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

"Are you all right?" He made a move toward Isobel and slammed into the conference table. Pain rocketed through his thigh. "Shit!"


Rubbing his leg, he sank to his knees next to the older woman and checked her. "She's breathing."


He grabbed it from his coat pocket and thrust it at Isobel. 


"Stay with her while I call the police," she said. "I have to check on Katrina. She's knocked out in the kitchen."


But Isobel was gone. He shifted into a sitting position, his stomach clenched in knots. Even though Dorothy was alive, he was afraid she might still cross to the other side just to spite him. He wouldn't have blamed her. 


Her eyelids fluttered and drooped again. "You," she moaned.


Isobel returned a few moments later, still speaking into the phone. "Yes, Detective O'Connor. This is his case... And an ambulance!" She handed the phone back to him. "Katrina's still out. Dorothy drugged her."


Chapter 47