Murder in the Abstract by Susan C. Shea

One more mystery, I thought bitterly. I kept adding mysteries but didn’t seem to be making progress solving any of them. — Dani O’Rourke

One wouldn’t expect the chief fund raiser for a posh art museum to find herself at the center of a murder mystery, yet that is precisely where Danielle “Dani” O’Rourke finds herself in Susan Shea’s novel Murder in the Abstract.

What should be a triumphant, gala evening of celebration at the Devor Museum where Dani works is cut brutally short when up-and-coming young artist Clinton Maslow plunges to his death from an office window. The circumstances lead police to believe it was murder, and the fact that Dani previously dated the victim, not to mention the window he went out of was her office, quickly lands Dani at the top of the suspect list.

When additional evidence appears that seemingly further connects Dani to Maslow’s death, but which she knows was planted, Dani decides to get proactive in figuring out who really killed him and why they are trying to frame her.

Dani O’Rourke is a refreshingly real character: she’s closer to forty than thirty, closer to a size 14 than a size 4, doesn’t know martial arts or weapons, isn’t a master computer hacker, and she doesn’t single-handedly figure out whodunit. She’s just a regular gal caught up in a highly irregular situation, which makes her very easy to identify with because she could actually be your next door neighbor, an old college roommate… even you!

Shea has also given Dani a strong cast of supporting characters: the dashing police detective Dani finds herself attracted to, despite the fact he’s investigating her for murder; her über rich playboy ex-husband, who’s still carrying a torch for Dani; Rowland Reynold, a somewhat sinister Santa Fe based art collector and main patron of the dead artist; Suzy, Dani’s social-butterfly, gossip-hound best friend. They, and many others, flesh out the wonderfully colorful world Shea has created.

Whether you’re looking for a book to curl up with while having a glass of wine or one to stuff in your bag to take to the beach, Murder in the Abstract is picture perfect!

Murder in the Abstract is available now in paperback and e-book formats.

Susan C. Shea loves fine art, interesting food, all things France, the beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area she lives in, and her two orange tabby cats. She writes three mystery series that arise out of her likes: a French village mystery series that debuted in May 2017; the Château in Burgundy series that launched in 2023; and the Dani O’Rourke mysteries set in San Francisco. All of her series have collected high praise from reviewers. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. She blogs with 7Criminal Minds and speaks frequently at book events. To learn more about Susan, visit her website.