Review: Larger Than Death

In general, I tend to avoid mysteries that feature full figured female sleuths because they are written so unrealistically I can't identify with the characters. I decided to overlook that this time when I saw the cover showing a full figured author. I had my first clue I might have a problem with this character anyway when I saw the acknowledgements page mentioning alt.support.big-folks, soc.support.fat-acceptance and NAAFA fatacceptance mailing list.

This book is the first of a series with a very heavy Josephine Fuller, great pun, working as an investigator for a private philanthropist. Nearly every male she met lusted after all 300 pounds of Ms. Fuller in this otherwise nearly cozy gem of a book. Opportunities for casual sex occurred nearly daily throughout this adventure. I know there are men who find queen-size women attractive but I had a hard time buying the premise that every day every man lusted in his heart for her. I also had a bit of trouble buying the San Francisco viewpoint of the character transplanted smoothly to the Seattle area with no bumps.

Otherwise I liked a lot about this book. The premise that Josephine will investigate possible recipients of financial gifts from a liberal philanthropist leaves the whole world open for story possibilities. I usually don't care for message themed stories because they are almost always blatantly overt. While it looks like this series will go that direction, I thought the issues covered in this first one were dealt with rather evenly and from several perspectives and didn't get preachy.

The storyline involves Josephine visiting an close friend in Seattle only to discover her queen sized friend has been murdered and "Kill the Whales" written on the wall. She must settle her friend's estate and solve the murder for several reasons.

The characters I expect will be continuing in the series have growth potential. Those probably limited to a single book appearance were developed enough to make them real. I felt like I had met them or known someone like them. The entire fictional world Murray created set up nicely as a foundation for future stories. Her writing style flows easily and while it isn't a funny book, there are is an element of humor in her style of writing. The book missed being classified as a cozy because the graphic images of the victim's body and certain scenes of violence were more than the average cozy reader expects although in general the tone was more cozy than not. The resolution of the mystery was predictable within the story line although it certainly wasn't trite, nor have I known another book to use this motive. There was an element of wry humor in it.

For an "early in a series book" the mystery was rather inventive. I will read the next in her series and hope she tones down her militant "morbid obesity is sexy and healthier" message.

Book Review: Larger Than Death