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WORK TITLE: The Fifth Reflection
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://ellenkirschman.com/
CITY: Redwood City
STATE: CA
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://ellenkirschman.com/about-the-author/ * https://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/ellen-kirschman-phd * https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-kirschman-1487ba16/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in New York, NY; married Steve Hollis Johnson (a photographer).
EDUCATION:UC Berkeley, M.A.; Wright Institute, Ph.D.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Psychologist, speaker, writer. Ellen Kirschman and Associates, licensed clinical psychologist specializing in police and public safety psychology, 1983–.
MEMBER:Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Public Safety Writers Association, International Thriller Writers (ITW), American Psychological Association, Society for the Study of Police and Criminal Psychology, International Association of Women Police, Association of Chiefs of Police.
AWARDS:Award for Distinguished Contribution to Psychology, 2014.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Ellen Kirschman is a San Francisco-based clinical psychologist who specializes in police and public safety psychology. Kirschman has employed these skills and experiences in nonfiction and fiction works alike. She is the author of I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know, as well as the novels in the “Dot Meyerhoff Mystery” series, featuring this eponymous police psychologist. On her author Website, Kirschman discusses her protagonist: “[Dot] gets to do things I wouldn’t dream of, like impersonating a public official, breaking and entering, and assault with a deadly weapon. She is a spunky fifty year-old who takes orders from no one, not even her chief, and persists in solving crimes when she should be counseling cops.” Kirschman adds: “My hope is that readers will enjoy a good mystery at the same time learn something new about the hidden complexities and emotional challenges of police work.”
I Love a Cop
Kirschman’s I Love a Cop has gone through two revised editions since its original publication in 1997, reflecting the changing difficulties that the police face. Basically a coping guide for officers, the book looks at the challenges they face daily and also how families can help them deal with trauma. There are also chapters on domestic and alcohol abuse as well as a discussion of the particular problems female officers might have to deal with.
“The author maintains that police families can, in fact, thrive, and she’s got the success stories to prove it,” noted Library Journal reviewer Deborah Bigelow of I Love a Cop. Writing in FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Linda S. Forst also had praise, commenting, “I Love a Cop provides such worthwhile information that police administrators should seriously consider making it required reading for promotional examinations.” Likewise, an Internet Bookwatch writer concluded: “I Love a Cop is also highly recommended as supplemental reading for anyone considering a policing career, as there is also plenty of sage wisdom about what to expect on the job
and how to balance demands of the job with those of family life.”
Burying Ben, The Right Wrong Thing, and The Fifth Reflection
Kirschman’s “Dot Meyerhoff Mystery” series was launched with Burying Ben, in which Dot is just getting started in her new position as psychologist for the Kenilworth Police Department in California when a rookie cop, Ben Gomez, commits suicide leaving behind a note that blames Dot. With her job at stake, Dot investigates this death, cutting through the shroud of secrecy Ben’s widow and friends alike have thrown around the case. Finally, she is able to get to the truth of this suicide and bring those responsible to justice. Writing in Reviewer’s Bookwatch, Margaret Lane had praise for this debut novel, noting: “A deftly crafted novel of compelling complexity, Burying Ben is an inherently absorbing read from beginning to end and marks author Ellen Kirschman as a novelist of exceptional storytelling talent.”
Dot returns in The Right Wrong Thing, once again on the spot for certifying Randy Spelling for service on the Kenilworth department. Spelling’s father and brothers have been cops, and she badly wants to join that family tradition. But disaster strikes early in the officer’s career when she shoots and kills pregnant teenage Lakeisha Gibbs, who she mistakenly thinks is drawing a weapon. Dot is back in Spelling’s life when the officer is diagnosed with PTSD, and again takes her job beyond the clinical mode, attempting to get to the bottom of things as regards this shooting. A Publishers Weekly reviewer found this a “highly satisfying second novel … [that] treats complex racial, feminist, personal, and political issues while providing intimate knowledge of cops’ shop procedure.” Writing in the online Corrections One: Harriet’s Corner, Harriet Fox noted: “Kirschman has proven yet again to be a brilliant author whose deadpan comedic delivery brightens the pages and her visionary detail paints a picture like you are right there with protagonist Dot, looking over her shoulder. I was engrossed by every word, at the edge of my seat for each chapter ahead, and impatiently awaited the big solution to the who-dun-it. I was surprised all along the way.” Foreword Reviews Website contributor Laura Mahon similarly observed: “The Right Wrong Thing is brilliantly written with this dynamic in mind. Those looking for a meaningful story forged against the backdrop of a relevant social construct will enjoy going on this adventure with Randy and Meyerhoff. Not only is this a compelling read, but it is profoundly realistic.”
