Murder Can Upset Your Mother (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #8) [Paperback]

Selma Eichler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2001

In this ninth book in the "witty"* series, Desiree discovers that by ignoring her answering machine messages, she missed a desperate call from a woman who is now dead. So begins the latest investigation for plump P.I. Desiree Shapiro....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Eichler scores again with her new offering featuring New York PI Desiree Shapiro (Murder Can Spoil Your Appetite, etc.). An irreverent little old lady who loves food and loathes physical activity, Shapiro defies all private investigator stereotypes. Her present case entails finding the murderer of Miriam Weiden, a wealthy philanthropist who had begged for help via Shapiro's answering machine just hours before her death. As she questions Weiden's secretary, housekeeper, chauffeur and relatives, Shapiro learns that the public do-gooder had many enemies. Erna Harris, Weiden's secretary, reveals that her employer would become enraged when she failed to garner sufficient press coverage for her appearances. In addition, Weiden apparently claimed that she had adopted a biracial baby girl in Switzerland when the baby was really her own out-of-wedlock child. Other rumors suggest that Weiden may have driven her husband to suicide and that she later sought solace in the arms of a married man. Eichler's all-too-human, wacky private investigator will keep readers turning the pages, but her dedicated fans may find that the novel lacks the thrilling finish of her previous installments. Still, this delicious cozy offers an abundance of refreshing, witty repartee and zany characters.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A highly entertaining series. -- Carolyn Hart

Charming New York setting...hilarious characters. -- Publishers Weekly

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Signet (March 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451202511
• ISBN-13: 978-0451202512
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,920 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, March 21, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Murder Can Upset Your Mother (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #8) (Paperback)

I've been a big fan of the Desiree Shapiro series, but this book fell really flat for me.

The one fact Desiree recalled which led to her conclusion of "whodunnit" didn't seem like a big enough deal to me that it should've convinced her of the person's guilt with such conviction, based on all the other evidence she'd gathered. The way she went about setting out to prove the person's guilt was extremely contrived, and the ending much too convenient and uneventful for this type of book.

I also didn't understand why the reader seemed to be getting teased with other potential subplots that led absolutely nowhere. Desiree's desire to see all she could of the opulent Manhattan residences she was visiting, Jackie's food poisoning, Pat's birthday party and Ellen's trip to the bridal shop in New Jersey served no purpose to the story whatsoever, and seemed like they just occurred to fill pages.

An utter disappointment from a usually stellar author. I hope this isn't a trend, but rather just a bad writing day.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not up to par, March 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder Can Upset Your Mother (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #8) (Paperback)

I am a big Selma Eichler fan. That being said, I found her latest offering, Murder can upset your mother, to be somewhat of a disappointment.

The story involves a wealthy, and seemingly well-loved, philanthropist who phones Desiree Shapiro, private investigator, and leaves a message that she fears she will be murdered. Unfortunately, by the time Desiree receives the message, the victim is already dead. Desiree is hired by the victim's mother to solve the crime. Through her investigation, Desiree discovers that things are not as they seem. She eventually solves the mystery, but the solution seems to come much too easily, and thus leaves the reader feeling somewhat cheated.

Another shortcoming of this book is that the usual supporting characters, Desiree's niece, secretary, and friend, come across as whiny in this book. Further, the author begins a side plot with Desiree's employer that does not go anywhere. In all, it seems that the author was following a formula and did not give her usual effort in writing this book.

That being said, those who are true Desiree fans will likely enjoy the book. It contains many familiar and fun aspects from past books, like Desiree's insatiable appetite and her glorious hair. All in all, a good read but not the best.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A funny P.I. mystery, February 15, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder Can Upset Your Mother (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #8) (Paperback)

Desiree Shapiro just arrived home and goes into her routine of first listening to the messages on her answering machine. The first entry comes from her neighbor, very excited and pleading with Desiree to hurry over. Desiree shuts down the tape and runs off to see what her neighbor needed so urgently, which turns out to be a party. Desiree, known for her appetite, enjoys the food.

A week later a friend chastises Desiree for not returning her call. Desiree, thinking what happened, realizes she never listened to the messages the day of the party. One of the calls comes from philanthropist Miriam Weldon asking Desiree for help as someone is trying to kill her. Desiree calls back only to learn from Miriam's mother that the woman was murdered. Feeling guilty and heeding the request of the mother, Desiree begins to search for Miriam's murderer. Very quickly, Desiree learns that the statue on the pedestal crumbled as she finds out the truth behind the do-gooder image of the victim who almost everyone wanted dead.

What makes Desiree Shapiro unique from the typical female sleuth is the fourth slice of pizza. Still that overindulgence in eating sometimes turns irritating perhaps because it hits home for many of us readers who are not Buffied. Her latest tale, MURDER CAN UPSET YOUR MOTHER, is an entertaining Manhattan who-done-it that will entertain fans as it is a cleverly designed mystery with a moral message stating that even heroes have flaws. Readers will relish (with two hot dogs and mustard on rolls) Selma Eichler's tasty novel.

Harriet Klausner