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World Hotels - Dying in Style (Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper, Book 1)
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List Price: $6.99
Our Price: $6.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Signet
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Average Customer Rating:   
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780451216793
ISBN: 0451216792
Label: Signet
Manufacturer: Signet
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: 2005-10-04
Publisher: Signet
Studio: Signet
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Editorial Reviews:
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Mystery shopper Josie Marcus's report about Danessa Celedine's exclusive store is less than stellar, and it may cost the fashion diva fifty million dollars. But Danessa's financial future becomes moot when she's found murdered, strangled with one of her own thousand-dollar snakeskin belts-and Josie is accused of the crime.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: a new series
Comment: I was disappointed that Dying in Style wasn't another Dead End Jobs story, but I had a hard time putting it down anyway. I got the impression that Ms. Viets researched "mystery shopper" as a Dead End Job, but discovered it had more potential than just one book, so decided to make a new series with it.
Single mother Josie is a mystery shopper. When she gives a chain of upscale boutiques a poor review, it garners first threats from the owner, then the threat of arrest when the owner is murdered.
I found it pretty good, but not quite up to the Dead End Jobs books. Her sidekick socialite friend is a great character, but her shopaholic mother is really annoying.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Cute, funny,
Comment: I enjoyed this book for a quick read. I love humor by an author! This was not heavy reading, but brought me a smile and pleasure. I wish Josie would konk her mom, though. Amelia was "sweet" to quote her. I could identify with the main character. My life is much like hers. Sometimes the slick, smart, svelt, heroin is not like real folks. I want to read more of her books.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Mystery Shopper Solves a Murder
Comment: Josie Marcus shops for a living. She is a single mom and has an exciting job. She goes to different retail and service businesses and checks out their merchandise and service. Sometimes she wears disguises and always seems to have fun.
Josie gets a very interesting top secret assignment. She is to visit a high end handbag store. Based on her report all heck breaks loose. Josie has to solve the mystery to clear her own name and get her life back to normal.
This seems to be an entertaining series. I look forward to reading more.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The perfect accessory to any outfit!
Comment: Most women would love to be paid to spend their days shopping; but for Josie Marcus, mystery shopper extraordinaire, it's a full-time job that can be just as exhausting as sitting behind a desk. Sure, schlepping from boutiques to fast-food restaurants, supermarkets to gas stations, and everything in between sounds fun; but it can be downright challenging when you're attempting to raise a nine-year-old daughter, contend with a nagging mother who lives right upstairs, and deal with the unexpected...such as murder.
Mystery shopper Josie Marcus is used to people getting upset with the reports that she writes about their customer service. She has seen it all, from tantrums to tears, but, over the years, she has built a tough exterior, and knows that, no matter what, her original thoughts and words will never waver. Even when she receives threats. When she's given the assignment to shop the Danessa stores, however, Josie's mother is furious. Danessa Celedine is a celebrity that everyone in St. Louis adores. And just about anyone with money craves to carry an exclusive Danessa Celdine handbag. Unfortunately, after a few trips to the store, Josie can't help but report that there are fingerprints everywhere, and the merchandise is very low quality. It's the truth, but it sends Danessa into an uproar that leaves Josie clinging to her job by mere strings, and on the receiving end of a possible lawsuit. Josie, however, is sticking to her guns. But when Danessa turns up dead, having been strangled by a snakeskin belt from her own line, which just happens to cost thousands of dollars and have Josie's fingerprints all over it, Josie knows that it's time to put her thinking cap on. She'll have to catch the killer herself, or find herself locked up behind bars, adorned in an orange polyester jailhouse outfit that will ruin her for good. But fingering the killer proves harder than she thought once she finds herself struggling to locate an MIA person, while evading the police, spending quality time with her daughter, and trying to keep her job. With so much on her plate, Josie wonders if succumbing to prison would be more practical, but refuses to go down without a fight - and a killer pair of shoes.
I have had DYING IN STYLE sitting on my bookshelf since it was first released, but never had the opportunity to read it. Once I picked it up, however, I couldn't put it down. Elaine Viets is amazing at character development, and creating scenarios that readers can truly relate to. Josie is an endearing character whose devotion to her daughter and mother illustrates her soft side; while her refusal to take the fall for a crime that she didn't commit, and not back down when she knows that she's in the right shows just how feisty she can be. The romance sprinkled throughout the story is a nice backdrop that proves to raise a few questions that will, hopefully, be answered in future installments; and the inclusion of the character of Alyce makes for a delightful addition to the story. In fact, Alyce could easily become the star of her very own mystery series - that's how lovable she is. And, of course, it doesn't hurt that Viets also tossed in a few shopping tips that will leave all readers running for the mall. The perfect accessory to any outfit!
Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer
Customer Rating:
Summary: Mystery shopper solves mysteries!
Comment: Josie Marcus has one of the more interesting professions for a mystery series lead character: mystery shopper. I used to think it would be fun to be a mystery shopper, but the descriptions in the book (even without dead bodies popping up) sound like it is more work and less fun.
Josie's personality is what makes this book interesting; the mystery itself is a little thin and the solution a little too quick. But that personality and the lengths she goes to disguise herself on her mystery shopping ventures make the book worth reading.
I agree with another reviewer who thinks men aren't portrayed well in the book. The one clearly "nice" guy is boring (and a bad dresser) and most of the rest are liars and cheats.
I'm already reading another book in the series and hope there is a better representation of men who aren't jerks.
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