A Dirty Job: A Novel

Christopher Moore

Oct 2009 · Sold by Harper Collins

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

Beta Male. Beta Male!! BETA FREAKIN' MALE!!! WE GET IT ALREADY!! Such a let-down. When I read up not only on this book and the author, I was expecting so much more from Moore. And that right there is even funnier than anything in this book. When I saw that he was a fan of among others Dave Barry, my interest really peaked! However, the humor is either weak or at best clichéd to the point of being groan worthy. Another 'reaper' approach that is filled with uneven pacing, inconsistent characterizations and one of the most mind-numbingly, blatantly obvious conclusion I've read in a life-time. You may even begin to recognize various characters because at least in my view, some of them have been lifted from one or two popular (meh) TV series that you now find on constant loops on your more obscure cable stations. And I am especially disappointed because at very least from the list of titles in the Moore catalogue that I thought this might be an author with whom I could really relate. I may try another one day but certainly not from this story-line. I will say 'thank you' for one aspect, namely, that I learned of this title from a discount book club (let's call them 'Book Buddy' to avoid direct confrontation, ok?). After reading now 5 or 6 of their discounted recommendations - including also one of the related 'Inspector Hobbes' books by Wilkie Martin that was equally lame - it is painfully obvious as to why and how their book selections make it to the discount 'rack'. Sadly, because the offer was not available in Europe, I paid full price for this book, which makes it all the more frustrating! My recommendation is that if you find a used copy for under a dollar, try it. Otherwise, well BETA MALE BETA MALE BETA MALE!!!

Ehn. I liked it until the ending. The premise is very interesting, and it intersects with the world that Moore has built with some of his other novels, so it's neat seeing familiar characters pop up in cameos. That said, the ending felt very flippant - and yes, I know, this is Christopher Moore - but there just wasn't the satisfactory resolution you get from some of his other books.

Reread book before "Second Hand Souls." Fun idea and enjoyable. Though if unfamiliar with Moore I'd start with an earlier book.

About the author

Christopher Moore is the author of seventeen previous novels, including Shakespeare for Squirrels, Noir, Secondhand Souls, Sacré Bleu, Fool, and Lamb. He lives in San Francisco, California.