Shrink Solves Murder - by Philippa Perry (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A small-town psychotherapist draws on all her knowledge of the human psyche to solve the murder of a patient in this warm and witty mystery novel--by a real psychotherapist turned #1 internationally bestselling author.

"Bears all the hallmarks of a Richard Osman-style cozy: a small community with a picturesque setting; prickly-but-lovable middle-class types who turn to crime-solving in later life. An enjoyable blend of mystery and gentle satire."--The Guardian

Living in idyllic coastal Sussex, Patricia Philipps enjoys her quiet life--walking the cliffs, shouting at poorly disciplined dog owners, telling tourists to keep their distance from the crumbling cliff edges, and cold-water swimming.

Then a body washes up near Beachy Head, upending her carefully curated life as she discovers the deceased is one of her clients--her "Three O'Clock," in fact.

The police chalk it up to suicide, but Pat sees things differently. She reads people. She understands them--their lusts, their loves, their quirks, their ticks, their tells, their deepest desires. She looks, she listens, she watches. And she never jumps to conclusions. After all, she spends her days listening to secrets, resentments, fantasies, and motives. She's certain someone wanted Henry Clayton dead.

With her chaotic best friend Pritchard (part-time poet, full-time meddler) in tow, Pat swaps the therapist's couch for the crime scene. It's time to unpick the lies, untangle the egos, and catch a killer hiding in plain sight.

Review Quotes

"The first novel from psychotherapist and nonfiction bestseller Perry bears all the hallmarks of a Richard Osman-style cosy: a small community with a picturesque setting; prickly-but-lovable middle-class types who turn to crime-solving in later life. . . . An enjoyable blend of mystery and gentle satire."--The Guardian

"A cunning murder disguised as a suicide, a brilliant psychotherapist who doesn't believe what she's told, and a cast of village eccentrics who help (and hinder) her investigations, this is cozy crime at its most enjoyable."--Natalie Haynes, New York Times bestselling author of A Thousand Ships

"Artist and psychotherapist Perry (The Book You Want Everyone You Love to Read) makes her fiction debut with a wonderfully witty cozy starring 62-year-old shrink Patricia "Pat" Phillips. . . . Readers will be eager for a sequel."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry is about a psychotherapist who determines to prove a client died nefariously. She's a spiky protagonist, and Perry has an interesting take on therapy as an excellent sleuthing aide, all in a lovely Sussex setting."--The Concord Bridge

"Shrink Solves Murder is a total triumph. Sharp, surprising, and utterly engaging. I need a dozen sequels and a streaming series immediately."--Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of the Killers of a Certain Age series and the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series

"What a joy Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry is. This is cozy crime with a side order of psychological insight and fabulously real characters. Already looking forward to the next one!"--Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things

"I've always admired the sleuth in Philippa Perry and that's more than vindicated in this assured and hugely enjoyable murder mystery debut. It's brilliant!"--Richard Coles, author of the Canon Clement Mysteries series

"Perry's portrait of English village life is vivid, and she makes a good case that people are not always as shallow or mean-spirited as they seem, if you just give them a chance. The promising debut of a quirky, many-sided sleuth."--Kirkus Reviews

"The beautifully described crumbling white cliffs of the South Downs English coastline, the process of psychotherapy, details of life in the present-day English countryside, and multiple well-delineated characters add up to a satisfying cozy mystery."--Booklist

"The characters are all delightfully quirky, and the cast of suspects is appropriately diabolical, while remaining firmly appropriate for the 'cozy-adjacent' vibe of the book. It's an altogether entertaining read."--BookPage

About the Author

Philippa Perry is an artist and psychotherapist as well as a TV and radio host. She is the 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). Her books have been translated into over forty languages. Perry lives in London with her husband, Sir Grayson, and their cat, The Honourable Kevin.