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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Desiree Shapiro is at it again!, June 23, 2004
This is a great cozy. It is a quick read. Very enjoyable! Desiree Shapiro is a private investigator in New York City. She is not your stereotypical P.I. She is five-two and considers her best feature to be her glorious hennaed hair. Teenager Vicky Pirrelli comes to Desiree's office to ask for her help. Her dad, Victor, was convicted of killing his mistress, Christina. Recently he told Vicky that he didn't do it. She wants Desiree to help clear her dad's name. The kicker is that the crime happened ten years ago and her dad died two weeks ago in prison. Vicky's only source of income is babysitting and working a few days a week at Frank `n' Burgers, but Desiree agrees to help her anyway. When she begins investigating, she quickly determines there are four suspects, including Vicky's own mother. Victor's lawyer Blossom Goody is still around and is able to give Desiree some information for her case. Tony, Victor's brother and now Vicky's stepfather, is tough to pin down. When Desiree does finally meet with him, he isn't much help. Desiree has her work cut out for her. Then some strange things happen that scare Desiree. Can she find Christina's murder and clear Victor's name without putting herself in more danger? Her personal life isn't going real well either. Nick's nine year old son, Derek, is not too happy his dad is dating Desiree and lets her know it. Will Derek turn Nick off to her? This series is always so much fun. I like Desiree. She is the kind of P.I. I'd want to hire if I had to. I feel like she would be on your side pulling for you. She is also very competent and gets to the bottom of things. New York is a great setting for a P.I. novel. There's even a recipe at the back of the book! I highly recommend this book.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
a nice read, March 3, 2004
When 16 year old Vicky Pirrelli begs private detective Desiree Shapiro to help prove that her father, Victor, did not murder his mistress, Christina Trent, what can big hearted Desiree do but agree? However, proving Victor's innocence will not be easy: to begin with the murder actually occurred 10 years ago. Which means that whatever evidence there was could well be non-exsistant now, and whatever eye witnesses there were to the murder (and any other viable suspects) could either have died or else simply disappeared. And there is the fact that everyone else under the sun, and this includes Victor's own mother and brother, believes that Victor had actually murdered Christina. Desiree, however, is determined to prove Victor's innocence for Vicky's sake. But as the list of suspects begins to shrink, so too does Desiree's hopes of achieving a happy result... I have long been a fan of this series, mostly because Selma Eichler's wonderful creation, Desiree Shapiro. Desiree is sharp, funny, honest and kind -- these traits are what colours, shades and propels the books in this series forwards and onwards, thus making the books swift and enjoyable reading. And "Murder Can Botch Your Birthday" is no exception to the rule. The mystery subplot may not be all that suspenseful, but it defnitely is intriguing, and does possess a few surprises.So that if you're looking for a nice, light mystery novel to unwind with, "Murder Can Botch Your Birthday" will definitely do.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Addition to the 'Desiree Shapiro' Series, December 21, 2004
Ten-years-ago, on Vicky Pirrelli's sixth-birthday, her Father was accused of murdering his eighteen-year-old mistress. Now, at the age of sixteen-years-old, Vicky has decided to enlist the help of a Private Investigator to clear her Father's name. The only problem, her Father was recently murdered in a jail fight, and there isn't much to go on. That's where Desiree Shapiro, the plus-sized private eye steps in. Desiree doesn't have much to go on at all, and the fact that her client can only pay her with saved-up baby-sitting money makes her quiver at the thought of not being able to pay her bills on time. But, alas, she takes the case, and comes up with a mere four suspects. Unfortunately, one of these suspects is her client's Mother. And, as if the case weren't enough to make someone blow a gasket, Desiree's love interest, Nick, is finally giving her some attention, but now his vicious nine-year-old son has decided that he wants his Father back with his Mother, and will do anything to deter Desiree from pursuing his Father any longer.
I have read two previous Desiree Shapiro novels in the past, and had enjoyed them both. Hence, I decided to purchase the latest installment in the series, MURDER CAN BOTCH UP YOUR BIRTHDAY, and I can honestly say that it was quite the birthday treat. Desiree's wit and humor is at an all-time high. As a teenager myself, I adored the role of Vicky Pirrelli, and would love to see her pop-up in another Desiree Shapiro mystery in the future, as far-fetched as that sounds. Overall, this was a fabulous addition to the mystery genre that will be loved by all.
Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper
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