The third series installment, The Fifth Reflection, offers a complex plot involving a missing child, a dedicated officer whose investigation is tearing his own family apart, and a provocative photographer whose nude photos of her own children put her in the investigative crosshairs. Once again Dot must go outside of her psychologist comfort zone to get to the truth. “Using her skills as a psychologist and then as amateur sleuth, Dot unmasks a surprising but unlikely team of bad guys,” noted a Publishers Weekly reviewer of this series addition. An Internet Bookwatch contributor also had praise, commenting: “A deftly crafted and riveting read from beginning to end, The Fifth Reflection clearly reveals author Ellen Kirschman’s genuine flair for originality and mastery of the genre.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, April, 1998, Linda S. Forst, review of I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know, p. 9.
Internet Bookwatch, April, 2007, review of I Love a Cop; August, 2017, review of The Fifth Reflection.
Library Journal, January 1, 2007, Deborah Bigelow, review of I Love a Cop, p. 129.
Publishers Weekly, August 17, 2015, review of The Right Wrong Thing, p. 54; May 1, 2017, review of The Fifth Reflection, p. 39.
Reviewer’s Bookwatch, November, 2015, Margaret Lane, review of Burying Ben.
ONLINE
Corrections One: Harriet’s Corner, https://www.correctionsone.com/ (January 28, 2018), Harriet Fox, review of The Right Wrong Thing.
Ellen Kirschman Website, http://ellenkirschman.com (January 9, 2018).
Foreword Reviews, /https://www.forewordreviews.com/ (August 3, 2015), Laura Mahon, review of The Right Wrong Thing.
Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/ (January 9, 2018), “Ellen Kirschman.”
Quiet Fury Books, http://quietfurybooks.com/ (July 5, 2017), review of The Fifth Reflection.
Ellen Kirschman
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I'm a police psychologist and the author of five books: I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know, I Love a Fire Fighter: What the Family Needs to Know; Counseling Cops: What Clinicians Need to Know, and two mysteries: Burying Ben and The Right Wrong Thing. I am the happy recipients of the California Psychological Association's 2014 award for distinguished contribution to psychology.
Writing fiction is a new skill for me. I used to think that making things up would be easier than writing non-fiction. What a delusion! Creating a story that captures the reader's attention from page one is a tricky business.
In my spare time I volunteer at the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat for first responders (www.wcpr2001), teach peer support, self-care for cops, and hold workshops worldwide for first responder families.
BTW I'm not married to a cop, I'm married to a remodeling contractor turned photographer.
I love hearing from readers and colleagues. You can write to me and/or read more about my psychology practice on my website, www.ellenkirschman.com.
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I Love a Fire Fighter: What the Family Needs to Know
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Police forces try to combat PTSD
Ellen commented
Today marked my last day of work for the City of Sunnyvale. After 25 years I've decided to retire. I consider myself blessed and fortunate for having the opportunity to work in an awesome department serving a great community. I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed every one of those years and I feel thankful. Ready for the next set of adventures and a new chapter!
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Murder Most Foul is Happening tonight, 1/18, 6-8 pm at the San Leandro Public Library, 300 Estudillo Ave, San Leandro. Join me and a panel of great mystery writers who love to commit murder: Terry Shames, Mariella Krause (aka Marla Cooper), Camille Minichino, & Ann Parker.
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Experience
Ellen Kirschman & Associates
psychologist/author/trainer
Company NameEllen Kirschman & Associates
Ellen Kirschman & Associates
Public safety psychology
Company NameEllen Kirschman & Associates
Dates EmployedSep 1983 – Present Employment Duration34 yrs 5 mos
Ellen Kirschman and Associates
Psychologist/author
Company NameEllen Kirschman and Associates
Dates Employed1983 – 2011 Employment Duration28 yrs
Education
Wright Institute
Wright Institute
Degree NamePh.D. Field Of StudyClinical Psychology
Dates attended or expected graduation 1979 – 1983
UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley
Degree NameMaster of Social Work (MSW) Field Of StudyClinical Social Work
Volunteer Experience
First Responder's Support Network
Volunteer clinician
Company NameFirst Responder's Support Network
Dates volunteeredSep 2008 – Sep 2008 Volunteer duration1 mo
The First Responders Support Network (FRSN.org) is a volunteer organization of clinicians, police and fire peer supporters, and chaplains. FRSN sponsors monthly six-day retreats for first responders who are suffering with post traumatic stress injuries. Three times a year they sponsor a retreat for the spouses and significant others of first responders (SOS).
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Sofi Milani
Sofi Milani
"Yoga With Sofi"
December 2, 2013, Ellen worked with Sofi in different groups
Excellent teacher. Sofi's patient, experienced and brings both a sense of seriousness and humor to her teaching. She's qualified to work with clients who have medical illnesses.
Accomplishments
Ellen has 5 publications5
Expand publications section
Publications
The Right Wrong Thing I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know I Love a Fire Fighter: What the Family Needs to Know Burying Ben Counseling Cops: What Clinicians Need to Know
Ellen has 2 honors2
Expand honors & awards section
Honors & Awards
2014 award for Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Outstanding contribution to police and public safety psychology
Ellen Kirschman Ph.D.
