What do you think?
Rate this book
Matchmaker Mysteries #6
West Side Gory
Life is going great for Gladie Burger. She’s having lots of sex with her hottie boyfriend, Chief of Police Spencer Bolton, she’s settled into her matchmaking career, she’s got a new car, and it’s been over two weeks since she’s stumbled on a dead body. It seems like she’s finally got her life on track, since she moved in with her psychic grandmother to help her with her matchmaking business.
But when a stomach ache proves to be more serious, she finds herself in West Side Hospital, preparing for surgery. Befriending the woman in the next bed in her hospital room, she becomes distressed when the woman vanishes. Alerting the hospital staff, they tell her that the woman never existed. Has Gladie lost her mind, or is something more sinister happening at West Side Hospital?
Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie, and Julia Kent, Elise Sax’s wickedly funny Matchmaker Mysteries series proves that the road to love comes with a few dead ends.
But when a stomach ache proves to be more serious, she finds herself in West Side Hospital, preparing for surgery. Befriending the woman in the next bed in her hospital room, she becomes distressed when the woman vanishes. Alerting the hospital staff, they tell her that the woman never existed. Has Gladie lost her mind, or is something more sinister happening at West Side Hospital?
Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie, and Julia Kent, Elise Sax’s wickedly funny Matchmaker Mysteries series proves that the road to love comes with a few dead ends.
279 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2017
209 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Elise Sax
84 books907 followersElise Sax worked as a journalist for fifteen years, mostly in Paris, France. She took a detour from journalism and became a private investigator before trying her hand at writing fiction. She lives in Southern California with her two sons. An Affair to Dismember is her first novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 11, 2018
"I think I'm becoming used to murdered people..."
"Well, to be fair, you've seen more murdered people than Jeffrey Dahmer."
This is true of Gladie, our crazy matchmaker who is way better at solving murders and finding dead bodies than fixing people up. Of course, complete chaos ensues whenever she tries to match-make or sleuth. Spencer, her boyfriend, calls it the Gladie Vortex, and in this book her vortex moves over to her poor friend, Lucy, who is getting married. She gets Gladied and everything that can go wrong does.
Except in this case the seven circles of hell include genitalia-shaped wedding cake, goats, rednecks, killer drones, fires, floods, and baldness. Which, really, I have to say, is pretty standard stuff in redneck country. That sounds like Saturday night in our old neighborhood where we had our redneck neighbors who had hoe-downs every weekend that usually ended with a visit from the Constable. Good times. I miss those crazy sons-of-bitches.... like never.
Anyway, Gladie's friend's wedding has all the makings of fitting into my old neighborhood. Nobody would even notice anything unusual.
Then again, wedding stuff has a way of getting really strange and out there in general. It's the combination of booze and nervousness. At least, I hope that's the reason for some of the stuff I've seen while looking for funny wedding pics out in internet land.
And, all those pics are real life. WTF are people thinking?
Makes me happy that the hubs and I did the Justice of the Peace thing. Nobody needs to see shit like that. A relative of mine recently married and sent me one of their wedding photos on giant canvas to mount on my wall. I'm thinking, "Why? Do you really want to put yourself through this? Do you really want the disappointment of coming over and finding it over the guest bathroom toilet? Let's just save ourselves an awkward conversation and DON'T give me a giant portrait of yourself - a barely-related person, not my own child or myself who are the ONLY ones that I would consider hanging on my wall." Plus, the shot was strange - like that Doug and Carrie picture in King of Queens. Remember that one?
Anyway, apart from the wedding, there is a mystery in this book, much like the mystery of someone giving you a giant portrait of themselves that makes them look like they have a freakishly large arm. Many of the wedding guests end up in the hospital and things get weird. It gets sucked up into the Gladie Vortex.
The book was funny, as always, but I have two complaints about it. First, there is a lot of fart-joke kind of stuff. I'm not a fan. I always equate fart jokes with 10-yr old boys. And, kind of the desperate cheap jokes that are just low-brow. Surely, we can do better than that, Elise Sax. I know she can! Also, Spencer, the boyfriend, is a little one-dimensional. All he ever does is follow Gladie around and tell her that he wants to nail her, or talks about her boobs, or is trying to actively nail her. He's like a dirty Jiminy Cricket, following her around and whispering sexual innuendos.
Oh my gosh! That's horrifying! I mean, sheesh, he's annoying, but that's just wrong!
On the other hand.... point taken.
