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The Dead-End Job Mysteries: Volume 1-3
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
Helen Hawthorne had a high-finance job, a beautiful home, and a caring husband—or so she thought until she caught him sleeping with their neighbor. But after their divorce, the judge decided that Helen had to pay alimony—and Helen figured the only way to keep her dignity would be to refuse to pay and run for it. Now hiding out in Fort Lauderdale, Helen is working as a sales clerk at a high-fashion boutique. But keeping out of trouble proves difficult when the boutique’s manager turns up dead. In desperate need of cash, Helen decides to try and find out who killed the woman for an offered reward.
MURDER BETWEEN THE COVERS
Helen’s taken a cash-paying job at Fort Lauderdale’s Page Turner’s bookstore. And while the job is decent enough, the owner of the store is anything but. Page Turner III is a boor with more money than he’s cheating on his wife and has a long list of enemies. When he turns up dead, no one is too shocked—except for Helen, that is. The body is found in the bed of her pal Peggy, and it’s up to Helen to prove her friend innocent before the police throw the book at her…
DYING TO CALL YOU
Helen’s latest workaday job might just be the lowest rung on the employment ladder—telemarketing. She’s spending her hours interrupting dinners and disturbing slumbers. While Helen is conducting a phone survey with the wealthy Henry “Hank” Asporth, he puts the receiver down without hanging up… She can just make out a man and a woman arguing, a short scream cut off by a choking sound, then an eerie silence. Convinced she’s heard a murder being committed—but with no proof—Helen is driven to find out what really happened...
Helen Hawthorne had a high-finance job, a beautiful home, and a caring husband—or so she thought until she caught him sleeping with their neighbor. But after their divorce, the judge decided that Helen had to pay alimony—and Helen figured the only way to keep her dignity would be to refuse to pay and run for it. Now hiding out in Fort Lauderdale, Helen is working as a sales clerk at a high-fashion boutique. But keeping out of trouble proves difficult when the boutique’s manager turns up dead. In desperate need of cash, Helen decides to try and find out who killed the woman for an offered reward.
MURDER BETWEEN THE COVERS
Helen’s taken a cash-paying job at Fort Lauderdale’s Page Turner’s bookstore. And while the job is decent enough, the owner of the store is anything but. Page Turner III is a boor with more money than he’s cheating on his wife and has a long list of enemies. When he turns up dead, no one is too shocked—except for Helen, that is. The body is found in the bed of her pal Peggy, and it’s up to Helen to prove her friend innocent before the police throw the book at her…
DYING TO CALL YOU
Helen’s latest workaday job might just be the lowest rung on the employment ladder—telemarketing. She’s spending her hours interrupting dinners and disturbing slumbers. While Helen is conducting a phone survey with the wealthy Henry “Hank” Asporth, he puts the receiver down without hanging up… She can just make out a man and a woman arguing, a short scream cut off by a choking sound, then an eerie silence. Convinced she’s heard a murder being committed—but with no proof—Helen is driven to find out what really happened...
702 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 11, 2021
223 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Viets
81 books569 followersAs a young girl, Elaine Viets was taught the virtues of South St. Louis: the importance of hard work, housecleaning, and paying cash. She managed to forget almost everything she learned, which is why she turned to mystery writing.
Living in South Florida has not improved her character. But it has given her the bestselling Dead-End Job series. Like her amateur detective, Helen Hawthorne, Elaine actually works those rotten jobs. Perhaps her early training has given her a lifelong fascination with jobs. She and Helen both know working for a living can be murder.
To research her novels, Elaine has been everything from a salesclerk to a survey taker. Her first book in the series is SHOP TILL YOU DROP, a novel of sex, murder and plastic surgery. It's set at a fashionable dress shop that caters to kept women. Book two, MURDER BETWEEN THE COVERS, takes place at a bookstore. Elaine worked at a Barnes & Noble in Hollywood, Florida, for a year.
For the third, DYING TO CALL YOU, Helen works as a telemarketer. Elaine sold septic tank cleaner and did telephone surveys. She actually asked women if they shaved their armpits. In the fourth Dead-End Job mystery, JUST MURDERED, Elaine and Helen explore big-money matrimony for better or worse. Elaine did her research in Zola Keller’s posh bridal salon in Fort Lauderdale.
For the fifth novel, Elaine and Helen go to the dogs. MURDER UNLEASHED is set at a high-end dog boutique, where people spend two hundred dollars for canine cuisine, women sneak illegal pets into condos using high-priced designer purses, and the dogs at the store have bigger wardrobes than the salesclerks. MURDER UNLEASHED is Elaine's first hardcover mystery. Publishers Weekly calls it “wry social commentary.”
