Killer Stuff: A Jane Wheel Mystery

'Killer Stuff : A Mystery', written by Sharon Fiffer, is a wonderful addition to the genre. The central character, Jane Wheel, having lost both her PR job and her academic husband, is the chief suspect in a murder, and the story twists like a pretzel as the mystery unfolds. To the very last page, the book will hold you like an overweight aunt at a family reunion. Particularly impressive as a character is Homicide Detective Bruce Oh, revealed largely through dialogue. The following excerpt from page 94 illustrates the author's style and success.'"Did the Wheel woman confess?" Oh asked as he dunked his doughnut.His partner, Detective Dee Tective, not long out of the Academy, smiled coquettishly and said, "No. I was about to give her the third degree when she said she wanted to take the Fifth.""The fifth what?""Beats me. She said she had a perfect right.""A perfect right what? Foot? Hand? Eye?""Beats me. I'm just a cop in a tight skirt, not a physician.""Oh," said Oh."Is this roll call?" Dee asked."I wasn't saying my name, you klutz. It was a frustrated utterance.""Oh," Dee said."Yes? What is it?"In non-alphabetical order, Dee was bemused then amused.By now, Oh's doughnut was a small sponge at the bottom of his cup. Outside, the sky was eye-blue and clear. A flock of pigeons settled on the window ledge. "Will someone please let those damned birds out!" Oh shouted above the flapping.'Sharon Fiffer has made an enduring name for herself. It is well deserved.

Jane Wheel has had some big changes in her life lately. She had been downsized from her job as an ad executive, kissed her next door neighbor, separated from her husband, found out her father was going in for some medical tests and discovered her next door neighbor's wife dead in her living room. However, Jane keeps herself busy with her new job as a "picker" for an antique dealer. She spends her time scrounging around through moldly basements, dusty attics and anywhere else she can find treasures at estate sales, garage sales, flea markets, rummage sales, etc. Unfortunately, Jane's unlucky streak continues when she and her best friend since elementary school, Tim, discover the dead body of Tim's assistant in his flower shop. Luckily, the detective working on these cases is fascinated by Jane and her collector tendencies and uses Jane's powers of observation to help him gather evidence. As Jane roots around for clues, she picks up antique photo albums, early American pottery, Bakelite buttons and other treasures as well as more dead bodies... Killer Stuff is one of the funnest reads I have had in years. All of Sharon Fiffer's characters are absolutely superbly drawn and seem so real. Jane Wheel is such a fascinating character and so fun to read about as she hunts down treasures and tries to get her life back together again. Detective Oh was also another great character and is quite atypical from your usual run-of-the-mill detectives. I also loves the way Fiffer described the estate sales and the viciousness of the pickers and antique dealers who frequent them. I quite enjoy watching programs like The Antique Roadshow and this book was just great because it described so many antiques and collectibles. The reader will learn just as much as they will be entertained by this book. Buy this one - it is definitely a keeper and an author to watch out for!

What separates this novel from others in the genre is that the writing is so superb. Also, what happens around the plot (the flea market material) is fascinating enough on its own. I'd recommend this book to anyone from those accustomed to reading more literary fiction to anybody wanting a brisk, satisfying entertainment. I look forward to how this author will let her character unfold. This is one I could hang with for ten years at least!

I read this book because I enjoy watching Antiques Roadshow. That is the only reason that I read this book because generally speaking I don't care for antiques. However, I was delightful engaged by the book and the care in which Ms. Fiffer took in describing her characters and their interaction. This book primarily focuses on two characters however the intertwining of the balance of the characters is both necessary and well done. The plot was well done as well. I am hopeful that this is the start of a great series!

This book was just pure and solid fun from the first word.This mystery writer has not forgotten her obligation to the reader: to make the time spent between the covers of a book a sheer delight. The personalities in this book -- both major characters and minor -- are so well detailed and so deeply human that for me, they rivaled the joy of unspinning the mystery itself. Fiffer is truly destined for more writing and I am destined for more reading. A splendiforous acheivement. Viva!