About
Reviews
Search
Submit
Home

Mystery Books for Sale

[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]


  

MURDER CAN COOL OFF YOUR AFFAIR
by Selma Eichler
Signet, March 2002
272 pages
$5.99
ISBN: 0451205189


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

John and Trudie Lander enlist the help of Manhattan Private Investigator Desiree Shapiro. John is next in line for a sizable inheritance from his gravely ill uncle. He tells Desiree about the shot that was fired at him and it is important to note that the first person on the list to inherit has been murdered.

Desiree meets with all the suspects. Sara is the widow of the man who was murdered. She is hiding some secrets. Three other relatives stand to benefit if John is killed because they are next in line. It does takes some bumps, twists and turns, but Ms Shapiro does get her murderer.

Desiree is not the stereotypical female P. I. People may visualize a Kathleen Turner look-alike, but with Desiree you get a very human 5'2" full figured red head (with the help of Egyptian Henna). Reading a map may be a supreme challenge for her and "Babe" was one of her favorite movies. She knows that one slice of pizza is really enough but she is the one who would take 3 slices.

Sideline stories within the book number four: neighbors, a niece, Jackie the secretary and another case. Next door neighbor, Harriet, has a father-in-law who is visiting from Florida. In trying to explain him, all I can say is that he may be a match for Janet Evanovich's "Grandma Mazur." Another neighbor, Barbara, is obsessed with calorie intake so shared meals are interesting between Desiree and her. Two romances involve niece Ellen, who is preparing for her upcoming wedding and Jackie who is trying to decide what to do about the love of her life who happens to be frugal and/or cheap. Also interspersed into the life of Desiree is some investigation she does for her friend, Elliott, who is defending a client for a hit and run accident.

This was my first Selma Eichler book even though this was the 9th in the Desiree Shapiro series. I am usually a "it has to be read in order" person, but I liked the way it was written and didn't feel like I was left in the lurch at all. Some of the above characters were no doubt introduced in earlier books. This would have given me more attachment for them, I'm sure. The characterizations were well drawn. Other books in this series (in order) are: Murder Can Kill Your Social Life (1994), Murder Can Ruin Your Looks (1995), Murder Can Stunt Your Growth (1996), Murder Can Wreck Your Reunion (1997), Murder Can Spook Your Cat (1998), Murder Can Singe Your Old Flame (1999), Murder Can Spoil Your Appetite (2000), Murder Can Upset Your Mother (2001)

Reviewed by Rita Ratacheck, April 2002

This book has more than one review. Click here to show all.

[ Top ]


QUICK SEARCH:

 

Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]