Compliments of a Friend

Judith Singer #3

by Susan Isaacs

Compromising Positions 's Judith Singer is back in a story that delivers plenty of Susan Isaacs's renowned wit and sharp-eyed observations of the contemporary scene--along with a riveting mystery!
Chic Vanessa Giddings, founder and CEO of Panache, the largest employment agency on Long Island, falls into a coma in the designer shoe department of Bloomingdale's . . . and dies. It's not long before Judith Singer, former housewife, current widow, and local history professor, decides to investigate. She cannot believe the official ruling: that her wildly successful, confident, and iron-willed neighbor committed suicide with a drug overdose. Vanessa was buying shoes, and Judith knows accessorizing is a life-affirming act. So was it foul play?
Tracking the gossip about the late Vanessa and trusting her own acute instincts about human nature, Judith encounters more than a few surprises (including a big romantic one) as she investigates the death--and the life--of the misjudged mogul who turned out to have been more vulnerable than anyone guessed.
This ebook features an afterword by Susan Isaacs, as well as an illustrated biography of the author including rare images from her personal collection.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Adult, Humor, Ebooks

88 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2013

About the author

I was born in a thatched cottage in the Cotswolds. Oh, you want the truth. Fine. I was born in Brooklyn and educated at Queens College. After leaving school, I saw one of those ads: BE A COMPUTER PROGRAMMER! Take our aptitude test. Since I had nothing else in mind, I took the test-and flunked. The guy at the employment agency looked at my resume and mumbled, “You wrote for your college paper? Uh, we have an opening at Seventeen magazine.” That’s how I became a writer.

I liked my job, but I found doing advice to the lovelorn and articles like “How to Write a Letter to a Boy” somewhat short of fulfilling. So, first as a volunteer, then for actual money, I wrote political speeches in my spare time. I did less of that when I met a wonderful guy, Elkan Abramowitz, then a federal prosecutor in the SDNY.

We were married and a little more than a year later, we had Andrew (now a corporate lawyer). Three years later, Elizabeth (now a philosopher and writer) was born. I’d left Seventeen to be home with my kids but continued to to do speeches and the occasional magazine piece. During what free time I had, I read more mysteries than was healthy. Possibly I became deranged, but I thought, I can do this.

And that’s how Compromising Positions, a whodunit with a housewife-detectives set on Long Island came about. Talk about good luck: it was chosen the Main Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club, auctioned for paperback, sold to the movies, translated into thirty languages, and became a bestseller. I was a little overwhelmed by the success. However, it’s hard to rise to a state of perpetual cool and go to slick downtown parties when you’re living in the suburbs with a husband, two kids, two dogs, and a mini-van, I simply wrote another book… and then another and another.

About half my works are mysteries, two fall into the category of espionage, and the rest are…well, regular novels. In the horn-tooting department, nearly all my novels have been New York Times bestsellers.

My kids grew up. My husband became a defense lawyer specializing in white collar matters: I call him my house counsel since I’m always consulting him on criminal procedure, the justice system, and law enforcement jargon. Anyway, after forty-five years of writing all sorts of novels—standalones—I decided to write a mystery series. I conceived Corie Geller with a rich enough background to avoid what I’d always been leery of—that doing a series would mean writing the same book over and over, changing only the settings.

I also produced one work of nonfiction, Brave Dames and Wimpettes: What Women are Really Doing on Page and Screen. I wrote a slew of articles, essays, and op-ed pieces as well. Newsday sent me to write about the 2000 presidential campaign, which was one of the greatest thrills of my life-going to both conventions, riding beside John McCain on the Straight Talk Express, interviewing George W. Bush. I also reviewed books for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Newsday. (My website has far more information about my projects than most people would want to know, but have a look.)