Although Elaine lives in Fort Lauderdale, her heart – and her viewpoint – remain in the Midwest. Like Helen Hawthorne, another transplanted St. Louisan, she observes the outrageously rich Florida culture (and lack thereof) with wide-eyed fascination.
Elaine’s second series takes her back to work in St. Louis. It features Josie Marcus, a mystery shopper and single mom. The debut novel, DYING IN STYLE, tied with Stephen King on the bestseller list for the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Elaine won both the Agatha and the Anthony Awards for her short story, "Wedding Knife," in CHESAPEAKE CRIMES.
Some honors don’t come with plaques and award banquets. Elaine was thrilled when her short story, "After the Fall," was featured on the same cover of the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine as the master, Ed Hoch.
Her short story, "Red Meat," is in BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS, the Mystery Writers of America anthology edited by Lawrence Block. "Blonde Moment" is in the MWA anthology, SHOW BUSINESS IS MURDER, edited by Stuart Kaminsky. "Sex and Bingo" is featured in the HIGH STAKES gambling anthology. And if you've ever wondered about the early life of purple-loving landlady Margery Flax, read "Killer Blonde" in DROP-DEAD BLONDE.
Elaine has served on the national boards of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with her husband, actor Don Crinklaw, where they collect speeding tickets.
Please buy her novels so she can pay her MasterCard.
Series:
* Dead-End Job Mystery
* Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper
* Francesca Vierling Mystery
Living in South Florida has not improved her character. But it has given her the bestselling Dead-End Job series. Like her amateur detective, Helen Hawthorne, Elaine actually works those rotten jobs. Perhaps her early training has given her a lifelong fascination with jobs. She and Helen both know working for a living can be murder.
To research her novels, Elaine has been everything from a salesclerk to a survey taker. Her first book in the series is SHOP TILL YOU DROP, a novel of sex, murder and plastic surgery. It's set at a fashionable dress shop that caters to kept women. Book two, MURDER BETWEEN THE COVERS, takes place at a bookstore. Elaine worked at a Barnes & Noble in Hollywood, Florida, for a year.
For the third, DYING TO CALL YOU, Helen works as a telemarketer. Elaine sold septic tank cleaner and did telephone surveys. She actually asked women if they shaved their armpits. In the fourth Dead-End Job mystery, JUST MURDERED, Elaine and Helen explore big-money matrimony for better or worse. Elaine did her research in Zola Keller’s posh bridal salon in Fort Lauderdale.
For the fifth novel, Elaine and Helen go to the dogs. MURDER UNLEASHED is set at a high-end dog boutique, where people spend two hundred dollars for canine cuisine, women sneak illegal pets into condos using high-priced designer purses, and the dogs at the store have bigger wardrobes than the salesclerks. MURDER UNLEASHED is Elaine's first hardcover mystery. Publishers Weekly calls it “wry social commentary.”
Although Elaine lives in Fort Lauderdale, her heart – and her viewpoint – remain in the Midwest. Like Helen Hawthorne, another transplanted St. Louisan, she observes the outrageously rich Florida culture (and lack thereof) with wide-eyed fascination.
Elaine’s second series takes her back to work in St. Louis. It features Josie Marcus, a mystery shopper and single mom. The debut novel, DYING IN STYLE, tied with Stephen King on the bestseller list for the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.
Elaine won both the Agatha and the Anthony Awards for her short story, "Wedding Knife," in CHESAPEAKE CRIMES.
Some honors don’t come with plaques and award banquets. Elaine was thrilled when her short story, "After the Fall," was featured on the same cover of the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine as the master, Ed Hoch.
Her short story, "Red Meat," is in BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS, the Mystery Writers of America anthology edited by Lawrence Block. "Blonde Moment" is in the MWA anthology, SHOW BUSINESS IS MURDER, edited by Stuart Kaminsky. "Sex and Bingo" is featured in the HIGH STAKES gambling anthology. And if you've ever wondered about the early life of purple-loving landlady Margery Flax, read "Killer Blonde" in DROP-DEAD BLONDE.
Elaine has served on the national boards of the Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with her husband, actor Don Crinklaw, where they collect speeding tickets.
Please buy her novels so she can pay her MasterCard.
Series:
* Dead-End Job Mystery
* Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper
* Francesca Vierling Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 8, 2021
The whole series is wonderful.
Helen is such a great character and she can get in to more trouble than most people. She makes Dead End Jobs interesting, always finds a mystery that she must solve. She can find a body even while being a telemarketer.
