Charlie Asher is a beta male, one of the countless guys who survive in the gene pool by dog-paddling in the shallow end. He doesn t take risks and he seriously hates change. But Charlie s safe life is about to take a really weird detour. On the day his daughter, Sophie, is born, his wife dies of a freak medical condition. As if being a widower and the single parent of a newborn aren t enough, soon people begin to drop dead around Charlie. Suddenly his quiet life is crowded by giant ravens, hounds from hell, a mysterious ...
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Charlie Asher is a beta male, one of the countless guys who survive in the gene pool by dog-paddling in the shallow end. He doesn t take risks and he seriously hates change. But Charlie s safe life is about to take a really weird detour. On the day his daughter, Sophie, is born, his wife dies of a freak medical condition. As if being a widower and the single parent of a newborn aren t enough, soon people begin to drop dead around Charlie. Suddenly his quiet life is crowded by giant ravens, hounds from hell, a mysterious date book with a list of appointments, a stubborn old lady who refuses to accept the inevitable, and a wily Buddhist named Audrey. "
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Add this copy of A Dirty Job to cart. $19.84, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Sound Library.
Charlie Asher is a new father and is about to become a widower. On the day his daughter Sophie is born his loving wife Rachel orders him to go home. But being the neurotic that he is he decides that she can't stay overnight in the hospital without her favorite Sarah McLaughlin CD. Upon returning to her room he sees a strange tall black man all dressed in mint green standing over Rachel. Charlie demands to know who the stranger is and what he wants with his wife, the stranger responds with "You can see me? This isn't good." and runs out the door. Then Rachel is dead and her CD is mysteriously gone. When Charlie demands to know who was in her room no one knows what Charlie is talking about.
Now Rachel is gone and Charlie must raise Sophie alone. If that isn't enough to make him snap he's starting to see radioactive red glowing objects and strangers around him start dropping like flies. With the help of the stranger dressed in green, Minty Fresh, and his rude young goth employee, Lily, he accepts the fact that has become one of many deaths, or as Minty likes to call them Death Merchants.
So now its Charlie's mission to collect the souls of the recently departed (the red glowing objects) in whatever material item they loved best, and see to it that the soul vessel is passed onto to someone else without a soul. As ususal there's a hitch, there's another employee of his, Ray, who thinks Charlie is a serial killer. Ray is an ex-cop so he has the police keeping an eye on him. And did I mention the sewer harpies? The sewer harpies are the original deaths and want nothing more than to kill Charlie, Sophie and the other Death Merchants and take back their rightful place.
Charlie is so busy with all of this he never thinks about the strange things happening with his daughter. Every pet he buys her dies within a day or two, and she can kill people just by saying "Kitty". Typical father, always too wrapped up in their own work to notice their children's accomplisments.
RedAdept
Sep 20, 2008
Great Book
This book is absolutely hilarious!
It actually makes death funny. You do feel some sympathy for the main character, but, oddly enough in an entertaining way.
Be careful where you read this or you will be laughing out loud and people will look at you funny.
I haven't read any of Christopher Moore's other books, but I plan to soon.
lindacat
Jan 1, 2008
Not a dirty job to read this book
I'm a fan of all of Christopher Moore's books and you will be too if you love off the wall crazy humor. He is a teller of quirky tales and this is no exception. An ordinary guy finds himself with the unfortunate job of being the grim reaper and he is not happy about it but he soldiers on with the help of his eccentric friends and a few nasty enemies. Nice novel for when you're flying....funny, distracting and keeps you in touch with your mortality in the event of an airline emergency. Just klidding, relax and enjoy.
Nikkidinicks
Oct 1, 2007
Very Funny!
This is the first book I have read by this author and it was good. His style of writing is very funny and even in the sad scenes he still is able to make you want to cry. The only reason it did not get 5 stars is because I did not like the ending. Maybe it's just me but I like happy endings where my protagonist lives (in a human body that is!!!)
ReadGnut
Aug 22, 2007
Funny, Funny, did I say Funny
If you are a prude, do not bother with this book. For me, it was the funniest book I have ever read and I have read a lot of them.
