Customer Reviews

Too Big to Miss (Odelia Grey Mysteries)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!!!

I could not put this book down, I read it cover to cover, hardly stopping. Odelia Gray is warm, sensitive, and funny. It's a pleasure to read a book that provides such a wonderful, rich character. I have never been inside the head of someone who allowed you to hear her thoughts about her weight, it was eye opening. I've recommended Too Big To Miss to all my friends.

Mystery readers know the characters Stephanie Plum, Bubbles Yablonsky; they are all slim, perky crime fighters. Are you ready for a new character, a cross-between Bertha Cool and Bridget O'Toole? Author Sue Ann Jaffarian has taken all those characters and rolled them up into one plus size crime fighter.
Odelia Grey is middle aged, never married plus size woman living in Costa Mesa, a place "where size does matter."
This novel is fun, well-writen and at times touching. Jaffarian knows how to write a good, character and plot driven mystery . When her friend Sophie commits suicide on her web site, Odelia is thrust into a bizarre world she never knew existed. This book held my interest though out. I will be looking foreward to the next Odelia Grey novel.

This was my first novel by Sue Ann and I was astounded by how she grabbed me with the first page and by the time I was 4 or 5 pages into the book I was totally hooked. This is a wonderful read and I can't wait to read more by this fantastic author.

Too Big To Miss is the first novel in the Odeila Grey mysteries series. Odeila Grey is a middle-aged woman of size. She finds her life turned up side down when she receives news that a close friend a size-activist leader has committed suicide. Odeila finds it hard to believe that her friend would do such a thing but the suicide was viewed by dozens of people during a live web cast for an X-rated website.

Odeila is compelled to get to the bottom of her friends' apparent suicide and has to dig deep into her past. A lot of what she finds out is a shock and doesn't make sense.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the second instalment. This is a great mystery in fact one of the best I have read and it kept me on the edge of my seat from page one.

What an interesting real life character! I love Odelia and the dogged way she pursues what looks like a suicide. Sue Ann Jaffarian has a winner with this knockout story, and her cast of chracters deserves a reprise - Sue Ann, I can't wait for the next adventure! And all you beanpole, workout-crazy sleuths, move over: Odelia is the literary daughter of Nero Wolfe, only much more approachable. Great detectives - and personalities - come in all shapes and sizes, and here's a double helping of the best kind. Save Odelia for dessert - she's the tops!

Odelia Grey is the kind of character I would like to have as a friend. She is realistic, bright and unwilling to let a creep get away with murder. Her voice is fluid and witty. It was an especially nice touch to have her enter into an intimate relationship with a paraplegic, both of them considering themselves physically far from perfect and yet able to look past the imperfections in the other person to their true substance. We need more such "imperfect" heroes and heroines.

What a wonderful trip I took with Odie through her escapades. I love how real she is and how I wanted to just sit down and have dinner with her!

The book was well written with great dialogue and many twists and turns. If you're on the fence about this one, run out and buy it, it's worth it! If you are a mystery lover, buy it! If you love to read and be entertained, BUY IT!

Needless to say I enjoyed the story and look forward to Sue Ann Jaffarian's next book in the series.

I ordered this book because it was recommended by Amazon.com as a "you might like this if you liked . . ." from Lynne Murray's books. I have read all of Ms Murray's books and eagerly anticipate her next installment due this summer.
I am now hooked on Odelia Grey as well.
Ms Jaffarian writes wonderfully with great unforced detail and original metaphors. Her characters suck you in to care about them from page 1.
Not only is this a great mystery but it also takes to task a cause near and dear to my heart -- fat prejudice. Odelia shares many of the feelings, fears and negative self talk prevalent in the mind of the plus-sized female in our thin obsessed society. Throughout Odelia's journey in finding out answers to her friend's death, she grows stronger and more self assured as a person.
This book is a great mystery all by itself but if you are a plus-sized woman, it is a must read!