In this latest mystery, Murder Can Crash Your Party, Desiree, a PI with a legal firm, has a number of conundrums she is facing: an eager beau with an offspring from hell, a speaking engagement at a writers' convention that is parching her throat just thinking about it, and a depleting bank account that could be considerably plumped up if she takes a very unusual case. That unusual case involves having Desiree solve a fictional murder, one that an aging romance writer deposits in her lap at the writers' convention. If she discovers who the murderer is, she'll be paid $24,940, a most unusual sum for a most unusual task. And, why would the writer want her to do that in the first place? Thrown into this tangled mess is a case Desiree takes on the side, trailing a philandering wife.

Desiree tackles all of this with aplomb, amid bouts of procrastination, hot dates, and heart-to-hearts with her secretary. The characters in this book are a hoot! I chuckled over every one of them. I also was treated to detailed descriptions of every meal Desiree had, especially those delectable ones in five-star restaurants. As is Eichler's signature, this book also included a recipe. This one had Desiree's Home-fried Potatoes. Yum!

If you haven't met Desiree Shapiro, find her in any of the other Murder Can.... books. I'm sure we fans can even persuade Selma Eichler to write us a new one to tantalize our mystery lovers' brains.