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Sheila Lowe
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Poison Pen: An unputdownable crime mystery packed with twists and turns (Claudia Rose Forensic Handwriting Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Sheila Lowe (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,012 ratings
"Suicide or murder? Only the graphologist knows for sure in this dynamite debut..." – Publishers Weekly

Forensic handwriting expert Claudia Rose has learned from painful experience not to trust notorious Hollywood talent agent, Lindsey Alexander. So when Lindsey is found dead and her business partner wants Claudia to prove the supposed suicide note is a fake, Claudia wants nothing to do with it.

Then fate takes a dark turn. A brutal attack compels her to navigate the twisted threads of Lindsey’s past. The deeper Claudia digs into the secrets and lies surrounding the talent agent’s life, the more they are obscured by layers of betrayal and duplicity involving the rich and powerful.

As she uncovers clues that spell out motives for murder, will Claudia be writing her own obituary?

With masterful storytelling and well-crafted characters, bestselling author Sheila Lowe weaves a tale of suspense that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the glamorous yet treacherous underbelly of Hollywood and leaves them guessing until the very end.

Click the BUY NOW button and enter Claudia’s world today.

Readers are thrilled about Sheila Lowe's Poison Pen:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"...suspense, intrigue, action, murder, and a great who-done-it! The storyline was great it kept me interested from beginning till end!" –Netgalley Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "POISON PEN held a hypnotic grip on me from the very first page. – Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "...it was so good, so page-turningly good I couldn't put it down!" – Goodreads Reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "... Lowe's masterful storytelling skills make this book a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery. You won't be able to put it down and you'll grab for the next one in the series!" –Goodreads Reviewer

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  1. Book 1 of 9
    Claudia Rose Forensic Handwriting Mysteries
  2. Print length
    347 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    February 22, 2021
  5. File size
    814 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 9 books in this series.

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From the Publisher

Publishers Weekly
Shiela Lowe

Like her heroine Claudia Rose, Author Sheila Lowe is a renowned forensic examiner and court certified handwriting analyst, often called upon to testify in high-profile court cases in the U.S. and abroad.

As a handwriting expert, Sheila has analyzed the penmanship of major celebrities, famed politicians, and even disgraced royalty. Her findings have been published everywhere, from Town & Country to The New York Times.

Binge read the entire Claudia Rose Mystery Suspense Series!

Poison Pen

Poison Pen

"Dynamite" -Starred Review –Publisher's Weekly

Written in Blood

Written in Blood

TOP TEN LIST! – Mystery Booksellers Association

Dead Write

Dead Write

"Lowe Delivers one Mores Shocking Kapow!" –Los Angeles Chronicle

Last Writes

Last Writes

"Fans of focused, fast-paced mysteries should get to know Claudia Rose" – Christopher Rice, NYTimes Bestselling Author

Inkslingers Ball

Inkslingers Ball

"Vivid characters, smooth writing, and a twisty plot" –Boyd Morrison, NYTimes Bestselling Author

Outside the Lines

Outside the Lines

"Utterly Compelling! ...nonstop plotting with keen perceptions of the characters who populate this wonderful tale." –Jeffery Deaver, NY Times Bestselling Author

Written Off

Written Off

"Winner of Author Idol" –California Crime Writers Conference

Dead Letters

Dead Letters

"...will delight a wide audience of mystery fans with it's action-packed intrigue." –Midwest Book Review

Maximum Pressure

Maximum Pressure

NEWEST RELEASE IN THE CLAUDIA ROSE FORENSIC HANDWRITING MYSTERIES

"Move aside, Peyton Place—Edentown wins the stew of secrets award. Lowe is in top form in this fast-paced whodunit, keeping readers hooked from the first page to the last. She doesn't let the reader go, delivering another masterpiece that will leave you breathless." - Kim Taylor Blakemore, bestselling author of After Alice Fell

