A Conventional Corpse

by Joan Hess

Book Overview

Farberville, Arkansas is playing host to its first ever mystery convention. Sponsored by the Thurber Farber Foundation and held at Farber College, Murder Comes to Campus is playing host to five major mystery writers representing all areas of the field. Dragooned into running the show when the original organizer is hospitalized, local bookseller Claire Malloy finds herself in the midst of a barely controlled disaster. Not only do each of the writers...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312246625
• ISBN13: 9780312246624
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 275 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Ever So Funny!

I have been reading Joan Hess' books for many years now. You can always count on this author for a very fun read. A Conventional Corpse is no exception. I found many places where I laughed out loud. Claire Malloy's straight forwardness is so funny at times that I find myself re-reading the lines for another laugh. The messes that seem to find Claire are great. The supporting characters are solidly developed and used well to move the plot along. I'm so glad that Ms. Hess brought Arnie back, I love that character. In this installment, Arnie is fleshed out more and we understand him much better. Thank you for that that Ms. Hess. Oh, yes there is a murder or two. To those readers who found the ending confusing, I suggest that you read the last few pages again. I didn't find it confusing at all! I understood what had happened and what was happening. I won't give the ending away, but it was the only way for Ms. Hess to end this mystery and have the happy ending. And a very good way, I might add. So my hat is off to Joan Hess for another wonderful installment in her Claire Malloy Series. Looking forward to another one soon.

A welcome and funny return.

A Conventional Corpse is a welcome return of Claire Malloy. Only Dear Miss Demeanor beats it as the best of the series. In A Conventional Corpse, problems fall on poor Claire's shoulders. When the head organizer of Murder Comes to Campus winds up in the hospital, Claire is roped into taking over. On top of that, she has Peter, her ex-boyfriend popping up at inconvenient times. Claire's slightly sardonic and dry sense of humor had me laughing. Though the plot wasn't extremely technical (it had to have been simple in order to solve it before the authors left at the end of the weekend), it was suspenseful. I'm also itching to find out what real life mystery authors are represented by the characters. Overall, a great read. I look forward to the next Claire Malloy book.

A CONVENTIONAL CORPSE by Joan Hess

his latest Claire Molloy mystery is a hoot! In addition to the usual cast of characters, we meet five mystery authors and one editor who have come to Fayetteville, Arkansas to attend the first (perhaps only) "Murder Comes to Campus" mystery convention. Claire, who had hoped to sell tons to books to the 100 convention attendees, finds herself instead roped into managing the convention when the original organizer is hospitalized. Claire must deal with the 5 mystery guests of author and a troublesome editor, all of whom are based on real-life people. Joan Hess and St Martin's Press are sponsoring a "Who Are These Characters Based On?" contest, but alas, we in Arizona are prohibited from entering. I was able to figure out the real-life identity of 3 of the 6 characters (but am I right?). See how many you can figure out! Oh, and while you're at it, see if you can figure out whodunit. I was guessing until the very last page.

A delightful read..............

I laughed until "pee dripped down my legs like tears". Joan Hess rarely fails to entertain me. I loved the interaction, the repartee and yes, even the viciousness between the invited authors. And the secretary was wonderful...someone I could aspire to being (quip-wise).

Well worth the long wait

The Book Depot, an independent bookstore located in Farberville, Arkansas, generates enough revenue to support owner Claire Malloy and her sixteen-year old daughter Caron. Claire expects to make enough money to dramatically reduce her debts at the Murder Comes to Campus Mystery convention sponsored by the Thurber Farber Foundation for the Humanities at Farber College.Claire's belief in her making a substantial profit ends when she is forced to replace the hospitalized convention's chairman. Claire initially enjoys talking with the authors, but only a few hours in their company pass before she realizes most of them are petty, jealous, and cranky. An attendee dies in a tragic car accident. The kidnapping of an author's cat and the murder of an editor follow. After having solved many homicides over the past few years, Claire begins her own investigation that almost leads to her own death.Fans of the Malloy mystery series will be delighted to learn that after a long gap, a new installment is on the shelves. A CONVENTIONAL CORPSE is a witty and enchanting cozy that captures the ambiance of campus small town life. The subplot involving the heroine and her egotistical former lover is extremely humorous. There is an abundance of viable suspects that add to the complexity of Joan Hess's wonderful amateur sleuth novel.Harriet Klausner