ELLEN KIRSCHMAN at Books Inc. Palo Alto

Join author Ellen Kirschman at Books Inc. Palo Alto for a reading and discussion of her new thrilling mystery novel Call Me Carmela!

Ellen will be in conversation with fellow mystery writer Cassandra Myers.

Police therapist Dot Meyerhoff helps a young woman find her birth parents and unburies dark family secrets in this psychological thriller.
Police psychologist Dot Meyerhoff’s caseload is usually filled with cops—which is why she’s hesitant to help an adopted teenager locate her birth parents. But the teen’s godmother is Dot’s dear friend Fran and a police widow to boot. How could Dot possibly say no?
Once Dot starts digging into the case, though, she’s drawn into a murky world of illegal adoptions and the choices a young pregnant woman might make as a last resort. Soon there’s only one thing Dot knows for sure: the painful truth of what happened all those years ago might heal one family—but it’s certain to destroy another.

“Call Me Carmela is a firecracker of a read, a tour de force.” —Deborah Crombie, New York Times–bestselling author of the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James novels
“Ellen Kirschman sees into people’s hearts: not just those of the victims, or of the good guys, but the hearts of all her characters. With a rare delicacy of language she lets us know that no one’s innocent, but no one’s past redemption, either—except those who refuse to try.” —SJ Rozan, Edgar Award–winning author of The Mayors of New York
“Stunning mystery novel.” —Foreword
“Compelling, surprising, and a little bit heartbreaking.” —Samantha Downing, bestselling author of My Lovely Wife
“Call Me Carmela is a gripping read.” —5 Minutes for Books
“The author’s personal knowledge and experience greatly enhances the book’s appeal. Call Me Carmela unleashes a devastating secret tied to a young woman’s search for her birth parents.” —Novels Alive
“Fascinating, compelling, engaging, intriguing and highly, highly relatable. Brilliant!” —ink.readsalot

Ellen Kirschman, PhD, is a police and public safety psychologist, a volunteer clinician at the First Responder Support Network, and a sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator. Kirschman has been awarded by the California Psychological Association for Distinguished Contribution to Psychology and the American Psychological Association for Outstanding Contribution to Police and Public Safety Psychology. She co-authored Counseling Cops: What Clinicians Need to Know; and authored two self-help guides I Love a Cop (third edition), and I Love a Fire Fighter (second edition); and writes a mystery series featuring police psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff. You can visit her at her website www.ellenkirschman.com.

Cassandra Myers has watched Boardwalk Empire and Seinfeld far too often. Her work has been published in Mystery Tribune and Failbetter. Her short story “Two Notes” won Honorable Mention in the Kalanithi Writing Award contest. Her journalistic writing has been published in The San Francisco Chronicle, The Los Angeles Daily News, The Bakersfield Californian, The Santa Cruz Sentinel, and others. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in comparative literature and has worked as a bookstore clerk, an administrative associate, and a university science writer.

Host or Publisher Books Inc.