Donna Huston Murray’s 11th novel For Better or Worse, the mystery author complicates a frazzled young mother’s life with an angry, controlling husband. Astonished by the actual statistic—one in four women will be severely injured by an intimate partner in her lifetime—Murray challenged herself to work enlightening facts about domestic abuse into a cozy mystery.
For Bettter or Worse
Murray’s series character, Ginger Barnes, also asks what readers might want to know: Why do abused women so often stay? Lack of access to money is the main reason, but the relentless undermining of the woman’s confidence, isolation from her friends and family, fear of losing her children, and threats of retribution also contribute.
Author: Donna Huston Murray
Paperback: 238 pages
Publisher: Donna Huston Murray (October 10, 2017)
ISBN: 0986147206, 978-0986147203
For Better or Worse Plot
Finally back to her spunky self after the loss of her husband, men have once again become an issue for amateur sleuth Ginger Barnes—men who mistreat their wives, men suspected of murder, and men who ask her out.
While working on a DIY project at her newlywed daughter’s house, a bag of bricks is thrown from the neighboring third-story window. Next, pops that sound like muffled gunshots have Gin racing for her phone.
Eric, who lives in the house with his grandmother, claims she’s obsessed with mystery novels. Yet after the septuagenarian falls down a flight of stairs, she’s so frantic to keep Eric away that Gin must intervene. Was the fall actually attempted murder?
In her husband’s eyes, Cissie Voight can’t do anything right. Gin occasionally helps the frazzled young mother, and when she needs a dresser carried upstairs, Gin brings Eric along.
Bad move! The electricity between the two new acquaintances sparks a chilling premonition. This time Gin’s good intentions will produce grave consequences—for everyone involved.
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