Murder Can Botch Up Your Birthday

Desiree Shapiro Mystery #11

by Selma Eichler

While trying to deal with her new boyfriend's malevolent nine-year-old son, full-figured PI Desiree Shapiro is hired by teenager Vicky Pirrelli to prove that her late father did not kill his mistress--a crime for which he went to jail. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Selma Eichler is a freelance writer who lives in New York with her husband. She is the creator of 'Desiree Shapiro', private eye in New York City.

Series:
* Desiree Shapiro Mystery

Reviews

[Jodi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am certain I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it at a different time but I just couldn't get into it. Desiree is approached by a 16 year old to clear her father of murder. Unfortunately, the murder was a decade ago and her father is now dead. Desiree doesn't have much hope for success but she is nothing if not persistent. There was nothing wrong with this book but neither was there anything compelling. I didn't connect with any of the characters and while I like Desiree, I didn't feel as though this story advanced much of anything.

[Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

After having read the disappointing #8 “...Upset Your Mother,” I decided to give Desiree Shapiro another chance with #11 “...Botch up your Birthday.” In #11, Desiree is not the the bumbling private investigator she was in #8. She is more focused on solving the murder and less distracted with her private life. Desiree is the antihero of detectives - short, fat and allergic to exercise.
Based upon a deathbed testimony, Desiree is hired by a teenager to clear her father’s name. The father, Victor Pirrelli was convicted of murdering his mistress ten years ago and was recently killed in a prison fight. Why Desiree would take on and spend so much time on this pro bono case begs credulity. Throughout her investigation, Desiree meets some tough cookies … not that she would pass up a cookie of any sort.
Although she finally identifies the “real killer,” the ending is somewhat anticlimactic. I would also like to know how Desiree solves the problem of her boyfriend's son, Derek, who wants to put the kibosh on the relationship between his father and Desiree.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, easy-to-read mystery with a birthday in it. It’s about a 15-year-old girl whose father has been in prison since she was 6. On his deathbed, the father tells her he was innocent, and she believes it. She hires a private investigator to prove it. The PI doesn’t have other work at the moment, feels the girl’s sincerity and takes the job.

The author’s humor is pleasant and often self-deprecating. Although not a book of lasting value or significant import, I enjoyed it.

[Madelyn Flammia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series and have been on a kick of reading it for a couple of weeks now. These books do not disappoint. Desiree is a great character. I enjoy spending time in her company.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reliably good read.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selma Eichler does a great job of keeping the villain unknown until the final moment! I have yet to get "who done it"! This was another fun read!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continue to enjoy this clever ,funny mystery series

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. The second of some given to me. I liked it a little more than book 10, maybe because I’m accustomed to the writing style. Don’t have book 12 so going to 13 next.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Can Botch Up Your Birthday

~Signet

(9)







Another wonderful Desiree Shapiro case, June 11, 2012


By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)


This review is from: Murder Can Botch Up Your Birthday (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #11) (Paperback)
This is my 8th Desiree Shapiro book in Selma Eichler's series that I've read. I just hope Ms Eichler doesn't get tired of writing them.

Vicky Pirrelli, a 16 yo, comes to desiree with a request to find who the real killer was. It seems that Vicky's father, Victorio, has spent the last 10 years of his life in prison for a murder he may not have committed. In fact, Vicky's father assured her on his death bed that he was innocent of that crime.

Desiree is taken by the teen agers heartfelt request and takes on the case expecting never to be paid. And so Desiree begins to question people who may have answers to a decade old murder which they may or may not remember.

This book was such a relaxing read and so enjoyable I simply didn't want to put it down. I looked forward to reading my usual 3 chapters which always turned into 5,6 or 7 chapters. OK...so I caught the MAJOR clue when it was first tossed out there. But the ending did turn not out exactly the way I thought it would.

A wonderful book and a fabulous series. Hopefully Ms Eichler will continue to write many more in the Desiree Shapiro series.
Enjoy!

Ellen

[Kim j · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not one of my favorites! I thought it ended to easily. I have always loved her stories, characters & movement but this was so easy & slow! Sorry Dez pick up the pace. I will still read the rest of the books because everyone makes mistakes but you are on notice!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will definately be on the lookout for more of this series

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Desiree Shapiro, considers herself to be a chubby PI with a New York attitude. A young teenager hires her to prove her father did not kill his mistress.

[Swantje · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was funny and interesting. I enjoyed reading it.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 - Very Good