Ellen Kirschman Ph.D.
Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in police and public safety psychology. She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (psychological services sub-section), the Society for the Study of Police and Criminal Psychology, The American Psychological Assciation and the International Assiociation of Women in Law Enforcement. She's the recipient of the California Psychological Association's 2014 award for distinguished contribution to psychology as well as the American Psychological Association's 2010 award for outstanding contribution to the practice of police and public safety psychology.
Ellen writes both fiction and non-fiction (see below). Her mystery series is told from the perspective of police psychologist, Dr. Dot Meyerhoff who is too dedicated for her own good and should be counseling cops, not solving crimes. Ellen's professional practice includes giving workshops world-wide for police families, teaching self-care to cops, training peer supporters, and helping clinicians become culturally competent to treat first responders. She volunteers as a clinician for The First Responders Support Network (FRSN.org), an organization holding six-day retreats for first responders with post-traumatic stress injuries and for their significant others and spouses. As a writer, she is active in several organizations, Sisters-in-Crime, the International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, and the Public Safety Writers Association.
Ellen lives in Redwood City, California with her husband, the photographer,S. Hollis Johnson. She doesn't have a lot of hobbies, unless you count exercise to stay healthy as a hobby. She reads widely and always has a book in hand. She dabbles in cooking although her husband prepares most of their meals. She loves to travel and regularly attends the Insight Meditation Center. She blogs with The Lady Killers and invites visitors with questions to visit her website and sign up for her newsletter.
QUOTE:
gets to do things I wouldn’t dream of, like impersonating a public official, breaking and entering, and assault with a deadly weapon. She is a spunky fifty year-old who takes orders from no one, not even her chief, and persists in solving crimes when she should be counseling cops.
My hope is that readers will enjoy a good mystery at the same time learn something new about the hidden complexities and emotional challenges of police work.
Meet Ellen
I was born in New York City. That was a mistake. Not that I was born but that I landed on the wrong coast. At 26, I came to San Francisco to visit my brother. As soon as my feet hit the tarmac, I was where I needed to be and have been ever since. I’ve had several careers – dancer, waitress, probation officer, social worker before I became a psychologist in my early forties. I was drawn to the excitement and gritty reality of working with first responders. It didn’t take long for me to see that it’s hard being a cop and even harder being married to one. That was the inspiration for my first book, I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know. After 9/11, I followed up with I Love A Fire Fighter: What the Family Needs to Know. By the time I got to the third book, Counseling Cops: What Clinicians Need to Know, I was done with reality. I told myself it must be easier to make things up. It isn’t. It’s much harder, but way more therapeutic. Writing fiction has given me the chance to do a lot of things I couldn’t in my role as a psychologist. For one thing, I get to take pot shots at cops, my fellow psychologists and a few ex-husbands. My protagonist, Dr. Dot Meyerhoff – named after my mother and grandmother – gets to do things I wouldn’t dream of, like impersonating a public official, breaking and entering, and assault with a deadly weapon. She is a spunky fifty year-old who takes orders from no one, not even her chief, and persists in solving crimes when she should be counseling cops. Her love life is confined to an ambivalent relationship with Frank, who is modeled after my husband Steve, the photographer known as S. Hollis Johnson. I have shamelessly plagiarized his entire life to create this character and he still loves me. My other characters, like the bumbling, badge-heavy Eddie Rimbauer or Lupe Ochoa, the desperate wife of a troubled young investigator, are inspired by people I’ve worked with as a psychologist. My hope is that readers will enjoy a good mystery at the same time learn something new about the hidden complexities and emotional challenges of police work. When I’m not writing, teaching, or volunteering as a clinician at the First Responders Support Network (see the Resources page), I’m at the Y taking water wiggling classes, napping on the couch, reading, or going to conferences. I belong to Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America (MWA), Public Safety Writers Association, International Thriller Writers (ITW),The American Psychological Association, The Society for the Study of Police and Criminal Psychology, The International Association of Women Police, and The Association of Chiefs of Police (psychological services sub-section). I love hearing from readers and talking to groups in person or via Skype. Stay in touch. And be sure to sign up for my newsletter.
QUOTE:
Using
her skills as a psychologist and then as amateur sleuth, Dot unmasks a surprising but unlikely team of bad
guys.
The Fifth Reflection: A Dot Meyerhoff
Mystery
Publishers Weekly.