Now, I wouldn't mind my husband walking around and telling me how great my boobs look once in a while too, but eventually, I need him to answer my question about what he wants for dinner. Spencer never says anything BUT the sex talk. It's overkill. Eventually, it would lose its magic as you're walking through Walmart, you have a headache and just want to get your shit and go, and he's going on and on about nailing you in the Walmart bathroom. Enough, already! Do you know how disgusting those bathrooms are? You think the teenage employees really give a damn about keeping them sanitized? Shut up, grab the cereal, and push the damn cart!
This is how these kind of things happen.
So, the series isn't perfect, but it always makes me laugh, and that's close enough.
"Well, to be fair, you've seen more murdered people than Jeffrey Dahmer."
This is true of Gladie, our crazy matchmaker who is way better at solving murders and finding dead bodies than fixing people up. Of course, complete chaos ensues whenever she tries to match-make or sleuth. Spencer, her boyfriend, calls it the Gladie Vortex, and in this book her vortex moves over to her poor friend, Lucy, who is getting married. She gets Gladied and everything that can go wrong does.
Except in this case the seven circles of hell include genitalia-shaped wedding cake, goats, rednecks, killer drones, fires, floods, and baldness. Which, really, I have to say, is pretty standard stuff in redneck country. That sounds like Saturday night in our old neighborhood where we had our redneck neighbors who had hoe-downs every weekend that usually ended with a visit from the Constable. Good times. I miss those crazy sons-of-bitches.... like never.
Anyway, Gladie's friend's wedding has all the makings of fitting into my old neighborhood. Nobody would even notice anything unusual.
Then again, wedding stuff has a way of getting really strange and out there in general. It's the combination of booze and nervousness. At least, I hope that's the reason for some of the stuff I've seen while looking for funny wedding pics out in internet land.
And, all those pics are real life. WTF are people thinking?
Makes me happy that the hubs and I did the Justice of the Peace thing. Nobody needs to see shit like that. A relative of mine recently married and sent me one of their wedding photos on giant canvas to mount on my wall. I'm thinking, "Why? Do you really want to put yourself through this? Do you really want the disappointment of coming over and finding it over the guest bathroom toilet? Let's just save ourselves an awkward conversation and DON'T give me a giant portrait of yourself - a barely-related person, not my own child or myself who are the ONLY ones that I would consider hanging on my wall." Plus, the shot was strange - like that Doug and Carrie picture in King of Queens. Remember that one?
Anyway, apart from the wedding, there is a mystery in this book, much like the mystery of someone giving you a giant portrait of themselves that makes them look like they have a freakishly large arm. Many of the wedding guests end up in the hospital and things get weird. It gets sucked up into the Gladie Vortex.
The book was funny, as always, but I have two complaints about it. First, there is a lot of fart-joke kind of stuff. I'm not a fan. I always equate fart jokes with 10-yr old boys. And, kind of the desperate cheap jokes that are just low-brow. Surely, we can do better than that, Elise Sax. I know she can! Also, Spencer, the boyfriend, is a little one-dimensional. All he ever does is follow Gladie around and tell her that he wants to nail her, or talks about her boobs, or is trying to actively nail her. He's like a dirty Jiminy Cricket, following her around and whispering sexual innuendos.
Oh my gosh! That's horrifying! I mean, sheesh, he's annoying, but that's just wrong!
On the other hand.... point taken.
Now, I wouldn't mind my husband walking around and telling me how great my boobs look once in a while too, but eventually, I need him to answer my question about what he wants for dinner. Spencer never says anything BUT the sex talk. It's overkill. Eventually, it would lose its magic as you're walking through Walmart, you have a headache and just want to get your shit and go, and he's going on and on about nailing you in the Walmart bathroom. Enough, already! Do you know how disgusting those bathrooms are? You think the teenage employees really give a damn about keeping them sanitized? Shut up, grab the cereal, and push the damn cart!
This is how these kind of things happen.
So, the series isn't perfect, but it always makes me laugh, and that's close enough.
May 27, 2019
Hilarious
These books crack me up with the way they make it seem like these crazy things can happen just any old day.
These books crack me up with the way they make it seem like these crazy things can happen just any old day.
December 3, 2024
I love Gladie and Spencer and all the shenanigans that follow them. This book has been one of my favorites in the story so far.
June 22, 2017
The Gladie Vortex is in full effect in this one. And I loved it! Elise Sax delivers another wild & crazy installment of the Matchmaker Mysteries. Filled with laughter, mystery, and romance. I couldn't put this book down. Hands down my favorite humorous mystery series. I can't get enough!
