What’s it about?
Elaine Viets’ My Dead-End Job mysteries have become classics. But even classics need a little reboot. The first thirteen novels have been re-released by JABberwocky Literary on March 6 as e-books. All books have new covers by the award-winning Jenn Reese at Tiger Bright Studios.
Inside, you’ll find your favorite adventures of Helen Hawthorne, the St. Louis woman who had a high-finance job, a beautiful home— and a good-for-nothing husband she caught in the act with their neighbor. When she divorces the bum, the judge saddles Helen with alimony. Helen refuses to pay her ex, tosses her wedding ring in the Mississippi River and goes on the run.
She winds up in Fort Lauderdale, working dead-end jobs for cash under the table. Follow Helen as she learns to thrive in subtropical South Florida. Along the way Helen changes. She goes from a bitter woman who distrusts men to a happily married bride. She becomes a private eye. She still works those low-paying jobs, but now she’s undercover.
Check out the contents.
- In Shop till You Drop, Helen sells bustiers to bimbos.
- Next, she works as a bookseller in Murder Between the Covers.
- Then she’s a telemarketer selling septic tank cleaner in Dying to Call You. (Yes, I really sold it. Wanna hear my spiel?)
- After that, Helen works at a bridal salon for Just Murdered. After I sold wedding dresses – when emotions run strong – I wondered why there aren’t more murders.
- During a hurricane, Helen tracks down a killer at a posh dog grooming salon in Murder Unleashed.
- In Murder with Reservations Helen is a hotel maid, and finds out why you shouldn’t use a hotel coffee pot. (Ask me if you dare.)
- In Clubbed to Death, Helen works at a country club, solving the problems of people who have no problems. The club’s motto should be “Do you know who I am?”
- From there, she’s a gofer at a high-end hair salon where a color and cut cost more than a car payment in Killer Cuts.
- In Half-Price Homicide, Helen’s working at a resale boutique where trophy wives with controlling husbands get their folding money.
- In Pumped for Murder, Helen explores the fascinating world of women’s competition body building, where “ripped and stripped” competitors live on three ounces of chicken – a day.
- Next, Helen is a stewardess on a luxury yacht for Final Sail, and learns to vacuum in the tracks. (It’s an art.)
- Life’s a beach in South Florida, but the friendly folks selling parasailing and paddle boarding are in cutthroat businesses. Helen’s role in Board Stiff is no day at the beach.
- The fur flies when Helen is a groomer for pedigreed show cats in Catnapped!
What do others say?
Wit, murder and sunshine…it must be Florida. I love this new series by Elaine Viets.—Nancy Pickard, National Bestselling Author of Ring of Truth
…fabulous. I fell in love with her dead-on funny Dead-End Job Mysteries and so will you.—Jerrilyn Farmer, author of Mumbo Gumbo
I loved this book…. Tons of fun. ….this book has it all.—Charlaine Harris, #1 bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse Southern vampire series
Who wrote them?
Elaine Viets has written 32 mysteries in 
four series: the bestselling Dead-End Job series with South Florida PI Helen Hawthorne, the cozy Josie Marcus Mystery Shopper mysteries, and the dark Francesca Vierling mysteries. With the Angela Richman Death Investigator series, Elaine returns to her hardboiled roots and uses her experience as a stroke survivor and her studies at the Medicolegal Death Investigators Training Course. Elaine was a director at large for the Mystery Writers of America. She’s a frequent contributor to Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and anthologies edited by Charlaine Harris and Lawrence Block. Elaine won the Anthony, Agatha and Lefty Awards. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
