Out on a Limb (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 14) [Mass Market Paperback]

Joan Hess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 17, 2003

Faberville bookstore owner Claire Malloy is ruminating over the state of her love life when she gets disturbing news. Elderly Miss Emily Parchester is up a tree. Chained to an old oak, packing a thermos of tea and a gun, the retired schoolteacher is ready to go down with the ship, or rather the tree, before she'll let another historic piece of Farberville be bulldozed in the name of "progress," i.e., developer Anthony Armstrong's condominiums.

With Miss Parchester armed, and therefore dangerous, Claire fears this noble act will end tragically. Unfortunately, it does-when someone murders Armstrong. And suddenly Claire herself is out on a limb: a baby has been left on her doorstep, the child's teenage mom is suspect number one in Armstrong's death, and Claire needs to find the real killer fast. Especially when she discovers Miss Parchester knows more than she's willing to tell....

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Joan Hess is one of the best mystery writers in the world." -Elizabeth Peters, author of Lord of the Silent

"I love Joan Hess. She's hilarious, of course-one of the few writers who can crack me up both on the page and in person. If you've never spent time with Claire and her crew, I feel sorry for you. Stop reading this nonsense and hop to it. You'll see wit and humanity all wrapped up in a nifty murder mystery." -Harlan Coben, author of Tell No One

From the Inside Flap

Praise for the Claire Malloy Mystery Series

"Joan Hess is one of the funniest people in the mystery world."-Margaret Maron, author of Slow Dollar

"With her wry asides, Claire makes a most engaging narrator...the surprising denouement comes off with eclat."-Publishers Weekly

"Joan Hess is seriously funny. Moreover, she is seriously kind as well as clever when depicting the follies, foibles, and fantasies of our lives. Viva Joan!"-Carolyn Hart, author of April Fool Dead

"Joan Hess shares with P.G. Wodehouse an unmistakable comic voice and the ability to juggle a dizzying number of subplots. She has the remarkable ability to take caricatures and bring them to life and make us care about them in book after book."-M. D. Lake, author of Death Calls the Tune

"Witty, ironic, and biting...Joan Hess has an unerring comedic instinct."-Bookpage

"Joan Hess fans will find a winning blend of soft-core feminism, trendy subplots, and a completely irreverent style that characterizes both series and the sleuth, all nicely onstage."
-Houston Chronicle

"Breezy and delightful...Claire Malloy is one of the most engaging narrators in mystery."
-The Drood Review

"Definitely entertaining. Hess deftly sprinkles red herrings and odd characters throughout."
-Library Journal on The Murder at the Mimosa Inn

"Dear Miss Demeanor is great fun...Hess's poniard is tipped with subtle wit."
-Chicago Sun Times

"Hess's theme is a serious one, but she handles it with wit. Claire is an appealing character, and this is an engaging mystery for anyone who likes crime mixed with comedy."
-Booklist on Roll Over and Play Dead

"Hess's style-that of a more worldly Erma Bombeck-rarely flags. Amiable entertainment with an edge."-Kirkus Reviews

"Joan Hess is one funny woman."-Susan Dunlap

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (November 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312986327
• ISBN-13: 978-0312986322
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Too Long a Wait, December 23, 2002

By 

Moe811 (New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out on a Limb A Claire Malloy Mystery (Hardcover)

Claire Malloy's life seems to be back to normal. Caron is overdramatic, her bookstore is just barely afloat, and Lt. Rosen is back in her life. Miss Parchester's life is slightly more exciting, she is living in a tree to protest the extension of a housing developement. Caron finds a baby on the doorstep, and the owner of the development is shot and killed. The mother of the baby is the leading suspect, and Miss Parchester knows more than she is telling.

I have waited a long time for this book and I wasn't disappointed. Ms. Hess' quirky characters always make me laugh, particularly Caron and her ongoing battles for popularity with Rhonda Maquire. It did annoy me that Lt. Rosen is back in the picture with little or no explanation. Overall, this was a quick and fun read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Storyline, February 6, 2004

By 

MZ (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out on a Limb (Claire Malloy Mysteries, No. 14) (Mass Market Paperback)

Joan Hess is one of my favorite authors, so my opinion of Out on a Limb is biased by the fact that I was sure I would like it before I bought it.

The best part of this book was the unique storyline. As you have no doubt read the description supplied by the publisher, I won't rewrite it here. I will just say that while other humorous mystery writers use the same storylines over and over, Hess comes up with fantastic new ideas each time. I loved this story about the Green Party, and I love the recurring characters in Claire Malloy's life -- in this case, Miss Parchester.

Even if I had guessed the ending of Out on a Limb before the last page of the book, I enjoy the style of Hess' writing so greatly that I cannot wait to see what Claire will do next.

If you like the Maggody books or have read the other Claire Malloy books, I recommend this one. It's a light, easy read that will at times make you Laugh Out Loud Caron Malloy-style.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book to read, February 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Out on a Limb A Claire Malloy Mystery (Hardcover)

this was a fun book to read & it kept you guessing.

Claire sure knows how to get around a question when the police ask her something. She kept everyone guessing through the whole book & the ending is a surprise.

Another wonderful book by Joan Hess