When psychologist Rebecca Butterman arrives home one evening she finds a squadron of police cars parked outside her condo. Her neighbor Madeline, it seems, has committed suicide. Yet Madeline’s mother isn’t convinced that her vibrant daughter was suicidal, and persuades Rebecca to use her knowledge of psychology to investigate. In this way the unassuming psychologist (who also happens to write an advice column) finds herself involved in a mystery that is increasingly perilous. Madeline’s online life comes eventually to light in the form of two blogs and an online dating venture, revealing startling aspects of her personality and crucial information that will lead to a surprising conclusion.

Rebecca is an avid cook so food plays a significant role in this story, both as a way for Rebecca to work through tensions (nothing fights stress like the smell of bread baking in the oven) and as a conversation starter. As a foodblogger myself, I enjoyed how tea, cakes and cookies were so often used to break through people’s defenses, uncovering important clues in the process. The underlying mystery behind Madeline’s death is disturbing once revealed and Rebecca gets herself into situations that are truly frightening, but I was right there with her, hoping she would make it through. At times I wished the action had moved more quickly, but the exciting finale made the lead up seem worth it. I only hope that, in the future, Isleib includes some of Rebecca’s recipes at the end of the novel.