264.18 (May 1, 2017): p39.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Fifth Reflection: A Dot Meyerhoff Mystery
Ellen Kirschman. Oceanview, $26.95 (272p)
ISBN 978-1-60809-250-5
At the outset of Kirschman's loosely plotted, angst-filled third outing for consulting psychologist Dot
Meyerhoff (after 2015's The Right Wrong Thing), police chief Pence, of the Kenilworth (Calif.) PD,
appoints Manuel Ochoa, a dedicated young officer, to the county's Internet Crimes Against Children task
force. Dot is concerned that Manny may not be ready for this difficult job. Meanwhile, JoAnn "JJ" Juliette,
a photographer whose art consists of provocative and controversial nude pictures of her own children, asks
her photography student Frank, Dot's fiance, for help when her two-year-old daughter, Chrissy, goes
missing. The police, led by Manny, investigate Chrissy's father, a wealthy venture capitalist, and his wife, as
well as JJ and known pedophiles. When Chrissy's body is found, the pressure increases on everyone. Using
her skills as a psychologist and then as amateur sleuth, Dot unmasks a surprising but unlikely team of bad
guys. Agent: Cynthia Zigmund, Second City Publishing. (July)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Fifth Reflection: A Dot Meyerhoff Mystery." Publishers Weekly, 1 May 2017, p. 39. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A491575282/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=26bc7f16.
Accessed 28 Jan. 2018.
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QUOTE:
highly satisfying second novel
treats complex racial, feminist, personal, and
political issues while providing intimate knowledge of cops' shop procedure.
The Right Wrong Thing
Publishers Weekly.
262.33 (Aug. 17, 2015): p54.
COPYRIGHT 2015 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Right Wrong Thing
Ellen Kirschman. Oceanview (Midpoint, dist.), $26.95 (256p) ISBN 978-1-60809-154-6
In Kirschman's highly satisfying second novel featuring Dr. Dot Meyerhoff (after 2013's Burying Ben), the
consulting psychologist endorses young Randy Spelling's emotional stability for service as a Kenilworth,
Calif., police officer. Dot later attempts to help Randy through the guilt-ridden aftermath of a panic episode
that indirectly injured Randy's partner, who blames Randy for cowardice. Intense professional and personal
problems ensue for the divorced 50ish Dot after Randy, back on duty, fatally shoots Lakeisha Gibbs, a
pregnant teenager who Randy mistakenly thinks is drawing a weapon. Kirschman, herself a psychologist
who has served as a police department consultant, perceptively treats complex racial, feminist, personal, and
political issues while providing intimate knowledge of cops' shop procedure. She also skewers self-serving
superficial "Christian-based psychology" and neatly balances Dot's psychological expertise with her
warmhearted humanity, though a facile windup disappoints. (Oct.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Right Wrong Thing." Publishers Weekly, 17 Aug. 2015, p. 54. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A426033846/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=4dfcadaf.
Accessed 28 Jan. 2018.
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QUOTE:
The author maintains that police families can, in fact, thrive, and she's got the success stories to
prove it.
Kirschman, Ellen. I Love a Cop: What
Police Families Need To Know
Deborah Bigelow
Library Journal.
132.1 (Jan. 1, 2007): p129.
COPYRIGHT 2007 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
* Kirschman, Ellen. I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need To Know. rev. ed. Guilford. 2006. c.334p.
ISBN 1-59385-354-8. $40; pap. ISBN 1-59585-353-X. $16.95. SELF-HELP
While police officers have always encountered danger, events of the past few years have increased their
vulnerability. In 1997, clinical psychologist Kirschman put together this coping guide for officers, their
family members, and mental health professionals, drawing on her and her colleagues' files to discuss not
only the everyday challenges that police officers face but also the measures families can take for dealing
with trauma. With this revised edition, Kirschman addresses facets of post-9/11 and post-Katrina police
work, including chapters on domestic and alcohol abuse and the special trials of female officers and cop
couples. The author maintains that police families can, in fact, thrive, and she's got the success stories to
prove it. Preparedness is one of the keys to that state, and this book, which should interest its intended
audience and the general public, shows how to get there. For all libraries.
Deborah Bigelow, Director, Leonia P.L., NJ
Bigelow, Deborah
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Bigelow, Deborah. "Kirschman, Ellen. I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need To Know." Library
Journal, 1 Jan. 2007, p. 129. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A158523725/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=bd614c8b.
Accessed 28 Jan. 2018.
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QUOTE:
I Love a Cop provides such worthwhile
information that police administrators should seriously consider making it required reading for promotional
examinations.
I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to
Know
Linda S. Forst
The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin.
67.4 (Apr. 1998): p9.
COPYRIGHT 1998 Federal Bureau of Investigation
http://www.fbi.gov
Full Text:
Police work has long been recognized as a stressful profession. This stress and the resulting problems or
challenges it causes not only affect police officers and their co-workers but their families, as well. The
author of I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know draws upon her experience as a police
psychologist to explain some of the common stress-producing experiences police officers face as they
progress through their careers. From organizational factors and traumatic incidents to emotional issues and
special circumstances, the author discusses a wide range of concerns. She uses real-life examples to
illustrate her points and provides an exhaustive number of tips from both experts and officers on the street
to help police families cope with these aspects of police work and mitigate their negative effects.
