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High Society Mystery #1
Well Bred and Dead
Newly widowed Pauline Cook was once the toast of the Windy City elite—but now she's practically broke. At least she's in better shape than her dear departed friend Ethan Campbell, whose corpse Pauline has had the misfortune to discover. A writer who chronicled the lives, loves, and ensembles of the Gold Coast's most elegant ladies, Ethan apparently took his own life—while inelegantly clad in old boxers, no less. And since no relatives are coming forward to claim Ethan's remains, it falls to Pauline to settle his final affairs . . . with her own dwindling funds.
However, there are things about Ethan's suicide that don't seem to add up: the ratty undergarments he "chose" to die in, for example . . . and the multiple birth certificates the police turn up in his apartment. Before she can truly lay her friend to rest, plucky Pauline's determined to get to the bottom of his increasingly suspicious death.
335 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2007
26 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Catherine O'Connell
13 books72 followersChicago native Catherine O'Connell is the author of five novels: First Tracks, The Last Night Out, Well Read and Dead, Well Bred and Dead, and Skins.
A graduate of the University of Colorado School of Journalism, she has worked in a number of roles in various fields, including hotel maid, bar manager, floor runner at the Chicago Board of Trade, sommelier, and sales executive in the fine wine business. Her varied experiences give her insight into many walks of life that she incorporates into her writing.
A member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, she sits on the board of the Aspen Words, the literary branch of the Aspen Institute. She has also served as a moderator of the Great Books and Sharing Shakespeare programs at the Aspen Institute.
Catherine has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, the Cox network, and numerous radio shows, including WGN Radio's Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan.
A consummate reader, wine expert, skier, back-country hiker, and biker, she divides her time between Aspen, Chicago, and Paris.
A graduate of the University of Colorado School of Journalism, she has worked in a number of roles in various fields, including hotel maid, bar manager, floor runner at the Chicago Board of Trade, sommelier, and sales executive in the fine wine business. Her varied experiences give her insight into many walks of life that she incorporates into her writing.
A member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, she sits on the board of the Aspen Words, the literary branch of the Aspen Institute. She has also served as a moderator of the Great Books and Sharing Shakespeare programs at the Aspen Institute.
Catherine has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, the Cox network, and numerous radio shows, including WGN Radio's Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan.
A consummate reader, wine expert, skier, back-country hiker, and biker, she divides her time between Aspen, Chicago, and Paris.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 30, 2019
This book started off kind of slow, got better, slowed down again and then had a pretty good twist and ending. I really didn't see the ending coming. The other down side was that I really didn't care for the main character, Pauline, too much. Maybe because she was so rich I couldn't relate well or maybe because she seemed so stuck up because she was so rich - not sure but didn't much care for her. #readforkimberly
September 19, 2007
This was a frustrating read, because I really wanted to like this book. The first few pages had me laughing out loud, but the cuteness soon got old for me. My book club covered this selection, and overall, most people had trouble understanding the tone of the book. At first it seems tongue-in-cheek, then it reads like a Barbara Cartland romance novel...and Pauline comes across as less than sympathetic and very one-dimensional. At the end, I had lost interest and didn't care about the character.
August 21, 2009
There have only been a handful of books in my lifetime that I stopped reading before I was through (or halfway through) and this is one of them. It's a cutesy little mystery but I was not able to connect to the characters, and I kept trying to read the story through the high use of adjectives. It just wasn't my cup of tea, and so I am moving on.
October 28, 2013
This was a book that a fell into my lap and so I read it. It was very different from what I expected and I wasn't very thrilled about it. The only things I found interesting were 1) it was set in Chicago and 2) it gives a peek into what high society life is like. It seems like a sad luxurious life from what the author wrote. I wont be recommending it to any of my friends.
November 11, 2019
This story line is well constructed, and I was happy to find the twists in plot kept me surprised. I want to add that I think it is extremely brave of the author to have a main character that is more of an anti-hero. Some readers said that it took them time to understand and like Pauline, that is a skillful writer. Ms. O’Connell weaves the threads of her story so well that we are always engaged. Pauline is so perfectly constructed that she enlightens us that many wealthy people live this way in naivety and thus the disparity in our country between rich and poor. Most enjoyable!
March 1, 2021
The story sounded interesting but I just could not get to like the snob Pauline. The way she carried on and ignoring money issues did not strike me as funny and her obsession with Tarrence was just weird. I did not anticipate the ending but also did not care about it. It was quite a disappointing read for me.
May 26, 2022
I was looking for a fluff book to read and the title made me LOL so I picked it.. easy read but there wasn’t really anyone I was rooting for. I do like how the main character was an (upper) middle aged female challenging a few stereotypes.. I didn’t dislike her but I didn’t sympathize much with her.
September 29, 2018
Fun quick read with an interesting twist.
May 24, 2019
Barely tolerable as a beach read. Flat characters and plot holes abound.
