Book Review: Just Murdered

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Just Murdered     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Elaine Viets
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth   Woman Main Character   Chick Lit
Series: Dead End Job Mysteries
Signet, May 2005, $6.50, 288 pp.

When Helen Hawthorne saw her husband having sex with another woman, she became so mad she smashed his car to pieces. The judge ordered them to split to the income when they sell their house equally and ordered Helen to pay alimony because supposedly he supposedly supported her career by being a house husband. Rather than give him a dime, Helen runs down to Ft. Lauderdale, going from a six figure job to a series of dead end positions that she receives remittance for under the table.

Her latest job is as a salesperson at the posh Millicent’s Bridal Salon but Helen discovers that weddings bring out the worst in people. Kiki is a rich mother of the bride who is determined to out shine her daughter on her wedding day. Kiki makes enemies wherever she goes as she believes her money insulates her from taking responsibility for her actions. On the day of the wedding Kiki is found murdered in a closet and Helen has to find out who the killer is because she is the police’s number one suspect.

JUST MURDERED is a hilarious chick-lit mystery where the bride and groom get married despite the fact that Kiki fails to attend. When her body is discovered, there are a host of suspects who would have liked to kill Kiki from the chauffer who was used as a stud to the owner of the bridal store who hasn’t been paid for the gowns, accessories and the daughter who despised her mother. Readers will find themselves laughing out loud when Helen subtly tries to question the suspects, all of whom look at her as the hired help.

Harriet Klausner

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