When Deuce Winters, a stay-at-home dad in sleepy Rose Petal, Texas, discovers a dead body in his mini-van, it quickly throws his quiet life into disarray. It doesn't help that the victim ruined Deuce's high school football career and married his ex-girlfriend. As the number one suspect in the court of public opinion, Deuce is determined to clear his name, with a little help from his wife, Julianne, a high-powered attorney. His search for the killer leads him to a business plan gone awry and a gaggle of jilted lovers.
Stay At Home Dead (Stay at Home Dad Mysteries)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By Tiger08
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a laugh riot literally from page 1! I did not know a man could write something so hilarousi (I am a man, so do not think this is a sexist opinion). This is one of the best first novels I have read in a very long time. It is as enjoyable a read as some authors 10th book. It is an easy read, despite an array of murder suspects. And as in all good mysteries, the murderer is not anyone you would suspect, until he/she is revealed near the end. But solving the murder is actually not the most important part of the book. The main characters (of which there quite a few) are fleshed out very well--hopefully as a basis for many more books in the new series. Many authors books start slowly as they set the background for a better understanding of the characters. This is absolutely NOT the case in this book. The characters are fleshed out through the action of the story, along with some of the funniest dialogue and thoughts I have ever found! The hero and heroine are people you would want as close friends!
I cannot wait for the second book which comes out this fall. And hopefully many more to come in the near future.
I cannot wait for the second book which comes out this fall. And hopefully many more to come in the near future.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Erma Bombeck is reincarnated as a male version of Kinsey Millhone
January 29, 2012
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Jeffrey Allen is the nom de plume alter-ego of thriller writer Jeff Shelby. In his first-in-a-series cozy mystery, Erma Bombeck is reincarnated as a male version of Kinsey Millhone when househusband Deuce Winters "deduces" who put a dead body in his minivan. "I regularly found flyers and business cards on the car windows, but finding a body inside was a completely new and disconcerting experience."
Deuce didn't get his name from playing Texas Hold 'Em. A silly name that's "Not sillier than my real name, Eldrick. Like my dad. I was the second. Hence, the deuce." Two decades ago, Deuce's high school girlfriend, Shayna, dumped him when he blew out his knee in a football game, and later married rival Benny, who now winds up in Deuce's car with a knife in his chest. After half a bottle of vodka, Shayna invites Deuce over---before Benny's body is cold, and then obtains a restraining order.
Thrown into the mix is pint-size PI Victor Anthony Doolittle, a name bigger than his three-foot-four frame. Rose Petal is a tiny Texas town that is "relatively safe---my minivan excepted." Big Hair is the norm in the Dallas suburb where Deuce and his wife Julianne experience the ultimate role reversal: Julianne is a partner in a corporate law firm and Deuce is a stay-at-home dad for their preschooler, Carly.
Between folding laundry and being "Room Dad" at Carly's preschool, Deuce and Doolittle work together to untangle the web woven by people shadier than the ground under ancient oaks. What seems to be idle gossip becomes a slew of clues---or are they a sea of red herrings?
Allen tucks words of wisdom in with wit and humor when Shayna tells Deuce he has a fairy-tale marriage: "Did she really think it was a fairy tale? Julianne and I were happy and in love, but our marriage was work, just like anyone else's. [T]he key to getting the accolades was acting like you didn't deserve them." This in spite of what the author said: "I just wanted to write something that made me laugh. I didn't plan on ever seeing it in print because I put so much ridiculousness into the book."
Allen wrote a laugh riot. This is a delightful read despite dubious legal procedures. Allen's next in the Stay At Home Dad series is due in October 2012. There are three words that every author wants to hear: I. Want. More.
Stay At Home Dead (Stay at Home Mysteries)
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
Deuce didn't get his name from playing Texas Hold 'Em. A silly name that's "Not sillier than my real name, Eldrick. Like my dad. I was the second. Hence, the deuce." Two decades ago, Deuce's high school girlfriend, Shayna, dumped him when he blew out his knee in a football game, and later married rival Benny, who now winds up in Deuce's car with a knife in his chest. After half a bottle of vodka, Shayna invites Deuce over---before Benny's body is cold, and then obtains a restraining order.
Thrown into the mix is pint-size PI Victor Anthony Doolittle, a name bigger than his three-foot-four frame. Rose Petal is a tiny Texas town that is "relatively safe---my minivan excepted." Big Hair is the norm in the Dallas suburb where Deuce and his wife Julianne experience the ultimate role reversal: Julianne is a partner in a corporate law firm and Deuce is a stay-at-home dad for their preschooler, Carly.
