cover image Dead Air

Dead Air

Mary Kennedy, . . Obsidian, $6.99 (313pp) ISBN 978-0-451-22877-2

Clinical psychologist and young adult author Kennedy (Secrets of a South Beach Princess ) ventures into the amateur sleuth world with this slight mystery. Licensed psychologist Dr. Maggie Walsh, recently relocated to Cypress Grove, Fla., hosts On the Couch with Maggie Walsh on radio station WYME. When charismatic, dishonest New Age prophet Sanjay Gingii appears on the show and then dies in a suspicious manner a few hours later, Maggie's roommate is named the prime suspect, but Maggie soon learns that plenty of other people had means and motives to do Gingii in. Maggie's occasional professional observations and budding romance with Det. Rafe Martino give the series room to continue, but Kennedy will have to develop Maggie's sometimes shallow personality and give more weight to the supporting characters—other than Maggie's spectacular actress mother, Lola, who outshines them all—to keep readers coming back. (Jan.)