Customer Reviews

Murder Can Upset Your Mother (A Desiree Shapiro Mystery)

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

 

 

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.

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.

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

This book was an adventure from start to finish. Forget going out, forget trying to find something fun to do --- all I wanted to do was stay home and read "Murder Can Upset Your Mother". That was the most fun and happy adventure I'd been on in a long time! Desiree is a fun-loving, witty, interesting person. Not one minute of her life is boring. There were so many adventures, side adventures, and just plain fun. I loved hearing about her meals, coffee, excursions to diners/restaurants. Desiree has the most fun and witty personality.

Desiree is a private investigator in NYC. Someone is murdered, and Desiree is hired to find the killer. The characters are interesting. The facts about their lives are interesting. This book was hard to put down! NYC pizza combined with these characters and facts made it that much harder to put down!!! If I didn't have to work, I'd probably have read this book in 2 or 3 days!

This 8th book is my 3rd book of the series (I read a few out of order). That means I have 12 books left. And you can believe I will read all 12 remaining books. I love this series so much.

A private investigator's work is serious, but Desiree has enough fun and wit to balance it out! (Her fun actually tips the scales.) I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves cozies (especially food cozies), and to anyone who likes books that has enough fun and humor to take the edge off the seriousness.

I just cannot sing enough praises for this awesome, wonderful book. All 3 of the books I've read so far in this series is fun and witty. I love them all so much.

Also, I read the story "Murder Can Hurt Your Ears" which is in the book "And the Dying is Easy". In fact, Selma Eichler's story is the one that attracted me to "And the Dying is Easy". "Murder Can Hurt Your Ears" is a very fun (as always), clever, witty, and cozy story by Selma Eichler, starring Desiree.

Murder Can Upset Your Mother is one of those mysteries where in the beginning no one has any possible motive to commit the murder, but by the end everyone could have and probably should have done it. It was virtually impossible to figure out who the murderer was, even though the clues were completely laid out for you. The mystery was entertaining with many secrets revealed and a couple of really surprising twists.

Unapologetically full-figured private investigator Desiree Shapiro is smart, sassy and always wants to see the best in people. I enjoyed the character and loved her self-acceptance, but the almost constant descriptions of her every meal got to be a distraction from the story. I appreciate that she isn't going to starve herself to become a socially acceptable size, but I didn't need to know exactly what she ate every time she ate something.

Desiree considered eating eggplant parmigiana for a moment at one point in the story. She didn't actually cook it or eat it, yet the recipe was included in the back of the book. I found it a little strange, but maybe it was an attempt to appeal to culinary mystery fans.

Murder Can Upset Your Mother is the 8th book in the series, but wouldn't be confusing if read as a stand-alone mystery as I did. I would definitely recommend Desiree Shapiro to cozy mystery fans but they find them difficult to find as some of the earlier books appear to be currently out of print. If you do manage to come across them, check them out.

All I can say is if this author can get books published then she must know somebody because this so-called murder mystery was downright awful. I almost quit reading at page 20 but slogged through the thing.

It was boring, it was amateurish and it was not a good read. I think I could have written something better than this.

The protaganist is just talking and talking and talking and especially talking in asides to herself. Not funny and not engaging.

There were a number of events that were thrown into the story that did not even add to the story development. There were shopping expeditions with a niece that did not add to the story, there was a scene with a young woman in a coffee shop who sat with the lead character, Desiree, and that added nothing to the story.

I could go on and on and on. I am stopping here. The story was pathetic and a waste of time.

Good thing I got the book from the library.

This is the first book written by Selma Eichler that I have ever read. I loved it. There are very few cozy mystery books that I want to read every single word because of the detailed description of every part of the story. I loved the middle age, slightly over-weight, and pleasing personality of Desiree Shapiro. I loved how she detailed every part of the story so a person didn't lose their train of thought after putting the book down for a day or two then getting back to the story. I want to read more books in this series. I rate it an excellent, enjoyable read.

Desiree Shapiro is a heroine who is usually good for a laugh. She's human, funny, and fallible, and her perspective on the world makes her adventures quite delightful.

However, "Murder Can Upset Your Mother" is probably the weakest in this series of six novels by Selma Eichler. The plot seems quite contrived, and filled with frustratingly false diversions--wedding dresses, food poisonings, and other events which don't contribute to either plot or characterization.

The ending, too, is formulaic: we knew who the murderer was, we even knew Desiree was going to catch him, and it was only a quirk of fate and a little sleight of handedness that the drugstore clerk identified the purchaser of the poison as quickly as she did. And then, to add insult to injury, Eichler adds nothing less than a recipe for eggplant parmigiana. It's not even a particularly distinguished recipe, for heaven's sake...but it is in keeping with the mediocrity of the novel.

Usually I love Desiree Shapiro and the methods she uses to solve a crime but this book seemed unorganized and I found myself not even caring what the outcome was. There were side stories about Ellen picking out a wedding dress and somebody giving a party but this was not one of Selma Eichler's best.
Don't waste your time.

I have read all Desiree Shapiro books by Selma and each one gets worse. I was hoping that by reading another one it would keep my interest but... I don't care what Desiree looks like or if she is plump or etc., she cannot keep a thought by which you can follow what is happening after a murder has been committed and Desiree is hired to solve it. How does she have time to solve anything when her life is in turmoil and her co-worker, niece and the neighbors are running (ruining) her life. There doesn't seem to be any story line to follow and after about 25 pages you just give up and get rid of the book. I kept hoping the stories would change but they didn't.