Title: A Dirty Job
Author: Christopher Moore
Publisher: William Morrow (HarperCollins) 2006
Genre: Fantasy; Humor
Pages: 384
Rating: 5/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; Fantasy; A to Z Titles: D
Charlie Asher is a pretty normal guy with a normal life, married to a bright and pretty woman who actually loves him for his normalcy. They're even about to have their first child. Yes, Charlie's doing okay—until people start dropping dead around him, and everywhere he goes a dark presence whispers to him from under the streets. Charlie Asher, it seems, has been recruited for a new position: as Death.
It's a dirty job. But, hey! Somebody's gotta do it.
A few weeks ago I picked up Moore's vampire love story trilogy (Bloodsucking Fiends, You Suck, and Bite Me) and loved the mix of humor and paranormal. I had to check out some of his other work. So I picked this volume up at the library and finally got to it this week.
And it was definitely worth it! This novel, set in the same San Francisco universe, as the trilogy, centered on a Beta-Male, Charlie Asher, recently widowed with an infant daughter and he just found out he's death (the person, not the concept). So what's a skinny guy who runs a thrift shop to do? Freak out, of course. In his path to finding his new place in the world, we meet some other interesting characters: Charlie's androgynous sister Jane, fellow Death Merchant Minty Fresh (yes that's his name), shopworker and possibly serial killer Ray Macy, detective Rivera (crossover from the trilogy), Buddhist monk Audrey, the Emperor of San Francisco (crossover from trilogy), shopkeeper Lily (best friend of Abby Normal from the trilogy), Hellhounds Alvin and Mohammad, and a bunch of squirrel people (must read the book to figure those out). Every character as odd as Charlie, but so endearing. I loved them, quirks and all.
I don't want to give away an plot details, but I must say I loved all the twists and turns and strange occurrences. A very enjoyable read (especially while suffering from this horrible sore throat and head cold). Christopher Moore has definitely earned a place on my favorite authors list.
