Dating Dead Men

Dating Dead Men follows Wollie Shelley, a greeting card artist in Los Angeles who agrees to participate in a radio dating project requiring her to date forty men in sixty days. The dating experiment becomes complicated when she discovers a dead body at her brother's mental hospital. Between her dating assignments and managing her small shop, Wollie becomes entangled in a mystery involving the FBI, the mob, and an enigmatic stranger named Doc. She must navigate increasingly dangerous situations while trying to protect her schizophrenic brother and keep her business afloat. The novel seamlessly blends romance and suspense with humor, creating a unique take on both the mystery and romantic comedy genres. Its Los Angeles setting provides a vibrant backdrop for the story's mix of crime, family loyalty, and unexpected romance. The book explores themes of trust, family bonds, and the challenge of finding authentic connections in a world where appearances can be deceiving. Through Wollie's experiences, it questions how well we can truly know the people we meet and date.

Readers describe this as a light mystery with humor and romance elements. Most reviewers note the book takes an unusual approach by blending genres. Readers appreciated: - Smart, witty dialogue - The Los Angeles setting details - Complex family relationships - The protagonist's unique profession (dating service owner) - Balance of mystery and romantic elements Common criticisms: - Plot becomes convoluted - Too many characters to track - Romance overshadows the mystery - Some found the humor forced Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (80+ ratings) "Fun but scattered" notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads reader comments "The mystery kept me guessing but there were too many subplots." Several readers compare it favorably to Janet Evanovich's style, though some found it "trying too hard to be quirky" according to a LibraryThing review. The book resonates most with readers seeking a lighter mystery rather than a serious crime novel.

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🌟 Author Harley Jane Kozak had a successful career as a soap opera actress before becoming a novelist, appearing in popular shows like "Guiding Light" and "Santa Barbara" 🌟 "Dating Dead Men" won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel in 2004, establishing Kozak as a notable voice in the cozy mystery genre 🌟 The book spawned a series called "Wollie Shelley Mysteries," with subsequent titles including "Dating Is Murder" and "Dead Ex" 🌟 The protagonist's unique job as a greeting card artist was inspired by Kozak's own sister, who worked in the greeting card industry 🌟 Los Angeles's Silverlake neighborhood, where much of the novel takes place, experienced significant gentrification in the early 2000s when the book was written, making it a timely cultural snapshot