Table of Contents
Praise for the Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper Series
Murder with All the Trimmings
Viets milks much holiday humor in her novel, pulling out all the wonderfully garish stops.Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Elaine Viets writes exciting amateur sleuth mysteries filled with believable characters; the recurring cast starting with Josie adds a sense of friendship that in turn embellishes the feeling of realism.
Midwest Book Review
This series gets better with every book.... A wonderful holiday read... a book to be savored by a cozy fire with a good cup of hot chocolate.Gumshoe
Viets brings a sense of humor to a variety of difficult family situations in this fun novel.Romantic Times
Accessory to Murder
Elaine Viets knows how to orchestrate a flawless mystery with just the right blend of humor, intrigue, and hot romance. If you are looking to complete your wardrobe for the fall, you just found the most essential piece.Fresh Fiction
The writing and plot are superb... no wasted words, scenes, or characters. Everything advances the plot, builds the characters, or keeps things moving. Its what her many fans have learned to expect.Cozy Library
A funny, laugh-out-loud whodunit. Elaine Viets has created characters that you can identify with.... This is one book you dont want to miss.The Romance Readers Connection
A well-thought-out whodunit starring a sleuth who is totally believable and a bit quirky.Midwest Book Review
A very interesting series.... Im looking forward to the next book.Deadly Pleasures
High Heels Are Murder
[A] laugh-out-loud comedic murder mystery guaranteed to keep you entertained for any number of hoursthe perfect read for a rainy day.... Shopping, St. Louis culinary treats, and mayhem abound, providing for a satisfying read.Front Street Reviews
High Heels Are Murder takes Josie into the wicked world of murder, mayhem, and toe cleavage.... Viets spans the female psyche with panache and wit.South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Viets has written one of the funniest amateur sleuth mysteries to come along in ages. Her protagonist is a thoroughly likable person, a great mother, daughter, and friend.... The strength and the freshness of the tale lies in the characters.
Midwest Book Review
Dying in Style
Finally, a protagonist we can relate to.
Riverfront Times (St. Louis, MO)
Laugh-out-loud humor adds to the brisk action.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
I found myself rooting for Josie.... A really interesting mystery plot along the way, too.Roundtable Reviews
A charming and sympathetic amateur sleuth.
The Romance Readers Connection
Praise for the Dead-End Job Mystery Series
Murder with Reservations
Elaine Viets has come up with all the ingredients for an irresistible mystery: a heroine with a sense of humor and a gift for snappy dialogue, an atmospheric South Florida backdrop... and some really nasty crimes.Jane Heller, author of Some Nerve
Deliciously engaging.South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Wit, murder, and sunshine... it must be Florida. I love this new series.Nancy Pickard, author of The Virgin of Small Plains
An intelligent heroine.
Charlaine Harris, author of A Secret Rage
An entertaining new series with just the right touch of humor.
The Miami Herald
Its Janet Evanovich meets The Fugitive.
Tim Dorsey, author of Big Bamboo
Dying to Call You
Viets writes a laugh-out-loud comedy with enough twists and turns to make it to the top.... In fact, shes been nominated for a truckload of awards this year.... There is a good reason why Viets is taking the mystery genre by storm these days.... She can keep you wondering Who done it? while laughing all the way to the last page.Florida Today
Murder Between the Covers
Wry sense of humor, appealing, realistic characters, and a briskly moving plot.South Florida Sun-Sentinel
A great writer... simply superb.Midwest Book Review
Shop Till You Drop
Fans of Janet Evanovich and Parnell Hall will appreciate Vietss humor.South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Elaine Vietss debut is a live wire.... Helen Hawthorne takes Florida by storm. Shop no furtherthis is the one.Tim Dorsey
I loved this book. With a stubborn... heroine, a wonderful South Florida setting, and a cast of more-or-less lethal bimbos, Shop Till You Drop provides tons of fun. Six-toed cats, expensive clothes, sexy guys on motorcyclesthis book has it all.
Charlaine Harris
Fresh, funny, and fiendishly constructed... a bright start to an exciting new series. This one is hard to beat.
Parnell Hall, author of the Puzzle Lady
crossword puzzle mysteries
Also by Elaine Viets
Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper Series
Dying in Style
High Heels Are Murder
Accessory to Murder
Murder with All the Trimmings
Dead-End Job Mystery Series
Shop Till You Drop
Murder Between the Covers
Dying to Call You
Just Murdered
Murder Unleashed
Murder with Reservations
Clubbed to Death
Killer Cuts
For those who speak for the ones who cannot
the animal rescue organizations
Acknowledgments
Thanks to the staff of the Humane Society of Missouri, who save animals every day. Debbie Hill, vice president of operations, and Jeane Jae, director of communications, were especially helpful.
Rachelle LEcuyer worked long hours to answer my questions about her city, Maplewood. She even e-mailed me at ten at night, long after she should have been at home.
Karen and David Reibman did adopt two Missouri puppy mill dogs, Joey and Magic. Karen believes the little dogs give her more than she gives them.
St. Louis is my hometown, and I depend on my local experts, Jinny Gender, Karen Grace, and Janet Smith.
Thanks also to Valerie Cannata, Anne Watts, and Kay Gordy. I consult Kay, proud grandmother of Sage, for early childhood behavior. Kay is an even better cook than Alyce.
Thanks to Emma, my expert on nine-year-olds. Emma gave me deep background on what its like to be nine years old. I wish I could use her real name, but the world is a dangerous place these days for young women.
As always, thanks and love to my husband, Don Crin klaw, for his extraordinary help and patience.
My agent, David Hendin, is still the best.
To my editor, Kara Cesare, and her assistant, Lindsay Nouis, thank you. Their critique made this a better book. Thanks to the Obsidian copy editor and production staff and to hardworking publicist Megan Swartz. I am one of the lucky writers who likes her publisher.
Many booksellers help keep this series alive. I wish I had room to thank them all.
Special thanks to the law enforcement men and women who answered my questions on police procedure. Some police and medical sources have to remain nameless, but I want to thank them all the same. Particular thanks to Detective R. C. White, Fort Lauderdale Police Department (retired), and Synae White. Any mistakes are mine, not theirs.