October 17, 2019
Really enjoyable start, and then the stupidity and racism started.
May 15, 2020
Trashy --too much consumerism and ridiculous over spending, which sets me off. DPL e book via Freadling
November 7, 2020
LOVED IT! cute references to lake forest, good plot twists, kept me on my toes
April 3, 2021
The murder mystery was intruiging, the main character a vapid and selfish...
October 19, 2023
Gay friend of Chicago society mavens is found dead. One of the women works to unravel the mystery.
November 19, 2024
Easy read.
November 20, 2025
This was a really fun book. I did not know what was going to happen next. I laughed and was concerned for the heroine and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
November 14, 2011
Pauline Cook gives all the appearence of a rich society widow living in Chicago's gold coast. Only she and her friend Ethan Cook know that her husband left her with debts and little money. Since his death, she has continued to live her lavish lifestyle with seemingly little care for much other than her wardrobe, her social calendar, her cat, and her friend Ethan, a prominent writer. Ethan writes about women of society so he's in much demand, socially.
Then Ethan is dead, seemingly from suicide. Then the mysteries begin when his lavish life is belied with little money, raggedy clothes, and multiple birth certificates in his apartment. As his sole heir, she settles his affairs, pays for a lavish funeral, and pursues the mystery of who he was.
The mysteries deepen and pile up until all the mysteries are revealed in a very edge of the seat conclusion.
It's hard to describe why Pauline is likeable because as a person she's really not very nice. She's a shallow, vain, judgemental,idle woman who has lived lavishly off men her entire life. She is obsessed with appearances and is hellbent on spending herself into oblivion. And yet there is something likeable about her. Perhaps it's her insatiable curiosity, perhaps it is her lifestyle, and ability to move through life without seeming to care. Whatever it is, this is an extremely well-written book with a very good story and intersting characters.
Then Ethan is dead, seemingly from suicide. Then the mysteries begin when his lavish life is belied with little money, raggedy clothes, and multiple birth certificates in his apartment. As his sole heir, she settles his affairs, pays for a lavish funeral, and pursues the mystery of who he was.
The mysteries deepen and pile up until all the mysteries are revealed in a very edge of the seat conclusion.
It's hard to describe why Pauline is likeable because as a person she's really not very nice. She's a shallow, vain, judgemental,idle woman who has lived lavishly off men her entire life. She is obsessed with appearances and is hellbent on spending herself into oblivion. And yet there is something likeable about her. Perhaps it's her insatiable curiosity, perhaps it is her lifestyle, and ability to move through life without seeming to care. Whatever it is, this is an extremely well-written book with a very good story and intersting characters.
November 2, 2011
Pauline Cook is a widowed socialite who finds her best friend, Ethan Campbell dead in his apartment. Things aren't always what they seem and many questions quickly arise about her dear friend. Who was Ethan Campbell really?
Well Bred and Dead is well written. It was a light read filled with many twists and much suspense.
I did find it a little difficult to relate and even like Pauline Cook. The character is self centered and obsessed with money. At one point she rants about the pains of going to her expensive prep school as a child wearing brand name clothes from last season. Oh the horrors! She complains constantly throughout the book about her dwindling bank account, but yet has no qualms about buying suits that costs over $2000 just because. A simple lunch out costs her $360, but yet she's afraid of going broke? Sorry honey, Get a JOB! Stop spending! You're 49 years old, GROW UP!
That said, the book was enjoyable. One thing I learned from this book, don't read a funny book on a treadmill! I about fell on my tuckus! Worth reading if you're looking for a nice fluffy mystery novel and can look past the annoying rants of a 49 year old socialite.
Well Bred and Dead is well written. It was a light read filled with many twists and much suspense.
I did find it a little difficult to relate and even like Pauline Cook. The character is self centered and obsessed with money. At one point she rants about the pains of going to her expensive prep school as a child wearing brand name clothes from last season. Oh the horrors! She complains constantly throughout the book about her dwindling bank account, but yet has no qualms about buying suits that costs over $2000 just because. A simple lunch out costs her $360, but yet she's afraid of going broke? Sorry honey, Get a JOB! Stop spending! You're 49 years old, GROW UP!
That said, the book was enjoyable. One thing I learned from this book, don't read a funny book on a treadmill! I about fell on my tuckus! Worth reading if you're looking for a nice fluffy mystery novel and can look past the annoying rants of a 49 year old socialite.
May 9, 2016
This is one of those books that you pick up just for fun, to read perhaps a chapter or two before bed, and then find that you can't put it down! The mystery and all the twists and turns were wonderful, and I loved the ending.
The only thing that got annoying in this book was the MC herself. I get it, she's a rich lady of a certain age who looks down on anyone who doesn't match her wealth, social status, or appropriate thinness. She can be quite the airhead and makes a lot of off-hand offensive remarks about people that I guess are to be expected given her station, but wouldn't be very funny in real life. I don't know that I'd read a sequel just because of how frequently I wanted to slap some sense into her!