Helen is such a great character and she can get in to more trouble than most people. She makes Dead End Jobs interesting, always finds a mystery that she must solve. She can find a body even while being a telemarketer.
November 21, 2021
Kept me waiting
Many times I told her not to go....she never listened. I'll look for the next set.
Anything with animals makes everything better.
Jamie Lloyd Riggs
Many times I told her not to go....she never listened. I'll look for the next set.
Anything with animals makes everything better.
Jamie Lloyd Riggs
February 7, 2022
THE FIRST THREE BOOKS IN THE DEAD-END JOB MYSTERY SERIES AVAILABLE IN A SINGLE BOX SET EDITION…
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
Helen Hawthorne had a high-finance job, a beautiful home, and a caring husband—or so she thought until she caught him sleeping with their neighbor. But after their divorce, the judge decided that Helen had to pay alimony—and Helen figured the only way to keep her dignity would be to refuse to pay and run for it. Now hiding out in Fort Lauderdale, Helen is working as a sales clerk at a high-fashion boutique. But keeping out of trouble proves difficult when the boutique’s manager turns up dead. In desperate need of cash, Helen decides to try and find out who killed the woman for an offered reward.
MURDER BETWEEN THE COVERS
Helen’s taken a cash-paying job at Fort Lauderdale’s Page Turner’s bookstore. And while the job is decent enough, the owner of the store is anything but. Page Turner III is a boor with more money than brains: he’s cheating on his wife and has a long list of enemies. When he turns up dead, no one is too shocked—except for Helen, that is. The body is found in the bed of her pal Peggy, and it’s up to Helen to prove her friend innocent before the police throw the book at her…
DYING TO CALL YOU
Helen’s latest workaday job might just be the lowest rung on the employment ladder—telemarketing. She’s spending her hours interrupting dinners and disturbing slumbers. While Helen is conducting a phone survey with the wealthy Henry “Hank” Asporth, he puts the receiver down without hanging up… She can just make out a man and a woman arguing, a short scream cut off by a choking sound, then an eerie silence. Convinced she’s heard a murder being committed—but with no proof—Helen is driven to find out what really happened...
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
Helen Hawthorne had a high-finance job, a beautiful home, and a caring husband—or so she thought until she caught him sleeping with their neighbor. But after their divorce, the judge decided that Helen had to pay alimony—and Helen figured the only way to keep her dignity would be to refuse to pay and run for it. Now hiding out in Fort Lauderdale, Helen is working as a sales clerk at a high-fashion boutique. But keeping out of trouble proves difficult when the boutique’s manager turns up dead. In desperate need of cash, Helen decides to try and find out who killed the woman for an offered reward.
MURDER BETWEEN THE COVERS
Helen’s taken a cash-paying job at Fort Lauderdale’s Page Turner’s bookstore. And while the job is decent enough, the owner of the store is anything but. Page Turner III is a boor with more money than brains: he’s cheating on his wife and has a long list of enemies. When he turns up dead, no one is too shocked—except for Helen, that is. The body is found in the bed of her pal Peggy, and it’s up to Helen to prove her friend innocent before the police throw the book at her…
DYING TO CALL YOU
Helen’s latest workaday job might just be the lowest rung on the employment ladder—telemarketing. She’s spending her hours interrupting dinners and disturbing slumbers. While Helen is conducting a phone survey with the wealthy Henry “Hank” Asporth, he puts the receiver down without hanging up… She can just make out a man and a woman arguing, a short scream cut off by a choking sound, then an eerie silence. Convinced she’s heard a murder being committed—but with no proof—Helen is driven to find out what really happened...
July 3, 2022
What a Great Binge Read!
This is a fun series to binge read, and you will like it best read in order. The stories have a little more bite than cozy mysteries do, I will call it a soft mystery. There is no one going crazy over hobbies or skills like cozies seem to have. But, as in real life, some of the characters have great skills or are very good at certain things. A few characters are knowledgeable about a vast number of things. The stories have plenty of twists and turns. There are dead ends and meaningless clues. There are many clues that are just not pointed out as such until the finale. These are really fun books, the mystery is not solved until the end and the reader is provided with all the clues as the main character. Fun, fun, fun!
This is a fun series to binge read, and you will like it best read in order. The stories have a little more bite than cozy mysteries do, I will call it a soft mystery. There is no one going crazy over hobbies or skills like cozies seem to have. But, as in real life, some of the characters have great skills or are very good at certain things. A few characters are knowledgeable about a vast number of things. The stories have plenty of twists and turns. There are dead ends and meaningless clues. There are many clues that are just not pointed out as such until the finale. These are really fun books, the mystery is not solved until the end and the reader is provided with all the clues as the main character. Fun, fun, fun!
