Customer Reviews

Killer Stuff (Jane Wheel Mysteries, No. 1)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What separates this novel from others in the genre is that the writing is so superb. Also, what happens around the plot (the flea market material) is fascinating enough on its own. I'd recommend this book to anyone from those accustomed to reading more literary fiction to anybody wanting a brisk, satisfying entertainment. I look forward to how this author will let her character unfold. This is one I could hang with for ten years at least!

This book was very favorably reviewed on our local (Chicago) NPR station which is what prompted me to read it. I liked it a great deal, it's beautifully written, the characters come alive, the mystery is definitely mysterious and all the bits and pieces of pottery and postcards and vases and embroidered tea towels that make up Jane's life are wonderfully detailed. I learned a lot from this book, in particular, how to figure out which garage and estate sales to avoid and which ones might have "killer stuff," as well as how to organize my searching.

I was a bit disappointed with the ending, however. I don't want to give away anything but I found the some of the motives for the various crimes to be rather implausible. They are woven together well and there is a delightful twist at the end of the book, but it just didn't seem realistic. I also think we aren't told enough about Jane's character -- we get all kinds of tantalizing hints into her psyche but having finished the book, I still don't understand why she rejected her husband (or, alternatively, why she was unable to balance her family with her "picking").

That said, I sure hope this is the start of a series of books featuring Jane Wheel, although I'd be more than happy to buy any books Sharon Fiffer writes.

This book was just pure and solid fun from the first word.This mystery writer has not forgotten her obligation to the reader: to make the time spent between the covers of a book a sheer delight. The personalities in this book -- both major characters and minor -- are so well detailed and so deeply human that for me, they rivaled the joy of unspinning the mystery itself. Fiffer is truly destined for more writing and I am destined for more reading. A splendiforous acheivement. Viva!

I read this book because I enjoy watching Antiques Roadshow. That is the only reason that I read this book because generally speaking I don't care for antiques. However, I was delightful engaged by the book and the care in which Ms. Fiffer took in describing her characters and their interaction. This book primarily focuses on two characters however the intertwining of the balance of the characters is both necessary and well done. The plot was well done as well. I am hopeful that this is the start of a great series!

Jane Wheel has had some big changes in her life lately. She had been downsized from her job as an ad executive, kissed her next door neighbor, separated from her husband, found out her father was going in for some medical tests and discovered her next door neighbor's wife dead in her living room. However, Jane keeps herself busy with her new job as a "picker" for an antique dealer. She spends her time scrounging around through moldly basements, dusty attics and anywhere else she can find treasures at estate sales, garage sales, flea markets, rummage sales, etc. Unfortunately, Jane's unlucky streak continues when she and her best friend since elementary school, Tim, discover the dead body of Tim's assistant in his flower shop. Luckily, the detective working on these cases is fascinated by Jane and her collector tendencies and uses Jane's powers of observation to help him gather evidence. As Jane roots around for clues, she picks up antique photo albums, early American pottery, Bakelite buttons and other treasures as well as more dead bodies...

Killer Stuff is one of the funnest reads I have had in years. All of Sharon Fiffer's characters are absolutely superbly drawn and seem so real. Jane Wheel is such a fascinating character and so fun to read about as she hunts down treasures and tries to get her life back together again. Detective Oh was also another great character and is quite atypical from your usual run-of-the-mill detectives. I also loves the way Fiffer described the estate sales and the viciousness of the pickers and antique dealers who frequent them. I quite enjoy watching programs like The Antique Roadshow and this book was just great because it described so many antiques and collectibles. The reader will learn just as much as they will be entertained by this book. Buy this one - it is definitely a keeper and an author to watch out for!

'Killer Stuff : A Mystery', written by Sharon Fiffer, is a wonderful addition to the genre. The central character, Jane Wheel, having lost both her PR job and her academic husband, is the chief suspect in a murder, and the story twists like a pretzel as the mystery unfolds. To the very last page, the book will hold you like an overweight aunt at a family reunion. Particularly impressive as a character is Homicide Detective Bruce Oh, revealed largely through dialogue. The following excerpt from page 94 illustrates the author's style and success.

'"Did the Wheel woman confess?" Oh asked as he dunked his doughnut.
His partner, Detective Dee Tective, not long out of the Academy, smiled coquettishly and said, "No. I was about to give her the third degree when she said she wanted to take the Fifth."
"The fifth what?"
"Beats me. She said she had a perfect right."
"A perfect right what? Foot? Hand? Eye?"
"Beats me. I'm just a cop in a tight skirt, not a physician."
"Oh," said Oh.
"Is this roll call?" Dee asked.
"I wasn't saying my name, you klutz. It was a frustrated utterance."
"Oh," Dee said.
"Yes? What is it?"
In non-alphabetical order, Dee was bemused then amused.
By now, Oh's doughnut was a small sponge at the bottom of his cup. Outside, the sky was eye-blue and clear. A flock of pigeons settled on the window ledge.
"Will someone please let those damned birds out!" Oh shouted above the flapping.'

Sharon Fiffer has made an enduring name for herself. It is well deserved.

This is a beautifully written book. In today's mystery world, an astonishing number of books appear in their first editions with grammatical errors and proofreading mistakes. I find this distracting. This book, however, had none, a remarkable achievement. Thus, I was able to pay attention to the content.

And what content it is! Our intrepid heroine and her friend find themselves in the middle of various murders and other heinous activities in the antique-hunting world of house and estate sales. No wonder I never found anything at such sales--there was no way I could compete with the professional pickers and searchers for any nice items that might be available.

I found the atmosphere of the book and the characters of the detectives (amateur and professional) more compelling than the mystery plot itself, which ended up with an excessively convenient solution. I look forward to more in this series, but PLEASE get our heroine back together with her husband!

This is a great book for the beach. Our heroine has given up a fast paced life in advertising. While awaiting an ephiphany for her next career step, she dabbles in garage sales. While the author uses the device of common place events, such as attending auctions, tag sales, and the such, we are pulled in with the character's search for bakelite or floral bouquet "Frogs". You will be looking at your neighbors'cast-offs in a whole new light. She has the down to earth common sense of everyday folks, and seems as though she is speaking in asides to the reader. Great clues, and consistent suspense. This novel will not fail to please. Great read for the beach.

I absolutely could not put this book down! Also just finished reading Ms.Fiffer's other book, "Dead Guy's Stuff" and wish I had yet another to look forward to! I lived in Chicago most of my life, an hour's drive from Kankakee; my aunt and uncle also owned a tavern 15 minutes' drive from Kankakee & were into antiques as well...spent much of my childhood visiting them in Momence,IL and these novels helped me relive a great childhood. Have always been interested in "picking" & would highly recommend Ms.Fiffer's novels to everyone who loves the "hunt"!
These books are well-written ... you will totally forget all YOUR problems as you will become involved with all the characters!Terrific!

From the beginning KILLER STUFF was a race between vintage stuff collectors, murder victims, suspects, detectives and "thuggons." Every time I thought I knew who committed the murder another body was found. Until the very end Fiffer kept me shuffling and reshuffling evidence and making guesses. I can't wait to enter the world of Jane Wheel again and I hope to see this story and the others on TV as a mini-series or in the movies.