The only thing that got annoying in this book was the MC herself. I get it, she's a rich lady of a certain age who looks down on anyone who doesn't match her wealth, social status, or appropriate thinness. She can be quite the airhead and makes a lot of off-hand offensive remarks about people that I guess are to be expected given her station, but wouldn't be very funny in real life. I don't know that I'd read a sequel just because of how frequently I wanted to slap some sense into her!
January 25, 2008
I borrowed this book from the library because I was looking for a new mystery writer for me to get hooked to. Unfortunately, I didn't find it here.
I never thought it would be possible to feel bad for a rich widow who lives in a penthouse, drives a Jaguar, and wears designer clothes....but it happened. Although the characters were difficult to identify with, sometimes Pauline's naivety became difficult to deal with.
All in all, it wasn't a bad book. It was a very easy, casual read that I used to help kill time before bed. Needless to say, I only read it through because I wanted to know exactly what happened with Ethan. And in the end, I think everyone got what they deserved.
I never thought it would be possible to feel bad for a rich widow who lives in a penthouse, drives a Jaguar, and wears designer clothes....but it happened. Although the characters were difficult to identify with, sometimes Pauline's naivety became difficult to deal with.
All in all, it wasn't a bad book. It was a very easy, casual read that I used to help kill time before bed. Needless to say, I only read it through because I wanted to know exactly what happened with Ethan. And in the end, I think everyone got what they deserved.
July 24, 2014
Hilarious, hard to take seriously, O'Connell's Pauline Cook mysteries are just great. Her wealth gone thanks to bad advice, widow Pauline Cook's is again on the lookout for a honey with money, but just money will do nicely. She's so naïve, so perfectly posh and so unscrupulous. Pretense and pomp, the social scene of old and new wealth is just full of perfect and peculiar peccadillos.
Found this and O'Connell's earlier, Well Read and Dead at a Colorado writers' workshop in Aspen a couple of years ago. Wish there were more!
--Ashland Mystery
Found this and O'Connell's earlier, Well Read and Dead at a Colorado writers' workshop in Aspen a couple of years ago. Wish there were more!
--Ashland Mystery
August 19, 2008
What I learned from this book? That I loathe even the concept of the idle rich. Loathe.
This was a fun little story, but it did remind me that the great stagnant pool of money that is the world economy is in desperate need of some recirculation, and that my ridiculous tax bill (relative to my income) helps support regressive subsidies that help rich people become even richer.
*sigh* When did I become such a radical?
This was a fun little story, but it did remind me that the great stagnant pool of money that is the world economy is in desperate need of some recirculation, and that my ridiculous tax bill (relative to my income) helps support regressive subsidies that help rich people become even richer.
*sigh* When did I become such a radical?
May 31, 2009
Pauline Cook is rich & stupid & racist - I couldn't stand her, especially towards the end of the book. Her money problems are conveniently fixed for her, and she learns nothing. I will not read another book about this character - I feel cheated of the time it took to read - I want that time back!! I'm normally a fast reader & I plodded through this at a 3rd of my usual speed.
July 15, 2009
I shouldn't say I read this, but there is not a tag for "abandoned". I wanted to like this book, mainly b/c I got a free (AND inscribed) copy at ALA Midwinter, but I just couldn't get into it.
Other reviews talk about how shallow the narrative is, and I agree. I just couldn't get into it.
And unfortunately, because it's inscribed, there's not a lot I can do with it. Sigh.
Other reviews talk about how shallow the narrative is, and I agree. I just couldn't get into it.
And unfortunately, because it's inscribed, there's not a lot I can do with it. Sigh.
October 8, 2010
Capably written mystery with some amusing observations about how the other half lives. While I never found myself caring about the characters, that's not really the point with this kind of book. Perfect for traveling by plane: entertaining enough without being so absorbing you miss your connection.
March 11, 2009
I just couldn't finish it when I had such wonderful books as those by Linda Fairstein and Jan Burke waiting for me. I'm not sure what the problem was - it was stilted or something. The premise was great - the writing style just didn't match up with my reading style, I guess.
August 13, 2010
*sigh*
This was a fun beach read, right up until the last chapter. The sudden miraculous reformation of the main character, plus a dated throwaway line intended to indicated disaster-to-come-anna-sequel were just ridiculous.
This was a fun beach read, right up until the last chapter. The sudden miraculous reformation of the main character, plus a dated throwaway line intended to indicated disaster-to-come-anna-sequel were just ridiculous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2010
Chicago socialite Pauline Cook finds herself trying to discover the true identity of her late best friend Ethan Campbell. Her search takes her all over and puts her in unexpected danger. A nice little mystery.
January 5, 2011
It's set in a world I could never relate too... The rich and selfish... It was ok i didn't love it, I didn't hate it. I do have to admit it was a fun read. No lessons learned but a few twists held my attention.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews