Writing a Wrong by Betty Hechtman is my first read of the author. While the heroine is a writer like I am, I didn’t feel a connection to her and her many freelance hustles: teaching, writing menus, articles, and love letters. I was put off by almost anyone who spoke to her would ask, “please don’t write about this.” She wasn’t a journalist, hunting for a news story. And while she did have a stake in investigating the murder of her client turned conman turned victim, I just wasn’t interested enough in this whodunnit. The pacing and the setup wasn’t compelling enough for me to care about motive and the person who committed the act.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Veronica writes many things. She teaches a writing class. She will create love letters for you. But she never imagined finding one of her customers dead!
Canongate Books and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published on September 7th.

She finds that he has given her a false name. He used her letters with various women. He was a con man and stole their money. So who killed him?

He wasn't a nice man and he messed with a lot of ladies. The cops think he got killed during a burglary but Veronica thinks there is more to it than that.

She keeps asking questions and snooping and then she eventually closes in on the killer...

Delightful…
The second Writer For Hire Mystery and a dead client is not going to help Victoria get more. She determines to start sleuthing when she becomes convinced that the police have simply got it all wrong. A delightful cosy mystery with a deftly drawn cast and an engaging storyline.

One of Veronica’s - writer for hire - clients is killed. When a detective visits to interview her, she learns the man used an assumed name. Curious to know why he had her write love letters, and to whom, why he didn’t pay his bills and why he was killed, Veronica investigates.

In the mean time, Veronica has asked Ben, brother of her downstairs neighbour and a member of her writing group, to be her plus one to a party. They go out a few times to watch how couples behave, as input for figuring out how to behave as each other’s plus one. Apparently, while both of them have been married, they haven’t got a clue. o^O.

As a narrator Veronica is a bore. She wants to avoid clichés, but perhaps she should also consider not repeating the same information every time an opportunity to share comes up. Fair enough, I had at one point sort of forgotten what kind of deals she had set up with her various clients, but then, the dullness of the narrative had made me set aside the book for five days. I’m sure there is an optimum somewhere.

Also annoying: repeatedly it is mentioned the girlfriend found the body of the client and that this is thought of as suspicious. It isn’t. He was killed in her apartment. It would have been suspicious if she had not been to one to find him. “She was out of town for a week when her place was burgled and her boyfriend was killed? How convenient.” (Besides, it’s never the girlfriend - in cozies because it would be too obvious, in reality because women rarely kill their boyfriends.)

Anyway, I struggled through the story. Veronica’s snooping is mild. She learns most while working for her clients.

Two stars, because I don’t agree with Veronica’s assessment of how clever she was at figuring out who’d dunit.

Betty Hechtman writes excellent cozy mysteries and this one didn't disappoint. It's the second in a series and it's even better than the first one that i loved.
I like Veronica, she's a clever and interesting woman who's working as freelance copy writer and teaching to a group of aspiring writers. I love her human side as much as i love her detecting.
The story is well plotted, enjoyable and highly entertaining. The solid mystery kept me guessing and it's full of twists.
I can't wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I like the freelance writer as a main character--I feel a kinship with her! I love when she gets caught up in the history of ice cream and is shortly reading about ice harvesting and more. I also really like the idea that working on the case is helping her work on her second mystery novel. One of the few reasons for investigating in a cozy mystery that I can really get behind!

This would be a four-star review except for one thing--the ridiculous idea that Veronica and Ben have to find other couples to observe and emulate in order to be each other's plus ones convincingly. Even if it's a thinly veiled way to flirt (which I'm not sure it's intended to be), those whole scenes are so awkward and silly that they take the book down to a 3.5 for me.

Still, I like the way the story switches from one of Veronica's clients to another, rapid-fire. I feel like it's a somewhat realistic view of the freelance. And the mystery is well-plotted! Without the emulating other couples thing, this would be 4 stars for me.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Writing a Wrong
by Betty Hechtman
Pub Date 07 Sep 2021
Canongate Books, Severn House
Mystery & Thrillers


I am reviewing a copy of Writing a Wrong through Canongate Books/Severn House and Netgalley:



Veronica Blackstone puts her keyboard to use to help others as a writer for fire. Which includes writing advertising copy for local businesses, and love letters for those needing romantic help. Tony Richards needs the latter.





Tony seems like the last person who’d need help with love letters, but help him Veronica does, he’s debonair, charismatic as well as handsome. But Tony owes her money, and refuses to tell her anything about the woman she’s writing the love letters for. That’s not how Veronica normally works.




After Tony is found dead, his real name is revealed as Ted Roberts. The police think his death was part of a burglary gone wrong, but Veronica isn’t convinced. Why did he lie about his name? Who were the love letters for? And could they hold the key to his death?



If you are looking for a good suspenseful read, I recommend Writing a Wrong.



I give Writing a Wrong five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

This is the second release in the charming new "Murder For Hire" mystery series by popular cozy author .Betty Hechtman. I enjoyed the first book and found it refreshing and fun to read about a writer that solves mysteries. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Our protagnist is Veronica who uses her skills as a writer to write letters for other people. She writes advertising for local businesses and love letters . Her most recent clint is a bit shady and when he is murdered Veronica finds out he was not who he claimed to be. She is curious by nature and beings to investigate who he really was and what motives others may have had to kill him. The letters he wanted her to write may hold the clues.

