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Obitchuary
Penny Perkins, journalist, upstanding citizen, dutiful bridesmaid, just killed her date. Smashed him on the head with a bottle of Misty Mangoberry Merlot.
She is tipsy and panicked. She is wearing a heinous pink bridesmaid dress that makes her irrational. Penny knows she should call the cops and explain her date's grabby hands, his crazy eyes. She should cry self-defense. She should do a lot of things she doesn't do.
Things are about to get real complicated for Penny, as her dead date's life unravels into a mystery the deeper she investigates. Death just happens to be her job.
She's the newspaper's obituary writer.
She is tipsy and panicked. She is wearing a heinous pink bridesmaid dress that makes her irrational. Penny knows she should call the cops and explain her date's grabby hands, his crazy eyes. She should cry self-defense. She should do a lot of things she doesn't do.
Things are about to get real complicated for Penny, as her dead date's life unravels into a mystery the deeper she investigates. Death just happens to be her job.
She's the newspaper's obituary writer.
251 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2013
14 people are currently reading
656 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Hayes
12 books14 followersStephanie Hayes spent plenty of time working at the mall before landing a job at the Tampa Bay Times newspaper. In her a decade as a reporter, she's covered everything from suburban politics to education to snack foods to fashion to Britney Spears underwear mishaps. She also spent a year and a half on the death beat writing obituaries. Originally from the Cleveland area, she graduated from the University of South Florida and now lives in Dunedin, Florida. She blogs at stephinfections.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 3, 2015
I couldn't help myself when I saw the title. Silly name is one of the reasons I bought this book. I know I don't really like chick-lit. Too many real life problems even with the humour can ruin the story for me. Most often there is some kind of cheating ex or a current boyfriend/fiance and the heroine is 'finding herself' with the help of her family and/friends. I prefer more romance to that.
Well, Obitchuary has an interesting heroine and the focus is not on romance, but it is great. I actually laughed more than a few times through the book, which is rare when it comes to this type of story. It is usually too forced.
The story starts with Penny realizing that her date isn't breathing because she smashed him on the head with a bottle of wine. Every now and then the story goes back to some event in Penny's childhood and it is a great way of getting to know her. Her job at the newspapers is to write obituaries and she writes beautiful ones. Penny is not some kick-ass heroine, nor is she some self-pitying sad person. She is simply Penny with her quirky lovable parents, an awesome sister and good friends. One of the best things is the guy who works with her. Mark is not some kind of brooding ex-military badass. He is not a young billionaire. He is ordinary and even a bit strange. I loved Mark.
I don't think retelling the story will do it justice. It is really an entertaining read. Read this if you need a good laugh. I am not sure if I know how to write about these kinds of stories (chicklitty). Considering that this is the only book the author wrote so far, I think it's pretty great.
Well, Obitchuary has an interesting heroine and the focus is not on romance, but it is great. I actually laughed more than a few times through the book, which is rare when it comes to this type of story. It is usually too forced.
The story starts with Penny realizing that her date isn't breathing because she smashed him on the head with a bottle of wine. Every now and then the story goes back to some event in Penny's childhood and it is a great way of getting to know her. Her job at the newspapers is to write obituaries and she writes beautiful ones. Penny is not some kick-ass heroine, nor is she some self-pitying sad person. She is simply Penny with her quirky lovable parents, an awesome sister and good friends. One of the best things is the guy who works with her. Mark is not some kind of brooding ex-military badass. He is not a young billionaire. He is ordinary and even a bit strange. I loved Mark.
I don't think retelling the story will do it justice. It is really an entertaining read. Read this if you need a good laugh. I am not sure if I know how to write about these kinds of stories (chicklitty). Considering that this is the only book the author wrote so far, I think it's pretty great.
October 23, 2013
All during the first half of the book I thought this isn't a mystery and the 'F' bombs disqualify any Cozy status, but it's making me laugh out loud so I'll keep reading to see what she's going to do next. Then BLAM, the murder takes place when I didn't see it coming any more than the protagonist did. The whole second half of the book filled the mystery genre requirement, but still maintained the offbeat characters, worked in a little romance (cozy style, we didn't have to stay in bed with them to know where they were), and kept me entertained even though I had guessed a major clue before the characters did. It didn't matter. I still wanted to see how they were going to handle it, and I wasn't disappointed.
