A Dirty Job

Charlie Asher runs a secondhand store in San Francisco while raising his infant daughter Sophie alone after his wife's unexpected death. During this challenging time, he discovers he has been selected for an unusual role: collecting souls from the dying and protecting them from dark forces. Charlie must balance his new supernatural duties with running his business and single parenthood. His support network includes a diverse cast of San Francisco characters, from his goth employee Lily to the imposing fellow soul collector Minty Fresh. The story spans the streets and neighborhoods of San Francisco, from Charlie's store in the Castro District to the city's underground tunnels. The narrative follows Charlie as he learns the rules and risks of his new occupation while facing escalating threats from the underworld. The novel combines supernatural elements with themes of grief, parenthood, and finding purpose in life's darkest moments. Through humor and the absurd, it explores how ordinary people cope with death and loss.

Readers describe A Dirty Job as an irreverent dark comedy that balances humor with emotional depth. Many say they laughed out loud while reading, particularly at the protagonist Charlie's neurotic internal monologues and his interactions with secondary characters. Readers liked: - The blend of comedy and serious themes - Detailed San Francisco setting - Complex supporting characters - Unpredictable plot turns Readers disliked: - Pacing issues in the middle section - Some found the humor too crude - Confusing mythology/world-building - Abrupt ending One reader noted: "Moore manages to make death funny without being disrespectful." Another complained: "Too many subplots that don't go anywhere." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (109,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,400+ reviews) LibraryThing: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) The book scores highest among readers who enjoy absurdist humor and urban fantasy, lower among those seeking traditional horror or comedy.

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🔸 The character of Minty Fresh (the tall soul collector in green) became so popular with readers that Moore featured him in other novels, including "Secondhand Souls" and "Noir." 🔸 Christopher Moore got the inspiration for "A Dirty Job" while researching in the basement of a medical examiner's office for another book project. 🔸 The novel's San Francisco setting includes many real locations, including actual thrift stores in the city's Beta District that Moore frequented while writing the book. 🔸 The Buddhist concept of Bardo, a transitional state between death and rebirth, heavily influenced the novel's mythology around soul collecting. 🔸 When released in 2006, "A Dirty Job" became Moore's first New York Times bestseller, despite his already having published eight previous novels.