Murder Under Her Skin

A Pentecost and Parker Mystery, Book 2

By: Stephen Spotswood

Narrated by: Kirsten Potter

A New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice • Rex Stout meets Agatha Christie with a fresh twist in the new Pentecost and Parker Mystery, a delightfully hardboiled high-wire act starring two daring women sleuths dead set on justice as they set out to solve a murder at a traveling circus

“A delight.... It’s a pleasure to watch [Pentecost and Parker] sifting through red herrings and peeling secrets back like layers of an onion.” The New York Times Book Review

Someone’s put a blade in the back of the Amazing Tattooed Woman, and Willowjean “Will” Parker’s former knife-throwing mentor has been stitched up for the crime. To uncover the truth, Will and her boss, world-famous detective Lillian Pentecost, travel to the circus, where they find a snake pit of old grudges, small-town crime, and secrets worth killing for.

Will called Hart & Halloway’s Traveling Circus and Sideshow home for five years, and Ruby Donner, the circus’s tattooed ingenue, was her friend. To make matters worse, the prime suspect is Valentin Kalishenko, the man who taught Will everything she knows about putting a knife where it needs to go.

To uncover the real killer and keep Kalishenko from a date with the electric chair, Will and Ms. Pentecost join the circus in sleepy Stoppard, Virginia, where the locals like their cocktails mild, the past buried, and big-city detectives not at all. The two swiftly find themselves lost in a funhouse of lies as Will begins to realize that her former circus compatriots aren’t playing it straight, and that her murdered friend might have been hiding a lot of secrets beneath all that ink.

©2021 Stephen Spotswood (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

A New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice • Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Mystery Finalist

“A delight. . . It’s a pleasure to watch [Pentecost and Parker] sifting through red herrings and peeling secrets back like layers of an onion, all while revealing even more of themselves without guilt or shame. Just like his mystery-writing ancestor [Rex Stout], Spotswood understands that the detective story should be sound, but spending time with unforgettable characters is paramount.”—The New York Times Book Review

"Spotswood’s ability to subvert genre tropes with intriguing and distinctive characters… make this whodunit a delightfully unusual read. Readers will look forward to Pentecost and Parker’s further adventures."—Publishers Weekly

"Will’s slangy first-person narrative is captivating, and fans of circus life, such as it was, will enjoy this tale, as will followers of the 1940s hard-boiled detective genre, considerably enlivened here by having two no-nonsense women do the sleuthing."—Booklist

Nero Wolfe twist - women focused, excellent voice

2nd in series, which I ate up, after listening to the first, after reading recommendations from Librarians Top Picks. Anyone who's a huge fan of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin and is game for a new twist, start listening to this series immediately. I wish I thought of this combo myself, but would never get the voice right. Lillian Pentecost is the great genius, but her reluctance to move around is due to MS, and her leg man is a woman, Willowjean Parker, with all the sass and street smarts of Archie. do not miss this series!

Another Homerun from Spotswood and Potter

Fell in love with this series from book 1 (Fortune Favors the Dead on Audible) earlier this year (‘21). Bought this second series tale as soon as Audible released it a few days ago (Dec ‘21). Once again, the writing is superb and the narration brilliant. My affair with these characters continues. At times emotionally affecting, at times suspenseful, many times laugh-out-loud funny. The deeper-dive into our “Dr Watson” (Will Parker) character through whose eyes the stories unfold is, by turns, heart-breaking and fascinating, but most of all endearing. All my love to Ms Parker and Ms Pentecost. Most of all, deepest gratitude to Mr Spotswood and Ms Potter for expanding this deliciously dark, richly realized world for us all to play in.

Great follow-up book in the series

2nd book in the series. Looking forward to the next one. I did not enjoy as much as the first, but still enjoyable

Another wonderful mystery in the series

As a huge fan of the first book, I picked up this one. I read most of it on hardback but finished in audible while on vacation. 10/10

Clever!

This book was a great follow-up to the original. The circus setting and characters are fascinating. An enjoyable listen!

My first P&P detective novel. It won’t be my last.

Excellent story and good character development. Clever plot that holds the listener until the end. Some unexpected twists, too.

Enjoyable Sequel

I really really loved the first book in this series and this follow up held my attention as well. I liked the mystery of the first better, but this sequel is still totally worth a listen!

Mystery worthy of the Big Top

Great second installment featuring a colorful cast of characters from Will Parker’s past. While I appreciated the cast summary at the beginning, it wasn’t necessary due to the stellar narration of Kirsten Potter, who managed to bring the huge cast to unique and dazzling light. The mystery was just as clever as the previous book and the 1946 setting was original and refreshing.

My only (slight) disappointment is the lack of interplay between Will Parker and Lillian Pentecost compared to the first book. But, I hope their past and present will be developed in future books of this promising series.

Two Women Sleuths

A crime occurs at a circus in Virginia. Two PIs, who are partners, are recruited from their challenging NYC turf to solve it, Story is related with a perfect melding of humor with compassion. Character development enhances the path to a solution. Second of 3 books in this current series.

Second book in excellent series

Listening through a second time to this series. Even when I remember whodunit, still an entertaining story - quirky, strong female lead characters, memorable supporting male characters, and a finely crafted earnest yet humorous tale. Highly recommended!