Giving Up the Ghost

by Helen Chappell

Book Overview

Elvis lives! Until someone starts killing off his impersonators, one by one... As a reporter for a local newspaper on Maryland's Eastern Shore, Hollis Ball sees more of life than most. As an amateur... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440225752
• ISBN13: 9780440225751
• Release Date: June 1999
• Publisher: Dell Publishing Company
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

A very funny book

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great entry in the series. The Elvis thing was very funny.

Couldn't put it down - what a treat!

I found this the best yet in Chappell's mystery series, which continues the madcap tradition of Cary Grant in Topper. In this book, we learn more about Hollis' feelings for Sam, and his for her, but this wistful aside does not detract from the hilarity of the Elvis impersonators and life on the Eastern Shore. You really can't afford to skip over one bit of narrative in Chappell's work, because you're sure to miss a laugh if you do.

Chappell at her best! This one is a winner!

Elvis impersonators, ghosts, defrocked baseball players and murder---what could be better than one of Chappell's Eastern Shore mysteries?

A top notch entry in a great series.

Hollis, reporter on Maryland's Eastern Shore is back. What bothers many people is that her gambling godfather, Albie is also back. Albie played one year with the Orioles,but his life style and gambling ended his baseball career abruptly. He lives from opportunity to failed opportunity. This time he is setting up an Elvis interpreter contest for a mobster to whom he owes money. When these Elvis impersonators begin to turn up murdered, Albie is the logical suspect. Hollis must clear him with the help of her ghostly ex-husband Sam, accompanied by stern warnings of her policeman boy friend to stay out of it. This book will keep you trying to come up with the solution while laughing out loud. A wonderful concept for both comedy and mystery that Chappell handles with a light professional touch. Great reading especially for those of us who grew up with George and Marian Kirby in the Topper series.

A terrific supernatural mystery

To the chagrin of long-time local residents, Hollis Ball's godfather Albie Lydekker returns to Maryland's Eastern Shore. Many complain to Hollis that they do not wish to see the habitual gambler come home, but she loves and relishes his return. Even her welcome becomes short-lived as he soon involves her in an Elvis impersonation contest. Soon someone murders a contestant and Albie is the prime suspect. With the help of her ex-husband Sam Westscott, a ghost, Hollis begins to investigate in order to prove that her scoundrel of a godfather did not commit murder. As she walks through a maize of Elvis impersonators and worshippers, Hollis gets closer to the truth. Her police officer boyfriend Ormond Friendly pleads with her to quit her inquiries before she gets hurt. Encouraged but always deserted (as in their life together) by Sam, Hollis places her own life in danger in an attempt to learn who is the human eraser (meaning not found in Webster) ridding the world of Elvis impersonators. GIVING UP THE GHOST, The fourth novel in the highly regarded Hollis-Sam amateur sleuth series, is a humorous and refreshing novel. The who-done-it is entertaining and the support cast, especially the Elvis impersonators and Albie, provide amusing fun to the story line. However, this particular book stands out because Helen Chappell provides her fans with interesting insight into Sam and Hollis' relationship when he was alive. A terrific tale that sub-genre fans will take much pleasure in even as they wait for the next series entry.Harriet Klausner