"Dead Write" a Forensic Handwriting Mystery

--- Book review

Sheila Lowe´s latest Forensic Handwriting Mystery delves into the emotionally volatile world of matchmaking and makes anything you´ve watched on reality TV seem frivolous by comparison.

After a guest appearance on a local faux-news show brings her media attention, Claudia Rose receives a job offer from Baroness Olinetsky in New York.

The Baroness, who runs a world-class matchmaking service for the rich and powerful, needs a new handwriting expert. Her previous graphologist "made bad mistakes" and there were "consequences."

Since a lot of Claudia´s work is for employers looking for good hiring matches Claudia sees how graphology could be helpful in the love-connection business. Still, something in the Baroness´ story makes Claudia hesitate.

Learning that the previous expert was her arch-rival doesn´t help. But a job is a job, and Claudia, who needs some "space" in her relationship with LAPD detective Joel Jovanic, accepts the offer.

In New York, when Claudia analyzes handwriting samples in the baroness' client files, she finds many markers for violence that her predecessor ignored. Concerned about possible problems, she brings it to her employer's attention.

Reluctantly the Baroness admits that there's been a rash of "accidental" deaths among her clients.

Considering her findings, Claudia views the deaths as highly suspicious. But alerting the police is out of the question according to the Baroness, who claims the publicity would destroy her business.

Although Miss Rose claims repeatedly that she is a graphologist and not a detective, her impressive investigative skills kick in as she works to uncover the person responsible for what she believes are four murders. But the killer has a lot to lose if caught and is determined to eliminate Claudia first.

Lowe's list of credible suspects and well-place red herrings keeps us guessing about the villain's identity till the end, and then, with only a few pages remaining, she delivers one more shocking "Kapow!"

Lowe´s expertise as a handwriting expert gives her books authenticity. From tics, t-bars and twisted loops, to dot grinding and word crowding, readers get a fascinating insider look at the tools and techniques used in graphology. It might even prompt them to look for homicidal tendencies in their own handwriting.

Note: Loyal readers to the series will see one of Claudia´s dark fantasies realized in this book. Hooray!

Visit the author´s web sites at, www.claudiaroseseries.com and www.sheilalowe.com