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

James knew as soon as he and Isobel parted ways at Dove & Flight that he'd never make it to his AA meeting, which was a real problem. The temptation to stop in at his local dive was more powerful than it had been in a while. It seemed that in spite of her whole song and dance about believing in him, Isobel thought he was lying about Katrina dating Jason. Even though Jayla was the source of the information, it still came down to Isobel not trusting him, despite her protestations to the contrary.


When he emerged from the subway, he closed his eyes, counted to one hundred, and went home to get his gym bag. Working out often defused his desire for a drink. The trick was getting to the gym, because the impulse to drink didn't always coincide with his proximity to barbells. But as he left his apartment, he felt a rush just from holding his gym bag. He would make it this time. He was strong, in control, and free of burdensome females.


Chapter 30