Stiff (Murray Whelan Thrillers) [Paperback]

Shane Maloney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001 | Series: Murray Whelan Thrillers

Murray Whelan thinks the life of a political advisor is complicated enough: there are intimations of intrigue among the party powerful and his ex-wife is mounting a custody battle over his beloved son. But throw in a Turk snap-frozen in a local meat plant, drugs planted under the bed, fascist funeral rites, a killer car, and blood-sucking parasites, and things are suddenly spinning fatally out of control. That's when red-hot Ayisha knocks on the door.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Brush-Off, featuring Melbourne political fixer Murray Whelan, won Australia's Ned Kelly Prize and critical attention when it was published here, in 1998. This prequel, which first appeared Down Under in 1994, is a worthy but not sterling followup. It's 1984, and Murray is working as electorate officer (read: troubleshooter) for Charlene Wills, Australia's minister for industry. Despite his cynicism about politics, Whelan admires the 50ish Wills: "She was loyal, conscientious, devoted to her constituents, and I loved her like a mother, which was convenient as I no longer had one of my own. Her colostomy bag you couldn't notice, even if you were one of the very few who knew about it." When Angelo Agnelli, Wills's ministerial adviser (who rises to become minister for arts and Murray's boss in The Brush-Off), asks Whelan to look into the suspicious death of a Turkish meat packer, Murray stirs up a mess of corruption that threatens Wills and the Labour Party. Malone tosses in plenty of colorful detail about Melbourne's ethnic mix, and some touching scenes where Murray struggles to be a good father to his young son while his estranged wife is off tending her own, much more successful political career. The entire novel is narrated by Murray in a wry, tough voice as flavorful of Australia as kangaroo stew.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In this mid-1980s prequel to The Brush-off (LJ 5/1/98), Murray Whelan, who works for Australia's minister for industry in Melbourne, investigates a suspicious death in a meat-packing plant that may have political ramifications for his boss. Whelan's research, which targets the large local Italian and Turkish constituencies, points to payroll embezzlement rather than conspiracy. As in his previous book, Maloney pokes fun at almost everything, reveling in words that showcase ludicrous events and behavior. And Murray as a caring but totally unhandy and terminally horny single (almost) parent only broadens the satire. A rewarding and entertaining read.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Arcade Publishing (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155970599X
• ISBN-13: 978-1559705998
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,426,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Australia confused, November 19, 2000

By 

lvkleydorff - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stiff (Murray Whelan Thrillers) (Hardcover)

The mystery part of this novel isn't the greatest. But the sideshow is a real whopper. The story is told by Murray Whelan, gofer and fixer for Charlene Wills. Charlene and her colostomy bag are Minister for Industry of the reigning Labor Party. Her advisor, Angelo Agnelli, is Murray's boss who sends him to the Pacific Pastoral meat works to check out possible political implications in the freezing death of foreman Ekrem Bayraktar. Things spiral downwards from there with the entry of an industrial super mogul, the questionable shop steward Herb Gardiner, not to mention Ayisha Celik, that Turkish honey pot.

The author not only has a way with words. He also has an incredible sense of humor. He takes the Australian political scene apart in a roaring satire without letup or ending. His description of the Italian and Turkish minorities is memorable.

This book makes you laugh all the way to the end.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stiff- isn't, January 7, 2000

By 

KBell (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stiff (Murray Whelan Thrillers) (Hardcover)

Murray Whelan is a low ranking political go-fer for the Australian Labor Party who can create chaos from the simplest chore. He redeems himself with a self-effacing humor that both entertains and endears. If you do not cry tears of laughter at his description of insulating his attic, something is seriously wrong with your funny bone.

Murray is asked to investigate the death by freezing of a Turkish immigrant meat packing plant worker. Everyone agrees it was an unfortunate industrial accident. Murray's investigation is for the sole purpose of determining if there is any potential for political fallout on the issue of worker safety.

Soon someone is trying to kill him. Is it right wing Turkish militants? Is it industrialists in high places? Is it the janitor at the plant? Is it the mis-tattooed constituent who wants redress from the government?

Reading Shane Maloney's take on Australia in the late'80's will satisfy your yen for mystery (the whodunnit is subtle), double you over with laughter and (especially for "Yanks" like me)create an unforgettable image of Australian society!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific sequal, March 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stiff (Murray Whelan Thrillers) (Hardcover)

Being the political minder for Charlene Wills, Australian Minister for Industry, is the only job that Murray Whelan wants. His personal life consists of raising his son by himself while his spouse Wendy goes all over the place turning into a big shot and lusting after waitress Ayisha Celik.

So when Agnelli informs him that he must investigate the frozen corpse of an ethnic Turk named Batraktar found in a freezer, he thinks his compatriot is acting crazy. Still, if the opposition has a plan to stir up the unions over this death as Agnelli claims, Murray figures he better be prepared. Reluctantly, Murray begins to look into the death of the STIFF, starting at the locale of the accident. When he started his inquiries, Murray never intended to be a target, but soon he finds himself in danger as his world turns upside down.

Anyone who enjoys an off the wall, jocular amateur sleuth tale should try the works of Shane Maloney. As in his previous Murray Whelan novel, BRUSH-OFF, the story line is weird and rips into any and everything involving modern urban Australia. Murray retains the freshness of a street punk attitude buried inside a political hack and the secondary players add local flavoring to the fast-paced lunacy. Fans of outrageous who-done-its will not believe they were STIFFed after reading this satirical look at politics and amateur sleuths.

Harriet Klausner