August 20, 2014
This is a fun romantic comedy that had me laughing out loud. Stephanie draws on her experience writing feature obituaries for the Tampa Bay Times to make Penny Perkins a believable character. When Penny smashes her date over the head with a bottle of Misty Mangoberry Merlot and loads his lifeless body into the trunk of his car, things get very complicated.
November 25, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have been looking forward to this book like crazy, and what it a delight it was to get it read! Obituary is a fab chick lit read – but with a mystery twist, which I love! I have to say, the prologue was awesome. It had me questioning Penny right off the bat and wondering why and how she killed her date. Would I like Penny? I wouldn’t like a murderer…would I? But of course, being chick lit I’m going to love the MC, and everything is explained shortly into the book. This novel was super funny, lots of catchy conversations, well-written characters, and a happy ending. I highly recommend and hope to read more soon from Stephanie Hayes!
4.5 stars
I have been looking forward to this book like crazy, and what it a delight it was to get it read! Obituary is a fab chick lit read – but with a mystery twist, which I love! I have to say, the prologue was awesome. It had me questioning Penny right off the bat and wondering why and how she killed her date. Would I like Penny? I wouldn’t like a murderer…would I? But of course, being chick lit I’m going to love the MC, and everything is explained shortly into the book. This novel was super funny, lots of catchy conversations, well-written characters, and a happy ending. I highly recommend and hope to read more soon from Stephanie Hayes!
4.5 stars
May 29, 2014
Quirky and cute combo
I really liked this book. It had so many wonderful qualities. Office romance. Strong character depth with both the main and secondary characters. Throw in a fast paced plot with just the right balance of humour and you get Obitchuary. I highly recommended this read if you are looking for a little something off the beaten path.
I really liked this book. It had so many wonderful qualities. Office romance. Strong character depth with both the main and secondary characters. Throw in a fast paced plot with just the right balance of humour and you get Obitchuary. I highly recommended this read if you are looking for a little something off the beaten path.
October 22, 2013
A good, fast, fun read!
October 28, 2013
The beginning sucked me in as fun light chick lit, but it didn't really hold me all the way through. I feel like she took too long to get back to the murder at the beginning.
March 3, 2021
I like it when a book pops up out of nowhere and pulls me into a whole world of funny. Published in 2013, I found this hilarious novel tucked away in a community clubhouse library. Wonderful characters, a "can't stop reading" plot, with a satisfying ending. Did I mention, laugh out loud funny?! An absolute must read for anyone looking to escape the not so funny world of Covid19 !! And I'd really love to read a sequel! Any chance?
July 15, 2018
A totally different ending
This book was awesome! The "hero" of the story is not one who rides in to save the day. It really is the heroine who figurines it all out...but by accident and not before getting into a world of trouble! If this has a sequel or a series, I will definitely keep up on Penny's adventures in writing obituaries!
This book was awesome! The "hero" of the story is not one who rides in to save the day. It really is the heroine who figurines it all out...but by accident and not before getting into a world of trouble! If this has a sequel or a series, I will definitely keep up on Penny's adventures in writing obituaries!
September 17, 2023
Picked up this book because I love the author’s columns in the Tampa Bay Times. Her writing style in the book mirrors that in her columns, so I loved reading it. Story was sweet (yes, I know she murders her date on the first few pages) and had me laughing out loud throughout. Fun read.
January 12, 2014
I've issued 4 very solid stars to this book, though I found it satisfying on many levels so another quarter star could easily be added if it were an option.
I was sucked in by the very first page:
I stared down at his motionless body, prone on the pavement of the parking lot. I considered the plethora of rational possibilities.
Maybe he was sleeping. Or locked in ritual meditation. Finding his center. His third eye, or whatever. Maybe he was playing possum, waiting for me to turn my back just long enough to roll onto his side, James Bond style, and hack apart my Achilles with his car key, using the pink ankle strap of my tragic pink wedding shoes as a compass for vengeful hobbling. Jesus, that would have been so much better. Then I would be the victim with the stunning survival tale, the object of praise from the worldwide press, a sympathetic star for strangers in the toilet paper aisle at Target. I'd surely make bank giving inspirational lectures at churches, inner city youth centers and Elks Lodges.
