The Fifth Reflection: A Dot Meyerhoff Mystery

At the outset of Kirschman’s loosely plotted, angst-filled third outing for consulting psychologist Dot Meyerhoff (after 2015’s The Right Wrong Thing), police chief Pence, of the Kenilworth (Calif.) PD, appoints Manuel Ochoa, a dedicated young officer, to the county’s Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Dot is concerned that Manny may not be ready for this difficult job. Meanwhile, JoAnn “JJ” Juliette, a photographer whose art consists of provocative and controversial nude pictures of her own children, asks her photography student Frank, Dot’s fiancé, for help when her two-year-old daughter, Chrissy, goes missing. The police, led by Manny, investigate Chrissy’s father, a wealthy venture capitalist, and his wife, as well as JJ and known pedophiles. When Chrissy’s body is found, the pressure increases on everyone. Using her skills as a psychologist and then as amateur sleuth, Dot unmasks a surprising but unlikely team of bad guys. [em]Agent: Cynthia Zigmund, Second City Publishing. (July) [/em]