Customer Reviews

Corpse on the Cob (The Odelia Grey Mysteries)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sue Ann Jaffarian is back, with another riveting mystery that takes us into Odelia Gray's family tree and unlocks quite a few wild branches. Odelia goes to meet the mother who took off when she was 16, and discovers she has two stepbrothers...and that her mother's poised over a dead body in a corn maze. Despite warnings from her husband Greg and friend Dev Frye, she winds up getting involved, both to unravel the mystery of how her family life got so fractured and the murder. Her old friend Willie shows up to help her, and his sassy outlaw attitude is quite fun. Small town life is no less crime-ridden than Southern California, with drug deals going down at the local farm stand and affairs and money the lure for all sorts of bad guys.

This mystery kept me guessing right until the end, and, as always, Jaffarian presents a cast of characters who are complex, shady, and feisty, as well as adding depth to Odelia and Greg's relationship as she defies him and he risks his life to save her (as well as admitting that he has a bit of a fondness for her adventures). In Corpse on the Cob, in addition to the wackiness of a corn maze, Jaffarian asks if being a corpse magnet is genetic, and makes Odelia's personal life and, well, amateur sleuthing life, collide in a major way. I can't say much more without giving it away except that this was one of the best Odelia Gray mysteries yet, and I can't wait to see which corpse she stumbles over next. Also, Jaffarian makes everyone just a little mysterious so I suspected almost all of the characters.

I've been a faithful follower of the Odelia Grey series since I found the first book in the San Diego library shelves years ago. When I heard the author was branching into a ghost series, then a vampire series, I was concerned the Odelia series might not get the attention it deserves. My concerns were relieved when I read the long-awaited CORPSE ON THE COB. Jaffarian weaves a complex tale of broken (and restored) family ties, married love, greed, and friendship --all yoked together through Odelia's gleeful nosiness. Not only did the plot hold my attention, but Jaffarian's writing sparkles. (How she does this while writing three different series, I don't know.) Never cliched, such vivid descriptions as, "It made my spine feel like curling ribbon run across scissors" and "He hemmed and hawed like an old woman deciding between oatmeal or bran flakes" lend zest to the story. And the more I read of Odelia's relationship with Greg, the more I want them as neighbors. My only criticism is that I wanted more description of the corn maze. Never having seen one, I didn't really get the "I'm there; I can see, smell and hear it" sensation. But that's pretty minor, all things considered. OK... I'm ready for the next Odelia Grey!

CORPSE ON THE COB

Sue Ann Jaffarian's Odelia Grey series is a sure fire winner. I was very happy to see her latest sitting the shelf at the library just waiting for me. Odelia is up to her old tricks as she travels out East to meet her long-lost mother. Her mother up and left when Odelia was a teenager. Her reasons are explained in this latest addition to this fun and should-not-be missed series.

Of course, Odelia gets more than she bargains for when she arrives in Massachusetts to finally meet up with her mom and find out just why she left. Murder, mayhem, and mystery seem to find Odelia wherever she goes. And being Odelia, she just can't help but jump into any mess head first and start sinking or swimming.

Odelia's rendezvous with her mom doesn't go easy. Not only is the meeting filled with high anxiety emotion for both women, soon there are problems. These conundrums are not easy -- they include drugs, kidnapping, money, and murder.

Ms. Jaffarian's characters are full blown and life-life -- so human that they seem as if they could be your friends or neighbors. Fans of this series will be happy to be reunited with Greg, Willie, and a host of new individuals that keep the pages turning and the mind wondering what will happen next!

This is a fun series, one I am happy to have found and always look forward to the next installment. They should be read in the following order --

TOO BIG TO MISS
THE CURSE OF THE HOLY PAIL
THUGS AND KISSES
BOOBY TRAP
CORPSE ON THE COB

Thank you!

Pam

I LOVE Odelia, the main character in Ms. Jaffarian's series. The characters come alive and it is a hard book to put down! The author just continues to make me want to read more of her books!

This book is a thrill ride of adventure. Sue Ann has once again managed to create another page turner. Although it is exciting and filled with drama, there is still the cynical Odelia humor that I have grown to love. It is definiately a page turner and will have you intrigued all the way up to the end.

I first learned of Odelia, and the author, via a free Kindle book here on Amazon. Since then I've purchased and enjoyed every Odelia Grey book that is on Kindle. Odelia is both likable and spunky and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Odelia finds her Mom. What a mixed bag of emotions that brings to mind. But to find Mom bent over a corpse, what's a daughter to do? In true Odelia form, the mystery must be solved and Mom helped. Not so pleased with her Mom, let alone her two step-brothers, Odelia risks a lot this time, not just herself. A great read with true Odelia humor all the way!

Really enjoyed this character, Odelia Grey, a real person who I could identify with. And the story was exciting and had me guessing up to the end.

In every Odelia book, we've heard about the mother who abandoned her at age 13. This is the book where Odelia finally finds her mother--though seeing her for the first time in over 30 years at a murder scene is not how she envisioned their meeting. Sue Ann's descriptions of bucolic country scenes provide a contrasting counterpoint to this tale of murder, drugs, and a stubborn, cranky old lady who has more secrets than her family ever realized. Food is still an important ingredient and now I finally know what a lobster roll is--I think I gained 10 pounds reading about all the fried food they ate! The reappearance of our favorite swindler is an added plus. All in all, a terrific addition to the series.

I just found this authoress .. What a hoot. Love the fact that she is not the run of the mill 5 foot beauty queen problem solver. Smart , funny, and a good read. I have all of the Sue Ann Jaffarian Odelia books. Worth it too!!!