I closed my eyes, knelt down slowly and put two fingers to his wrist, hoping to God I'd feel some thump of blood moving through his veins.
Except.
He was dead. And I knew it. And I did it.
Shit.
Like I said ... totally sucked in.
Starting with chapter Two, the first part of the book backtracks a week or so in the daily life of Penny Perkins (our femme fatale) and then leads up to the parking lot debacle referred to on the first page, while the second half of the book works at solving some interesting mysteries that arise from the unfortunate incident. I can't really say more without spoiling the juicy parts.
The writing is real. Not forced, even the cheesier, sleazier characters were believable. I felt like I got to 'know' Penny from her childhood flashbacks and I really enjoyed those. They felt like someone's 'real' memories (made me wonder if the author really made them up, or if they were actually based on her own life).
I thought Mark's awkward, nerdy character was the perfect counterpart to Penny's real-girl with real life (or in this case, death) issues character who's just looking for her niche in life. They make a great team.
The synopsis here on Goodreads tells you a lot about the main character and gives you a taste of what to expect. In addition to that, this book has plenty of real-girl quick-wit and sarcasm as well as intriguing mystery. Throw in some family drama and a taste of budding romance and add a another pinch of mystery with a couple unexpected twists.
And what you get is a perfectly fun and enjoyable book that you'll look forward to getting back to when the real world pulls you away.
I would wholeheartedly recommend to cozy mystery readers as a perfect weekend read - with a warning that there is some foul language used. Not a ton (only one character in particular uses it) .. but it's there, so just be fairly warned. It didn't bother me.
**I won this book in a GoodReads first-reads giveaway listed by the author Stephanie Hayes (and you can find her at http://www.stephinfections.com). Thank you so much to Goodreads and Ms Hayes for the opportunity to read and review this book. I really enjoyed it!
I was sucked in by the very first page:
I stared down at his motionless body, prone on the pavement of the parking lot. I considered the plethora of rational possibilities.
Maybe he was sleeping. Or locked in ritual meditation. Finding his center. His third eye, or whatever. Maybe he was playing possum, waiting for me to turn my back just long enough to roll onto his side, James Bond style, and hack apart my Achilles with his car key, using the pink ankle strap of my tragic pink wedding shoes as a compass for vengeful hobbling. Jesus, that would have been so much better. Then I would be the victim with the stunning survival tale, the object of praise from the worldwide press, a sympathetic star for strangers in the toilet paper aisle at Target. I'd surely make bank giving inspirational lectures at churches, inner city youth centers and Elks Lodges.
I closed my eyes, knelt down slowly and put two fingers to his wrist, hoping to God I'd feel some thump of blood moving through his veins.
Except.
He was dead. And I knew it. And I did it.
Shit.
Like I said ... totally sucked in.
Starting with chapter Two, the first part of the book backtracks a week or so in the daily life of Penny Perkins (our femme fatale) and then leads up to the parking lot debacle referred to on the first page, while the second half of the book works at solving some interesting mysteries that arise from the unfortunate incident. I can't really say more without spoiling the juicy parts.
The writing is real. Not forced, even the cheesier, sleazier characters were believable. I felt like I got to 'know' Penny from her childhood flashbacks and I really enjoyed those. They felt like someone's 'real' memories (made me wonder if the author really made them up, or if they were actually based on her own life).
I thought Mark's awkward, nerdy character was the perfect counterpart to Penny's real-girl with real life (or in this case, death) issues character who's just looking for her niche in life. They make a great team.
The synopsis here on Goodreads tells you a lot about the main character and gives you a taste of what to expect. In addition to that, this book has plenty of real-girl quick-wit and sarcasm as well as intriguing mystery. Throw in some family drama and a taste of budding romance and add a another pinch of mystery with a couple unexpected twists.
And what you get is a perfectly fun and enjoyable book that you'll look forward to getting back to when the real world pulls you away.
