The Thin Woman [Hardcover]

Dorothy Cannell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1984

Reluctant to show up at her family reunion carrying so many extra pounds, unmarried, overweight Ellie Simons hires Bentley T. Haskell to pose as her fiance, thus beginning a weekend of romance, jealousy, and murder. Reprint. PW. K.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

A rich, eccentric uncle; a "castle" complete with moat; and a profusion of quirky relatives all have parts in this amusing story which updates the traditional English country house mystery. Ellie, longing to be thin, and Bentley, escort-for-hire turned partner in an unusual treasure hunt, and other likeable characters are strongly characterized by Donohoe. She overplays the accents to define personalities, but the quirky story can take it. The pace is rapid and action condensed, possibly by the abridgment, so the presentation delights for its short duration. Femmes Fatal by Cannell with Amanda Donohoe, a sequel to Ellie And Bentley's colorful lif is also available from Bantam. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 242 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (June 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312800053
• ISBN-13: 978-0312800055
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,279,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific mystery with great characters, March 28, 2001

By 

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Thin Woman (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a bit fussy about mysteries and don't give five stars lightly. I want believable plots, an interesting story, strong characters and a good mystery, and found all of these within the pages of this fine novel. This was a wonderful, fun read with a satisfying ending.

The cover states that this book ws named one of the century's 100 favorite mysteries by the Independent Mystery Bookseller's Association, and it does deserve such an accolade. The only thing that could have improved it would have been some recipes!

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED IT!, December 13, 2003

By 

Scarletaka "Stacey" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Thin Woman (Mass Market Paperback)

I hate to admit this, because it's nothing against the book at all. I absolutely love this book but for the life of me I can never remember the name. I know what it's about and about when I read it so I search my library for the name each time.
The story is so entertaining and fresh. What's funny is I have read other books in this series and for some reason never knew this was one of the first in it's series. Please don't think it's a bad part on the book because it's not it's my brain.

Ellie like many women in her same situation wants to impress her family because they kind of give that attitude of I'm better than you because she's plump and single. Ellie decides her best bet is to have someone attractive and male on her arm when she visits them this time around. So she calls on Eligibility Escorts and enter one Bentley Haskell. He's a bit abrasive, but he fits the bill as far as being nice to look at and perfect to play the single girls long time beau. Bentley is a trained chef, but has taken up writing an ADULT/Graphic novel.
Once cornered with her family though Ellie makes Bentley not just her Beau but her fiancée in a very humorous moment. So as the weekend ends Ellie goes home with confidence she's gotten away with her lie and can go about her business.
Then her uncle dies and he gets one over on the family by stipulating that he is leaving Ellie and Bentley his entire fortune and castle home if they both accomplish two things in the next 6 months. Ellie's supposed to lose weight and make herself over. Bentley is supposed to write a full length book, but it has to be free of blasphemy which is going to be difficult because the book he's been writing will not do at all.
The mystery begins as people disappear and Ellie and Bentley are being targeted by a mysterious person who wants them to fail and will do anything to make sure they do.
This story is funny and fresh. I love it.
The audio version is abridged but very well read by Amanda Donohoe. I'm glad I discovered this book was part of the series I had already come to love because it's a great beginning for it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars improbably good, June 21, 2001

By 

travis (ann arbor, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Thin Woman (Mass Market Paperback)

whatever it is about this novel that makes it such an addictive, thrilling and hilarious read is impossible to put your finger on...i can't really describe what it was that made me pick up this book and not put it down until page 100. i am by nature a reader of new books, typically those of the trendy-independent bookstore-new-york-press-artsy-cover variety, but this book will engage anyone who comes across it. ellie is the book's overweight protagonist and her wry, self-effacing outlook on life is sure to strike a comedic chord within anyone who's ever felt a twinge of body image concern. over the course of the book ellie, an interior designer, struggles with remodeling a dilapidated and ancient castle, with her lack of appetite control, and most of all with her impossible partner in crime, bentley haskell. you'll reread this one.