Most police practitioners know the various stages and corresponding behaviors that officers can experience
during their careers, from the probationary period to the honeymoon period to disillusionment and, finally,
burnout. In part 1, the author describes these phases, letting police families know what to expect at each
stage, and provides tips for dealing with each one. Additional chapters in this section deal with the other
realities of police work: long hours, shift work, unpredictability, public scrutiny, organizational stress, and
injuries.
In part 2, the author addresses the various types of traumatic events that can occur, including policeinvolved
shootings, line-of-duty deaths and injuries, and the like, as well as their effects on officers and
their families. One chapter focuses specifically on helping children through traumatic incidents. Also in this
section, the author addresses what she calls emotional extremes - domestic abuse, alcoholism, and suicide.
Experience has shown that police officers and their families often are reluctant to seek counseling, primarily
for reasons of confidentiality and the stigma associated with asking for help. Moreover, officers who feel
unable to problem-solve and remain in control of their own lives often feel diminished and inadequate. In
the last chapter in this section, the author discusses these concerns and lets police families know when they
should seek professional help and the various types available.
The chapters in part 3 address the special concerns of female, minority, and gay officers, as well as police
couples. Part 4, the book's final chapter, provides an ending to each of the real-life stories the author begins
in earlier chapters. At the end of the book, the author provides an extensive reference list and a compilation
of resources available, including organizations, books, and videos.
I Love a Cop is a comprehensive, easily understood source of valuable information. The difficulty comes in
disseminating this information to the people who need and could benefit from it - police administrators,
officers, and their families. This could be accomplished through various methods, including orientation
programs for officers and their families, in-service and roll-call training, stress management programs,
career counseling sessions, and retirement planning seminars. I Love a Cop provides such worthwhile
information that police administrators should seriously consider making it required reading for promotional
examinations.
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Reviewed by Captain Linda S. Forst (ret.), Ed.D. Adjunct Instructor Palm Beach Community College South
Boca Raton, Florida
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Forst, Linda S. "I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know." The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,
Apr. 1998, p. 9. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A20576398/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=f7d0fb06. Accessed 28 Jan. 2018.
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QUOTE:
A deftly crafted novel of compelling complexity, "Burying Ben" is an inherently absorbing read
from beginning to end and marks author Ellen Kirschman as a novelist of exceptional storytelling talent.
Burying Ben
Margaret Lane
Reviewer's Bookwatch.
(Nov. 2015):
COPYRIGHT 2015 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Full Text:
Burying Ben
Ellen Kirschman
Oceanview Publishing
595 Bay Isles Road, 120-G, Longboat Key, FL 34228
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781938436116, $15.95, 244pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Dot Meyerhoff has barely settled into her new job as a psychologist for the Kenilworth Police
Department when Ben Gomez, a troubled young rookie that she tries to counsel, commits suicide without
any warning and leaves a note blaming her. Overnight, her promising new start becomes a nightmare. At
stake is her job, her reputation, her license to practice, and her already battered sense of self-worth. Dot
resolves to find out not just what led Ben to kill himself, but why her psychologist ex husband, the man she
most wants to avoid, recommended that Ben be hired in the first place. Ben's surviving family and everyone
else connected to him are determined to keep Ben's story a secret, by any means necessary. Even Ben, from
the grave, has secrets to keep. Right from the start, Dot's investigation efforts get her into trouble. First she
alienates Ben's training officer, who is barely managing to hold onto his own job. With the police chief
watching over her shoulder, she tries to help the officer with disastrous consequences. After reaching out to
console Ben's pregnant--and slightly sociopathic--widow, Dot winds up embroiled in the affairs of her
incredibly dysfunctional family. Dot's troubles are compounded by a post-divorce romance, the ex who still
has a hold over her, and an unwelcome visit from his new wife. By the time she uncovers the real reasons
behind Ben's suicide and brings the people responsible to justice, Dot has not only resurrected belief in
herself, she has also acquired some surprisingly useful new skills: impersonating a public official, burglary,
and assault with a deadly weapon.
Critique: A deftly crafted novel of compelling complexity, "Burying Ben" is an inherently absorbing read
from beginning to end and marks author Ellen Kirschman as a novelist of exceptional storytelling talent.
Very highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Burying Ben" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.99).
Margaret Lane
Reviewer
Lane, Margaret
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Lane, Margaret. "Burying Ben." Reviewer's Bookwatch, Nov. 2015. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A435638026/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=af39d66c.
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QUOTE:
I Love a Cop is also highly recommended as supplemental reading for
anyone considering a policing career, as there is also plenty of sage wisdom about what to expect on the job
and how to balance demands of the job with those of family life.
I Love a Cop
Internet Bookwatch.
(Apr. 2007):
COPYRIGHT 2007 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Full Text:
I Love a Cop
Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D.