I would wholeheartedly recommend to cozy mystery readers as a perfect weekend read - with a warning that there is some foul language used. Not a ton (only one character in particular uses it) .. but it's there, so just be fairly warned. It didn't bother me.
**I won this book in a GoodReads first-reads giveaway listed by the author Stephanie Hayes (and you can find her at http://www.stephinfections.com). Thank you so much to Goodreads and Ms Hayes for the opportunity to read and review this book. I really enjoyed it!
September 8, 2016
First things first, I want to acknowledge having received an autographed copy of Obitchuary as a Firstreads giveaway. The book arrived accompanied by a nice handwritten note from its author, Stephanie Hayes, who--like her protagonist--is a Tampa-based reporter. (This was such a classy alternative to the impersonal preprinted slips inserted into review copies by the big publishing houses. Thanks so much if you're reading this, Stephanie!)
Obitchuary is pure unadulterated chick-lit. Not really a mystery, although there is a bit of a puzzler to be resolved, in my estimation the best parts of Stephanie Hayes' writing are the comical conversations in which the dialog is fast, genuine, and often quite funny. The scenes and interactions in which said dialog is exchanged are immediately familiar, including those between the "good" daughter and her never perfect sister, bridesmaids and their Bridezilla, a young woman and the disinterested, gay, or simply oblivious recipient of her unrequited attentions, etc. This is not to say that protagonist Penny Perkins cannot be just a bit over the top from time to time, esp. in matters of housekeeping, nutrition, and home decor, as just a few examples. For the most part, however, she is a decent person. Her parents and sister love her and, while intrusive, each is supportive of Penny to the best of his/her abilities.
When we first make her acquaintance, Penny is bemoaning her lack of standing and prime assignments at the Tampa, Florida, newspaper where she is employed. In short order, we learn that Penny aspires to do more than cover the garden club and listen to her sketchy neighbors--who, incidentally, have the same last name but are not married--having loud sex each morning at 5:00 a.m. through their common wall. In the short term, however, Penny is keen (if not perhaps somewhat desperate) to find a date for her smug cousin Ashley's upcoming wedding. While she'd just as soon go stag, Penny fears the grief she will receive from her elderly female relations if she arrives sans beau. As a consequence, she is set up on a blind date with Gregor Johnson, heir to the Spring Mattress Center empire--the same man who ends up dead shortly after meeting the mid-swing business end of a bottle of "juice wine" (i.e., something hideous known as Misty Mangoberry Merlot).
Don't get me wrong, this isn't Austen, Baudelaire, Chekhov, or Joyce. Nor does it pretend to be. It is, however, a fun bit of escapism in which readers gain entree into the newspaper business, the hijinx of a mostly functional family, and get to read some snappy if occasionally juvenile verbal sparring. And trust me, you will never look at a stranger's obituary the same way after reading this novel.
While initially inclined to go with a 3 1/2 star rating, I rounded up to 4 stars on the basis of the monthly family dinners at which the Perkins clan plays "Would You Rather." Pure genius!
Obitchuary is pure unadulterated chick-lit. Not really a mystery, although there is a bit of a puzzler to be resolved, in my estimation the best parts of Stephanie Hayes' writing are the comical conversations in which the dialog is fast, genuine, and often quite funny. The scenes and interactions in which said dialog is exchanged are immediately familiar, including those between the "good" daughter and her never perfect sister, bridesmaids and their Bridezilla, a young woman and the disinterested, gay, or simply oblivious recipient of her unrequited attentions, etc. This is not to say that protagonist Penny Perkins cannot be just a bit over the top from time to time, esp. in matters of housekeeping, nutrition, and home decor, as just a few examples. For the most part, however, she is a decent person. Her parents and sister love her and, while intrusive, each is supportive of Penny to the best of his/her abilities.
