The Body in the Volvo

Workplace Mystery #1

by K.K. Beck

When a foul-tempered professor is found dead, the investigation is more than academic.
When Professor Charles Carstairs was refused tenure at the university, he was delighted to accept the gift of an auto-repair shop from his Uncle Cosmo. The unpaid bills, complaining customers, and inept mechanics that were part of the package were only moderately annoying.
However, when a body was discovered in the trunk of a car parked on his new premises and when—worst of all possible worsts—the dead man turned out to be Dr. Bateman, the department head who had put the whammy on Charles’s academic career, minor concerns like bankruptcy faded into nothingness. If the police had their way, Charles would soon receive tenure in prison—for murder.

Genres: Mystery

202 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1987

About the author

Kathrine Kristine Beck Marris (born 1950), known mainly by her pen name of K. K. Beck, is an American novelist. She has written over a dozen books, some of which were part of the Iris Cooper novel series and the Jane da Silva novel series.

An early novel of hers, Death of a Prom Queen (1984) was written under the pen name of Marie Oliver. She wrote a series of other novels, under the name K. K. Beck, such as The Revenge of Kali-Ra in 1999. One of her most recent works, The Tell-Tale Tattoo and Other Stories (2002) is a collection of short stories.

She lives in Seattle, Washington, and was married to the crime-writer Michael Dibdin, who died in 2007.

Series:
* Iris Cooper
* Jane Da Silva

Reviews

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, given to me by a friend, is small and easy to carry on a trip. Thus I read this yesterday. I gave it 3 stars as the plot was interesting and the ending is a bit of a surprise. However, the book is very dated. This is one of the mysteries that did not age well.

[Bev · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my favorite K K Beck. I got it because of the character who is a former academic. Not worth it.

[Shay Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't bad. Charles is handed his Uncle's auto repair shop after the latter wins the lottery. It's in disarray and things really get crazy when Charles's nemesis turns up dead in the trunk of an old Volvo in the alley behind the shop.

Riding to the rescue is a temp worker sent to balance his books, who dresses in boho style and looks more like an artist or a poet than a temp. However,she....well, I won't give it away! Suffice to say that this is an entertaining enough light mystery novel and also has a hilarious final line. Recommended for what it is, as long as you're not expecting too much.

[Spook Sulek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun! Antiquated language (racist, homophobic...accurate?), but a wonderful story. It raises one's standards in the realm of mysteries.

[Tamara Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

as the owner of a volvo, i had to read this book & was not disappointed. it was funny & weird. a completely offbeat, really enjoyable mystery. really want to read more bks by ms. beck.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Seattle around the 1980's, the story involves a university professor who has been rejected for tenure and then is given his uncle's car repair business after the uncle wins the lottery. The nephew quickly becomes involved in and the chief suspect in a murder investigation after a body is found in the repair shop.

The tone here is very whimsical as the without a clue nephew slowly helps the police solve the murder with the help of a better organized and sharper woman who he has hired to help straighten out the company's finances.

It is a fun story to read.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun read

[Leta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, easy read. I don't need to read it again - which frees up some bookshelf space - but I enjoyed it.