The Right Wrong Thing by Ellen Kirschman Review With Giveaway! #TheRightWrongThing

The Book

Officer Randy Spelling had always wanted to be a police officer, to follow in the footsteps of her brothers and her father. Not long after joining the force, she mistakenly shoots and kills Lakeisha Gibbs, a pregnant teenager. The community is outraged; Lakeisha’s family is vocal and vicious in their attacks against Spelling. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and filled with remorse, Randy is desperate to apologize to the girl’s family. Everyone, including the police chief, warns her against this, but the young police officer will not be dissuaded. Her attempt is catastrophic. Dr. Dot Meyerhoff, a police psychologist, plunges herself into the investigation despite orders from the police chief to back off. Not only does the psychologist’s refusal to obey orders jeopardize her career, but her life as well, as she enlists unlikely allies and unconventional undercover work to expose the tangled net of Officer Spelling’s disastrous course. 

The Author

I've been a police and public safety psychologist for thirty-plus years before I had any gray hair. My work with first responders has taken me to four countries and twenty-two states. 

Nowadays, I spend my time writing, teaching, and volunteering as a clinician at the West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat for first responders (see the links page). I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know was my first book and, to date, it has sold more than 100,000 copies. I Love a Fire Fighter: What the Family Needs to Know came next, prompted by the tragic events of September 11th. Following that I wrote Counseling Cops: What Clinicians Need to Know with two psychology colleagues, both of whom are retired cops. 

Burying Ben-A Dot Meyerhoff Mystery, is my first-ever novel. My second, The Right Wrong Thing is now available for pre-order. You can also enter to win a free first edition hardcover copy. Go to TRWT homepage and scroll down to the post about winning a free book and follow the prompts.

Writing fiction is a new skill for me. I used to think that making things up would be easier than writing non-fiction. What a delusion! Creating a story that captures the reader's attention from page one is a tricky business. 

On a more personal note, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband, who is a photographer (he took the photos for all my books) and retired remodeling contractor. In our spare time we hike, travel, and cook - not in that order.

I enjoy hearing from my readers and from mystery fans. And I love seeing your reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Facebook.

The Review

"Randy Alderson Spelling looks more like a girl than a woman. So tiny she's nearly lost I the cushions of my office couch. Her legs jut out over the floor until she scoots forward and places her feet squarely on the ground, leaving a foot of space behind her. She waits for me to start, all the while pulling on her fingers, cracking each tiny knuckle. I'm the last hurdle between her and the job she covets - a police officer for the Kenilworth Police Department."

The Right Wrong Thing by Ellen Kirschman is the second novel in the Dot Meyerhoff Mystery series featuring police psychologist, Dot Meyerhoff. Dr.Meyerhoff is the liaison between police officers and the department. Randy Spelling is a new graduate, eager to get out there and solve some crimes. Her first day out is disastrous, in the pursuit of a suspected criminal, Randy freezes, which could have put her and her partner in serious circumstances, her partner actually gets hurt. After this happens Officer Spelling is ostracized by some of the men in her department. 

When Officer Spelling is out on duty, she inadvertently shoots and kills a young black teenager who is pregnant. Not only is she trying to be a good cop, but she becomes a target for the black community who want her punished. She is found to have done the right thing, but she does not feel that way. She wants to put things right by apologizing to the young girls family. She is ridden with guilt and just wants to put things right. What ensues is Dot getting involved where she is told to stay out of it, it is not in her line of duty. She ignores all of that and gets in over her head after a cop is killed. Written in Dr.Meyerhoff's perspective, the reader also learns about her personal relationships in and out of the police force.

The author, Ellen Kirschman writes with all of the knowledge that she possesses after being in law enforcement for many years and it shows in her writing. A novel full of twists and turns, very well written and fast paced. I really enjoyed this novel and finished it within two sittings. Even though I had not read the first book, Burying Ben, it did not detract from the storyline. 

I received a copy of the book for my thoughts and was not monetarily compensated.

To Enter Giveaway!
Just leave a comment, plus leave an email address. I will need that to let the publisher know! The Giveaway is for one copy of the book. US entrants only! Ends11/6
Good Luck!