Customer Reviews

Over His Dead Body

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

It's always fun to watch an established author in one aspect of a genre tackle something different. Best-known for her noir-ish, hard-hitting 'April Woo' procedurals, Leslie Glass's latest mystery "Over His Dead Body" is a hoot-and-a-half romp on the wild side of chicanery and double-dealing peopled by a veritable smorgasbord of off-the-wall characters who become involved in an utterly bizarre series of events. Its suburban-housewife heroine, aptly-named Cassandra Sales, is frumpy, frustrated and fifty. Her twenty-six-year marriage to her work/money-obsessed, largely-absentee husband Mitchell Sales (a highly successful wine dealer with a penchant for scamming the IRS) has gone so sour that she can't remember the last time they made love, and her decidedly unlovable, constantly-bickering adult children seem like aliens from another planet. Since she apparently can't change her environment, Cassie decides to start with herself. Taking advantage of Mitch's extended absence on a European business trip, she has a facelift. While she's still in its Grand Guignol recovery stages, Mitch comes home unexpectedly, takes one look at her and drops like a stone. He winds up in a coma and diagnosed as brain-dead in the hospital, and Cassie is suddenly on her own. Trying to get a handle on Mitch's business affairs turns her world upside down. The deeper she digs, the nastier things get. Not only has her husband been cheating on her for years (aided and abetted by their lawyer, their accountant, their family doctor and various members of the firm including her own son) with his stunning, amoral 'business associate', Mona Whitman, but, between them, they have squandered huge sums of money on a lifestyle for Mona (all charged under Cassie's name) which is as different from her own simpler realities as chalk from cheese. To further complicate matters, the IRS in the person of Special Agent Charlie Schwab is taking a strong interest in what he believes to be 'her' concealed assets as part of an overall audit of Mitch's affairs. When she ultimately discovers that Mitch was planning to divorce her and keep his millions for himself and Mona, Cassie goes on the warpath. And the tables don't just turn, they rotate.

"Over His Dead Body" is a delightfully-orchestrated riot of a novel that puts the fun back into dysfunctional. Just when you think things can't possibly get any crazier, Ms. Glass adds another twist to her intricate scenario, and we're off and running. Once they get their act together, Cassie and Charlie remind me a little of Nick and Nora Charles, and their tongue-in-cheek sparring not only provides a touch of wit and humor in Cassie's otherwise thoroughly dire predicament, but also adds a whole new dimension to the phrase, "Revenge is a dish best served cold". By me, "Over His Dead Body" made mighty tasty eating.

It seems like no one is writing comic novels anymore. This one comes along just in time. I'm a big fan of Leslie Glass's mystery series, and this new book, although not a police procedural, combines the best elements from her suspense novels with a darkly comic, modern premise. It's a funny, thoughtful page turner. Terrible title, though, and it looks like the publisher spent about six minutes and a dirty nickel on the cover art, but once I got past that I loved it. I'm looking forward to seeing what Glass does next outside her April Woo series.

As a departure from her April Woo series, this is a delightful success. While not being a ordinary murder mystery, this does offer suspense when you realize every chapter reveals more information about her comatose husband. He turns out to be one of the most selfish cads I've read about in recent books. What makes this delightful is Ms. Glass's sense of humor about the thoroughly dislikable cast of characters. What a ride!

About one quarter of the way through this book, I started to scream at the heroine "get your own attorney, you dimwit!!" How anyone could be this dumb is truly unbelievable, but then again, I stayed up late to finish it, so go figure. It was worth it just to see the mistress get her just desserts. The children, Marsha and Teddy, are two whiny brats with no appeal whatsoever. There are better books out there about revenge - read Olivia Goldsmith or Jane Heller

After having eagerly awaited this book, I can hardly contain my disappointment. This is a bad departure from the April Woo series. And, as others have pointed out, neither is this a mystery. At best, one has a romance, and a rather uninspiring one, at that. No depth, no intrigue. Reminds me of the similarly poor presentation by Evanovich in the Sugar Plum book. So the lady ends up with a new face through plastic surgery and finds out her husband was a cad. Buyer beware, leave this on the shelf.

This is a fun to read book. I've never read Leslie Glass before and was looking for something light to read over the weekend after a very, very long week. This was just what the doctor ordered! For those looking for a deep and meaningful book to answer life's questions, this is not for you. However, if you are looking for something to take your mind off of things, I would recommend this book. As I was reading, I really wanted to kill Mona and I kept wanting to see how it all ended. The ending is no great mystery but as I mentioned, it makes for a nice distraction from every day's challenges.

As my title says, why mess with a winning recipe? Glass had a winner series of Detective April Woo book - witty and thrilling, with great characters. What else would you want in a murder mystery? I was TOTALLY disappointed with this trashy story, bad characters, who cares story line. I bought this book excited that Glass had a new April Woo book out and was undiscribably disappointed - especially because I live in Thailand had my friend bring the book all the way from the US! I recommend to skip this book, but do read her April Woo books, they are excellent! I can't wait for a new one to come out!

There are too few comic novels being written these days, and this book came along just in time. I am a big fan of Leslie Glass's mystery series, and this book, although not a police procedural, combines the best elements of her suspense novels with a dark comic premise. It makes for a funny, thoughtful page-turner -- I look forward to seeing what Glass does next outside the Woo series.

Turning fifty hit Cassandra Sales hard especially since she has not been intimate with her husband in years. When her spouse Mitch, an international power broker in the wine business is away overseas on an extended buying trip, she undergoes plastic surgery. She hopes to be recovered by the time he gets home but he returns early, takes one look at her and has a stroke. At the hospital, the doctor doesn't hold out much hope because the tests show severe brain damage.

Cassie doesn't have time to worry about her husband because when she goes to check his private records she learns that he is planning to divorce her and leave her penniless. The other woman is using her name and he has bought her a house, a car and expensive jewelry. The business is being audited, she can't pay the bills, and her accountant is in cahoots with the other woman. Some women might go crazy but Cassie only wants to get her life back.

OVER HIS DEAD BODY is an exhilarating tale of a woman trying to regain what she lost first through surgery and then via taking control of her life. The story line centers on Cassie as she strips bare the façade of happiness to see the barracudas trying to eat her alive. Readers will root for Cassie in her battles with the IRS, the other woman, and even her accountant though probability is that she will fail. Leslie Glass delivers a delightful story due to a strong cast especially the ordinary middle age woman starting her assent of a mountain of woes and disappointments.

Harriet Klausner

'over his dead body' is one of the best written, imaginative and fun books that i have ever had the pleasure to read. it's a total hoot with many turns of plot - a joy and page-turner. i have recommended it to all of my friends, and everyone has completely agreed with me.
we just LOVE ms. glass.