In the mid-1980s, I wrote the screenplay for Paramount’s Compromising Positions which starred Susan Sarandon and Raul Julia. I also wrote and co-produced Touchstone’s Hello Again which starred Shelley Long, Gabriel Byrne, and Judith Ivey. (My fourth novel, Shining Through, set during World War II became the 20th Century Fox movie starring Michael Douglas, Melanie Griffith and Liam Neeson. I would have written the script, except I wasn’t asked.)

Here’s the professional stuff. I’m a recipient of the Writers for Writers Award, the Marymount Manhattan Writing Center Award, and the John Steinbeck Award. I just retired (after over a decade) as chairman of the board of the literary organization, Poets & Writers. I also served as president of Mystery Writers of America. I belong to the National Book Critics Circle, the Creative Coalition, PEN, the Ameri

Reviews

[Margitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, Vanessa Giddings took round about thirty Xanax pills, got her manicured -, pedicured -, presumably botoxed -, boob-jobbed -, and liposucked self into Bloomingdales and just died among her favorite Prada and Gucci delights. The Panache mogul had enough, said her suicide note.

Not so, thought her acquaintance-cum-friend and neighbor, Judith Singer, a history professor and amateur detective.

“....why in God’s name would she choose to die in Bloomingdale’s? Why would she be buying shoes in the final moments of her life? Think, Nancy: If you were depressed and hopeless enough to actively consider suicide, would you be worrying about what to wear with your new spring suit?"

Her former husband, Stan Giddings, dumped her for a younger model.

" He was born to enjoy, not to think. ”I’d once overheard one board member telling another: Stan Giddings stood on all the right lines when they were handing out the assets. Looks, money, charm. FYI,” Nancy added, “he’s hung like King Kong"

And the two friends wandered off into suburban gossip, neither pandering to salivating semiliterates nor refined suburban crapola and figured the circumstances around Vanessa's death out.

This was Susan Isaac's first short story, only 69 pages long. Her book Long Time No See, was an extension of this story.

For me it feels like a hit and run encounter. Before I could really get into it, it was over. Yet, I enjoyed the relaxed, witty, knock'em dead pace and would like to read more of this author's books. This was really a very nice introduction. I loved the satirical comments on New York high society. The writing style is New York-talk-on-Xanax-and-Viagra, and greatly enjoyable. Pity that it is only a short story. Nevertheless, it is skilled writing in action. Four stars.

[Angie Boyter]

To avoid confusion, readers should know that this is a short story about Judith Singer that was written and takes place between Compromising Positions and Long Time No See.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much here. In spite of the publication date, which is probably why Goodreads shows it as #3 in the series, this actually falls between the two books. According to the author’s note, this short story was written for a mystery anthology. She had never written a short story and her character from Compromising Positions, Judith Singer, popped into her head. Then after writing the story, she was inspired to expand on it and write Long Time No See. I’ve read both books and don’t recall much about either one but I might flip back through the second one, out of curiosity.

[Betsy Karpenkopf · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy reading Susan Isaacs's books when a certain mood strikes me. They are fast moving, chock full of delightful characters and basically fun to read for a change. I read "Compromising Positions" years' ago, so when this book came out recently, touted as a sequel, I looked frorward to reading it. The heroine, Judith Singer, may be older, and recently widowed,but she's just as fun to read about. Judith's zany behavior, faithful friends and cute wisecracks keep the story rolling.
The problem lies in the "short story" format; the author states in an afterword that she had never written a short story before. That is clear when coming to the end of the book: it just ends abruptly with no resolution to the mystery nor to the promise of a resumption of her relationship with police officer Nelson after twenty years. It would have been far better had Isaacs stuck to her usual format and given us a full length mystery tale.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did the beautiful, vain and wealthy divorcee commit suicide or was she murdered? The police seem to think a suicide note is sufficient to call this a clear case of suicide, but friend, neighbor and amateur sleuth, Judith Singer thinks otherwise. Compliments of a Friend by Susan Isaacs is a quick and witty read that showcases Judith and her delightfully sarcastic and down to earth suspicions that all is not as it seems.

