The Curse of the Holy Pail

Book excerpt: Is the "Holy Pail" cursed? Every owner of the vintage Chappy Wheeler lunchbox—a prototype based on the 1940s TV western—has died. And now Sterling Price, business tycoon and a client of Odelia Grey's law firm, has been fatally poisoned. Is it a coincidence that Price's one-of-a-kind lunch pail—worth over thirty grand—has disappeared at the same time? Treading cautiously since a recent run-in with a bullet, Odelia takes small bites of this juicy, calorie-free mystery—and is soon ravenous for more! Her research reveals a sixty-year-old unsolved murder and Price's gold-digging ex-fiancée with two married men wrapped around her breasts...uh, finger. Mix in a surprise marriage proposal that sends an uncertain Odelia into chocolate sedation, and you've got an unruly recipe for delicious disaster. Praise: "I'd like to spend more time with Sue Ann Jaffarian's Odelia."—The New York Times "Plus-size paralegal Odelia Grey gets more than she bargained for when she accepts an unusual gift from a favorite client...Jaffarian plays the formula with finesse, keeping love problems firmly in the background while giving her heroine room to use her ample wit and grit."—Kirkus Reviews "Jaffarian offers the perfectly flawed alternative for readers sick and tired of picture-perfect characters." —Booklist "Odelia Grey is a keeper."—Library Journal "Jaffarian's writing is sharp and sassy—like her protagonist—and she knows how to keep the suspense high."—Mystery Scene "I have enjoyed both books in the series. Odelia is a resourceful woman, and I didn't chafe at her amateur sleuthing. The book has an inspired cookie recipe."—Deadly Pleasures "Even better than her first...a major hoot!"—Thomas B. Sawyer, bestselling author of TheSixteenth Man, former head writer/producer of Murder, She Wrote "Odelia Gray is a wonderful addition to the mystery genre, a smart, funny, engaging plus-size heroine who takes readers on a plus-size ride. You root for her, laugh with her and cheer at her ultimate triumph. If I were in trouble, I'd want Odelia on my side."—Denise Hamilton, Edgar and Willa Cather Award-finalist and national bestselling author of Prisoner of Memory "More fun than a lunch pail full of plump paralegals, The Curse of the Holy Pail is a tale as bouncy as its bodacious protagonist."—Bill Fitzhugh, author of Highway 61 and Resurfaced "With a legendary curse, a possibly murderous little person, ruthless heirs, [and] charismatic thugs... a lively caper that will keep you guessing right till the end."—Kris Neri, award-winning author of the Tracy Eaton mysteries "A funny read, with off the wall characters, a twisty plot and not a surplus calorie to be had. Recommended."—Bookbitch.com "Well written and nicely paced, this is a good beach or airplane read."—Cycling.Finial.com "Big women of the world, hang on to your hats, you're going to love Sue Ann Jaffarian's plus-sized Odelia Grey, amateur sleuth. This is funny, sexy, romantic, you name it, all wrapped up in one great mystery."—Cozylibrary.com