Veronica is a very likable protagnist. I like her talent as a writer and how she decides to write for others. The sleuth was interesting to conclusion and the supporting charcters are al likable. A very enjoyable second in series.

Veronica is a ghost writer -- and also a novelist. She writes ad copy, menu descriptions, and love letters for others for pay and works on her second detective novel on her own. She also conducts a writing workshop. When a client of hers is found killed, she has to admit to herself that she was charmed by him into letting him use her office and get behind on his bill. As the story unfolds, we find she wasn't the only one. He sounds like a sociopath -- lying, keeping multiple girlfriends, conning people out of money, even trying a bit of extortion.

There are a fair amount of characters but they are nicely described so easy to keep track of. She and Ben, one of her writing workshop attendees, are dancing around a romantic relationship but their pasts keep making them hesitate.

Veronica is a bit odd, her thought processes and language a little awkward. But she's trying to be reflective about her life and future. The Chicago neighborhood and her building neighbors are well drawn and entertaining. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Second book in the series, first time I've read one it. I never felt lost however. I did like the characters and the setting. I also like the MC's job, it was a little different than most. The mystery kept me guessing through most of the book. However, I didn't have any idea of why.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Veronica is a novelist with writers block who makes a living writing smaller things for others. In this case it's love letters for Tony. He's not making it easy for her because he won't tell her anything about the intended recipient. But that doesn't matter when he's found murdered and it's revealed that Tony isn't his true name0- it's Ted. Veronica of course doesn't agree with the official position that he was killed in a robbery gone wrong and investigates- and she discovers there's a lot more to Tony/Ted's story. It's a nicely paced cozy with a good protagonist. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers from me.

3.5 stars rounded up because of the lack of half stars

Veronica is a writer-for-hire, writing everything from promotional copy to apartment listings to love letters and anything in between. When one of her clients is found murdered, she wonders if the letters she wrote for him were a factor -- and if his killer will connect the dots and come looking for her.

This is the second book in a new series by Betty Hechtman, and I liked it more than the first book. Set in Chicago just as fall is thinking about turning into winter, the descriptions of walking in the cold were so vivid I shuddered several times, despite our current heat wave here :) I like Veronica, except for her *constant harping about not using cliches -- that got so old so quickly, it cost the book a half star in my final rating. I had a couple of suspects on my mental list, but the identity of the killer took me totally by surprise.

In the author's notes at the end of the book, it almost sounded like this book is the end of the series -- if you can call two books a series? I hope it's not, because I really would like to read more about Veronica and her friends.

Veronica Blackstone is a writer ... not only of a book, but also writes letters for others, advertising, anything that requires words. A writer for hire.

She also writes romantic letters for a member of her writing class. He says he needs help in the romance department, so she writes the letters, he copies them and sends or hands to his girlfriend .. so he says. He won't share the girl's name or any other personal info. Veronica is not sure what to think of him.

When Tony is found dead, it is assumed it was a robbery gone bad. Veronica thinks there is much more to it than that. He was using an assumed name.. why lie? Who were the letters for .. and could they hold the key to his death?

Veronica, being who she is, will not rest until she learns the truth.

It's a well-crafted story with a solid plot. There's not a lot of suspense, but the mystery is engaging. What really kept my eyes to the page were Veronica's interactions with the people in her neighborhood, neighbors, the working people, those who are starting businesses or trying to improve their businesses. The descriptions that Veronica uses in her field of work are marvelous. There is much humor, as well as a touch of romance. This is send in the series and works well as a stand alone. I would recommend reading in order .. this is a great series to follow.

Many thanks to the author / Canongate Books / Severn House / Netgalley for the digital copy of this cozy mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Thanks to Canongate and Netgalley for ARC to review.

Veronica Blackstone is 32 years old, single, lives with a cat, and her social life revolves around her Chicago apartment building and the neighbourhood writing group she hosts.
She is a writer-for-hire, largely writing copy for local businesses, but occasionally something more unusual, like the love-letters she has been writing for the mysterious charming Tony. When he dies unexpectedly, Veronica decides to investigate his death and finds out he was not all that he seemed (naturally).

This is the second in a series by a very experienced writer of 'cosy' mysteries. It's refreshingly simple and enjoyable, despite the fairly improbable and sketchy plot. The solution to the mystery itself is less important than the vignettes of neighbourhood life, and the relationship with another of the writing group members, which is developing at a glacial pace. Will be seeking out the third in the series for sure!

An enjoyable series that is an easy fun read. The characters are interesting. The story moves along nicely. Am interested in her next adventure. Thanks #netgalley and #CanongateBooks and #SevernHouse for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the latest instalment in a Writer for Hire series that is easy and undemanding reading. Veronica Blackstone hosts and critiques a writing group, as well as finding corporate clients - coffee bars, children's shoe store owners and the like - who need her help describing and promoting their ways. And sometimes she writes, anonymously of course on behalf of her clients, love letters and billets doux for suitors to present to their loved ones. Except that one suitor is found dead; and isn't who he appears to be. In her writing group is a cop, divorced like Veronica, and their relationship gradually develops as her investigations unmasks the murderer. Not a complex plot, nor a complex solution, and occasionally a little padded and repetitive, but nonetheless enjoyable.