Susan Isaacs has created an entertaining world, light on drama, heavy on wit and quip! Short, fast-paced and not too deep, I have to say, I did enjoy this quick read and thought the ending was actually rather brilliant. Okay, brilliant if it is leading up to more about Judith and her adventures!

I received an ARC edition from Open Road Integrated Media in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: November 12, 2013
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
ISBN: 9781480454972
Genre: Light Mystery
Page Count: 69
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

A billion years ago when the earth cooled I read a book called Compromising Positions. I loved this book and I subsequently loved the Movie starring Susan Sarandon and Raul Julia.

This is a short story sequel to that book. I think you need to have read Compromising Positions to appreciate this one. There is a mystery and some investigation and a sudden ending.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Compliments Of A Friend** by *Susan Isaacs*

Reading Susan Isaacs for me has always been like reconnecting with an old friend. I read **Compromising Positions** when it was first published, and after that I made it a point to keep an eye out for any new Isaacs novels. Back in those days there were 3 authors I looked forward to reading with each new novel they published: Susan Isaacs, Stephen King, and Sidney Sheldon. I didn't care what the subject of the novel was; I could depend upon those authors to deliver, and I was never disappointed. I wanted to know someone like Judith Singer and be her new best friend. Judith was funny, smart, and she knew exactly what she was and what she was not. She was real in ways many people I knew were not.

So I was excited to see that Judith Singer was making another appearance in Susan Isaac's recent book **Compliments Of A Friend**. I couldn't wait to start reading, and as usual, Isaacs did not disappoint except for two minor details: I wanted more, and I wanted a more complete ending. In the afterward Isaacs does explain that this was her attempt at a short story to be an included in an anthology being put together by her writing group. With that explanation I understood why this was an abbreviated story rather than the usual much longer novel Isaacs does so well. She also included photographs of her and her family at various stages in their lives. I liked that additional touch.

Judith Singer, the main character in this current book, is an inquisitive person by nature, and when a woman she knows dies at Bloomingdale's in the shoe department, supposedly from an overdose of one of her drugs, Judith is curious about the circumstances. When the death is ruled a suicide, Judith doesn't buy that explanation for a second, so she does some sleuthing on her own to find out whether this was really a case of murder. In the course of her investigation, when she can fit it into her busy schedule, she is not satisfied that the facts point to suicide at all. The people she interviews are all interesting characters themselves, so the pages seemed to fly by with thought provoking questions as well as the wonderful Isaac humor. And then at the end there is a twist that made me want to personally beg Isaacs to continue what she began to explore. I can only hope we see more of Judith Singer in the future, because she by no means should be left where she ends this particular story.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was such a pleasure to discover Isaacs is still entertaining fans like me with her writing wit and style.

[Rikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a long time since I read a whole book at one sitting, but Susan Isaacs makes compulsive reading. Set in Long Island amidst the well heeled and successful residents, Judith Singer, a historian, becomes intrigued by the apparent suicide of a friend in Bloomingdales shoe department. It's so totally out of character that this highly successful woman should be buying shoes whilst she waited for the pills to take effect.and she can't let go of the fact that if it wasn't suicide a it must have been murder. Why the police hadn't come to the same conclusion is because an apparent suicide note had been discovered amongst her possessions.
Her appetite is further whetted by the fact that 20 years before she was instrumental in solving another murder case and decides to do her own investigation.
This is not your usual who-dun it. Susan Isaacs doesn't drag out the plot, she gets on with it and her dialogue is witty and amusing. There's also a hint of romance that will bring me back to her next offering.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 2 out of 5]

My View:
Short short story!
The words flow on the pages; the writing appears effortless but alas this short, short story ends without a real conclusion and that was disappointing. I was enjoying the witty conversation between Judith and the rest of the cast, I was enjoying getting to know this canny investigator and could see the threads of this investigation starting to come together to form a solid basis for the case. But I was hoodwinked – this story was really just an introduction that allowed us to meet the cast, meet the victim and nothing more. Mid phone conversation Judith gets an incoming call and at that point the story abruptly ends. Nothing is resolved, there is no third act- and hardly any second act either. Such an entertaining writer disappoints at the end.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although released in 2013, Compliments of a Friend takes place shortly before Long Time No See, the second novel in the Judith Singer series. Unlike the other two books, novel length and real page-turners, Compliments of a Friend is barely a novella and barely worth reading. Meh.

