Couched In Blood

In French, “Coucher” means ‘to lie down,’
and “to couch” in English means
‘to express indirectly or obscurely.’

In this, her first plunge into the genre of fiction, non-fiction author/psychoanalyst Judith L. Mitrani deftly and subtly introduces a cast of red herrings into her twisted plot while endowing her characters with depth and individuality. A complex and satisfying resolution and an allusion of romance enhances this masterly debut novel. With a dose of Freudian slips, a hint of L.A. humor, and a pinch of poignancy, this intriguing mystery reveals the parallel processes of both the conscious and unconscious mind. The waking thoughts and revelatory dreamwork of senior Detective Ralph Orloff serve him as he sleuths out the motive and identity of the culprit in the bloody murder of a prominent Beverly Hills psychoanalyst. Orloff is assisted by partner Ben Hollinger, Dr. Claudine Ingersoll, and one of the homeless who roam the streets of the affluent Golden Triangle in the 90s. Orloff employs the synthetic powers of his intellect to retain and weave together seemingly extraneous bits and pieces of experience into a meaningful pattern embedded in his dream life. Informed by these sleeping expressions of his unconscious, Orloff intuitively deduces his way through a maze of likely suspects. The story reveals the unique nature of analysis as a therapeutic discipline, the inner sanctum of the training institute, the unexpected lives of this thought-to-be-elite group of clinicians, and the political intrigues and conflicts that permeate both International and local analytic communities. The contrast between the many aspects of this often idolized and frequently misunderstood profession may be as stunning as the inner workings of the mind of the murderer.

"Psychoanalysis is at the heart, and in the head, of this mystery by a career shrink who just happens to know her way around a keyboard. As befits its topic, this is as much a whydunit as a whodunit. Judith Mitrani delivers both sets of goods in the end, along with psychological history and theory, wit, romance, and a nice slice of L.A. atmosphere."
- Ellis Weiner

“This procedural/mystery thriller brings a new and fascinating approach to the often predictable standard fare. Exposure to unconscious influences in problem-solving adds immeasurably to the fun. Ralph Orloff is a detective unlike any other.”
- Douglas Thorpe