"Interesting murder mystery with a touch of humor."

Having just finished with a pro-bono case, full-figured PI Desiree Shapiro is reluctant to take on another one. She can't refuse, however, when a teenager with multi-hued hair offers to pay with her hard-earned babysitting money to clear her daddy's name of murder. The only problem is the case is cold: really cold. The murder Victor Pirrelli was found guilty of occurred 10 years ago, the day before his daughter's sixth birthday. Also, Victor has recently died in prison.

Despite condescension from all angles, Desiree agrees to discover what she can, warning Vicky that a cold case where the suspect is found holding the murder weapon is going to be difficult to prove otherwise.

For a simple, but interesting, murder mystery, MURDER CAN BOTCH UP YOUR BIRTHDAY is an excellent escape. Though the 11th book in her Desiree Shapiro series, new readers will have no difficulty understanding the humor, characters and storyline.

Reviewed by Vicky Gilpin
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted February 16, 2004

Summary

No one can say that Desiree Shapiro, New York's chubbiest PI, isn't a soft touch. That's why when teenager Vicky Pirrelli wants to find out who really killed her father's mistress—a crime for which he went to jail—Desiree decides to ignore all the reasons she'd have to be crazy to take the case. The murder occurred a decade ago, on the eve of Vicky's sixth birthday, so it's almost certain the evidence will be tainted or even nonexistent. The truth won't help Victor Pirrelli, who died in prison two weeks earlier, and Desiree has been assured that she'll be adequately compensated for her services with Vicky's baby-sitting money. Still, Desiree agrees to look into things—and promptly comes up with four suspects, including her young client's own mother!

Meanwhile, Desiree's personal life isn't going so well. The man who could be her new love has a malicious nine-year-old son. And it's apparent that the little *#!!$%!# wouldn't mind doing to Desiree what someone did to Victor's mistress...

INCLUDES A TASTY NEW RECIPE FROM DESIREE SHAPIRO!