Death By Chick Lit (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Where on earth was Mimi McKee? How could she miss her own book party? Lola Somerville sipped her Mimi-tini and tried not to think evil..." (more)
Key Phrases: gay best friend, chick lit, Reading Guy, New York, Pink Slip (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Chick lit authors become a killer's target in this loving sendup of the popular genre from journalist Harris (Miss Media). After Mimi McKee, author of Gay Best Friend, has her throat slit with a shard from a broken martini glass, Lola Somerville, a 32-year-old freelance writer living in Brooklyn, determines to unmask the murderer. The investigation could help land Lola a new book deal and boost flat sales of her debut novel, Pink Slip. Is the fiendish killer "Reading Guy," a 40-something dweeb who stalks chick lit author signings? Or could it be Mimi's boyfriend, Quentin, a crossword puzzle composer? Then there's Wilma, the militant leader of the Jane Austen Liberation Front, who has no love for authors of low-brow literature. When not sleuthing or scribbling, Lola gabs on her cellphone to best friend Annabelle and leans on her "geek-hottie" husband, Doug, for support. Readers will down this fizzy "murder-tini" in one gulp. (June)
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Product Description

Someone is killing off the competition in the world of chick lit-and the results are "hilarious." (Andy Borowitz, author of The Borowitz Report: The Big Book of Shockers)

Lola Somerville has a husband and a new apartment in Brooklyn, but what she really wants is for her novel to make a splash. Unfortunately it hasn't even made a ripple. Then at a book party, Lola finds her author friend Mimi McKee with her throat slashed. When the bodies of It-Girl writers begin to pile up, Lola starts asking dangerous questions: Are the murders connected? Am I next? If not, um, why not? If I solve the mystery, then will my agent remember my name? As Lola digs deeper, the stakes grow higher. Will getting her hands on the killer- and the book deal bound to follow-mean losing the people she loves most?

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Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (June 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425215245
• ISBN-13: 978-0425215241
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #503,901 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Live Death by Chick Lit!, June 5, 2007

By	L. Callanan - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There's no better time than summer for reading and no better book this summer than this one -- it's fun, fast, funny. I first met the heroine, Lola, in Ms. Harris's first book, Miss Media, and fell for her (or them both) then -- and am completely head over heels now! Pay attention, book clubbers: this is one to grab. And mysterious Edgar Award nominators: take it from a former nominee, this is one for your list!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page-Turning Spoof Perfect For Fans of Chick Lit and Cozy Mysteries, June 5, 2007

By	Rachel Kramer Bussel "Cupcakes Take the Cake ... (New York City) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Lynn Harris has done it again, this time with a fast-paced mystery that author Lola Somerville is determined to solve. Lola is quirky, passionate, and determined to be taken seriously as a writer. In this case, that means she wants a piece of the action murdered-bestselling-chick-lit-author action, especially because she thinks being targeted for murder by this killer who's offing her friends and rivals is a sign that her star turn as an author is around the corner. Her obsession with seeing with checking for mentions herself in a chick lit gossip column is hilarious, and should ring true for those who Google themselves a little too often. There are plenty of other wacky characters here, like the woman in charge of the Jane Austen Liberation Front, which protests chick lit events, and "Reading Guy," who's often the only male around at bookstore signings. As trouble mounts, Lola's mom is looking out for her, too, getting on the internet and checking up on her daughter, to Lola's alternating chagrin and amusement.

Harris will keep readers guessing . . . when they're not laughing riotously. The "cameos" by famous people like "Alexandra Coltish" (Ann Coulter) and gentle and not-so-gentle ribbing of all sorts of proscriptive books telling women when to have kids and what to do about their careers make for fun guess-who? games. She also makes fun of computer geekery, Manhattan snobs, and Lola herself. In some ways, Harris's book could be called chick lit; even though she's got a married protagonist, the things she cares about are her friendships (sometimes catty, sometimes true), her career, gossip, her garden, and, of course, murder. But whether you ultimately think the book is chick lit or not isn't that important. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, live in Brooklyn, work in publishing, or simply want a great book to take to the beach with you this summer, check out Death by Chick Lit.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lola Somerville, an endearingly flawed protagonist, July 6, 2007

By	Julia Douglass (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Lynn Harris has given us Lola Somerville, an endearingly flawed heroine who's professional envy is clouding her judgment and leading her into physical danger. While she hones her mystery solving skills, "who killed her authoress colleagues and is she next?" She also tries to tune out her inner voice that compares the success of her last book and press to their's, (they had more success than Lola which was unfair!) for she knows it is wrong and it is making her seem small. Also her professional jealousy is not helping with either A. Her Career, and B. Solving the murder. On the plus side A. She is alive and B. They are not.... but is she next? This book is a farcical hoot, complete with lots of careerist neurosis. Bravo Lynn Harris!