Biggie and the Mangled Mortician [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Nancy Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000

Lone Star state grandmother Biggie Weatherford takes on another case in a comic mystery tale narrated by her ten-year old grandson in which she attempts to discover if the death of the town's new undertaker was really an accident."

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Small-town Texas sleuth Biggie Weatherford, who debuted with her narrator/grandson J.R. in Biggie and the Poisoned Politician (LJ 5/1/96), finds another murderer. This time, she investigates the suspicious death of the new town undertaker, found in his bath. Comic relief.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Geographically speaking, it's a long way from Jane Marple's St. Mary Mead, England, to Biggie Weatherford's Job's Crossing, Texas, but the two ladies are very close indeed in temperament, intelligence, and instinct. Bell's delightful series of variations on the English cozy began with Biggie and the Poisoned Politician and continues here. This time around, the new mortician's arrival much disturbs the local hairdresser, who takes to her bed, causing great consternation among the patrons of Itha's House of Hair. Meanwhile, the new Episcopal rector is causing quite a flutter among the town's single ladies, and Biggie herself is gearing up for a starring role in H. M. S. Pinafore. Then the new mortician dies suspiciously, and let's not forget those rumors about the existence of a local swamp monster. There's a plot in there somewhere, but it's the town and the characters that make it all work. Imagine St. Mary Mead seasoned with Maggody and given a Texas accent. Stuart Miller --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 281 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786225629
• ISBN-13: 978-0786225620
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,715,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Murder of a Mortician...., June 13, 2003

By 

L Smith "acozylover" (Macomb, MI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Biggie and the Mangled Mortician (Biggie Weatherford) (Mass Market Paperback)

The little town of Job's Crossing is abuzzin with the return adventure of Texas grandma Biggie and her narrating grandson, 12-year-old J.R. There are plans for the upcoming operetta; a monster is roaming the cemetery; and a new mortician has come to town. When the extremely ugly Monk Carter arrives to take up the local funeral home's business, Miss Itha, local hair stylist, takes one look at him and faints dead away. Then, Monk is found dead under mysteries circumstances. Soon several people draw Biggie's attention as suspects: Miss Itha, who has disappeared with her son, DeWayne; and the new preacher, who has been romancing a local girl. Biggie and J.R. set out to solve the mysterious murder while also trying to find the "Wooten Creek" monster.

This is the 2nd book in the Biggie series. There were several very funny scenes in this book but I felt some aspects of the book lacked flow and direction. There were also several items mentioned in this book that were never explained (was Cooter's lottery ticket worth anything?) that I hope are reexamined in later books. However, I enjoyed the characters and I will definately continue to read the other books in the series.

The first book in the series is "Biggie and the Poisoned Politican". Enjoy!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious, couldn't put it down!, May 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Biggie and the Mangled Mortician (Hardcover)

This book (and the Poisoned Politician) is a laugh-out-loud, don't put it down til your through kind of book. It's light and humorous and if you live anywhere in or near a small Texas town, you will see some of you community in Job's Crossing folks. Heck, your family might even mirror some of the characters, I know that mine do!! I just love the way the story is narrated by J.R., Biggie's grandson. His impressions of the towns folk are uproarious. Willie Mae and Rosebud make the circle complete. This is a good read. I can't wait til she comes out with a new Biggie adventure.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book full of memories of my childhood!, March 31, 2000

By 

Susie Orr (Sweeny, Tx.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biggie and the Mangled Mortician (Biggie Weatherford) (Mass Market Paperback)

I just finished the book and laughed out loud all through the book. I saw shadows of my grandmother in the language, figures of speech, and view of life. My students at school wondered what was going on during silent reading time! I love the grandson's point of view, so typical of 12 year olds and the lifelike smalltown characters. This was my first "Biggie" book, but it will definately not be my last!