The Thin Woman

Rating:
Summary: What fun!
Review:

I liked this book....a lot! I was enchanted with all the characters, loved the mystery, was intrigued with the family connections and loved the relationship between Ellie and Ben.

I hope there are more Merlin's Court mysteries to solve. Cannell is on to something here.

Read this book and then share it with your friends!

Rating:
Summary: Okay if you like this genre
Review: At last a leading lady that the average woman can relate to. Ellie Haskell is an smart woman. She is not afraid to say what is on her mind no matter the content. She addresses issues that plague the ordinary woman such as eating and exasperation with one's man and impossibly nutty relatives. Dorothy Cannell writes a clever and entertaining book that runs smoothly. Ellie saves the day not doing impossible stunts but every day activities and can be related to by all of us ladies that are bigger than a size 8.

Rating:
Summary: A terrific mystery with great characters
Review: I am a bit fussy about mysteries and don't give five stars lightly. I want believable plots, an interesting story, strong characters and a good mystery, and found all of these within the pages of this fine novel. This was a wonderful, fun read with a satisfying ending.

The cover states that this book ws named one of the century's 100 favorite mysteries by the Independent Mystery Bookseller's Association, and it does deserve such an accolade. The only thing that could have improved it would have been some recipes!

Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT!
Review: I hate to admit this, because it's nothing against the book at all. I absolutely love this book but for the life of me I can never remember the name. I know what it's about and about when I read it so I search my library for the name each time.
The story is so entertaining and fresh. What's funny is I have read other books in this series and for some reason never knew this was one of the first in it's series. Please don't think it's a bad part on the book because it's not it's my brain.

Ellie like many women in her same situation wants to impress her family because they kind of give that attitude of I'm better than you because she's plump and single. Ellie decides her best bet is to have someone attractive and male on her arm when she visits them this time around. So she calls on Eligibility Escorts and enter one Bentley Haskell. He's a bit abrasive, but he fits the bill as far as being nice to look at and perfect to play the single girls long time beau. Bentley is a trained chef, but has taken up writing an ADULT/Graphic novel.
Once cornered with her family though Ellie makes Bentley not just her Beau but her fiancée in a very humorous moment. So as the weekend ends Ellie goes home with confidence she's gotten away with her lie and can go about her business.
Then her uncle dies and he gets one over on the family by stipulating that he is leaving Ellie and Bentley his entire fortune and castle home if they both accomplish two things in the next 6 months. Ellie's supposed to lose weight and make herself over. Bentley is supposed to write a full length book, but it has to be free of blasphemy which is going to be difficult because the book he's been writing will not do at all.
The mystery begins as people disappear and Ellie and Bentley are being targeted by a mysterious person who wants them to fail and will do anything to make sure they do.
This story is funny and fresh. I love it.
The audio version is abridged but very well read by Amanda Donohoe. I'm glad I discovered this book was part of the series I had already come to love because it's a great beginning for it.

Rating:
Summary: ending saves the book
Review: I wasn't particularly impressed with this book. It was good enough to keep reading, but it wasn't until the ending (don't worry I won't say what happens) that I really started to like it in spite of myself, hense the 3 stars. The characters are generally likeable. Ellie is a little too obsessive about her weight and too self-depreciating. It starts to get annoying. The plot also seems a little thin (no pun intended).

Rating:
Summary: Definitely Reccommend This Book
Review: Not only is it a lot of fun trampling about in search of hidden treasure, but it's such a cosy, light-hearted and well paced book with moments of snorting hilarity and chortling humor. The cast is utterly adorable; the plot terribly enchanting and very mod-fairy tale. Ellie says some of the most delightful things written, Ben is perfectly drawn, and Dorus was very chipper and jolly. Really, this is something of a must read. Exactly appeals to the female nature.

Rating:
Summary: Weight challenged Ellie attempts to become the thin woman
Review: Overweight, romantic, insecure Ellie rents an escort, Ben Haskell, to pose as her boyfriend. One monumental lie told to her relatives, that Ben is her fiance and about to marry her, results is more shock- Ellie's rich uncle leaves Ben and Ellie his fortune: if:(a) Ellie loses weight,(b)would- be sexy writer Ben writes a novel with no sex and no pronography, (c) they find the "treasure". Ellie's greedy relatives: beautiful, conceited Vanessa (Vanessa found something meaningful to do-

varnish her nails!), lecherous Uncle Morice who invades Ellie's bedroom "A mistake my dear", klptomaniac Aunt Lulu,pony tailed hippy Freddie, and the dipsy cousin whose cooking is so foul Ellie loses pounds because she can't eat it! combine for a hilarious mystery. Ellie begins losing pounds but may lose her life before she can fulfil the conditions of the will! A witty, charming mystery so funny that you want to read and reread it for its howlers.

Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Best
Review: This book is so witty and well written that you will never want to put it down! The ending is also different from what you would expect! I Loved it very much and recammend it ro all. Now, don't be decieved by the cover because, you should never judge a book by it's cover. Besides the muder it also shows that if you put your mind to it you can do anything and that is what I liked about this book.
The descripitions are so well written too I found myself imaginig the rooms Ellie was designing. Now, I won't tell you everything, you must read it and tell me how you liked it!

Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL I LOVE IT
Review: This is my favorite book! I take it with me when ever I travel and I never tire of reading it. It is hilaroius and the plot is pretty darn good! Read the books after it too, I am sure you will be enchanted!

Rating:
Summary: hilarious caper
Review: whatever it is about this novel that makes it such an addictive, thrilling and hilarious read is impossible to put your finger on...i can't really describe what it was that made me pick up this book and not put it down until page 100. i am by nature a reader of new books, typically those of the trendy-independent bookstore-new-york-press-artsy-cover variety, but this book will engage anyone who comes across it. ellie is the book's overweight protagonist and her wry, self-effacing outlook on life is sure to strike a comedic chord within anyone who's ever felt a twinge of body image concern. over the course of the book ellie, an interior designer, struggles with remodeling a dilapidated and ancient castle, with her lack of appetite control, and most of all with her impossible partner in crime, bentley haskell. you'll reread this one.