Crossing Genres: Dead Air By Mary Kennedy

Dr. Maggie Walsh leaves her psychotherapy practice in Manhattan for a gig as a talk radio host in Cypress Grove, Florida. As host of WYME’s “On the Couch with Maggie Walsh” she takes calls from local listeners who range from mildly eccentric to truly troubled, but who are for the most part benign. All goes well until she interviews New Age guru Sanjay Gingii. It turns out Guru Sanjay is not all sweetness and good karma, and in his rise to fame has made more than a few enemies. A few threats are made to the radio station on the day of his appearance, but they are not really taken seriously until Guru Sanjay is suddenly “transitioned” to the next plane that night. The cause of death is uncertain, and the only person anyone saw near his hotel room was Maggie’s roommate Lark. So Dr. Maggie puts her knowledge of human nature and generally nosy nature to work to try to clear her friend. In spite of the distractions created by her flamboyant mother Lola and the antagonism of the sexy detective in charge of the case, Maggie perseveres and smokes out a killer.
This is a fun, fast-paced book with well drawn characters and lots of atmosphere. Though at times a little over the top, the story zooms along and has enough basis in reality to provide more enjoyment than eye-rolling. The talk radio premise promised to provide any number of interesting plot lines,and I am looking forward to reading Reel Murder, the second book in the series.