My Weblog: New Covers for the Novels You Love

By Elaine Viets

How do you like the new covers for my Dead-End Job mysteries?
My Dead-End Job mysteries are now classics. The first 13 novels are being re-released by JABberwocky Literary on March 6 as e-books. JABberwocky also publishes Charlaine Harris' Aurora Teagarden backlist and that of other bestselling authors.
The Dead-End Job re-releases will have new covers by the award-winning Jenn Reese at Tiger Bright Studios. Inside, you'll find your favorite adventures by Helen Hawthorne, the
St. Louis woman who had a high-finance job, a beautiful home— and a good-for-nothing husband she caught in the act with their neighbor. When she divorced the bum, the judge saddled Helen with alimony—and Helen defied the courts and refused to pay her ex.
She wound up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, working dead-end jobs for cash under the table. Follow Helen as she learns to thrive in the pink-collar world of South Florida. In the 13 novels, Helen changes from a bitter woman who distrusts men. She eventually remarries and becomes a private eye. She still works those low-paying jobs, but now she's undercover as a PI.
Helen also finds a new family at the Coronado Tropic Apartments, with Margery, her purple-wearing landlady, her neighbor Peggy and her parrot Pete, and the other colorful characters.
Helen's in-depth exploration of the pink-collar world is more meaningful now then when the series started. Here are Helen's first 13 dead end jobs:
(1) In Shop till You Drop, Helen sells bustiers to bimbos.
(2) Next, she works as a bookseller in Murder Between the Covers.
(3) Then she's a telemarketer selling septic tank cleaner in Dying to Call You. (Yes, I really sold it. Wanna hear my spiel?)
(4) After that, Helen works at a bridal salon for Just Murdered. When I sold wedding dresses, emotions were so strong, I wondered why there aren't more murders.
(5) During a hurricane, Helen tracks down a killer at a posh dog grooming salon in Murder Unleashed.
(6) In Murder with Reservations Helen is a hotel maid, and finds out why you shouldn't use a hotel coffee pot. (Ask me if you dare.)
(7) In Clubbed to Death, Helen works at a country club, solving the problems of people who have no problems. The club's motto should be "Do you know who I am?"
(8) From there, she's a gofer at a high-end hair salon where a color and cut cost more than a car payment in Killer Cuts.
(9) In Half-Price Homicide Helen's at a resale boutique where trophy wives with controlling husbands get their folding money.
(10) In Pumped for Murder, Helen explores the fascinating world of women's competition body building, where "ripped and stripped" competitors live on three ounces of chicken – a day.
(11) After that, Helen is a stewardess on a luxury yacht for Final Sail, and learns to vacuum in the tracks.
(12) Life's a beach in South Florida, but the friendly folks selling parasailing and paddleboarding are in cutthroat businesses. Helen's role in Board Stiff is no day at the beach.
(13) The fur flies when Helen is a groomer for pedigreed show cats in Catnapped!
Get the whole set or treat yourself to the books you missed. They make good Mother's Day gifts, too. Prices start at $2.99 and go up. Check out the Dead-End Job novels here.
Binge on the whole bunch -– there are no calories in reading!