cover image Dirty Laundry: A Robyn Kelly Mystery

Dirty Laundry: A Robyn Kelly Mystery

Liz Osborne, . . Five Star, $25.95 (263pp) ISBN 978-1-59414-857-6

Osborne's delightful second Robyn Kelly whodunit (after 2007's Masquerade ) provides an entertaining look at hospital life. Robyn, the manager of the patient relations department for a suburban Seattle, Wash., hospital, has the misfortune to find a difficult patient, Jason Hilliard, dead in his bed with IV tubing knotted around his neck. Robyn runs for help, but by the time she and others return, the tubing around Jason's neck is gone. Since her local police detective friend, Matthew Pierce, has thrown out his back, it's up to Robyn to delve into the evidence that Matthew's boss, Captain Roberts, is fumbling over for clues to the killer. Meanwhile, the 40-year-old widow must also deal with hostile patients, unhappy employees, and myriad other responsibilities. A homeless man proves to be an unexpected rescuer and helps bring this clean-as-a-whistle cozy to a perfect conclusion. (Apr.)