Patricia Phillips, a psychotherapist, welcomes two police officers into her home. They have unpleasant news. The body of Henry Clayton, one of her clients, has been found on the beach below the coastal cliffs of the English county of East Sussex. Dr Phillips lives close by and Clayton was due to arrive for a consultation that very afternoon.
A psychotherapist is a trained mental health professional who facilitates deeper self-awareness and long-term healing for trauma, anxiety and depression.
Information from a close friend of the deceased and the fact Clayton was seeing a shrink have convinced the police that notorious Beachy Head has claimed another death by suicide. Dr Phillips strongly disagrees. Clayton was having problems with the ‘close friend’ but there was absolutely no signs of suicidal ideation. In her opinion, the cause of death was accident or murder.
With help from Prichard Knowles, an eccentric neighbour, Phillips discovers Clayton had links to people in the local community. Gossip, secret liaisons, sexual shenanigans, possible bribery and local government corruption are uncovered. While we listen in, mouths agape, they assess what is – and what is not – relevant to the accident/murder investigation.
Shrink Solves Murder is a fascinating psychological cosy crime novel with touches of humour that keep the investigation light-hearted. It’s a promising debut into fiction from an author whose technical books on understanding psychotherapy have sold well.
Reviewed by Clive Hodges
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Philippa Parry is an artist and psychotherapist as well as a TV and radio presenter. She is the number one Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read and The Book You Want Everyone You Love* To Read?(*And Maybe a Few You Don’t), published by Cornerstone Press. Her books have been translated in over 40 languages.
Visit Philippa Parry’s website here.
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