The Guilford Press
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
159385353X $16.95 www.guilford.com
Written by clinical psychologist Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D., whose specific area of expertise lies in helping
police officers and their families, I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need To Know is a straightforward,
"tell-the-facts" guide, now in a newly revised edition, written especially for the significant others, spouses,
and family members of police officers. Being a cop is a demanding job, and sometimes the very skills
required for competence--such as being able to suppress strong emotions like fear, anger, or even
compassion--are harmful to officers' private and personal lives if carried over to the home. I Love a Cop
gives practical, no-nonsense advice to what to expect from the demands of the job, coping with stress or
trauma, and much more. Of especial value are the chapters about dealing with domestic abuse, threats of
suicide, or other severe cases and problems--including how to recognize the warning signs and when there
is no other option than to just get out. Though I Love a Cop is intended especially for the loved ones of
police offers, its solid advice is also highly recommended for the loved ones of anyone in a high-stress,
risky or demanding occupation. I Love a Cop is also highly recommended as supplemental reading for
anyone considering a policing career, as there is also plenty of sage wisdom about what to expect on the job
and how to balance demands of the job with those of family life.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"I Love a Cop." Internet Bookwatch, Apr. 2007. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A162303735/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=cf54f95b.
Accessed 28 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A162303735
1/28/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1517180042619 9/9
QUOTE:
A deftly crafted and riveting read
from beginning to end, "The Fifth Reflection" clearly reveals author Ellen Kirschman's genuine flair for
originality and mastery of the genre.
The Fifth Reflection
Internet Bookwatch.
(Aug. 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Full Text:
The Fifth Reflection
Ellen Kirschman
Oceanview Publishing
595 Bay Isles Road, 120-G, Longboat Key, FL 34228
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608092505, $26.95, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Police psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff is pulled into the vortex of a terrible crime involving an eccentric
photographer whose images of nude children make her a prime suspect in the disappearance of her own
daughter. The principal investigator in the case is a young officer whose dedication to work and obsession
with finding the missing child is tearing his own family apart. Trapped between her allegiance to the
investigator, her complicated connections to the photographer, and her unstable relationship with the police
chief, Dot must find a way to help everyone involved. As Dot's psychological expertise and determination
contribute to solving the mystery, her involvement with the missing child's extended, dysfunctional family
brings her face-to-face with painful psychological issues of her own. "The Fifth Reflection" delivers a
chilling, up-close look at the psychological strain of investigating Internet crimes against children, the
complexities of being married to a cop, and the deadliness of jealousy. A deftly crafted and riveting read
from beginning to end, "The Fifth Reflection" clearly reveals author Ellen Kirschman's genuine flair for
originality and mastery of the genre. While very highly recommended, especially for community library
Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs
that "The Fifth Reflection" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Fifth Reflection." Internet Bookwatch, Aug. 2017. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A504053916/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=89ea5973.
Accessed 28 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A504053916
#BookReview – THE FIFTH REFLECTION: A Dot Meyerhoff Mystery by Ellen Kirschman
Posted onJuly 5, 2017AuthorDarcia0 Comments
Police psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff is pulled into the vortex of a terrible crime involving an eccentric photographer whose images of nude children make her a prime suspect in the disappearance of her own daughter. The principal investigator in the case is a young officer whose dedication to work and obsession with finding the missing child is tearing his own family apart. Trapped between her allegiance to the investigator, her complicated connections to the photographer, and her unstable relationship with the police chief, Dot must find a way to help everyone involved. As Dot’s psychological expertise and determination contribute to solving the mystery, her involvement with the missing child’s extended, dysfunctional family brings her face-to-face with painful psychological issues of her own. The Fifth Reflection delivers a chilling, up-close look at the psychological strain of investigating Internet crimes against children, the complexities of being married to a cop, and the deadliness of jealousy.
Release Date: July 11, 2017
Amazon / Amazon UK / Amazon CA
My Review
The Fifth Reflection is one of those books that left me with a mixed impression of good, bad, and indifferent.
I’ll start with the good. The author excels at showing us the emotional strain on the cops who work cases involving kids. We see the toll the job takes on their physical and psychological health. We watch as their personal lives crumble. These aspects of the story are compelling and poignant, reminding us that the men and women working these cases often suffer a private trauma of their own.
I can’t imagine what it feels like to believe, even if it’s not true, that you alone are responsible for preventing an innocent child from being murdered.
The mystery and whodunit aspect of the story left me feeling indifferent. I wasn’t surprised by the outcome, though there is an interesting twist along the way.
Then there’s the bad stuff. I wanted to shake some sense into Dot. She is a successful, intelligent woman in a high-powered job, who is far too meek and submissive in her personal life. And that brings me to the crux of my problem, which is the weird triangle between Dot, her fiance Frank, and his photography teacher JJ. So much is wrong, from my perspective, with the interactions between the three of them. Frank gushes about JJ as if she is his first teenage crush, and he appears to have absolutely no concern for how his behavior affects Dot. In fact, his responses to her seem arrogant. Dot, for her part, tiptoes around him, not wanting to question his infatuation. These are two middle-aged adults, but it feels more like two extremely young, immature adults. JJ, the free-spirited beauty, is apparently oblivious to the fact that she has wedged herself into the middle of this relationship. Considering JJ is supposed to be all about peace, love and supporting her fellow humans, her insensitivity seems totally out of place.