June 13, 2017
Goats, and tornadoes and wild Chihuahuas, oh my! The Gladie Vortex is back, according to Spencer. While helping Lucy with her wedding prep and then the rehearsal everything goes nuts. Stuck in the hospital Gladie realizes things aren't what they seem. Spencer, the police chief, is absolutely head over heels for Gladie despite her antics and dead body finding instincts. The two of them have the best banter and oddly enough he thinks like she does. This book was the best of all of them, they get better each time. Just a reminder, don't read while on the elliptical. Laughing out loud just makes you look crazy. I received an early copy and happily volunteered to write this review.
June 3, 2021
As far as a plot is concerned "Field of Screams" doesn't really have one. Well, to be fair, there is a smidgin of plotting amidst the chaos and mayhem that is memorably described by her boyfriend, Spencer, as the 'vortex of Gladie.'
At about the two-third mark I was struck by how much it reminded of Scooby-Doo minus the ghosts.
It was a notion confirmed just a few minutes later when Gladie faces certain doom at the hands of a crazed medic: "It was just like an episode of Scooby Doo," he said. "I would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for you meddling kids."
When Lucy's rehearsal wedding goes very, very badly wrong, all the relevant characters end up in the swanky West Side Hospital. Spencer's arm is broken, Gladie is scheduled to have her appendix removed; "West Side Hospital? A concussion? That must cost forty-thousand dollars here. I don’t have any money. I got my health insurance at the bottom of a Captain Crunch box. I won’t even tell you where I get my annual PAP smear. Get me out of here. I can literally hear the bill adding up. Did you hear that? Ka-ching? I heard it."
“Lucy Smythe is paying your bill,” the nurse said.
“She is?” I relaxed. “Oh, okay. I might need a massage, too. That’s covered, right?”
Of course, no sooner is Gladie settled in than her room mate, Mrs. Friendly, disappears - apparently, she never existed. Once she gets over her fear that her memory is playing up because of an incurable brain tumour Gladie is hot on the trail.
As is a pack of feral Chihuahuas!
Another fast, fun read.
At about the two-third mark I was struck by how much it reminded of Scooby-Doo minus the ghosts.
It was a notion confirmed just a few minutes later when Gladie faces certain doom at the hands of a crazed medic: "It was just like an episode of Scooby Doo," he said. "I would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for you meddling kids."
When Lucy's rehearsal wedding goes very, very badly wrong, all the relevant characters end up in the swanky West Side Hospital. Spencer's arm is broken, Gladie is scheduled to have her appendix removed; "West Side Hospital? A concussion? That must cost forty-thousand dollars here. I don’t have any money. I got my health insurance at the bottom of a Captain Crunch box. I won’t even tell you where I get my annual PAP smear. Get me out of here. I can literally hear the bill adding up. Did you hear that? Ka-ching? I heard it."
“Lucy Smythe is paying your bill,” the nurse said.
“She is?” I relaxed. “Oh, okay. I might need a massage, too. That’s covered, right?”
Of course, no sooner is Gladie settled in than her room mate, Mrs. Friendly, disappears - apparently, she never existed. Once she gets over her fear that her memory is playing up because of an incurable brain tumour Gladie is hot on the trail.
As is a pack of feral Chihuahuas!
Another fast, fun read.
November 8, 2019
I really enjoyed the previous books. This one.. Not so much
The "plot" was convoluted and characters I used to like were irritating. Everyone lost IQ points but none so much as the main character. "I like doing stuff". Yes, she didn't graduate from high school but wow. Maybe I read too many of these books in a row.
The "plot" was convoluted and characters I used to like were irritating. Everyone lost IQ points but none so much as the main character. "I like doing stuff". Yes, she didn't graduate from high school but wow. Maybe I read too many of these books in a row.
June 12, 2024
I so had hoped we reached a turning point to the better after the last one. Nope, here we had a turn to the other side. It was just bad. First, it took a hundred pages until we got to the mystery part - that is too long! Until then it was only one catastrophe after the other with Lucy’s wedding. And not even particularly funny things, it was rather mean stuff. Not that Gladie cared much she was rather preoccupied with her relationship with Spencer - the only halfway good parts in the book, though often a bit juvenile and nothing speaking of an adult relationship.
Then we get to the hospital and the mystery but sorry, everything was so obviously fake and with not one ounce of reality, it was just boring. And Gladie self-centered, hypochondriac antics were annoying. First she ignored every clue, then suddenly she alone knew everything.
Sorry no. Nothing here was good.
I will read on because I have the rest of the books already. Sigh. Then again, after this low point, it can only go up, no? 🤞
Then we get to the hospital and the mystery but sorry, everything was so obviously fake and with not one ounce of reality, it was just boring. And Gladie self-centered, hypochondriac antics were annoying. First she ignored every clue, then suddenly she alone knew everything.
Sorry no. Nothing here was good.