[Ruby Bibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Short but enjoyable who-done-it story which features a character that the author has used for a popular series of books. This happens to be third in the series but it’s easy to pick up on the general character even without having read the earlier books in the series.
-The type of writing is very light, with several of the characters making jokes or witty sarcasms. The narrator, around whom the story revolves, has grown children who are on their own, and involves herself with different women’s groups, where each of those women have their own idiosyncrasies.
-Judith Singer, the main character of the series, grew up and went to school on Long Island. Currently in her mid 50’s, she was in a lukewarm marriage for years to her husband, Bob, who passed away shortly after completing a marathon a few years before. She majored in history and is a teacher, but over 20 years before, had helped to uncover a murder mystery and during that time, had gone through a love affair for a brief time with the detective on that case, but each realized that it would hurt their own children too much if they each left their spouses.
-Judith’s best friend, Nancy Miller, works for Newsday and the two of them, like many good friends, enjoy teasing each other. In this case, a mutual friend, Vanessa Giddings suddenly passed away. Very successful in her own employment agency, she had married a very wealthy heir to a sock fortune, Stan Giddings. Vanessa was recently divorced from Stan and had gone to Bloomingdale’s to go shopping, but as she sat in a chair in the shoe department, she had closed her eyes and never woke up. The doctors and law enforcement looked into it, but considered it a suicide from an overdose of pills.
-This didn’t sit right with Judith. Why would someone who was going to commit suicide get all dressed up and go to Bloomingdale’s to die in the shoe department. The way it was described, it just didn’t make sense. The law justified their conclusion by stating that Venessa was having problems in her business as she lost a large account, but that wasn’t suicide worthy. This sets Judith up to find out what would make sense, and the only other option was murder.
-In her funny way, the author has Judith investigate and enlist her friend, Nancy, along the way, who, in between helping Judith, tears into Judith to let her know she’s crazy to be looking into what everyone “knows” is just a suicide. Judith interviews different people who are connected with Vanessa in some way and comes across a lot of comedic characters who feel real life.
-Though the book is really just a short story, it’s a very easy read, and Judith is like a bloodhound who refuses to give up, despite all the naysayers around her. The author has developed a delightful character in Judith, with her own faults and her desire to put some “life” into her life. Multiple books are in the series, and this writer’s many awards and accolades are fully justified by the creation of this character and this series, which has reached millions of readers.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ordinarily, I rate Susan Isaacs’ books very highly - 4+ stars. However, I’m rating this a meager 2 stars. First, it is not categorized correctly - it is a novella, not a full novel. Second, it contains entire passages already found in Long Time, No See. Susan’s first Judith Singer novel was published in 1978, so I assume that she penned this brief story before committing to a full-on sequel. Rather than being a third installment in the Judith Singer “series”, it is a brief story with an abrupt ending. I recall reading that Susan dreads writing short stories, but this was sloppily thrown together and a mistake on her/her publisher’s part. In spite of how carelessly it was produced, her writing *is* excellent, with her signature wit and humor just as on-point here as in her full-length novels.

[Brian Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. Well this one has a beginning and a bit of a middle, but no end. I was left hanging about the suspicious death and whether Ms Singer is going to restart a long lost relationship.
It is a fun read, but I felt cheated out of a proper ending.
Thumbs down on Ms. Isaacs for her "short story". I may relent and read "Long Time No See" to see whether the suspicious death mystery is resolved.

