red herrings in the way of figuring out who the murderer is, and Corbier ties up the storyline nicely. Myaisha is a likeable protagonist, and there is a good dynamic with Detective Gamble, which will be interesting to see how things develop in what I expect will be a well-received cozy mystery series.