Murder Can Kill Your Social Life

Desiree Shapiro is a New York City Private Investigator. In this book, she is investigating murder(s) that happen in the apartment building where her niece Ellen live. She is determined to find out who and why. Throughout this book, there is lots of good food. Desiree has a witty writing style. This book was so fun to read. I enjoyed the adventures and Desiree's fun, cool life. I thought this book was really good, fun, and clever. The final solving of the murder(s) was cleverly done by Desiree. The final murder-solving was fun and clever. I really enjoyed that part of the book (as I did the entire book). The book is the first book of the series. (But it is the second book of the series that I've read.) After enjoying this book so much, I was really surprised at the mediocre reviews. There was only one thing I wasn't happy about. I considered lowering the rating to 4-stars, but after careful evaluation, I decided that it wasn't enough to lower it to 4-stars. Here is what it was: At the very end of the book, there was something that wasn't totally answered (I guess you have to use your imagination). I can't tell you what it was, because I don't want to ruin the book. But it had something to do with the murder suspect(s). I just wish it had of come out in black and white and told us, instead of making us guess. But other than that, this book, to me, was just about perfect. (The book was too good and the mystery was too clever to lower the rating to 4 stars. The mystery cleverness alone is a hundred or more stars.)

I still remember seeing this series in the bookstore and being totally infatuated with finding out what it was all about. Having first read one of the latter books in the line up ( #11 to be exact) I just knew that there was no other choice but to start with book # 1 to see what sparked it all. Desiree Shapiro is truly an interesting character, her passion for sleuthing only matches her enthusiasm for good food. It's hard to trust a character that never eats, I mean come on; if they are meant to appear real they better involve some tasty meals here and there or else they are nothing more than machines running on the writers ink. The first book in the series gives the reader a broad glimpse into the life of the Manhattan private investigator that is probably a bigger hoot than all the wacky characters she interacts with. I know this book got many lukewarm reviews but I just adored it and even before I was done my thoughts were all ready swarming with thoughts of what other delights would the next book contain. This story had many characters, suspects and faces but I found myself totally enchanted and had a blast reading a good, cozy mystery. When Desiree visits her niece Ellen in her new Manhattan apartment she is unaware that the day holds the power to transform her entire life. Little after she leaves there is a murder and Desiree has no other choice but to get involved in her first such case to clear the name of a young delivery boy who seems to be the prime suspect. When a second murder strikes with odd similarities she knows there is nothing else to do but for her to get lost in the case to avenge a man and woman who were somehow connected in their own deaths. When families, lovers, and friends of the second suspect start crossing paths on her line of suspects Desiree is faced with an intricate and fun mystery that really makes for an addicting read. There were a lot of paths but in the end the answer was worth waiting for. - Kasia S.

This first book in the Private Eye "Desiree Shapiro" mysteries was pretty good. But advertised as a "Queen-Size Manhattan PI", which is why I bought the book thinking 'here's something different', there wasn't much reference to her being fat. The author could have done a lot more with that angle and should have since that is the series' signature mark. Still, the plot was fine; characters pretty good; and it was a fairly fast read. It was easy to keep track of what was happening. I found the writing to be charming, with a good sense of humor. I'll read another.

Dez Shapiro made a hit with me. She was funny and didn't let her size or age intimiate her in any way. The mind of a detective was clearly used here as she processed the multiple murders into a solution of why and who done it. She was a delight to read and plan to add the following books to my reading list.