Murder Can Crash Your Party: A Desiree Shapiro Mystery

Murder Can Crash Your Party is the first Selma Eichler novel I've read, actually, and it was so enjoyable that I'll undoubtedly get to her other novels sitting on my bookshelves sooner than I'd originally planned so I can get me some more of the thoroughly delightful, not-at-all-what-one-would-expect PI, Desiree Shapiro. Honestly, this book rates right up there with the very best I've read so far in 2008, due, in large measure, to Ms. Eichler's very likable, indomitable, real-life, less-than-perfect, girl-next-door heroine. In this particular outing, Ms. Eichler uses an interesting plot technique to drive the story - a mystery within a mystery, if you will. I found it exceedingly effective at building and releasing tension throughout the entire book. Desiree is invited to speak at a mystery writer's conference and afterwards is approached by a romance novelist with a strange but intriguing challenge - one that Desiree accepts readily. While Desiree is involved in a few small distractions throughout the book - reminding us that she is, in fact, a real (fictional) PI with a real (fictional) life - the main story revolves around a manuscript of a murder mystery written by the somewhat eccentric romance novelist and the challenge said novelist presents. This book has it all: a well-conceived mystery, a believable (and quite likable) heroine, an interesting (and complex) cast of characters, riddles, romance, wonderful writing, and excellent editing (although awhile is one word, regardless of what one's spellchecker might have one believe). I don't know how I managed to miss this series all these years, but I plan to make up for lost time by getting my hands on as many of the Desiree Shapiro books as I can! If you haven't already, I recommend you do the same. Carol Ann Hopkins 6/22/2008

Selma Eichler is one of my favorite authors. This is the latest book in a series starting with "Murder Can Kill Your Social Life." The series detective, Desiree Shapiro, is a Manhattan private detective. She is overweight, late middle aged and has "gloriously hennaed" red hair. She is bossed around by her secretary. She is every inch a New Yorker. It is hard not to like her. This book is different from her other books in that it is a puzzle within a puzzle. Yes, I did figure out who the killer was, even without the puzzle clues, but the book is, as always, a good read. I like the fact that the protagonist seems so real with strengths and weaknesses. She could be your next door neighbor (if you lived in a New York apartment.)

Private Investigator Desiree Shapiro is invited to be the guest speaker at the Arresting Women's Mystery Convention in Connecticut. Since she needs to get out of Manhattan, she accepts. While having brunch the day after her speech, Belle Simone and her secretary Gary Donleavy join her with a business proposition. Belle has written a book and if Desiree can solve the case by identifying the killer based on the three clues she is given, the author will give her $29,940. Since business is extremely slow, Desiree accepts the challenge. She starts reading the manuscript about a man named Rob who came home to a surprise birthday party given by his wife Tess. She pours him champagne for a toast, but he puts it down on a nearby table without drinking it; he swears he will drink it after he changes clothing. Later that night he keels over and dies. The police consider he may have been poisoned either with champagne he had later or with his dinner. Desiree uses her imagination, but even with the help of her friends, she struggles to figure out who the killer is. With a story inside a story, this is a fascinating intellectual whodunit that has the heroine at the end of her wits trying to solve the case. The chapters from Belle's book are smoothly sprinkled throughout the tale so that the audience can join Desiree by trying to identify the culprit. Fans will also see how far Desiree and Nick have come while his son still hates her. However, it remains the enjoyable challenge of matching wits with Desiree that makes MURDER CAN CRASH YOUR PARTY refreshing and fun. Harriet Klausner