Author:
Writer, singer and actor Joanne Sydney Lessner draws on her own experiences pursuing a performing career in New York City for her acclaimed Isobel Spice Mysteries. With her husband, composer/conductor Joshua Rosenblum, she has co-authored several musicals, including the cult hit Fermat’s Last Tango and Einstein’s Dreams, based on the celebrated novel by Alan Lightman, opening Off Broadway in November 2019. Her play Critical Mass received its Off Broadway premiere in October 2010. Joanne is also a regular contributor to Opera News and a graduate of Yale University.

In the world of PR, there’s only one crime worse than killing a deal—killing a client. 

Aspiring actress and office temp Isobel Spice finds a warm welcome at Dove & Flight Public Relations, thanks to her old school friend Katrina Campbell. However, the atmosphere chills considerably when Isobel unwittingly serves an important client a deadly dose of poisoned coffee. Her stalwart temp agent, James Cooke, rushes to her aid, but balks when he learns that the victim was the fraternity brother who got him expelled from college. News that Dove & Flight is being acquired by an international conglomerate quickly supplants the murder as the hot topic of office gossip, but Isobel is convinced the two events are related. When all roads of inquiry lead back to Katrina, Isobel is forced to consider the possibility that her friend’s killer instincts go beyond public relations.

Bad Publicity

The rumble started down the hall and rolled toward Isobel's desk, gathering additional voices until it finally erupted into loud, creatively turned f-bombs from the small group gathered around her centrally located computer.


Kit Blanchard shook her exquisitely highlighted head. "Five points in ten minutes!"


Dorothy Berman gazed at the screen in wonder. "I've never seen anything like it."


"We are so screwed," Liz said under her breath.


"Who made the calls yesterday?" Aaron asked, looking around. His voice trembled and his face was deathly pale under his black beard. "Who confirmed the reporters covering MacBride's?"


Isobel meekly held up her hand. "I did."


The group pulled away from her as one, eyeing her with a mixture of pity and horror.


"Katrina asked me to take care of it," Isobel added quickly. The others shifted their gaze to Katrina, who seethed in Isobel's direction, but Aaron kept his eyes fixed on Isobel.


"What exactly did you say to the guy at the AP?"


Chapter 24