Customer Reviews

Giving up the Ghost

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

 

 

I found this the best yet in Chappell's mystery series, which continues the madcap tradition of Cary Grant in Topper. In this book, we learn more about Hollis' feelings for Sam, and his for her, but this wistful aside does not detract from the hilarity of the Elvis impersonators and life on the Eastern Shore. You really can't afford to skip over one bit of narrative in Chappell's work, because you're sure to miss a laugh if you do.

Hollis, reporter on Maryland's Eastern Shore is back. What bothers many people is that her gambling godfather, Albie is also back. Albie played one year with the Orioles,but his life style and gambling ended his baseball career abruptly. He lives from opportunity to failed opportunity. This time he is setting up an Elvis interpreter contest for a mobster to whom he owes money. When these Elvis impersonators begin to turn up murdered, Albie is the logical suspect. Hollis must clear him with the help of her ghostly ex-husband Sam, accompanied by stern warnings of her policeman boy friend to stay out of it. This book will keep you trying to come up with the solution while laughing out loud. A wonderful concept for both comedy and mystery that Chappell handles with a light professional touch. Great reading especially for those of us who grew up with George and Marian Kirby in the Topper series.

Or, "this Elvising is hard work."

Every small townprobably has a Lock and Load Motel on its outskirts. A haven forprostitution, drugs and unwary travelers who are looking for a cheap night's sleep. In Helen Chappell's mystery Giving Up the Ghost it also comes complete with the corpse of one minor mafioso, a superannuated doper ex-prom queen and a whole clutch of Elvis impersonators (or Elvii as Uncle Albie calls them).

Forget about the mystery it's not that important, just sit back and enjoy a great ride with Hollis Ball, her dead ex-husband, Sam, and all the other denizens of Watertown, living and dead.

Elvis impersonators, ghosts, defrocked baseball players and murder---what could be better than one of Chappell's Eastern Shore mysteries?

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great entry in the series. The Elvis thing was very funny.

To the chagrin of long-time local residents, Hollis Ball's godfather Albie Lydekker returns to Maryland's Eastern Shore. Many complain to Hollis that they do not wish to see the habitual gambler come home, but she loves and relishes his return. Even her welcome becomes short-lived as he soon involves her in an Elvis impersonation contest.

Soon someone murders a contestant and Albie is the prime suspect. With the help of her ex-husband Sam Westscott, a ghost, Hollis begins to investigate in order to prove that her scoundrel of a godfather did not commit murder. As she walks through a maize of Elvis impersonators and worshippers, Hollis gets closer to the truth. Her police officer boyfriend Ormond Friendly pleads with her to quit her inquiries before she gets hurt. Encouraged but always deserted (as in their life together) by Sam, Hollis places her own life in danger in an attempt to learn who is the human eraser (meaning not found in Webster) ridding the world of Elvis impersonators.

GIVING UP THE GHOST, The fourth novel in the highly regarded Hollis-Sam amateur sleuth series, is a humorous and refreshing novel. The who-done-it is entertaining and the support cast, especially the Elvis impersonators and Albie, provide amusing fun to the story line. However, this particular book stands out because Helen Chappell provides her fans with interesting insight into Sam and Hollis' relationship when he was alive. A terrific tale that sub-genre fans will take much pleasure in even as they wait for the next series entry.

Harriet Klausner

Hollis is dragooned into judging an Elvis impersonator contest by her no good godfather Albie Lydekker. Her ghostly ex-husband and most of the people she knows think it is a bad idea, so does she. But, Albie is in debt to Bang Bang Devine, mafioso and Elvis impersonator and he wants a contest. Then, Bang is discovered dead in Elvis drag at the seedy Lock and Load motel, and Albie is a suspect. Things get really involved between all of the different Elvii, the real E, Sam the ghost, Snow White the grunge rocker hooker, and all of the usual Eastern Shore characters. It is all alot of fun however. I really didn't even try to figure out who the murderer was, I wasn't surprised, but the characters were so much fun, I didn't really care.

Hollis is dragooned into judging an Elvis impersonator contest by her no good godfather Albie Lydekker. Her ghostly ex-husband and most of the people she knows think it is a bad idea, so does she. But, Albie is in debt to Bang Bang Devine, mafioso and Elvis impersonator and he wants a contest. Then, Bang is discovered dead in Elvis drag at the seedy Lock and Load motel, and Albie is a suspect. Things get really involved between all of the different Elvii, the real E, Sam the ghost, Snow White the grunge rocker hooker, and all of the usual Eastern Shore characters. It is all alot of fun however. I really didn't even try to figure out who the murderer was, I wasn't surprised, but the characters were so much fun, I didn't really care.

I like this series....but this book is not nearly as good or funny as the first two, or even the third, for that matter. Either way, I'm waiting for the next one. I hope the author takes her time on it.....I need somemore light and fluffy read on vacation books....

Helen really out did herself with this entry in the Hollis Ball/Sam Wescott mystery series. And she couldn't have selected a better subject to do it with. It is high time someone poked some honest fun at all the Elvis impersonations. But Helen is still slow in giving her readers the depth of characterization that both Hollis and Sam deserve. This isn't to say she isn't trying or that she isn't making progress. Somewhere along the line she just seems to be missing the boat.

It appears this could easilly be the last in the Hollis Ball/Sam Wescott series. Chappell stated in an interview she was having problems finding a publisher for entry number 5 in the series. Chould it be that even Hollis and Sam are giving up the ghost? I would be disappointed but I could easily get over it if Hollis doesnt' stop wallowing in the mud so much.