I will read on because I have the rest of the books already. Sigh. Then again, after this low point, it can only go up, no? 🤞
June 14, 2017
Contemporary Romantic suspense/Comedy
Gladie is back! This time, Spencer, the Police Chief ,and Gladie are actively enjoying the friends with benefits phasee of their budding relationship. Gladie is also the maid of honor in her friend's wedding. At the rehearsal dinner, all hell breaks loose, as usual and, Gladie and Spencer are both injured and taken to a posh hospital where things go severely and HILARIOUSLY awry.
I cannot began to tell you how I ALWAYs look forward with baited breath to Ms. Sax's books as I always know that the days I read these books are days that I will laugh hysterically and uncontrollably and, so thoroughly enjoy the fact that there are still people who can see the world in a way that makes everyone happy!
Gladie is back! This time, Spencer, the Police Chief ,and Gladie are actively enjoying the friends with benefits phasee of their budding relationship. Gladie is also the maid of honor in her friend's wedding. At the rehearsal dinner, all hell breaks loose, as usual and, Gladie and Spencer are both injured and taken to a posh hospital where things go severely and HILARIOUSLY awry.
I cannot began to tell you how I ALWAYs look forward with baited breath to Ms. Sax's books as I always know that the days I read these books are days that I will laugh hysterically and uncontrollably and, so thoroughly enjoy the fact that there are still people who can see the world in a way that makes everyone happy!
December 10, 2017
Don't mind the cheesy first run covers of the first few books. I really really like this series. So much so that I've read all 8 books in less then 3 weeks. Don't take it too seriously and you will find yourself laughing several times during each book. I kind of think I'd be just like Gladie if I was a murder solving matchmaker.
Between my hopefully temporary lung issues, my ankle getting shredded and my dad's cancer diagnosis - I've needed an escape from reality and these books could not have been more perfect. I'd hug the author if I could.
****This was one of my favorite books of the series because Spencer got a taste of what it is like in Gladie's world since he was unable to rely on his police backup.
Between my hopefully temporary lung issues, my ankle getting shredded and my dad's cancer diagnosis - I've needed an escape from reality and these books could not have been more perfect. I'd hug the author if I could.
****This was one of my favorite books of the series because Spencer got a taste of what it is like in Gladie's world since he was unable to rely on his police backup.
July 20, 2017
Gladie and Spencer have finally sealed the deal. Whew, that was exhausting. So everything should be roses, right? But when Gladie's friend's wedding go horribly wrong, Gladie and Spencer find themselves in the hospital along with other members of the wedding party. And of course, Gladie is soon in the middle of a crazy mystery, when her roommate disappears. When the staff tries to gaslight Gladie, they have no idea who they are messing with. Much craziness and hilarity ensue.
I just love this series. It truly is a "laugh out loud"book. Another reviewer called the town slapstick and that is just what it is. Too funny. Is it too much to ask for more. Umm, NOW!
I just love this series. It truly is a "laugh out loud"book. Another reviewer called the town slapstick and that is just what it is. Too funny. Is it too much to ask for more. Umm, NOW!
June 17, 2017
Wonderful 😀 💜
Love the Matchmaker Mysteries! West Side Gory had me from the first line. Gladie and Spencer are the perfect couple.
In this one Lucy and Uncle Harry are getting married Maybe Gladie and Spencer will to , soon I hope. Things start going wrong right from the beginning, but when a deck collapses Gladie and crew end up in the hospital. A very bad hospital!
Elise Sax writes such a great stories full of love, laughter and mystery. Can't wait for the next installment in this wonderful series.
Love the Matchmaker Mysteries! West Side Gory had me from the first line. Gladie and Spencer are the perfect couple.
In this one Lucy and Uncle Harry are getting married Maybe Gladie and Spencer will to , soon I hope. Things start going wrong right from the beginning, but when a deck collapses Gladie and crew end up in the hospital. A very bad hospital!
Elise Sax writes such a great stories full of love, laughter and mystery. Can't wait for the next installment in this wonderful series.
June 27, 2017
Karma at its funniest.....
In the little slapstick town, with its quirky characters, we are united again in the land of matchmaking, murder, and mayhem. I love the sarcasm that Elise Sax can provide in this series. Loved Spencer's role as the love interest of our main character, Gladie. Definitely some laugh out loud moments in this installment of the matchmaker series. Definitely recommendable read, but best if read in succession.
In the little slapstick town, with its quirky characters, we are united again in the land of matchmaking, murder, and mayhem. I love the sarcasm that Elise Sax can provide in this series. Loved Spencer's role as the love interest of our main character, Gladie. Definitely some laugh out loud moments in this installment of the matchmaker series. Definitely recommendable read, but best if read in succession.
