Too Big to Miss (The Odelia Grey Mysteries) [Paperback]

Sue Ann Jaffarian (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Odelia Grey Mysteries | Publication Date: February 8, 2006

Too big to miss--that's Odelia Grey. A never-married, middle-aged, plus-sized woman who makes no excuses for her weight, she's not super woman just a mere mortal standing on the precipice of menopause, trying to cruise in an ill-fitting bra. She struggles with her relationships, her crazy family, and her crazier boss. And then there''s her knack for being in close proximity to dead people . . . .

When her close friend Sophie London commits suicide in front of an online web-cam by putting a gun in her mouth and pulling the trigger, Odelia's life is changed forever. Sophie, a plus-sized activist and inspiration to imperfect women, is the last person anyone would ever have expected to end her own life. Suspecting foul play, Odelia is determined to get to the bottom of her friend's death. Odelia's search for the truth takes her from southern California strip malls to the world of live web-cam porn to the ritzy enclave of Corona del Mar.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

"From the first time Adam noticed the shrinkage and explained it to Eve, men have been trying to tell women that size didn't matter." Odelia Grey knows better. At fortysomething, she's five-foot-one, weighing in at 230, and during her life, she's heard all the slurs and suffered all the consequences. Although she still finds comfort in her cookie jar, she's smart, determined, busy, and generally happy. But when her friend, Sophie, an activist for the rights of fat women, commits suicide, Odelia is shocked. She can't believe confident Sophie would kill herself, nor that she did so in full view of subscribers to the X-rated Web site she operated. More surprising secrets? You bet, but even as they unravel, Odelia remains certain there's something strange about Sophie's death. Coincidences abound here, and bits of self-deprecating humor don't always mix well with the underlying big-is-beautiful message. Ophelia, however, is an intriguing character, a true counter against stereotype, who demonstrates that life can be good, even in a world where thin is always in. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"...Jaffarian does a masterful job of creating the character of a plus-size woman..." -- Naomi Hirahara, author of Summer of the Big Bachi and Gasa-Gasa Girl

"...a classic, fast-paced mystery...a passport into a world...we rarely see in popular fiction." -- Harley Jane Kozak, author of Dating Dead Men and Dating is Murder

"...a fun-filled romp that introduces the delightful 'Odelia Grey' and leaves you anxious for more of her." -- Robert S. Levinson, author of Ask a Dead Man and Hot Paint

"...set your sights on this Odelia Grey mystery for a tightly coiled intrigue that targets a sexy shocker." -- Brian M. Wiprud, author of Pipsqueak and Stuffed

"Plus-size reading pleasure. Try this one on!" -- Lee Child

"Balancing her professional skills as a paralegal with her self-doubt as a sleuth, Odelia is one of the most believable amateur detectives in recent fiction. Beautifully plotted and carefully crafted, this is a marvelous start to an exciting new series. Strongly recommended." -- Library Journal, February 2006

"With a cast of diverse characters, an intriguing plot, and a credible heroine, this is an enjoyable read." -- Mystery Scene, Spring 2006

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK; First Edition edition (February 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738708631
• ISBN-13: 978-0738708638
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #738,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Like the character Odelia Grey, Sue Ann Jaffarian, is a middle-aged, plus size paralegal. She lives in Los Angeles with her two cats, B and Raffi. She writes mysteries and general fiction, as well as short stories.

In addition to writing, Sue Ann is sought after as a motivational and humorous speaker.

Want to receive HOT FLASHES, Sue Ann's newsletter? To subscribe, just send an e-mail to [e-mail] with "Add Me" in the subject line. HOT FLASHES is distributed 3-5 times a year via e-mail. And rest assured, your e-mail information is never sold to or shared with anyone.

You can visit Sue Ann at her website: www.sueannjaffarian.com and follow her on both Facebook and Twitter.

(Photo by Innis Casey Photography)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breaks sterotypes as well as tells a good mystery story, February 9, 2002

By 

Linda Linguvic (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Too Big to Miss (Odelia Grey Mysteries) (Paperback)

This is a mystery novel by a brand new writer, Sue Ann Jaffarian and, like the author, the lead character, Odelia Grey, is a paralegal in Southern California. Odelia is in her late forties, single, 5'1" and 215 pounds. She's lived a lifetime of prejudice about her size but, as a mature woman, she's not going to take it anymore. She and her circle of friends have a support group and are slowly but surely accepting themselves for who they are and taking a stand against the discrimination against them. Odelia is shocked and upset when the leader of their group, Sophie London, supposedly commits suicide. And she is even more surprised when she discovers that Sophie had a porn website and shot herself in front of her viewers. Besides grief, what's a gal to do? What follows is a tight, well-plotted story, with enough twists and turns to keep me up past my bedtime. I really liked it, and that's saying a lot, because I'm not a big fan of mysteries.

However, "Too Big to Miss" goes far and beyond the story. With a sense of both humor and mastery over her material, Ms. Jaffarian has something to say about the politically correct prejudice against fat people as well as the bias against anyone who is different. In the book, there's a romance between Odelia and a paraplegic, Greg Stevens. Gently, we are reminded of the humanity of these characters, while never once forgetting the strong story line of the plot. We root for Odelia in her quest for the murderer, and we also root for her as she breaks stereotypes and establishes a relationship. She's not only a good detective, but also an inspiration to anyone who has ever felt "different". I thank Ms. Jaffarian for writing this book and look forward to her next. Recommended.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery Plus (no pun intended), December 7, 2006

By 

L. L. Petersen (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Too Big to Miss (The Odelia Grey Mysteries) (Paperback)

Jaffarian has written an excellent mystery story - I'd give it six stars if I could - but she's done even more than that. She has woven other issues into the story and leaves her readers with something to think about. Other reviewers have adequately covered how Jaffarian examines the issue of discrimination but there is more here to ponder. We also see a revealing picture of families and their various dysfunctions. Mothers' roles are particularly highlighted - Sophie's mother abandoned her; Her stepmother is a nightmare; Glo's mother was a victim. Most interesting though are the three mothers who have every reason to be enemies, but work together to protect a single child.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Read" for the Mystery Lover, April 19, 2001

By 

theseusxx (Brunswick County, NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Too Big to Miss (Odelia Grey Mysteries) (Paperback)

I was pleasantly surprised to find a book by a new author that kept my interest from cover to cover. The storyline was both suspenseful and cleaver. As an avid reader of another mystery author (MHC), this book is in the same class! As usual, I tried to solve the mystery before the end of the book, and this book was so cleaverly written, I was fooled up to the very end. I am looking forward to many more stories by Sue Ann Jaffarian and her main character, Odelia Grey - who is Too Big Too Miss!!!