Her jewelry, like her photography, is edgy, daring, provocative. Everything about her, except her soft voice and unhurried way of moving, has an in-you-face feel to it.
I have not read the other books in this series, and I had no problem understanding Dot’s character. This story stands well on its own.
*I received an advance ebook copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*
Thanks for reading. 🙂
QUOTE:
Kirschman has proven yet again to be a brilliant author whose deadpan comedic delivery brightens the pages and her visionary detail paints a picture like you are right there with protagonist Dot, looking over her shoulder. I was engrossed by every word, at the edge of my seat for each chapter ahead, and impatiently awaited the big solution to the who-dun-it. I was surprised all along the way.
Harriet's Corner
with Harriet Fox
Book review: The Right Wrong Thing, By Ellen KirschmanIn the follow-up to Bury Ben, Kirschman delves into the hot topic of OIS and how they affect not only communities, but the officers involvedOct 6, 2015
Ellen Kirschman's new book, The Right Wrong Thing, is available today via Amazon.
This novel could not have come out at a better time in America with the political and public scrutiny of law enforcement today.
Author Ellen Kirschman shares her 30 years of police psychologist experience in her characters, whose flaws are as refreshing as their strengths. Kirschman takes us on a journey through humanity, accountability, resilience, relationships, and what it means to stand the tests of time. The Right Wrong Thing covers important issues like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the fine line of ethical boundaries, organizational stress, and what police personnel go through after an officer-involved shooting.
With recent officer-involved shootings and racial intolerance issues, the media has bombarded our televisions and further straining relations between law enforcement and our communities. Kirschman sheds light on everyone involved in the aftermath when the unfortunate event of an officer-involved shooting touches a city.
Dr. Dot Meyerhoff returns in Kirschman’s second novel succeeding Burying Ben as the psychologist for the Kenilworth Police Department. The book opens with Dot interviewing Randy Alderson Spelling for her psychological screening to join KPD. Born into a law enforcement family, Randy has always wanted to become a police officer. Dot passes Randy and her life-long dream comes true. Soon after, she is done with her training and on the streets. Randy then takes part in an officer-involved shooting where Lakeisha Gibbs, a black pregnant teenager, is killed.
Randy is then diagnosed with PTSD and Dot is back in Randy’s life, trying to help her through the trauma. Randy is adamant about apologizing to Lakeisha’s family. Dot and the police chief advise Randy against doing this, but she refuses to listen, creating disaster and tragedy.
Dot operates as a risky yet vulnerable woman who cannot avoid the questions her inquisitive mind poses her to seek answers to. Tenacious, Dot again finds herself in trouble going against the police chief’s orders to remain uninvolved in the investigation. Dot feels she must get to the bottom of things, regardless of the police chief’s orders.
Dot becomes like an undercover agent in constant pursuit of answers starting a tangled web of twists and turns. She risks her life as well as the lives of others as she attempts to do the right wrong thing.
Kirschman has proven yet again to be a brilliant author whose deadpan comedic delivery brightens the pages and her visionary detail paints a picture like you are right there with protagonist Dot, looking over her shoulder. I was engrossed by every word, at the edge of my seat for each chapter ahead, and impatiently awaited the big solution to the who-dun-it. I was surprised all along the way.
Interview With the Author
Q: What made you pick this topic for The Right Wrong Thing?
Over the years, I have treated several officers who have killed someone in the line of duty. The Right Wrong Thing was inspired by one particular client who struggled with PTSD after a controversial shooting. The fact that the shooting was ultimately deemed justified didn’t help.
Q: Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp?
That police officers are human and that police work is very complex and psychologically challenging.
Q: This book is part of a series; tell us a little about it?
My intention is to tackle current issues in law enforcement using the vehicle of fiction. My current work-in-progress has to do with internet crimes against children and the pressure investigating such crimes puts on the investigator and his family.
Q: What was the hardest part of writing this book?
A: Mysteries are heavily plot-driven and plotting is always the hardest part for me. I love developing characters and finding just the right words to describe a person or a situation. The challenge is to create plausible suspects, drop a few hints, and keep the reader guessing until the end. Cheating isn’t allowed. I have to treat my readers fairly and not spring something new on them right at the end. This requires a lot of planning. After writing myself into a corner more than once, I now create outlines before I start writing. These are sketchy outlines that are doomed to change, but it helps me to know from the get-go, who the bad guy (or gal) is, what they did and why.
Q: What advice do you have for law enforcement and corrections personnel on dealing with negative media and scrutiny?