June 7, 2023
These three novels follow the main character through a series of really poor jobs as she attempts to escape her ex-husband and his demands on her earnings. She only takes a job where she can be paid under the table so that there is no record of her earnings, and she escapes payment of taxes. She is fortunate to find work close to the poolside apartment where she lives and to the interesting neighbors and landlady who (almost) all become her friends. There is a murder in each story, of course, and a search by this little group to find the killer. Mystery and humor make these an enjoyable read.
July 9, 2021
Very entertaining!
Each book was well written, entertaining and enjoyable. The main character is fun, sassy, and very real. Someone you’d gladly befriend and want to join by the pool, along with the landlady and other quirky residents of the Coronado. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
Each book was well written, entertaining and enjoyable. The main character is fun, sassy, and very real. Someone you’d gladly befriend and want to join by the pool, along with the landlady and other quirky residents of the Coronado. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
March 21, 2021
Fun Stuff
For the most part, intelligently written. Liked the cast of characters. Some descriptions of southern Florida residents made me lol. We're seasonal in swfl, and it is a love/hate relationship on both sides. Enjoyed the read, recommended.
For the most part, intelligently written. Liked the cast of characters. Some descriptions of southern Florida residents made me lol. We're seasonal in swfl, and it is a love/hate relationship on both sides. Enjoyed the read, recommended.
July 7, 2021
Fun and easy to read
I enjoyed these mysteries as a nice easy read, they are intelligent and funny, a little repetitive in parts when reading one after the other, but that's understandable so they'd flow as a stand alone novel.
I enjoyed these mysteries as a nice easy read, they are intelligent and funny, a little repetitive in parts when reading one after the other, but that's understandable so they'd flow as a stand alone novel.
November 10, 2021
Different
Series was not what I expected. A few fun minor characters but hard to love a book when you feel sorry for the main character. She was too much of a mess with every job and man she met. The mysteries were unique but needs a little more humor or something happy.
Series was not what I expected. A few fun minor characters but hard to love a book when you feel sorry for the main character. She was too much of a mess with every job and man she met. The mysteries were unique but needs a little more humor or something happy.
July 6, 2022
Very Entertaining
This is a delightful series, though perhaps, stories involving murders should not be described as such. Dead-end jobs lead to adventures into criminal activities. These stories provide interesting and sometime funny happenings.
This is a delightful series, though perhaps, stories involving murders should not be described as such. Dead-end jobs lead to adventures into criminal activities. These stories provide interesting and sometime funny happenings.
March 10, 2023
Great mystery box set
These stories were pretty interesting and kept you guessing until the end. The main character Helen was quite a colorful character. The stories were really entertaining.
These stories were pretty interesting and kept you guessing until the end. The main character Helen was quite a colorful character. The stories were really entertaining.
March 10, 2021
The Dead-End Job Mysteries
I enjoyed all 3 volumes. They were exciting, fun and well written. The characters were very interesting! I will look for more of her books to read.
I enjoyed all 3 volumes. They were exciting, fun and well written. The characters were very interesting! I will look for more of her books to read.
May 5, 2021
South Florida Insanity
A wacky main character with a cast of equally wacky secondary characters. Silly plots, bizarre events, and goofy murders. A fun, tongue in check series.
A wacky main character with a cast of equally wacky secondary characters. Silly plots, bizarre events, and goofy murders. A fun, tongue in check series.
June 1, 2021
Good book
Good series even if at times she is not smart. Hope to read more of her books.. next.sread line in the new job
Good series even if at times she is not smart. Hope to read more of her books.. next.sread line in the new job
August 14, 2021
Did Not Finish! By the time I got through 5 or 6 chapters of book #3, I had had all of this character that I could stand.
September 30, 2021
Fun to read
The stories are easy reading. You don't want put the story down. Would recommend The Dead-End job mysteries to anyone.
The stories are easy reading. You don't want put the story down. Would recommend The Dead-End job mysteries to anyone.
February 17, 2022
Nice light romp. It was fun.
Easy read and enjoyable. Really liked the main character and her quirky ways. Her friends were importa lont to the development of the stories too.
Easy read and enjoyable. Really liked the main character and her quirky ways. Her friends were importa lont to the development of the stories too.
March 24, 2022
I enjoyed reading this series, it was fun and easy reading.
September 4, 2022
This series gets better the further in you are. I wasn't so sure about it at first.
November 4, 2021
Love this series. Light and fun but with a puzzle.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews