The Right Wrong Thing

Ellen Kirschman qualified as a police psychologist and worked for more than 30 years in the field. In this time she encountered a number of weird and interesting cases. This behind-the-scene experience reflects in the way she writes her novels. The story rollercoasters with a rookie cop accidentally shooting a civilian and she wants to make amends. The way the psychologist deals with the rookie cop's PTSD is inspirational and the book really captured my attention from the start.

Randy Spelling hasn’t been in uniform long when she accidentally shoots and kills a pregnant teenager. The press, the community and the girl’s parents all want Randy’s blood. Horrified at what she’s done and suffering from PTSD, Randy wants to apologize to the girl’s family, and even though everyone warns her against it, she tries to do just that. In the fall out from the resulting catastrophe, police psychologist Dot Meyerhof gets involved in the investigation. She’s immediately warned off, but refuses to let go of the case, putting both her job and her life in jeopardy.

This story couldn’t be any more timely. It looks behind the headlines, into the lives of those involved in these tragedies and the events that might lead up to them

I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Really great book! Lots of emotions while reading this, I felt for all the characters. Quick read, did not want to put it down!

I read this book within 2 days! It's just so amazingly written. The author has a beautiful way to share a variety of emotions with the reader.
Being a therapist myself, I really found the approach interesting.
I highly recommend this book!

Dr Dot Meyerhoff, psychologist to cops clears the first female cop (Randy Spelling) for duty.
Randy freezes when her partner is attacked, all the cops blames her for it. Then one night she shoots an unarmed pregnant teenager.

Randy is suffering from PTSD, and wants to apologize to the victim's family. Against orders from Dr Meyerhoff and her Chief of police, she goes and it ends in disaster.

It's up to Dr Meyerhoff to get to the bottom of what happened, with some unorthodox help. I enjoyed some of Dr Meyerhoff's sayings and the way her mind works.

This book was very interesting on quite a few subjects. How PTSD affects officers and their families. Sexism in the police force. Police brutality and Racism.

All in all it was an entertaining and informative read. I give it 4 stars as it took me a while to really get interested, but once the story took off, I could not wait to see what happens next.

I read a lot of mysteries and I'm always pleased to find one with a little different twist to it. That's the case in this book in which the main character is a psychologist on retainer to the police department to provide counseling when the need arises. Dr. Dot Meyerhoff is a small, near fifty woman who finds herself in the midst of a police department trying to increase the number of women on the force. Murder and mayhem ensue!! She takes her job very seriously and manages to get herself into some tricky situations.

This book is well-written with interesting, believable characters and a story straight from the headlines. It's a compelling and enjoyable read.

The Right Wrong Thing was a fascinating and very topical novel dealing with issues such as sexism, racism, police brutality and PTSD. Psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff has been counseling one of the few female police officers on her force and cleared her fit for duty. Shortly after, this officer is involved in the fatal shooting of a pregnant teenager. The officer insists on apologizing to the girl's family, which ends in disaster and pulls Meyerhoff into an unconventional murder investigation.
The writing and the depth of the story reflected the author's long-term experience as a police and public safety psychologist. I found it extremely interesting and really engaging. It was also a nice change for the main character to be a female with life experience and a career. However, because of who and what she was, I found some of her decisions and actions difficult to believe and accept.
This was the second book featuring Dr Meyerhoff. It is not necessary to read them in order though. Having really enjoyed this one, I am keen to catch up and read the first one now.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased 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.

Another page-turner by Ellen Kirschman! Dr. Myerhoff is a heroine I can root for. A unique perspective on psychology and what it takes to solve a crime.