Book Review: SUICIDAL SUSPICIONS (Kate Huntington Series #8) by Kassandra Lamb

Synopsis

Psychotherapist Kate Huntington is rocked to the core when one of her clients commits suicide. How can this be? The woman, who suffered from bipolar disorder, had been swinging toward a manic state. The client’s family is threatening to sue for malpractice, and Kate can’t fault them since she blames herself. How could she have missed the signs?

Searching for answers for herself and the grieving parents, Kate discovers some details that don’t quite fit. Is it possible the client didn’t take her own life, or is that just wishful thinking? Questioning her professional judgement, and at times her own sanity, she feels compelled to investigate. What she finds stirs up her old ambivalence about the Catholic Church. Is her client’s death somehow related to her childhood parish?

When she senses that someone is following her, she wonders if she is truly losing it. Or is she getting dangerously close to someone’s secrets?

Review

In the latest of the Kate Huntington series, one of Kate's clients commits suicide.  As with any therapist, Kate experiences guilt and self-doubt. As she tries to understand how she missed signs, she begins to question whether this was suicide or only staged to look like suicide. Her need to know the answer leads her to places and people she hasn't thought about in a long time.  

As with the others in this series, Lamb does a good job of weaving the tale and moving the plot forward. Kate's motivation is genuine, complex, and drives her actions. Although part of a series, this can be read as a stand alone. I've enjoyed the rest of the series so I'd suggest starting at the beginning.  

AMAZON

Books in the Series  AMAZON LINK FOR ALL 8

Multiple Motives

Ill-Timed Entanglements

Family Fallacies

Celebrity Status

Collateral Casualties

Zero Hero

Fatal Forty-Eight

Suicidal Suspicions

Other series by this Author

The Kate on Vacation Mysteries

The Marcia Banks and Buddy Mysteries

Book Review: TO KILL A LABRADOR (A Marcia Banks and Buddy Mystery Book 1) by Kassandra Lamb

Synopsis
Marcia (pronounced Mar-see-a, not Marsha) likes to think of herself as a normal person, even though she has a rather abnormal vocation. She trains service dogs for combat veterans with PTSD. Then the ex-Marine owner of her first trainee is accused of murdering his wife, and Marcia gets sucked into an even more abnormal avocation–amateur sleuth.

Called in to dog-sit the Labrador service dog, Buddy, she’s outraged that his veteran owner is being presumed guilty until proven innocent. With Buddy’s help, she tries to uncover the real killer. Even after the hunky local sheriff politely tells her to butt out, Marcia keeps poking around. Until the killer finally pokes back.

Review

The ex-Marine with PTSD and the murder of his wife set the stage for Marcia to somehow feel responsible not only for the therapy dog she trained, but for Jimmy as well. There are twists and turns and characters are not always as they seem initially. 

Marcia's curiosity and outrage at the stereotypic response to the veteran lead to some interesting interactions while working with Buddy's despondence over his change in placement, her continued training of Lacy and Max, and the surprise in her living room. Then there's the hunky local detective and Marcia's hesitancy to engage in the possibilities there.  

Well-written, with well-developed characters make for an enjoyable read on many levels. TO KILL A LABRADOR is bound to capture the interest of many.  

AMAZON LINK

Book Review: ZERO HERO (THE KATE HUNTINGTON MYSTERIES) by Kassandra Lamb

SYNOPSIS:
On the 10th anniversary of 9/11 the media replays the videos of that day’s devastation, and a national hero’s life begins to unravel.

When the first responder–already struggling with delayed PTSD and addiction–is accused of murdering his former drug dealer, psychotherapist Kate Huntington finds herself going above and beyond to help him. As she and her P.I. husband set out to clear him of the charges, they are thrust into a deadly world of drugs, prostitutes and hired killers, and end up questioning who they are and what it means to be brave.

REVIEW:

Pete doesn't view himself as a hero; he was just doing what he was trained to do even though he wasn't on duty, and he still couldn't save everyone.  He holds it together but then the flashbacks and memories take hold.  He turns to alcohol and drugs and is put on administrative leave.  He is making his way back, he's clean, and dealing with his PTSD. Then he's framed for his friend's murder, or so he says.  

There's something about Pete, his actions on 9/11, and although Kate isn't an addiction counselor, at Rob's request, they both get involved.  Are they crossing their professional boundaries, getting too involved with a client?  Then Skip gets pulled in as well.  But Skip isn't so sure this case is a great idea as he is faced with his own fears and weaknesses.  Not to mention, the case takes on some definite twists and turns as Kate and her friends work to exonerate Pete while keeping him on the road to recovery. Kate and her group of conspirators are likable, but complex characters with depth and surprises.  This is a fast paced read that will keep you reading and keep you guessing. Better plan for an early start and a late night!  

AMAZON

This is the 6th in the Kate Huntington Series.  It is intended and definitely can be read as a stand-alone.  As a Kate Huntington fan, I'd recommend you read the others - though you don't have to read them in order:

Multiple Motives (#1)

Ill-timed Entanglements (#2)

Family Fallacies (#3)

Celebrity Status (#4) 

Collateral Casualties (#5)

Zero Hero (#6)