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Suicide or murder? Only the graphologist knows for sure in this dynamite debut, the first in a new series, from forensic handwriting expert Lowe (Handwriting of the Famous and Infamous). When celebrity publicist Lindsey Alexander drowns in her hot tub at her L.A. penthouse apartment, Lindsey's business manager, Ivan Novak, hires handwriting analyst Claudia Rose to look into the authenticity of the block-printed note left at the scene. Ivan believes it was penned by a murderer, not a suicide victim. Claudia, who was once Lindsey's friend before being alienated by her pathologically malicious behavior, isn't surprised to learn that Lindsey liked to blackmail her famous clients by threatening to tarnish rather than shine their images. When hunky LAPD detective Joel Jovanic enters the investigation, the "grapho lady" and the cop make a hot team, in and out of the sheets. The author's large nonfiction fan base augurs well for the series. Author tour. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Handwriting expert Claudia Rose is asked to analyze her old friend Lindsey Alexander's suicide note by Lindsey's associate, Ivan Novak. Although her death has officially been ruled a suicide, Novak doesn't think the flamboyant, self-centered Lindsey would have killed herself. When Claudia goes to Lindsey's penthouse to meet Ivan, she finds him dying, and his killer fleeing. She discovers a flash drive under Ivan's body and impulsively takes it. The flash drive reveals that Lindsey was involved in a kinky sex scam with numerous prominent citizens as clients. Claudia shares the information with the detective in charge, Joel Jovanic, with whom she is developing a romantic relationship. Although the occasional plot element strains credulity--Joel taking Claudia along on official interviews, for example--debut novelist Lowe wins readers over with her well-developed heroine and the wealth of fascinating detail on handwriting analysis. Sue O'Brien
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08WQ36GFP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Write Choice Ink (February 22, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 22, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 814 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 347 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1970181001
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,012 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Sheila Lowe

Sheila Lowe

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Sheila Lowe writes stories of psychological suspense that put ordinary people into extraordinary circumstances. Like her fictional character Claudia Rose in the award-winning Forensic Handwriting series, Sheila is a real-life forensic handwriting expert who testifies in court cases. She also writes the Beyond the Veil paranormal suspense series and nonfiction books about handwriting and personality.

Sign up for my newsletter here: https://claudiaroseseries.com/subscribe-to-the-newsletter/

Where to find Sheila

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sheila-lowe

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SheilaLoweBooksHandwritingExaminer

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sheilalowebooks/

Amazon Author page - https://www.amazon.com/author/sheilalowe

Goodreads Author page - https://www.goodreads.com/SheilaLowe

LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilalowe

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/sheila_lowe

YouTube Channel - https://bit.ly/3lfPUc7

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,012 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book interesting and entertaining. They appreciate the intriguing plot that keeps them guessing throughout. Readers find the handwriting analysis fascinating and find the characters engaging and likable. The book is described as fast-paced and hard to put down.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

PlotEnjoymentHandwriting analysisCharacter developmentPacingEase of readingReadabilityVisual appeal
128 customers mention "Plot"117 positive11 negative

Customers find the plot interesting and engaging. They appreciate the twists and surprises that keep them guessing throughout the story. The book is described as a fast-paced mystery with well-written characters and an intriguing series of mysteries.

"...I am so happy that ive found a series of intriguing mysteries. I not only like the mystery part, but the handwriting analysis is also cool...." Read more

"...The plot has lots of false directions which keep you guessing throughout the story and a lot of surprises too...." Read more

"...At all times, though, it moves forward into an intriguing plot that is most enjoyable to read...." Read more

"I found this a very decent story with great characters and a good plot (your standard whodunit). Descriptive and good development...." Read more

126 customers mention "Enjoyment"126 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it interesting, entertaining, and enjoyable to read. The plot twists keep them hooked, making the story thrilling and delightful.

