Carbs & Cadavers [Large Print] [Paperback]

J. B. Stanley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2007

James "Professor Puff" Henry may as well have "loser" stamped on his forehead. Divorced, overweight, shy, and living at home, he relies on books and his favorite snack -- cheese puffs -- for sweet relief from his problems. A former English lit professor at William and Mary, he moves back to Quincy's Gap, a small Virginia town in the Shenandoah Valley, to take care of his recently-widowed father. To improve his social life and waistline, he joins a supper club for dieters who lovingly call themselves the "Flab Five." Avoiding carbs is nearly impossible in this deep-fried potato-loving land, so a mysterious death in their small burg provides an effective, if disturbing, distraction. While dodging delectable temptations, Professor Henry and his fellow dieters work together to shed pounds and find the killer who has struck fear in this tight-knit community.

Click here to download Book Club Questions for Carbs and Cadavers, prepared by author J.B. Stanley!

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Carbs & Cadavers is just plain fun to read - with quirky, smalltown characters and enough action to keep readers interested." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

J.B. Stanley has a BA in English from Franklin & Marshall College, an MA in English Literature from West Chester University, and an MLIS from North Carolina Central University. She taught sixth grade language arts in Cary, North Carolina for the majority of her eight-year teaching career. Raised an antique-lover by her grandparents and parents, Stanley also worked part-time in an auction gallery. An eBay junkie and food-lover, Stanley now lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, two young children, and three cats.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 385 pages
• Publisher: Wheeler Publishing (February 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597224464
• ISBN-13: 978-1597224468
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,315,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A former Middle School English teacher, I've had a wide range of jobs ranging from catering to working the shirt press at a dry cleaner to being a part-time folk and outsider art dealer. I am most happy around books, food, animals, and antiques, so I combined all three of these things and became a writer of mysteries. My first series revolves around the world of antiques and collectibles and several of my characters love cats. My second series, The Supper Club mysteries, revolves around folks who are junk food addicts. Please visit my website at www.jbstanley.com for book club discussion questions and my contact information.

Thanks for supporting traditional mysteries!

Cheers, J.B.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Counting Carbs is Murder, February 4, 2007

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Carbs & Cadavers (The Supper Club Mysteries) (Paperback)

James Henry's life has brought him many changes in the last few months. Right after his divorce, his mother died and he moved home to care for his dad. He's taken the job of head librarian for the Quincy Gap branch. Of course, since this is such a small Virginia town, the job is much more prestigious then it sounds.

James has had a hard time making friends since he moved back, so that's why he decides to become the fifth member in a local supper club. The entire group could stand to lose weight, so they decided to count carbs together. Dubbing themselves the "Flab Five," they set out to reach their own weight goals.

The club has barely gotten off the ground when the local trouble maker dies in the bakery. Lucy, one of the supper club members, decides this unusual event is the perfect time to prove she can be a real cop instead of just their dispatcher. The victim had made lots of enemies in his short life, so finding suspects is easy. But working together, these five new friends just might find the killer.

This is the first book in a new series that shows plenty of promise. The characters are quirky and charming, and I fell in love with them. The small town setting was equally as enjoyable. The plot was a bit uneven at times, but did proved several nice clues and red herrings before the suspenseful end. The book also includes two low carb recipes to try later.

The "Flab Five" are an entertaining bunch, and I look forward to a chance to meet up with them again soon.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dieting and Murder, November 14, 2006

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Carbs & Cadavers (The Supper Club Mysteries) (Paperback)

James Henry is a former English Lit professor. He has come back home to Quincy's Gap, Virginia, to take care of his father after his mother's death and his divorce. His father isn't a very nice person. James was lucky to get a job as the local librarian, and now he has no social life. He just hides among the books at work and eats cheese puffs.

When he hears about the supper club, he figures he can stand to lose fifty pounds and he might make some friends. He jumps at the chance to join. He meets Lucy Hanover who works in the sheriff's department and is attractive. She'd like to be a deputy someday. He also meets Lindy, Gillian, and Bennett. They decide to call themselves the "Flab Five." Each of them needs to lose weight, but they all seem to have dreams and aspiration. I think that's what made me like them so much.

James and his fellow dieters end up in the middle of a murder investigation when someone mysteriously drops dead in the Sweet Tooth Bakery. Soon James finds himself looking forward to the next meeting of the supper club. But can they stick to their diets and find the killer without putting themselves in danger? And what is James' father doing in the shed all the time?

I really enjoyed this book. I read it in two days. The characters are so much fun. You might think that a mystery set around dieting would be boring. Not in this case. You will laugh out loud at their antics. The supper club is such a fun idea. I just wanted to keep reading. Can't wait until the next one is out! I highly recommend this book. I hope she writes fast!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved Carbs & Cadavers!, October 23, 2006

By 

D Martel (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carbs & Cadavers (The Supper Club Mysteries) (Paperback)

Carbs & Cadavers was a nice, easy and entertaining read. I recommend it strongly.

You can love a Clancy, Ludlum or other book but never identify with the hero and their special world saving talent. But Carbs & Cadavers offers numerous characters to identify with in one way or another or possibly recognize a friend or two. The 5 members of the Flab Five share the all too common desire to shed some extra weight, but each has a special food crutch like cheese puffs, frosting, or doughnuts.

What you may not identify with is murder in a small town. But if you believe that the Flab Five can help solve a murder, then you'd be right. The story easily flows and soon you've read the whole enjoyable thing. Just like a good cookie...or two.