When we first make her acquaintance, Penny is bemoaning her lack of standing and prime assignments at the Tampa, Florida, newspaper where she is employed. In short order, we learn that Penny aspires to do more than cover the garden club and listen to her sketchy neighbors--who, incidentally, have the same last name but are not married--having loud sex each morning at 5:00 a.m. through their common wall. In the short term, however, Penny is keen (if not perhaps somewhat desperate) to find a date for her smug cousin Ashley's upcoming wedding. While she'd just as soon go stag, Penny fears the grief she will receive from her elderly female relations if she arrives sans beau. As a consequence, she is set up on a blind date with Gregor Johnson, heir to the Spring Mattress Center empire--the same man who ends up dead shortly after meeting the mid-swing business end of a bottle of "juice wine" (i.e., something hideous known as Misty Mangoberry Merlot).
Don't get me wrong, this isn't Austen, Baudelaire, Chekhov, or Joyce. Nor does it pretend to be. It is, however, a fun bit of escapism in which readers gain entree into the newspaper business, the hijinx of a mostly functional family, and get to read some snappy if occasionally juvenile verbal sparring. And trust me, you will never look at a stranger's obituary the same way after reading this novel.
While initially inclined to go with a 3 1/2 star rating, I rounded up to 4 stars on the basis of the monthly family dinners at which the Perkins clan plays "Would You Rather." Pure genius!
March 29, 2014
Super cute! I was looking for something light to read after finishing Cujo. Don't get me wrong, Cujo is a great book, but reading about a rabid dog who terrorizes people is kind of exhausting emotionally, and I just wanted to laugh and not lock myself in my room every time my own dog growled or looked at me for a prolonged period of time. Prior to Cujo, I read The Hunger Games series and an Emily Giffin novel about marital infidelity. I'm a reading self masochist.
ANYWAY, this book is great if you are in the mood to laugh and read something fun. The dialog is snappy, and Penny's gripes about her career and shitty apartment are completely relatable. When I first moved to Tampa, I, too, lived at a Valencia. When my next door neighbors weren't fighting in the walkway connecting our apartments, they were having sex at weird times of the night.
Some of the names of people, places, and things in the book were a little over the top, which gave it kind of a cartoon-y feel at times. I didn't care much for that, but overall, I enjoyed the read.
ANYWAY, this book is great if you are in the mood to laugh and read something fun. The dialog is snappy, and Penny's gripes about her career and shitty apartment are completely relatable. When I first moved to Tampa, I, too, lived at a Valencia. When my next door neighbors weren't fighting in the walkway connecting our apartments, they were having sex at weird times of the night.
Some of the names of people, places, and things in the book were a little over the top, which gave it kind of a cartoon-y feel at times. I didn't care much for that, but overall, I enjoyed the read.
April 28, 2014
Penny Perkins is a rather unexceptional girl. The most traumatizing experience she ever dealt with was getting locked in a port-a-potty for twenty minutes when she was a teenager. She has an odd-but-functional family, a job as a second-rate reporter that pays the bills (barely), and generally tries to follow the rules. So when she accidentally murders a man with a bottle of juice wine on their second date, she does what any victim of shock would do; she goes to work the next day and writes his obituary for the newspaper. Then she becomes a complete wreck.
Unable to keep her guilt contained, Penny confesses to her co-worker, Mark, a nerdy but well-respected writer who collects cereal toys, sings aloud to his music, and also investigates murders with a matter-of-fact air of authority. Mark is convinced that there’s something fishy going on, that Penny’s now-deceased date was more than just an heir to the most successful mattress company in all of Florida. Thus begins a secret investigation, and an endearingly awkward romance.
...read more at UndergroundBookReviews(dot)com
Unable to keep her guilt contained, Penny confesses to her co-worker, Mark, a nerdy but well-respected writer who collects cereal toys, sings aloud to his music, and also investigates murders with a matter-of-fact air of authority. Mark is convinced that there’s something fishy going on, that Penny’s now-deceased date was more than just an heir to the most successful mattress company in all of Florida. Thus begins a secret investigation, and an endearingly awkward romance.
...read more at UndergroundBookReviews(dot)com
November 1, 2013
This was a very fun book. We chose it after meeting the author at our local Festival of Reading. I love that her heroine is more down to earth than most you will meet. She certainly does not have a chance at winning a Good Housekeeping seal of approval, :-) All that aside, if you are looking for some zany fun, Penny Perkins is your girl. From a date gone very wrong to love with the guy in the next cubicle, you will be grabbed at page one & enjoy the raucous ride until the last page. Enjoy! Cannot wait for her next adventure.
