Shrink Solves Murder

Her three o'clock just became a murder case . . .

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$18.00 US
On sale Jul 28, 2026 | 336 Pages | 9798217090112

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A small-town psychotherapist draws on all her knowledge of the human psyche to solve the murder of a patient in this warm and witty mystery novel—by a real psychotherapist turned #1 internationally bestselling author.

“Cozy crime at its most enjoyable.”—Natalie Haynes, author of A Thousand Ships

“A total triumph.”—Deanna Raybourn, author of the Killers of a Certain Age series and the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series


Living in picturesque coastal Sussex, Patricia Philipps enjoys her quiet life—walking the cliffs, shouting at poorly disciplined dog owners, telling tourists to keep their distance from the crumbling cliff edges, and cold-water swimming.

Then a body washes up near Beachy Head, upending her carefully curated life as she discovers the deceased is one of her clients—her “Three O’Clock,” in fact.

The police chalk it up to suicide, but Pat sees things differently. She reads people. She understands them—their lusts, their loves, their quirks, their ticks, their tells, their deepest desires. She looks, she listens, she watches. And she never jumps to conclusions. After all, she spends her days listening to secrets, resentments, fantasies, and motives. She’s certain someone wanted Henry Clayton dead. 

With her chaotic best friend Pritchard (part-time poet, full-time meddler) in tow, Pat swaps the therapist’s couch for the crime scene. It’s time to unpick the lies, untangle the egos, and catch a killer hiding in plain sight.
© Pal Hansen
Philippa Perry has been a psychotherapist for the past twenty years. She is also a freelance writer, and a TV and radio presenter. She has worked on several documentaries, and has also written two other books, Couch Fiction, a Graphic Tale of Psychotherapy and How to Stay Sane. She lives in London with her husband, the artist Grayson Perry, and they have a grown-up daughter, Flo. View titles by Philippa Perry
“A cunning murder disguised as a suicide, a brilliant psychotherapist who doesn’t believe what she’s told, and a cast of village eccentrics who help (and hinder) her investigations, this is cozy crime at its most enjoyable.”—Natalie Haynes, New York Times bestselling author of A Thousand Ships

“Artist and psychotherapist Perry (The Book You Want Everyone You Love to Read) makes her fiction debut with a wonderfully witty cozy starring 62-year-old shrink Patricia “Pat” Phillips. . . . Readers will be eager for a sequel.”Publishers Weekly, starred review

Shrink Solves Murder is a total triumph. Sharp, surprising, and utterly engaging. I need a dozen sequels and a streaming series immediately.”—Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of the Killers of a Certain Age series and the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series

“What a joy Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry is. This is cozy crime with a side order of psychological insight and fabulously real characters. Already looking forward to the next one!”—Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things

“I’ve always admired the sleuth in Philippa Perry and that’s more than vindicated in this assured and hugely enjoyable murder mystery debut. It’s brilliant!”—Richard Coles, author of the Canon Clement Mysteries series

About

A small-town psychotherapist draws on all her knowledge of the human psyche to solve the murder of a patient in this warm and witty mystery novel—by a real psychotherapist turned #1 internationally bestselling author.

“Cozy crime at its most enjoyable.”—Natalie Haynes, author of A Thousand Ships

“A total triumph.”—Deanna Raybourn, author of the Killers of a Certain Age series and the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series


Living in picturesque coastal Sussex, Patricia Philipps enjoys her quiet life—walking the cliffs, shouting at poorly disciplined dog owners, telling tourists to keep their distance from the crumbling cliff edges, and cold-water swimming.

Then a body washes up near Beachy Head, upending her carefully curated life as she discovers the deceased is one of her clients—her “Three O’Clock,” in fact.

The police chalk it up to suicide, but Pat sees things differently. She reads people. She understands them—their lusts, their loves, their quirks, their ticks, their tells, their deepest desires. She looks, she listens, she watches. And she never jumps to conclusions. After all, she spends her days listening to secrets, resentments, fantasies, and motives. She’s certain someone wanted Henry Clayton dead. 

With her chaotic best friend Pritchard (part-time poet, full-time meddler) in tow, Pat swaps the therapist’s couch for the crime scene. It’s time to unpick the lies, untangle the egos, and catch a killer hiding in plain sight.

Author

© Pal Hansen
Philippa Perry has been a psychotherapist for the past twenty years. She is also a freelance writer, and a TV and radio presenter. She has worked on several documentaries, and has also written two other books, Couch Fiction, a Graphic Tale of Psychotherapy and How to Stay Sane. She lives in London with her husband, the artist Grayson Perry, and they have a grown-up daughter, Flo. View titles by Philippa Perry

Praise

“A cunning murder disguised as a suicide, a brilliant psychotherapist who doesn’t believe what she’s told, and a cast of village eccentrics who help (and hinder) her investigations, this is cozy crime at its most enjoyable.”—Natalie Haynes, New York Times bestselling author of A Thousand Ships

“Artist and psychotherapist Perry (The Book You Want Everyone You Love to Read) makes her fiction debut with a wonderfully witty cozy starring 62-year-old shrink Patricia “Pat” Phillips. . . . Readers will be eager for a sequel.”Publishers Weekly, starred review

Shrink Solves Murder is a total triumph. Sharp, surprising, and utterly engaging. I need a dozen sequels and a streaming series immediately.”—Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of the Killers of a Certain Age series and the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries series

“What a joy Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry is. This is cozy crime with a side order of psychological insight and fabulously real characters. Already looking forward to the next one!”—Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things

“I’ve always admired the sleuth in Philippa Perry and that’s more than vindicated in this assured and hugely enjoyable murder mystery debut. It’s brilliant!”—Richard Coles, author of the Canon Clement Mysteries series

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