[sandra rosenbloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Love Susan Isaacs

She remains as witty as ever and I even laughed out loud at some parts. But I wanted more! She brought the story along far enough to gain my interest,but then let her readers down by abruptly ending it just when it was getting really interesting. Does that mean she's leaving us in the lurch? Susan, come on and finish the story!! If she had brought it to it's witty conclusion I would have given it 5 stars.

[Margaret Shumaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short srory

This is a short story that follows Compromising Positions . This is really number 2 in the series as the next book starring Judith Singer is a sort of extension of this short story. The beginning of this story is very clever.

[Claire Ehrenfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her usual humorous way, Susan Isaacs hooks you into her mystery story. I thoroughly enjoyed this little book which is a precursor to another book, which I now had to hunt for. It will be worth the chase I know.

[Lynn Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a gyp !

I thought this was another novel about Judith Singer, But it is essentially An unfinished short story. It is sort of like the trailer for a full length motion picture. Dang dang.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where's the rest of it?

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story only, and I expected a novel. Sometimes my Kindle fools me. Still, Judith Singer is fun both in short and long form.

[Mare · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little repetitive, but still an enjoyable read.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story/novella with Judith Singer, one of my favorite of Isaacs' heroines. She solves a mini-mystery and we get hints of her reconnecting with her hunky detective from 20 years ago.

[Jayne Subwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really a short story, not a book (it’s only 121 pages long) but it’s a good read for when you want something quick and fun.

[Beth Hutchings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet

[Reader]

Finished 8/19/25

[Susan Amper · Rating 3 out of 5]

The CEO of Panache, the largest employment agency on Long Island, drops dead in the shoe department at Bloomingdale's.
The ruling is suicide but Judith Singer, a history professor, doesn't believe it and decides to investigate. She trips across some truths, surprises and an old love along the way to solving the crime.

[Sheri Humble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent work for a first short story

I gave three stars because while this work was competent, there were a few glaring shortcomings like a rushed and lackluster ending,definately an anticlimax to the buildup. When one considers that she had never written a short story before and also managed to pop it out in two days under severe deadline, it actually highlights her competeence as a writter. As always, her chsracters are so alive that she could write about them taking a trip to McDonalds and they would still be good company.

[Lauri Rottmayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read a book by Susan Isaacs in a while but have loved her work in the past.

This was a fun, short story reprising characters from her earlier book, Compromising Positions. The author states at the end of the book that she had never written a short story before. Nor does she read a lot of short stories.

I'm the same way. I really like a story I can get involved with and have time to grow to love the characters.

But this was fun and fast and I liked it a lot. I'm planning to go back and see which of the authors books I haven't read and read them! :-)

[Elizabeth Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short story and will be looking for more of Isaacs' books. It did seem to conclude very quickly, and I found myself looking for more pages. The pacing was great and suspenseful throughout, then it suddenly resolved. I do not read many short stories, so this may be common for the genre, I just don't know. As for the story, it was very entertaining. Plenty of fashion and intelligent women mixed with a bit of suicide... or was it murder (insert dramatic music here). A fun and entertaining read if you want something quick with plot.

[Nick Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Vanessa Giddings faints in Bloomingdales, nobody blinks. But when the founder and CEO of Panache, the largest employment agency on Long Island, is found to be in a coma, and dies, neigbour Judith Singer can't believe the official ruling of self-harm. Who takes an overdose then goes shoe shopping?
The author confesses to never having written a short story before. In real life detectives face many dead ends but in the story Judith can't take a shot in the dark without hitting on evidence. With home snaps of the author for fans. I read a review copy from the publisher.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Copy provided by Netgalley for an unbiased review.*
How lovely to return to Judith Singer! I read Compromising Positions long ago, and have read several of Susan Isaacs' books since, always enjoying her writing style and her sense of humor. This short story was no exception. Warm, witty, a nice way of reminding the reader of what had happened in Compromising Positions. And now I can't wait to read the further adventures of Judith & friends in "Long Time No See".