April 5, 2014
The almost slapstick style reminded me of why I used to enjoy Janet Evanovich books
I read Stephanie's columns in the St Petersburg Times, and thought I would enjoy her book. The title and abstract convinced me to give it a try. I enjoyed the storyline, but the hapless, inept heroine is an overused vehicle, and I avoid those books now when I know in advance. I liked that Penney seemed to gain confidence toward the end.
Good first book, and I look forward to her next book.
I read Stephanie's columns in the St Petersburg Times, and thought I would enjoy her book. The title and abstract convinced me to give it a try. I enjoyed the storyline, but the hapless, inept heroine is an overused vehicle, and I avoid those books now when I know in advance. I liked that Penney seemed to gain confidence toward the end.
Good first book, and I look forward to her next book.
February 2, 2014
Although I was not sure at first that I would enjoy a book about an obituary writer, I should have realized of course that it was a murder mystery. I enjoyed the slightly naive (but working on it) heroine and I always like less than perfect characters who rise to the occasion. I did not see most of the twists coming and enjoyed the surprise. Thanks to my friend Jacki King for turning me on to a great book! I know yours will be fabulous!
April 4, 2014
I really enjoyed this book! I hope there are more from this author with this strong, awesome female character. The mystery actually kept me guessing (which is surprising because I've been reading mysteries for years and can often predict the plot). The characters were well-developed and likable. They were complicated enough to move the plot and give the book depth. The writing was also funny and well done. Pick this up for an enjoyable read!
December 17, 2013
Hayes' Penny Perkins is the perfect mix of wit, quirk, and self-deprecation to make her a realistic and believable heroine. The love story was more realistic than the ones you'd find in a typical romance too. Stephanie Hayes has crafted a laugh-out-loud funny and wildly entertaining read in Obitchuary, and I can't wait to read her next novel! Bravo!
May 22, 2014
I liked Stephanie's arts reviews in TBT and was looking forward to reading the book. Read it in one breath. Agree with many that enjoyed reading it. Great style that shows great writing talent - just try to write so simply about your every day life. Nice flow, interesting characters. I'll be waiting for another one.
September 1, 2014
Funny title, funny book. Somehow I went into reading this thinking it was just going to be a chick lit rom com. It was that plus a silly mystery too. The whole storyline is ridiculous, but it makes no pretensions of being anything else. I just thought it was a really funny book. The dialog cracked me up! If you're in the mood for a quick funny read, this is a good one.
December 31, 2013
I found this on Kindle written by a previous writer for the St. Petersburg Times. I tried it because she is local and I was very pleasantly surprised. This is well written and very humorus. I actually found myself laughing out loud. I highly recommend this.
December 6, 2014
Exactly the kind of fun little read I was looking for. Great humor. Nice pacing. Good use of the "best friend" trope with a yummilicous hunk for distraction. Loved the family "dinner" game, nice touch! Looking forward to more.
April 13, 2014
I loved this book. It had an interesting setting and lots of great characters, well drawn. I knew there would be some twists but several were very unexpected, which I always find entertaining. Good luck, Stephanie—we are all waiting for your next book!
June 14, 2014
Pure cuteness. Multiple giggles. The references to being a tween in the early 90's gave me the warm fuzzies :) A story about a normal, nice girl, who ends up in a ridiculous situation. I really enjoyed the supporting characters, too- especially Mark and Nicole!
July 14, 2014
While the title is "catchy" (the whole reason I bought the book in the first place), the writing is overly forced with ridiculous and unnecessary humor most of the time. I truly think if the author had toned it down a bit, this might have been a marvelous debut hit.
August 9, 2014
I should not have liked this novel. I don't like murder mysteries as a rule. I can usually see the whole thing laid out at the half way mark and I lose interest. This quirky little morsel kept me interested all the way through and there was a kind of love story. Good job.
November 18, 2013
A fun book. The heroine is a bit extreme - a drunk, a slob, making crazy decisions. I hope she calms down in any future novels. The setting is good and the character Mark is likable.
January 2, 2014
Funny and really entertaining.
October 30, 2013
Just pure fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews