Book Review: Murder Can Spoil Your Appetite

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

[4 stars]

Murder Can Spoil Your Appetite Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Selma Eichler
Class/Genre: Mystery Cozy Private Investigator Woman Main Character Humorous
Series: Desiree Shapiro # 7
Signet, Feb 2000, $5.99, 272 pp.

In her own words, 5’2” Desiree Shapiro is “pudgy” and “witty”. At first glance, a person may dismiss Desiree as a lightweight, but after six homicide investigations in which the sleuth helped solve the case, reconsideration may be appropriate. Desiree’s self esteem is at an all time high as her fledgling detective agency is finally in the black and she even has a beau.

Desiree’s feelings of contentment and personal harmony end the moment Vito de Silva demands she take on his case. Desiree wants to refuse, but has no graceful way of saying no. Vito wants to know who gunned down his up and coming protégé New Jersey politician Frankie Vincent. Vito arranges for Desiree to work with the Riverton, New Jersey police department over the objection of the lead detective Lou Hoffman. Desiree leans towards the victim’s wife as the assassin, but the woman has an iron clad alibi. She starts to really like Lou, but wonders why the cop insists Desiree’s prime suspect is innocent, which compels her to dig even deeper for the truth.

MURDER CAN SPOIL YOUR APPETITE is the seventh Shapiro mystery and it retains all the positive elements that the audience expects from a work written by Selma Eichler. New York City costars as the author knows the tastes and sounds of its residents, workers, and visitors as few writers do. Desiree remains an aging Jewish yuppie struggling to survive in a shark-infested city she hates and loves. The story line is entertaining, but the novel belongs to Desiree and her relationship with the city that never allows her to sleep.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner