Larger Than Death [Paperback]

Lynne Murray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2011

Meet Josephine Fuller, a sleuth of size who doesn't apologize. Larger Than Death introduces "Jo" Fuller, full-figured and full of attitude with abundant sleuthing skills. In Larger Than Death Joe takes time off from her new job checking out potential charities for an eccentric socialite and walks into a murder scene. Her best friend and early role model, Nina -- a plus-sized clothing designed -- lies slain in her own apartment. Was she the victim of a serial killer who targets voluptuous women? or is the murder personal? As Jo copes with her friend's murder, an unexpected romance and a bizarre host of neighbors, she races to find the killer before becoming the next victim.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Big is beautiful in this debut. Josephine Fuller is a character of substance." Publishers Weekly

"Murray brings a refreshing approach to storytelling, developing realistic characters and believable relationships." Booklist

"Written with a rare and entertaining clarity and unique comic imagination."San Francisco Examiner

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Pearlsong Press (July 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597190403
• ISBN-13: 978-1597190404
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,778,830 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I came to San Francisco to go to college, got captivated by the city, and have not left for long since then. It is the perfect setting for any kind of fiction. It's good ground to conjure up fog and dark nights for paranormal activities in The Falstaff Vampire Files, sunshine on the Bay for the romantic comedy in Bride of the Living Dead, and even as jumping off ground to investigate bit of murder as in the Josephine Fuller mysteries.

I share an apartment with a small group of extremely mellow cats, who are all either rescued or formerly feral.

Aside from novels, I've written humorous short pieces that have appeared in magazines and newspapers. Many of these articles, including the most fun one of all--an interview of Darlene Cates, star of What's Eating Gilbert Grape--available on my website at www.lmurray.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A new and witty female sleuth enters the mystery world, April 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Larger Than Death (Josephine Fuller Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

Jo Fuller is a heroine for all of us who wish we had been born when women were supposed to look like women, ample curves were in, and voluptuous was a preferred adjective. Jo, however, has come to terms with herself and her size and is happily enjoying a new job and her new status as a divorcee. She doesn't take put downs from others regarding her size-- the commonest one being a put down/compliment, "You'd be a knock-out IF you lost weight." She has a comeback ready and waiting. The plot thickens(no pun intended)when Jo arrives for a visit with a dear friend and finds that the friend has met a horrible end. Jo's anger fuels her search for answers and despite some rather implausible plot elements--a killer who seems to be preying on fat women, the involvement of a commune, and a child whose existence has been kept secret, the story flows along smoothly. I have to admit I was hooked from the first page and accepted all of these events as being quite plausible while I was involved with the story. Fans of authors Chris Rogers and Virginia Lanier might especially enjoy spending a few hours with Jo. Good plotting and a great heroine.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I wanted to like this book, but..., July 29, 2000

By 

Sharon Wylie (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Larger Than Death (Josephine Fuller Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I admire the feminist politics behind this book. Jo Fuller is plus-sized and not ashamed of it, and when her close friend is found murdered with "Kill the Whales!" scrawled on the mirror, Jo decides to investigate. As any fiction reader can attest, overweight female protagonists are few and far between, and the introduction of such a character should be a refreshing breath of fresh air.

The problem with this book is not that it's heroine weighs over 200 pounds. The problem is that reading it FEELS like reading a book with an agenda, rather than reading a book with a great mystery plot and an interesting heroine. The author is simply too heavy-handed with the message--slim people are depicted as starving, unhappy, and unfailingly rude.

On top of that, Jo's instant (mutual) attraction to her dead friend's lover was repellent to me. You know the old saying about the body not being cold yet? The connection I felt to Jo, with all her wit and charisma, was severed when she gave in to this attraction. And unfortunately, that connection was never regained.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and Fun, May 16, 2000

By 

Barbara O'Neill - See all my reviews

This review is from: Larger Than Death (Josephine Fuller Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

Larger Than Death is an entertaining way to spend a couple night's reading. The femme sleuth, Jo Fuller, is a full-figured woman whose best friend, also full-figured,has just been murdered. Jo vows to find the killer, but along the way several other victims fall prey. They don't fit the profile of previous victims, which now throws Jo for a loop.

A cast of lively secondary characters adds color to the storyline. The one thing that keeps me from a 5-star review is the fact that about 1/2 way through the book, I'd pretty much figured out the culprit. That aside, I've ordered Ms. Murray's second book and am looking forward to reading it.