Good on Paper

Sherry Wachter presents a darkly comic mystery centered on the Conrad family. Dan Conrad appears to be a devout farmer and church pillar, yet he is found dead at the start of the narrative. His wife Gwen suffers from frequent accidents, while their daughter Elaine works as a spin doctor amid a divorce. Another daughter, Elizabeth, is identified as a reincarnated witch. Sarah remains pregnant by her married televangelist boss, and DJ serves as a minister alongside his counselor wife Jennifer. The family gathers for the summer, creating a volatile environment where Dan’s death becomes the central puzzle. The story investigates why someone would murder a man destined to die within a month. Wachter, known for blending domestic drama with supernatural elements, structures the plot around these conflicting identities. The narrative draws on gothic traditions by placing ordinary family members in extraordinary, often lethal, circumstances. It examines the tension between public piety and private chaos. Readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with a touch of the macabre will find this appealing. Those seeking straightforward historical fiction or non-supernatural thrillers may find the premise too eccentric.