"...Thank you Sheila Lowe for another interesting read. Keep the mysteries coming... Happy Holidays everyone! Sweet reading!" Read more

"...I read the book in two days and enjoyed the story. I would read more by this author even though she needs a better proofreader." Read more

"...are well thought out, come to life on the page, and are very interesting. The story line is well done and moves forward at a very good pace...." Read more

"...Descriptive and good development. But it was full of editing errors. There were typos but also errors in the plot line...." Read more

85 customers mention "Handwriting analysis"74 positive11 negative

Customers enjoy the book's handwriting analysis. They find the expertise fascinating and the romance engaging. The writing is described as descriptive and well-crafted. Readers appreciate the clear definition of the subject matter and find the book enjoyable and relatable. However, some editing errors were noted.

"...I not only like the mystery part, but the handwriting analysis is also cool. I'm up til the wee hours of the morning reading...." Read more

"...There are some who believe she was murdered. The writing is generally good, however the frequency of missing and incorrect words is annoying...." Read more

"...Descriptive and good development. But it was full of editing errors. There were typos but also errors in the plot line...." Read more

"...The story has its surprises. I like the fact that handwriting analysis & psychology are used so effectively, not only in solving the crimes..." Read more

62 customers mention "Character development"54 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They find Claudia Rosa, the handwriting expert, and the detective to be strong and likable. The character analysis helps readers understand potential partners, employees, and more.

"...The characters are very nicely fleshed out and easy to identify with...." Read more

"...Her main characters are well thought out, come to life on the page, and are very interesting...." Read more

"I found this a very decent story with great characters and a good plot (your standard whodunit). Descriptive and good development...." Read more

"...not only in solving the crimes but also in character analysis of potential partners, employees and more...." Read more

27 customers mention "Pacing"24 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They say the storyline moves forward at a good pace, and it's well-written.

"...At times it is a fast-paced page-turner, then it slows enough for the reader to catch a breath and relax...." Read more

"...It's extremely well-written, and paced to keep readers turning pages...." Read more

"A book that defines a characters profession. A quick read, suspenseful and good detective story with love in the making...." Read more

"...The reveal and moment of justice served, is fast and wonderfully convoluted...." Read more

10 customers mention "Ease of reading"7 positive3 negative

Customers find the writing straightforward and engaging. They find the characters easy to like and identify with. The setup is slow enough to keep readers guessing until the end.

"...The characters are very nicely fleshed out and easy to identify with...." Read more

"...I think so. I like the Claudia Rose character. She is easy to like and I could see myself having coffee with her...." Read more

"Was a little slow getting started, but once it got going held my interest to the end…loved this book especially the love interest…" Read more

"...The setup is slow enough to keep you wondering and guessing as the pieces to the puzzle are presented but not yet put into place...." Read more

9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it engaging from the start and can't put it down until the end. The plot twists and turns keep them hooked until the end.

"I enjoyed the story and the author. Kept me reading till the end...." Read more

"...comprehend books and plots, and this was good - Interesting and kept me going...." Read more

"This murder mystery had me tied up all day long trying to figure out who the killer was...." Read more

"...The plot twists, turns, keeps you glued to the book and moving to the ultimate end...." Read more

7 customers mention "Visual appeal"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's visual appeal. They find it engaging from the beginning to the end, with an artfully presented and colorful world. The characters look intelligent and the plot isn't formulaic.

"...Set in LA and focused mostly on the high-stakes, high-glamour, highly competitive world of the almost-famous who orbit the Hollywood scene, this..." Read more

"...It's kind of dark as far as the "why" but not too graphic. All together an enjoyable read." Read more

"...second murder complicates things, as does the involvement of a good-looking detective. It held my interest ." Read more

"...it struck me as a woman's raunchy romance with just enough Graphology to keep you reading." Read more

