The Bad Wife: A Kim Reynolds Mystery

In Seewald’s unimpressive fourth Kim Reynolds mystery (after 2011’s The Truth Sleuth), the reference librarian ends her relationship with detective Mike Gardner after his estranged wife, Evelyn, unexpectedly returns to Webster, N.J., and refuses to sign the divorce papers. When the self-absorbed Evelyn, who’s neither a good wife to Mike nor a good mother to her two young daughters, invites Kim to meet her at the Gardner house while the rest of the family is out, Kim finds an open door and Evelyn’s corpse. Sleazy Det. Drew Mitchell is quick to latch onto the idea that Mike is the perp. After Mike’s jailed, it’s up to Kim and homicide inspector Bert St. Croix to keep the investigation open. Kim’s spotty psychic abilities may not be enough to save the day. Seewald is unlikely to win new fans with this plodding story that makes a hash of police procedures without any redeeming features. (Apr.)