BY EVIL MEANS por Prowell, Sandra West - 1993

N.Y.: Walker, 1993. 1st ed. Spine darkened from sun, along with top of rear cover, covers lightly soiled, unread copy. Advance Uncorrected Proofs of her Debut Novel with a letter from Michael Siedman, noted Mystery editor, laid in and signed by Siedman "Gritty realism and a modern sensibility permeate this promising debut set in Billings, Mont. Half-Jewish, half-Irish Catholic, PI Phoebe Siegel is hired by farm wife Mary Kuntz to investigate the extreme personality change that has transformed her formerly drug-abusing teenage daughter Jennifer since she began treatment with Dr. Victor Stroud at the Whispering Pines sanatorium. Initially reluctant, Phoebe takes the case when Mary discloses that a Stroud-induced complaint by Jennifer may have led to the suicide of Phoebe's beloved policeman brother, Ben, a few years earlier. Phoebe, who discovers Mary is the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the state, sneaks into Whispering Pines and finds disturbing evidence of coercion and blackmail. Another young Whispering Pines patient dies under questionable circumstances after begging for help, further galvanizing Phoebe, who has been dogged by a mysterious police car and warned off the case by her cop uncle. Siegel, a tough and charming heroine with angst, unresolved conflicts and extensive family ties, is a welcome addition to swelling ranks of female PIs." -- Publishers Weekly. First Edition. Printed Wrapper. Very Good-Near Fine. Advance Uncorrected Proof.