Was That a Suicide Note?
4 out of 5 stars
Was That a Suicide Note?
Back in college, Claudia Rose became friends with Lindsey Alexander. While the two had a falling out several years ago, Claudia is still upset to learn that Lindsey has died. Thanks to the note she left behind, the police have ruled it a suicide, but Ivan, Lindsey’s business partner, thinks that something happened to Lindsey. He hires Claudia, a forensic handwriting expert, to look at the note and determine if Lindsey really wrote it or not. Claudia does agree that it looks suspicious, but as she digs to find a hand writing sample she can use to make a definitive decision, she starts to uncover secrets that Lindsey and those around her were hiding. Break ins and attacks lead her to think something else is going on. Can she figure it out?I’ve had this book in one form or another since it first came out, but I recently bought the 2021 reissue and read that. This is definitely darker than the cozies I mostly read, and it has the content to go with the darker themes. The plot was strong, with plenty to keep us engaged. There was one aspect I didn’t like, but it’s probably just me. I’ll still definitely give the series another read. That’s partially because of the characters. I really liked Claudia and her friends, plus some of the people she met along the way. I did find a few references in the version I read that dated when the book originally came out. Hard to believe how much things have changed in only 15 years. There are more than a handful of missing words – enough to be jarring but not enough to make the reading experience bad. I loved the LA setting and the celebrities who were name dropped. Hopefully, I can visit Claudia again sooner rather than later.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • KJM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Awesome... not only this book, but the whole series!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I have to say these Mysteries are awesome. I am in the middle of Finals week for college, and find myself reading about Claudia Rose instead of studying. I am so happy that ive found a series of intriguing mysteries. I not only like the mystery part, but the handwriting analysis is also cool. I'm up til the wee hours of the morning reading. I continuously tell myself, "after this chapter, ill stop reading and go to bed" well than I can't seem to put the book down because the constant excitement in how the chapter ends, and the suspense of reading more.... Ive read the first three, and Im on to the 4th.. mind you in less than 2wks! Thats when you know a book/series is good! If you like suspense, and action, mixed with a little friendship and love on the side, give this series a chance! Claudia sure gets herself into some messes, but shes smart enough to come out on top! Thank you Sheila Lowe for another interesting read. Keep the mysteries coming... Happy Holidays everyone! Sweet reading!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Rikles
    4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing, Engaging, Great Mystery, Twists and Surprises
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Lindsay Alexander committed suicide... Or did she? Lindsay was a high roller in Hollywood. She had lots of false friends and lots of enemies. Claudia Rose, a handwriting analyst, is hired to examine what is thought to be a suicide note to determine if Lindsay wrote it or not. There are some who believe she was murdered. The writing is generally good, however the frequency of missing and incorrect words is annoying. The characters are very nicely fleshed out and easy to identify with. The plot has lots of false directions which keep you guessing throughout the story and a lot of surprises too. While this book is not necessarily a page turner, it moves right along. I read the book in two days and enjoyed the story. I would read more by this author even though she needs a better proofreader.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Luvs2Read
    5.0 out of 5 stars Poison Pen is a Great Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent book. I enjoyed it enough to be willing to buy more books by this author. The author is one of the foremost Graphologists in the United States. She uses this expertise as the foundation for the book. Her main characters are well thought out, come to life on the page, and are very interesting. The story line is well done and moves forward at a very good pace. At times it is a fast-paced page-turner, then it slows enough for the reader to catch a breath and relax. At all times, though, it moves forward into an intriguing plot that is most enjoyable to read. If you are looking for a good "whodunit" with twists and turns and action, then this is the book you will definitely want to read!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Decent read but with flaws
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I found this a very decent story with great characters and a good plot (your standard whodunit). Descriptive and good development. But it was full of editing errors. There were typos but also errors in the plot line. Characters would discuss events before they happened, he took the car but before he brought it backend she was driving it, how many tapes were there exactly?, and such. I still have to say I enjoyed reading it.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • j.mooradian
    4.0 out of 5 stars An unusual twist on crime
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I found this mystery very interesting. The idea of using handwriting analysis to help find a guilty party is, as far as I know a new one. However, there were some disappointments. Does every black woman wear braids? The 80's are over.
    That being said, the story starts at a funeral of a woman we would all love to hate. It's allegedly a suicide, however, due to an overheard conversation, doubt springs up! Did I mention that the deceased is a Hollywood power, used to working with the likes of Brad & Angelina? In fact, they are mentioned as being at the funeral. The partner of the deceased has his doubts & hires Claudia to do her handwriting analysis thing. She does and in doing so, uncovers S&M, bestiality, any kind of sexual act there is.
    The story has it's hero, a seemingly normal guy, for a homicide cop in LA. The story has its surprises.
    I like the fact that handwriting analysis & psychology are used so effectively, not only in solving the crimes but also in character analysis of potential partners, employees and more.
    All in all, I found the book enjoyable.
    One person found this helpful
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  • J. Gephardt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Twists, Turns, Smoke, and Mirrors with a Heart-Pounding Finish
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This book opens with an interesting scene and kept me interested all the way through till the end. It's extremely well-written, and paced to keep readers turning pages. Claudia Rose has an interesting approach to the world and makes an engaging protagonist. Her friends and frenemies also come across as three-dimensional, interesting, and distinctly quirky people.