Between folding laundry and being "Room Dad" at Carly's preschool, Deuce and Doolittle work together to untangle the web woven by people shadier than the ground under ancient oaks. What seems to be idle gossip becomes a slew of clues---or are they a sea of red herrings?
Allen tucks words of wisdom in with wit and humor when Shayna tells Deuce he has a fairy-tale marriage: "Did she really think it was a fairy tale? Julianne and I were happy and in love, but our marriage was work, just like anyone else's. [T]he key to getting the accolades was acting like you didn't deserve them." This in spite of what the author said: "I just wanted to write something that made me laugh. I didn't plan on ever seeing it in print because I put so much ridiculousness into the book."
Allen wrote a laugh riot. This is a delightful read despite dubious legal procedures. Allen's next in the Stay At Home Dad series is due in October 2012. There are three words that every author wants to hear: I. Want. More.
Stay At Home Dead (Stay at Home Mysteries)
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Deuce Winters is that rare individual, a stay-at-home dad. Living in the small town of Rose Petal, Texas with his beautiful, intelligent, funny and successful lawyer wife Julianne and their three-yr-old daughter Carly, Deuce spends his days doing laundry, cleaning, cooking and caring for Carly. For three years the town of Rose Petal thinks Deuce can't find a job, but Deuce is happy being a stay-at-home dad while his wife is the breadwinner. His days are busy, happy and normal. That is, until the day he comes out of the grocery store with Carly and finds a dead body in his minivan and most of the dimwitted gossips think Deuce is the murderer.
I loved this book! I haven't laughed so much during a murder mystery since I read the Arly Hanks series by Joan Hess. Who says all murder mysteries need to be serious or dangerous? There are many moments of giggling, laughing and outright guffaws during this book. In fact, there was one instance of tears as I...*giggling, chortling, gasping* Sorry. I was just replaying the instance in my head and had an uncontrollable fit of the giggles.
Well-written, smooth-flowing and hilarious. I love Deuce's observations of his fellow citizens, Julianne's fierceness and intelligence and Carly's cuteness. And let's not forget the colorful characters in this town. I am so looking forward to the next book in Deuce's mystery series coming out in October.
*The publisher provided a copy of this book for me to review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
I loved this book! I haven't laughed so much during a murder mystery since I read the Arly Hanks series by Joan Hess. Who says all murder mysteries need to be serious or dangerous? There are many moments of giggling, laughing and outright guffaws during this book. In fact, there was one instance of tears as I...*giggling, chortling, gasping* Sorry. I was just replaying the instance in my head and had an uncontrollable fit of the giggles.
Well-written, smooth-flowing and hilarious. I love Deuce's observations of his fellow citizens, Julianne's fierceness and intelligence and Carly's cuteness. And let's not forget the colorful characters in this town. I am so looking forward to the next book in Deuce's mystery series coming out in October.
*The publisher provided a copy of this book for me to review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
This book was funny and fast paced. I didnt want it to end but I know there are sequals out there. Thank God. This read has made it into my favorites.
Published 22 days ago by Lisa Sunter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun read
An easy read with interesting characters and an amusing plot. All in all this book is worth a few hours on a weekend
Published 3 months ago by Christopher Moon
4.0 out of 5 stars
a good way to pass time
it took me a bit to get interested in this story, but in the end it was light enjoyment - no serious reading once you get into the story line
Published 4 months ago by Paula S. Haines
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Love It
Stay at Home Dead was a fun to read cozy, cozy. It don't want any blood and guts. I prefer that all the characters be in relative good mental and physical condition. Read more
Published 5 months ago by hotdogcrafts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable - believable - good read
Didn't take me long to get hooked into the family - sorta like "what is he thinking? and how in the world did he get into this mess combined? Read more
Published 6 months ago by apf
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stay at Home Dead
I enjoyed reading Stay at Home Dead very much. It was easy to follow and I knew what was going on right away. I can't wait to read the next one!
Published 6 months ago by LinaLina
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Mystery
interesting characters and enjoyed the told reversal of a dad who likes being at home. It definitely was a small town mystery that fit the setting.
Published 6 months ago by Felicia Williams
3.0 out of 5 stars
ok
i agree with the person who says the husband was a shallow fool. it was hard to believe a lawyer would put up with him. she had to be the one to think things through. Read more
Published 6 months ago by read der
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book.
The book was good very good good good pie cake bacon some food damm i am hungry how r u byeeeee
Published 7 months ago by Aleksa Donohue- Knisely
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cute little book
I have to admit that I downloaded the book based off the cute title and the front cover (and it was free). Read more
Published 7 months ago by bmuller78
