MURDEROUS MEANS by Lida Sideris

Fiction, Mystery, 315 pages

4****

Blurb: Corrie Locke may not be the best rookie lawyer in town, but when it comes to catching a killer, let’s just say, she’s got enough skills to bring a band of shifty-eyed suspects to their knees. When the wealthy matriarch of the dysfunctional Means family dies in her sleep, Corrie’s hired to prove the death was anything but peaceful. Problem is, the only evidence she has to go on is a half-baked psychic vision that the matriarch was murdered. To put the matter to rest, Corrie sets her sights on proving the psychic’s a fraud. After all, everyone knows psychics are crack-pots. But what should be a simple investigation morphs into something deadly. The deeper Corrie digs, the more bizarre truths are revealed. Tempers rise as she trails a cunning killer who will do whatever it takes to shut the investigation down before the real truth comes to light. It’s up to Corrie to catch a killer… who’s about to strike again.

Thoughts: There is a lot going on in this murder mystery. At first, P.I. Corrie Locke isn’t even sure there was a murder, but as she delves deeper into the death of the oldest member of the Means family—a family I certainly do not want to be a member of! Talk about sibling rivalry! I loved how Corrie gets her partner Michael to come across as a psychic through subterfuge and logic. There are so many twists and turns—and suspects to this story, I was kept guessing until the very end. Unlike most cozy mysteries, the sleuth in this one is actually a P.I. And she has a good relationship with the cops. 

Recommendation: Recommended. This one will keep you guessing until the end. Nicely done.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”