The Curse of the Holy Pail #2

From BooklistIt's only a lunchbox, but someone wants it badly enough to kill for it. Plus-size, middle-aged paralegal Odelia Grey finds out her client, wealthy Sterling Price, has been murdered, and the rarest piece of his collection, a Chappy Wheeler lunch box, is missing. The box has a curse on it--all its previous owners have met with a dire fate. Of course, it's worth a not-so-small fortune, and that kind of money makes ownership worth the risk. The list of suspects is long--Sterling's loyal secretary, his discarded fiancee, his money-grubbing relatives, fellow collectors, overzealous environmentalists, and even Odelia herself. Told in an engaging first-person narration, this is the second book in the humorous Odelia Grey series (_Too Big to Miss_, 2006). Libraries will want both, as Jaffarian offers the perfectly flawed alternative for readers sick and tired of picture-perfect characters. The wonderfully human Ophelia's adventures will continue in the forthcoming Mother Mayhem. Shelley MosleyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reservedReview"With a legendary curse, a possibly murderous little person, ruthless heirs, [and] charismatic thugs... a lively caper that will keep you guessing right till the end." -- Kris Neri, award-winning author of the Tracy Eaton mysteries "I'd like to spend more time with Sue Ann Jaffarian's Odelia." -- The New York Times "More fun than a lunch pail full of plump paralegals, The Curse of the Holy Pail is a tale as bouncy as its bodacious protagonist." -- _Bill Fitzhugh, author of _Highway 61 and Resurfaced "Odelia Gray is a wonderful addition to the mystery genre, a smart, funny, engaging plus-size heroine who takes readers on a plus-size ride. You root for her, laugh with her and cheer at her ultimate triumph. If I were in trouble, I'd want Odelia on my side." -- _Denise Hamilton, Edgar Allen Poe and Willa Cather awards finalist and national bestselling author of _Prisoner of Memory "Well written and nicely paced, this is a good beach or airplane read." -- Cycling.Finial.com The Curse of the Holy Pail is a fast-paced and well-plotted book. Jaffarian's writing is sharp and sassy--like her protagonist--and she knows how to keep the suspense high. If this second-in-a-series is any indication, Jaffarian and Odelia have a bright future. -- Mystery Scene, March 2007