Odelia Grey Mysteries, Book 12 - Too Big to Die

Sue Ann Jaffarian introduced the world to the middle-aged, overweight Odelia Grey back in her first mystery, Too Big to Miss.  Now, with her twelfth book, Jaffarian provides readers with a potential send-off of her fun-to-read, sassy, never-back-down amateur sleuth in a mystery to end all mysteries.

To say that Too Big to Die is a life-changing story for Jaffarian's characters would be an understatement.  So many things happen, almost happen, could have happened, and should have happened, it's like a whirlwind of events, and poor Odelia will definitely never be the same after this one.  Of course, that's not to say that Jaffarian doesn't interject her usual sense of sarcasm and humor throughout the story, but there are definitely some more tender moments, some frustrating moments, and some sad moments (particularly at the conclusion) that will make the reader feel closer to Odelia than ever before.

The book starts off innocently enough.  Greg wins a baby duckling in one of his regular poker games, so he and Odelia must decide what to do with it.  By the second chapter, though, Odelia and her husband become involved in something that will lead to murder - they rescue a small dog from suffocating in the California heat while locked in a car.  With the help of a stranger (Burt Sandoval), they manage to break the window and rescue the dog - just as the owner of the car and dog, one very rich, very snooty, and very nasty piece-of-work Marla Kingston, comes out and starts accusing them of vandalizing her car.  What starts out as a simple animal rescue mission turns into an online viral sensation when Odelia and Greg find themselves all over the internet as the heroes of the day.  Particularly since they videos not only show Odelia and Greg's heroic act, but it shows the police taking the high and mighty Marla Kington down a peg or two.

But someone doesn't see them as heroes.  It turns out that Marla's husband is the number one client at the law firm where Odelia works with her boss, Mike Steele, and he will simply not have his wife humiliated in that way, especially by an employee of the law firm that he employs.  So, Odelia finds herself unexpectedly on administrative leave until the firm can calm Kingston down.  With time on her hands, it's easy for Odelia to visit her husband at work - where, faster than you can say, "Really, Odelia?  Another dead body?!" - yes, another dead body turns up, this time shot and killed right in front of Greg's business.

And so starts that roller coaster that is Odelia Grey's life.  From a mysterious young woman who has been filming Greg, Burt, as well as the Kingstons, to a paraplegic who has a connection to someone in Greg's past, to a construction company secretary, to a tragic accident and a secret payoff to keep the truth about the accident hidden - someone willing to literally kill to keep that secret from coming out!  With all of Jaffarian's mysteries, there are plenty of twists and turns, unexpected surprises, and a climax that will leave you reeling - only, in this book, not everyone makes it out alive at the end (how about that for whetting your appetite to read this book!).

The one thing I have absolutely loved about this series is how real Jaffarian keeps her characters.  There are no stereotypes, there are no caricatures, and no over-the-top portrayal of any of the scenes.  The characters react in normal, human ways, and they face real consequences for all of their actions.  The stories are grounded, which make them believable and that much more enjoyable to read.  I am truly sad to think that this could be the last Odelia Grey book (as a friend has told me that the publisher, Midnight Ink, will not be publishing them any more, so unless Jaffarian finds another publisher or self-publishes them, then the misadventures of Odelia Grey have quite possibly reached their conclusion), but if it is the last book in the series, it is definitely a perfect send-off.

Oh, and as a final note on the story - Steele definitely proves his loyalty to Odelia in a rather unexpected way in this mystery!

RATING:  10 half-and-half pizzas with veggies on the side out of 10 for feeding my Odelia Grey fix with another well-written mystery that can both bring a smile to my face and tears to my eyes!