The Inconvenient Corpse

Barbara Cool Lee

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4.5(1,614 Ratings)
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Clock59 Min Reading Time
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cover backgroundThe Inconvenient Corpse

About this book

A handsome movie star in her kitchen, and a corpse in the swimming pool. Just your typical Monday morning.... Maggie McJasper is starting over in a little California beach town. She has a bead shop, a nice circle of friends, and a handsome movie star who keeps flirting with her. Life would be pretty great if she could just stop stumbling over dead bodies. Do you like dogs, crafts, quirky friends, a slow-building romance between grown-ups who genuinely like each other, and a twisty little mystery with red herrings galore? Then this is for you. The Maggie and Jasper Capers are fun and flirty cozies, with no swearing or love scenes, and no gruesome violence to keep you up at night.

Summary of Key Ideas

  • A Fresh Start by the Sea

    Starting Over in a Quaint Town: Maggie McJasper seeks a fresh start in a charming California beach town after a divorce. This theme emphasizes resilience and the possibility of finding happiness and community in unexpected places. It highlights the appeal of small-town life, where personal connections and supportive friendships can foster a sense of belonging and renewal. Maggie's journey resonates with anyone who has experienced significant life changes and is looking to rebuild their life.

  • Uninvited Mystery Guest

    The Inconvenient Corpse: The central mystery revolves around a dead body discovered in Maggie's swimming pool. This event throws her new life into disarray and forces her to become an amateur sleuth. The 'inconvenience' of the corpse underscores the disruption it causes to Maggie's plans and the humorous, yet serious, challenges she faces as she navigates the investigation. This theme drives the plot and provides a framework for exploring the various characters and their secrets.

  • Hollywood Heartthrob Next Door

    Unexpected Romance with a Movie Star: A handsome movie star, Jasper, is renting Maggie's mansion, introducing an element of romantic tension and possibility into her life. This slow-building romance adds a lighthearted and enjoyable dimension to the story, as Maggie navigates her feelings while dealing with the murder investigation. The relationship between Maggie and Jasper is a central element, offering both romantic and comedic relief. This theme appeals to readers who enjoy stories with a blend of mystery and romance.

  • Friendship: A Lifeline in Crisis

    Building a Supportive Community: Maggie develops a close circle of friends in her new town, providing her with emotional support and assistance in solving the mystery. This theme highlights the importance of friendship and community in overcoming challenges and building a fulfilling life. These relationships add depth to the narrative and showcase the positive impact of human connection. The quirky and supportive nature of her friends makes this theme heartwarming and relatable.

  • Embracing Second Chances

    The Power of Second Chances: The book underscores the idea that it's never too late to reinvent oneself and pursue new passions. Maggie's journey from divorcee to bead shop owner and amateur detective exemplifies this theme. The story emphasizes personal growth and the potential for transformation, appealing to readers who are seeking inspiration and encouragement in their own lives. This theme is a core message of the novel, demonstrating that change and new beginnings are always possible.

  • Unraveling a Tangled Web

    A Twisty Mystery with Red Herrings: The plot is designed to keep readers guessing with numerous suspects and misleading clues. This creates an engaging and suspenseful reading experience, encouraging readers to piece together the puzzle alongside Maggie. The element of surprise and intrigue is crucial to the book's appeal, ensuring that the resolution is both satisfying and unexpected. The red herrings add layers of complexity to the story, making the mystery a central and captivating component.

Chapter Recap

IntroductionIn the world Barbara Cool Lee creates, an attractive movie star graces Maggie McJasper's kitchen while a corpse unexpectedly surfaces in the swimming pool—a scene that defines Maggie's far-from-ordinary Mondays. Maggie McJasper is reinventing her life in a quaint California beach town. She owns a be
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About The Author

Barbara Cool Lee

Main Quotes

"He was too big for her little house, but she couldn't desert him..."

"A handsome movie star in her kitchen, and a corpse in the swimming pool. Just your typical Monday morning...."

"I lived for my work at the antique shop and my books. Until them."

"She has a craft shop, a nice circle of friends, and a movie star who keeps flirting with her."

"Then what? You have a cute house, a nice kid, a really great guy."

"The house is for sale, the kid's not mine, and the guy is leaving town even before I do."

"After kicking off the episode with their commonplace quotes, Angelina,..."

"Maggie McJasper is starting over in a little..."

"The Inconvenient Corpse is the 2nd in the Carita Cove series by Barbara Cool Lee and the ..."

"Life would be pretty great if she could just stop stumbling over ..."

Who Should Read This Book

Readers of cozy mysteries

Fans of humorous mysteries

Readers who enjoy stories with amateur detectives

People who like stories set in small towns

Readers interested in books featuring animals

Readers who enjoy multi-generational stories

Book Summaries Like

The Inconvenient Corpse
cover backgroundDeath and Dacquoise

Death and Dacquoise

Kat Bellemore

Retirement isn’t nearly as relaxing when people keep dying. Retired sisters, Jo and Dottie Darby, never expected to find themselves taking over their sister’s tacky souvenir store-slash-bakery in the small coastal town of Starlight Ridge. But after her untimely death and the reading of the will, here they were. There were two problems with this. One- The souvenir store was in a state that would give hoarders nightmares. Two- Neither Jo nor Dottie knew how to bake. It was a miracle that brought Autumn Davis into their lives, a young woman who had spent time learning to bake in Paris, France, but was now home due to an existential crisis. She was the answer to all their problems. Unfortunately, on the evening of their grand opening, a woman turns up dead on the beach, and all evidence points to Autumn and the dacquoise the woman had purchased earlier that evening. Now, the Darby sisters need to clear Autumn's name, both for the sake of Autumn's future and the future of their seaside French patisserie. Death and Dacquoise is the first book of the Seaside French Patisserie Mystery series. If you like small coastal towns, humorous retirees, and of course, murder, you’ll love this cozy mystery series. Pick up Death and Dacquoise and start this laugh-out-loud series today!

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