Stop reading (and believing) the news, the blogs and especially the comments. This is easier said than done. Try to remain positive by doing whatever you can to build something positive and good into your workplace. Some folks I know watch funny movies together or team up to do something charitable. Avoid toxic workmates. They will bring you down with their constant carping and complaining.
Q: What advice can you give to aspiring writers who have a story to tell?
No way around it, you have to sit down and write. Get your story on paper. Every writer's first draft is garbage. Writing is revision. Finish it, put it away, look at it again, make changes and then show it to someone you trust. My second piece of advice is to read. Every good writer reads incessantly. I learned how to write by reading books. I learned a lot from writers I admire, but I learned even more from terrible writers who inspired me to think I could do better.
Q: What is your favorite motivational phrase or saying?
I love Anne LaMott’s advice to writers in her book Bird by Bird. (I also love Stephen King’s Book On Writing). I can’t quote LaMott exactly but it goes something like this: A writer has two voices in her head: one is saying she a major talent about to write the great American novel. The other voice is saying she is a pretender, an imposter with nothing to say and no talent. The writer’s job, says LaMott, is to turn off both voices, sit down and write.
Q: What project(s) are you currently working on?
As mentioned above a third mystery about internet crimes against children and quite possibly a second edition, meaning a full over haul, of I LOVE A COP. Maybe this time I can include more about correctional officers.
To learn more about Ellen Kirschman’s career in law enforcement and her other work, check out her website or follow her on LinkedIn and Facebook.
About the author
Harriet Fox is working as a Correctional Officer in a county jail in California. She is a Jail Training Officer, Emergency Response Team (ERT) member, Honor Guard member, and has worked as an Intake Classification Officer. Having an inquisitive mind, Harriet is intrigued by the criminal mind, gangs and mental illness within the walls of the correctional system. Prior to becoming a Correctional Officer, Harriet had the opportunity to delve into the law enforcement field experiencing positions including: Reserve Police Officer, 9-1-1 Communications Dispatcher, Crime Prevention Officer, and Police Cadet. Almost twenty years into a law enforcement career, Harriet is still passionate about the work and interested in always learning. Harriet is the bestselling true crime author of The Alcohol Murders: The True Story of Gilbert Paul Jordan. Harriet is also published in Justice Shall Be Served: An Anthology (written by police officers, correctional officers and military personnel). Both books can be found on Amazon.com. Harriet has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology.
QUOTE:
The Right Wrong Thing is brilliantly written with this dynamic in mind. Those looking for a meaningful story forged against the backdrop of a relevant social construct will enjoy going on this adventure with Randy and Meyerhoff. Not only is this a compelling read, but it is profoundly realistic.
THE RIGHT WRONG THING
Ellen Kirschman
Oceanview Publishing (Oct 6, 2015)
Hardcover $26.95 (256pp)
978-1-60809-154-6
Those looking for a meaningful story forged against the backdrop of a relevant social construct will enjoy going on this adventure.
In The Right Wrong Thing, a novel by Ellen Kirschman, police psychologist Dr. Dot Meyerhoff discovers that things aren’t always what they seem and that allies can come from the most surprising of places. In this fictional yet realistic account of women endeavoring to challenge societal and professional norms, characters and audiences alike can delight in small victories and incremental progress, even in light of inevitable setbacks.
As so many of her male family members did before her, young police officer Randy Spelling, fresh from the police academy, is eager to make her mark in her new career. However, she encounters immense challenges personally and professionally as a woman in a man’s world struggling to be taken seriously by her colleagues and by her husband, also an officer. In the aftermath of a life-or-death decision, Randy captures the attention of Meyerhoff, who tries to help her confront the experience and deal with the trauma. Things go horribly awry for them both, but Meyerhoff slowly comes to realize that her experiences with Randy are more therapeutic for herself than they ever could be for her patient.
On two fronts, and with impressive clarity, the author lends wonderful insight to her writing. An understanding of police work is evident, such as when Meyerhoff muses, “What other profession mandates that you attempt to resuscitate a person you’ve just tried to kill?” Further insight is demonstrated regarding the inner workings of the human mind as decisions are made following an incident where Randy needs to recount what occurred. “You’ll get more accurate information from her when she’s rested. Sleep promotes memory consolidation. Better recall.”
Artful writing ensures a smooth and well-paced reading experience. Two examples: “as the commute traffic melts into the airport traffic” and “enormous mortgages precariously balanced on the undulating waves of an uncertain economy.”
Small victories have been won for women in the male-dominated world of police work, but it is still largely powered by men. The Right Wrong Thing is brilliantly written with this dynamic in mind. Those looking for a meaningful story forged against the backdrop of a relevant social construct will enjoy going on this adventure with Randy and Meyerhoff. Not only is this a compelling read, but it is profoundly realistic.
Reviewed by Laura Mahon
August 3, 2015