July 2, 2017
West Side Gory by Elise Sax is the sixth book in the Matchmaker Mystery series and was another laughter filled read.
Gladie can fall into a mystery faster than any one else that I read about. The quirky characters that live in this small town are just icing on the cake as you are drawn into the story. Laughter, mystery and enough snarky banter to keep a reader turning the pages.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
Gladie can fall into a mystery faster than any one else that I read about. The quirky characters that live in this small town are just icing on the cake as you are drawn into the story. Laughter, mystery and enough snarky banter to keep a reader turning the pages.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
October 25, 2020
Last night I finished book 28 of 2020, West Side Gory. This book is another in the #matchmakermysteries This book still had the laughs but I didn’t enjoy the book nearly as much. I’m not sure if it was because some of my favorite characters Ruth and Fred were missing or that I figured out the book much sooner that Gladie did. #westsidegory #books #booksofoig #booksofinstagram #reading #readingchallenge #readingchallenge2020 #kindle
March 19, 2018
Story wise this is my fave of the series so far which is why it still got 4 stars. Which is how I have scored the previous books also.
However, if I had not enjoyed this so much it would have dropped to a 3 because of the freaking typos! Sort it out! Typos always wind me up espechially if I have paid for them!
However, if I had not enjoyed this so much it would have dropped to a 3 because of the freaking typos! Sort it out! Typos always wind me up espechially if I have paid for them!
June 17, 2017
Cute little read
Glady is back with a twist! This time she doesn't stumble onto a body but ends up in the hospital and stumbles into a mystery she has to crack. This is a fast, quick read that fits perfectly into the series
Glady is back with a twist! This time she doesn't stumble onto a body but ends up in the hospital and stumbles into a mystery she has to crack. This is a fast, quick read that fits perfectly into the series
March 10, 2018
Light and fun. The story-line is as far from serious and commonsense as you can get, and makes for such a lovely, light read where you can just have a chuckle and chill-out from the world for awhile.
June 16, 2021
I'm afraid this series has jumped the shark for me. She didn't pick the guy I would have chosen for myself, but I don't mind it. The lack of tension that the resolution of those triangles is a bit bland, though, unfortunately. My main problem is that I've been listening to this gorgeous, obviously still thin woman food- and fat- shame herself, with the help of others, damn near constantly. I can't imagine authors of romance and romantic suspense believe that their readers are desperate to escape in a narrative that is refreshingly full of mentions every few pages of the heroine's having gained a pound. I'm not sure why, then, some authors of these escapist genres serve it up anyway.
Come for the heroine juggle a trio of beautiful men, get what you can from them, and then get out before the last scone disappears.
Come for the heroine juggle a trio of beautiful men, get what you can from them, and then get out before the last scone disappears.
June 16, 2017
Hilarious
I could not stop laughing. This book is freaking hilarious. And it had a great mystery to boot. I love this series.
I could not stop laughing. This book is freaking hilarious. And it had a great mystery to boot. I love this series.
June 17, 2017
What a joy to read
I love this series and it will have you laughing from the start and it won't stop. I think the author outdid herself this time with the hijinx and shenanigans.
I love this series and it will have you laughing from the start and it won't stop. I think the author outdid herself this time with the hijinx and shenanigans.
June 17, 2017
West Side Gory
Laugh out loud! Great characters, funny one liners . Just too short . But ready for next book in series!
Laugh out loud! Great characters, funny one liners . Just too short . But ready for next book in series!
June 21, 2017
So funny! I really enjoy this series and look forward to the next one. This has the humor and mystery that reminds me of the movie Clue.
June 24, 2017
I just love this series!
July 8, 2017
Addictive
I love this whole series. I can't wait to read each book to find out what crazy cockamamie situation the Gladie vortex will reveal.
I love this whole series. I can't wait to read each book to find out what crazy cockamamie situation the Gladie vortex will reveal.
July 25, 2017
Gladie and the gang are back and better than ever. This book has it all. A murder mystery, a wild dog pack and the Gladie Vortex. Another home run by Elise Sax.
March 23, 2018
This is just a fun, well-written series with great plot and characters. A good read just for the heck of it.
April 16, 2018
Another good book, but this time I was a little disappointed how short it was. I’m paying $6 something a book and I want more meat please!
September 4, 2018
Hilarious!
September 4, 2018
Fun adventures
Another fun installment of Gladie and her adventures. How does she get herself into these predicaments? Looking forward to the next chapter.
Another fun installment of Gladie and her adventures. How does she get herself into these predicaments? Looking forward to the next chapter.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews