Murder Can Upset Your Mother

Desiree Shapiro Mystery #8

by Selma Eichler

In this ninth book in the "witty" "*" series, Desiree discovers that by ignoring her answering machine messages, she missed a desperate call from a woman who is now dead. So begins the latest investigation for plump P.I. Desiree Shapiro....

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

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

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Can Upset Your Mother
~Signet
(12)
Desiree can upset the murderer, May 28, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: Murder Can Upset Your Mother (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #8) (Paperback)
I've given up counting how many Desiree Shapiro mysteries I've read. Let's just say I'm right at home with Desiree and her entourage and this book was no exception to that rule.

Desiree is asked by Norma Davis to get to the bottom of her daughter's (Miriam Weiden) death. Actually Desiree was originally asked by the murdered victim to find out who was trying to kill her...that was the message on Desiree's answering machine. Unfortunately for Miriam, Desiree didn't get to hear that message before it was already too late.

The characters are well described and each play their own role in a cover up. But is this a cover up of the predator or of the vicitim. It appears that Miriam's character may be a bit more flawed than what the public has been led to believe.

I love the way Desiree probes and confronts each person in this mystery almost to the point of being confronted herself! But that's never a deterrent to Desiree. The usual set of Desiree's groupies are on board-Ellen (desiree's niece) with her continuous needs for Desiree to be part of her perfect wedding, Jackie (Desiree's secretary par excellence), Gilbert & Sullivan (Desiree's landlords), as well as Desiree's zany neighbors with an invitation must to one of the nuttiest and most miserable parties ever.

I know when I sit down to read another Desiree Shapiro mystery the fun is just about to begin. Inviting and relaxing.

A must mystery series for all cozy lovers. Glad I'm addicted. :)

[Harry · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first read, #8, of Selma Eichler’s 15 book Desiree Shapiro Mystery Series whose titles all start with “Murder Can.” While Desiree can be cute and witty, I frankly do not understand the appeal. Perhaps it is the same appeal of the bumbling detective in the vein of The Pink Panther, Colombo or even Inspector Gadget. Desiree is short and overweight with a surprising lack of focus and impulse control, especially with regards to food. She appears to be a cross between Inspector Jacques Clouseau and Totie Fields (if anyone can remember that comedienne).
As to this book, there are as many words spent on Desiree’s foibles as to actually solving the murder. The murderer turns out to be someone with a less than obvious motive, and the finale is uneventful.
Given the title, a better plot would be where the murder victim’s mother had killed her own daughter. She then hires Desiree to find the “real” murderer, figuring that a detective so inept as to lose a telephone message would never cast suspicion on the mother.

[Sue Merrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an okay mystery. Author tries a little too hard to be sassy. What I enjoyed most is the character lives in NYC and gets around by cab or walking and it made for an interesting lifestyle and investigation. Different.

[Madelyn Flammia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a hoot. Desiree is a great character. The stories are fast-paced and fun. Eichler kept me guessing until the end.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desiree gets involved in a death that may be a murder. Miriam Weiden was seemingly a very generous person, but Desiree soon finds out she wasn't as nice as everyone believed.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desiree is always fun!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great episode in this entertaining mystery series

[Priscilla Herrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 8th book in a series featuring private investigator Desiree Shapiro. It was a good story with a bit of a surprise ending.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Can Upset Your Mother is one of those mysteries where in the beginning no one has any possible motive to commit the murder, but by the end everyone could have and probably should have done it. It was virtually impossible to figure out who the murderer was, even though the clues were completely laid out for you. The mystery was entertaining with many secrets revealed and a couple of really surprising twists.

Unapologetically full-figured private investigator Desiree Shapiro is smart, sassy and always wants to see the best in people. I enjoyed the character and loved her self-acceptance, but the almost constant descriptions of her every meal got to be a distraction from the story. I appreciate that she isn't going to starve herself to become a socially acceptable size, but I didn't need to know exactly what she ate every time she ate something.

Desiree considered eating eggplant parmigiana for a moment at one point in the story. She didn't actually cook it or eat it, yet the recipe was included in the back of the book. I found it a little strange, but maybe it was an attempt to appeal to culinary mystery fans.

Murder Can Upset Your Mother is the 8th book in the series, but wouldn't be confusing if read as a stand-alone mystery as I did. I would definitely recommend Desiree Shapiro to cozy mystery fans but they find them difficult to find as some of the earlier books appear to be currently out of print. If you do manage to come across them, check them out.

[Kim j · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sad that this is the last one I had left to read in the series & that she is not writing anymore. I really enjoyed this series because of the honesty about food, guilt, real friendships & relatable characters. I love Des, Ellen & Jackie. This series was funny & easy to read but more than that different than your ordinary PI series. Goodbye Desiree gonna miss you!!!!

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery following the standard who-done-it with a twist: our private dick is a woman of middle years who dyes her hair red and his very fond of eating. She is smart and funny and mostly comfortable with who she is. And she solves the mystery.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mystery is surprisingly not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Probably should be a 3 star book, but I read it while I had the stomach flu and the detective's fixation with greasy food wasn't helping my recovery.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slower than some of Selma Eichler's other books. That could just be because the murder seemed less gory and you felt less sorry for the victim and her family.

[Mary Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feel like the writer is talking to me on our coffee break. Friendly delivery.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of her better ones. Read it in little snatches of time.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desiree is a private investigator, solves the murder of a wonderful philanthropist who turns out to be less than wonderful.
Desiree is out of shape.
Cute.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 - Very Good

[Jackie Simons]

Read 7/02