Review: Murder Can Botch Up Your Birthday

Murder Can Botch Up Your Birthday Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Selma Eichler
Class/Genre: Mystery Cozy Private Investigator Woman Main Character Humorous
Series: Desiree Shapiro # 11
2004, 272 pages

Desiree Shapiro is a private investigator in New York City. She is not your stereotypical P.I. She is five-two and considers her best feature to be her glorious hennaed hair.

Teenager Vicky Pirrelli comes to Desiree’s office to ask for her help. Her dad, Victor, was convicted of killing his mistress, Christina. Recently he told Vicky that he didn’t do it. She wants Desiree to help clear her dad’s name. The kicker is that the crime happened ten years ago and her dad died two weeks ago in prison. Vicky’s only source of income is babysitting and working a few days a week at Frank ‘n’ Burgers, but Desiree agrees to help her anyway.

When she begins investigating, she quickly determines there are four suspects, including Vicky’s own mother. Victor’s lawyer Blossom Goody is still around and is able to give Desiree some information for her case. Tony, Victor’s brother and now Vicky’s stepfather, is tough to pin down. When Desiree does finally meet with him, he isn’t much help. Desiree has her work cut out for her. Then some strange things happen that scare Desiree. Can she find Christina’s murder and clear Victor’s name without putting herself in more danger?

Her personal life isn’t going real well either. Nick’s nine year old son, Derek, is not too happy his dad is dating Desiree and lets her know it. Will Derek turn Nick off to her?

This series is always so much fun. I like Desiree. She is the kind of P.I. I’d want to hire if I had to. I feel like she would be on your side pulling for you. She is also very competent and gets to the bottom of things. New York is a great setting for a P.I. novel.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Dawn Dowdle

Book Review: Murder Can Botch Up Your Birthday