Madison Keith leaves the life of administrative assistant to a tech firm in Silicon Valley. She no longer wants to be cooped up in a building where she cannot see the see or breath the outside. She no longer wants to be one of many or just any administrative assistant in a large company where no one cares who the assistant is.

She wants to make difference. She becomes a church secretary. She makes a friend. The murder happens …

I don’t know what to say about this first book in a series of 9 novellas. I can say that it was well-written, no glaring format errors, no tense swings, solid forward pacing at a reasonable rate. Am I enamored of the plot, I’m not sure and that is why the rating is less than 4 stars. ( )

Madison Keith takes the job of administrative assistant and receptionist at Central Avenue Church after leaving her higher paying job where she felt like one of many and wasn’t needed. Her upbringing was a little unusual compared to other kids and it gives her the ability to see beneath the surface of a person’s actions. She’s got a different way of looking at things.

This is the first in a series of mystery novellas about Madison Keith. Much of this first one gives us Madison’s background, taking on the job and learning about those who become central to the story. It begins with her telling us there is a corpse, and talking directly to the reader, tells us why she needs to give us some background first.

Madison’s character is well-fleshed and someone I’d personally like to get to know. Since this is told in the first person we don’t know a whole lot yet about Pastor Joe and Kate, the youth minister. We definitely need to learn more about Kate.

The novella is an easy pleasant read, although I feel somewhat mislead with the description of “ghostly psychological suspense series.” I read a lot of urban fantasy and was expecting more on the paranormal angle.

Reviewed for Book Rooster ( )