Second-Hand Stiff

Second-Hand Stiff

By Sue Ann Jaffarian

From the Odelia Grey Mystery Series (Book #8)
Paperback: 302 pages
Publisher: Midnight Ink, 2013

Subject Headings:

·         Legal Assistants

·         California

·         Mystery Fiction

Appeal: Mystery Novel, Humorous, Fast-paced, Amateur Detective

Plot Summary:
 Odelia finds herself in the middle of a family crisis when the body Ina’s husband shows up during a storage facility’s auction. Odelia’s husbands’ family are all concerned when Ina becomes the primary suspect in his murder. As the plot thickens, more corpses turn up and the chase for the truth gets more dangerous. Things are especially concerning as Odelia’s elderly mother joins in the sleuthing. Set in present day California at Thanksgiving, this witty mystery novel keeps adding twists and deeper layers to the underlying mystery. She must rely on help from her family and friends to help bring this case to a conclusion and the true killer to justice. This novel brings some comedic elements to help lighten the darker moods in this mystery, and the feisty heroine and unique character cast really keep the pages turning.

Similar Authors and Works:

3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors

• Mrs. Sherlock Holmes by Brad Ricca

The true story of Grace Humiston, the New York lawyer and detective who became one of the nation’s greatest crime fighters. During a time when women did not get involved in murder investigations, she takes on the 1917 missing girl case that captivated a nation.

·     The Spider and the Fly by Claudia Rowe

This novel follows the story of New York reporter Claudia Rowe and her four-year conversation with a convicted serial killer.

·    Assuming Names: A Con Artist’s Masquerade  by Tanya Thompson

In this novel, Thompson tells the story of a 15-year old runaway with the assumed title of ‘Countess’. This story follows how she went on to fool the FBI, DEA, and Interpol along with other celebrities in this tale of intrigue.  

3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors

•  Death by Inferior Design by Leslie Caine

Two designers face off in a competition to design one room in two houses over a weekend. Things get turned on their heads though when a body turns up on Erin Gilbert’s side of the competition.

• Maid for Murder by Barbara Colley

Charlotte LaRue runs the Maid-for-a-Day cleaning service, catering for the New Orleans elite. This cozy mystery series is based around Charlotte’s business and the cities’ high society.

• A Tisket, A Tasket, A Fancy Stolen Casket by Fran Rizer

Calamine Parrish is a mortuary cosmetologist who finds out an accidental drowning victim might not have been so much of an accident. The victim’s fancy casket is also stolen and soon Calamine finds herself in the way of a killer.