    Author Shelia Lowe deftly balances character strengths and weaknesses and offers us a lively array of suspects and questionable motives. Set in LA and focused mostly on the high-stakes, high-glamour, highly competitive world of the almost-famous who orbit the Hollywood scene, this book evokes a richly textured world as colorful and quirky as the cast of characters.

    Lowe has us double-and triple guessing about "What is real?" and "Who can we trust?" But make no mistake, the twists, turns, smoke, and mirrors lead us into a heart-pounding final sequence that's hard to put down--and delivers a deeply satisfying finish.

    I saw this author mentioned in the acknowledgements of a Margaret Mizushima novel, and I was intrigued with the forensic handwriting angle for a mystery novel. That's what led me to look it up. I'm glad I did. "Poison Pen" did not disappoint on any front!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • vsk
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Another reviewer said this book was “un-put-downable” and they were right! The characters are well done and I’d like to have Claudia as a friend. She’s a little (lol) stubborn and single minded but that’s ok by me. This is a book of twists and the twisted. So if murder, blackmail, S&M, and adrenaline are your thing, grab this book and sit down for a lively read.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps you guessing to the end
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's a refreshing change to have a someone who isn't in law enforcement investigate the crime and come at it from a unique angle. I highly recommend reading it and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
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  • hancock
    5.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in Australia on July 28, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is the second Claudia Rose mystery book I’ve read (yes it is the first in the series) and it is worth reading before any others. Definitely a good story and well written plus giving insights into forensic handwriting. Really liked the interaction between Claudia and “Columbo”. Recommended read.
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  • Carol Ann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Poison Pan
    Reviewed in Canada on May 24, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    It was a very interesting kind of mystery book it wasn't quite what I expected but it was different.
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  • pat goode
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This book was very good ,I really enjoyed the characters and their parts they played,I didnt guess the outcome at all
    Report
  • Lisa @ One Club
    3.0 out of 5 stars Sadly Uninvolving
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The main character Claudia Rose is a handwriting expert. A former friend Lindsey, a top publicist to the rich and famous, has committed suicide. Or has she?. Claudia is hired to confirm that the suicide note was written by the dead woman. As she searches for suitable handwriting samples, Claudia discovers a much darker side to her friend. As she goes deeper it puts her own life in danger, and she draws closer to Joel Jovanic the lead detective on the case. I saw the potential in this, but sadly I felt the story was uninvolving. The characters were somehow flat, and the there were no clues leading to the culprit at the end, so I felt that was a let down. Perhaps as this is a debut novel, the same characters in subsequent books will get more interesting as the series develops.
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