Murder Can Mess Up Your Mascara (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #12) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Selma Eichler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 2005

Includes a tasty new recipe

Plus-sized New York PI Desiree Shapiro's latest client is harder to say no to than Little Angie's pizza. Fearful of accepting the responsibility for someone's life Desiree prefers to take cases after the body has been carted away. But there have already been two attempts to kill pharmaceutical exec Gordon Curry, and he wants Desiree to prevent number three.

Available only in Mystery 4.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

New York PI Desiree Shapiro, last seen in Murder Can Botch Up YourBirthday, doesn't like to accept cases until after the victim is dead. But when the charming Gordon Curry shows up in her office claiming that there have already been two attempts on his life and he wants her to prevent the third, she can't say no, especially since he supplies her with his predator's name. Two days later, Curry is shot down on a quiet Chelsea street after a poker game, and Desiree learns that the man who Curry thought wanted him dead committed suicide two months earlier. Distraught, the plus-sized detective almost loses her appetite, but not quite, especially when she learns there were a slew of sordid secrets about Curry's life that he neglected to mention to her. With the help of a few colorful New York characters, including a curmudgeonly policeman, Desiree puts together a list of suspects and interviews them all in grand Hercule Poirot fashion, sacrificing sleep and other life necessities to do so. A hasty, underdeveloped ending doesn't do justice to this otherwise tightly constructed cozy. But tantalizing meal descriptions, old-school New York charm and even a touch of romance make this book worth gobbling up.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Each new book is the Häagen Dazs of the mystery world."
-- Romantic Times (Romantic Times )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (May 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786273437
• ISBN-13: 978-0786273430
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,694,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delicious mystery, brimming with all the right ingredients, March 15, 2008

By 

- Kasia S. (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Murder Can Mess Up Your Mascara: A Desiree Shapiro Mystery (Paperback)

Desiree Shapiro is a robust, hilarious woman always capable of being in tune with her inner psyche. Following her heart as well as her brain proved to make for a good career choice - a private investigator residing in her own little office in Manhattan. The novel is filled to the brim with coziness and days full of sleuthing, not only is Desiree a real wise crack but she also knows a thing or two about not skipping meals - her mood and spirits are often in need of good macadamia brittle ice cream, creative meals and few slices of pizza here and there. There were plenty of great food descriptions in the book and a nice recipe at the end that I am looking forward to. This whole series looks wonderful and I can't wait to see what happens next, the ending - especially considering what happened with little kid from hell - oh I can't spoil anything - made me dying for the continuation of the story.

When a new case knocks on her door, Desiree is faced with a very unusual murder mystery - one that hasn't happened yet. As Gordon Curry comes to her door with information about someone wanting him dead he unknowingly sets that very motion into action and winds up dead as he himself has promised. Her only supposed lead ends up dead too and Desiree has no choice but to plunge into Curry's family and its wacky characters for some answers. On top of all her own personal life drama with Nick, whom she is seeing, and his child from a previous relationship that tried to sabotage their romance in many hilarious ways - the story is funny, full of twists and turns and always interesting.

As a New Yorker I can appreciate how the story embraced the city well, the cab rides, apartments, neighbors, little restaurants and general buzz was refreshing and interesting, providing a great background to a little mystery. I found Desiree to be a great heroine, and even thought this is the twelfth book in the series, I am all ready gathering them from the beginning so I can enjoy the whole experience properly. This was a very quick, light and enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries and fans of good eats.

- Kasia S.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another fun ride with Desiree Shapiro!, February 19, 2005

By 

nonstopreader (Studio City, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder Can Mess Up Your Mascara: A Desiree Shapiro Mystery (Paperback)

Another great book in the Desiree Shapiro series! I look forward to each of these, and Murder Can Mess up your Mascara doesn't disappoint! Lots of plot twists to keep you guessing, little hints of romance and humor...it has it all and I read it so quickly that I am now sorry to have to wait for the next one!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Slightly weak but not bad, March 28, 2005

By 

John Speer (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder Can Mess Up Your Mascara: A Desiree Shapiro Mystery (Paperback)

I think Des is a hoot. This latest installment strikes me as "filler" on the way to Ellen's wedding, the next logical event. Blossom is an interesting character, although I can't see her as a recurring feature; a little of her goes a long way. Now, as for the book itself ...
A minor quibble was that Dilys is a Welsh name, not an Irish one! A tougher issue for me was that the family of the deceased weren't well differentiated. I found myself consciously having to sort out things such as, "Is this the first wife or the widow here?" etc. In other words, the plot ain't so hot. But, let's be honest, these books aren't really read for the plot: they're read for Des and her world. I will say that I've never been real keen on Ellen, but she does serve a function as "family" for Des.
That having been said, I'm looking forward to the next one. Can't wait to see the interaction between Des and her sister-in-law. Moreover, I don't think we've seen the last of her little nemesis, Derek, either.