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Laura and Gerry #2
Over Her Dead Body
Take one beautiful vindictive woman....she's 1 part bimbo and 2 parts lethal gangsta- gun moll.
Watch her try and hold onto her 84 year old husband by having his octogenarian paramour knocked off. Sometimes greed and jealousy lead to the last resort ……MURDER!
Laura, Gerry and Gibbons try to stop her from also killing her husband, without getting them selves knocked off in the process!
Watch her try and hold onto her 84 year old husband by having his octogenarian paramour knocked off. Sometimes greed and jealousy lead to the last resort ……MURDER!
Laura, Gerry and Gibbons try to stop her from also killing her husband, without getting them selves knocked off in the process!
204 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Karen H. Vaughan
19 books131 followersKaren Vaughan lives in Peterborough Ontario with her husband Jim and a cat named Sugar. She is the mom of a 23 year old daughter and four grown step children and a 3 year old grandson named Ike. DEAD COMIC STANDING is her second novel. Her first novel DEAD ON ARRIVAL garnered praise from friends, family and online gamers. She also enjoys doing crafts and other hobbies. Her third book and sequel to DEAD ON ARRIVAL is called OVER HER DEAD BODY. DAYTONA DEAD is the third in that series and was released in May 2013. Other than writing Karen loves to read, do crafts and play online games.Currently she co-hosts an internet radio show with Dellani Oakes and will be hosting WRITERS ROUND TABLE starting January the 14th. She has a quirky sense of humor and show this in her mysteries
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 22, 2017
Laura and Gerry are back! Of course, Laura finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery when the upstairs neighbor is found dead. The woman is old, but did not die of natural causes. Readers get to join in on the mystery as well as the fun. Karen H. Vaughan has created a wonderful character when she invited Laura Hamilton and her quirky family and friends. The best advice I can give readers is just to sit back and enjoy the ride,
August 17, 2013
I absolutely adore Karen Vaughan’s character Laura Hamilton. I funny, adventurous, sexy, women, who just happens to come up with one murderer to many.
I won’t give you a teaser, for I don’t like spoilers, suffice to say this book is a truly delightful read, with some real twists to it.
It also has one hell of a sexy romantic subplot.
Highly Recommended.
I won’t give you a teaser, for I don’t like spoilers, suffice to say this book is a truly delightful read, with some real twists to it.
It also has one hell of a sexy romantic subplot.
Highly Recommended.
October 15, 2019
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Over Her Dead Body is the second book in Karen Vaughan's Laura and Gerry Mysteries. I've read both the first and second books, and I'm hooked on Karen's snarky writing style. I would call these cozies with an edge. Laura and Gerry are co-managers in an apartment building where dead bodies have a way of, well, happening. In this book, an elderly 80-something woman is found dead in her cereal bowl, and before long, Laura finds herself smack in the middle of the case. The octogenarian, as it turns out, was having a relationship with a wealthy paramour who happens to be married to a gold-digging gun moll.
Laura just can't help it. She hits the trail like a bloodhound and helps Detective Gibbons investigate (or is it the other way around?). Laura's sleuthing lands her in hot water with the dangerous cohort responsible for the murder, and she ultimately finds herself face-to-face with the killer in a kangaroo court. Laura must use her wits to outsmart the mob and solve the crime.
I get a kick out of these books, and they sometimes make me giggle as I'm reading. They're light, fun, and full of sass. I especially enjoy having a female protagonist who really outsmarts more than just the criminals around her. Without her, the police department would be in a world of hurt.
I plan to work my way through the whole series because I enjoy Vaughan's writing style so much.
Laura just can't help it. She hits the trail like a bloodhound and helps Detective Gibbons investigate (or is it the other way around?). Laura's sleuthing lands her in hot water with the dangerous cohort responsible for the murder, and she ultimately finds herself face-to-face with the killer in a kangaroo court. Laura must use her wits to outsmart the mob and solve the crime.
I get a kick out of these books, and they sometimes make me giggle as I'm reading. They're light, fun, and full of sass. I especially enjoy having a female protagonist who really outsmarts more than just the criminals around her. Without her, the police department would be in a world of hurt.
I plan to work my way through the whole series because I enjoy Vaughan's writing style so much.
July 18, 2018
Laura and Gerry are back, and mystery is all the better for it! Funnier than the first novel, the characterizations are as sharp as ever, and this made it a very enjoyable read for me.
An old lady is knocked off, and it ain't due to age. Was it the pushing-forty former hot woman who was jealous of her octogenerian husband's friendship with the old woman, or was it someone else? There is no shortage of suspects, and getting to the answer is half the fun. And you will get there.
Outside of the sharply drawn characters, Ms. Vaughan keeps a breezy pace, and speed is always welcome. It's never done at the expense of the narrative or the characters, and that's the added bonus to his novel. Read it. It's worth it.
Recommended.
An old lady is knocked off, and it ain't due to age. Was it the pushing-forty former hot woman who was jealous of her octogenerian husband's friendship with the old woman, or was it someone else? There is no shortage of suspects, and getting to the answer is half the fun. And you will get there.
Outside of the sharply drawn characters, Ms. Vaughan keeps a breezy pace, and speed is always welcome. It's never done at the expense of the narrative or the characters, and that's the added bonus to his novel. Read it. It's worth it.
Recommended.
October 25, 2011
Over Her Dead Body
Author: Karen Vaughan
Reviewed by Fran Lewis
Just how far would you go to keep your man? To what lengths would an over the hill, used up pushing forty year old due to keep her hot 84 year old husband of more than 20 years? After all he is rich, gives her all the perks she wants and for that she keeps him relatively happy if you know what I mean. So, why would she be jealous of an octogenarian old woman who is friends with her husband?
Ethel Peterson had an untimely death. Well, not really she had some help. Someone came into her apartment and beat her over the head with a bat. From the prologue of the story we learn that someone was paid one million dollars to rid the world of this lovely lady. But, just who and why remains to be seen. From the talented author of Dead On Arrival where our main character Laura comes home and finds a dead coworker in her living room comes another hilarious murder filled with twists, mayhem, wild and zany characters and two building supers that play sleuth to help solve the case. Once again author Karen Vaughan delivers a first rate mystery.
Ethel is gone but her family does not seem to care. Or do they? Coming to see her affects and check out what needs to be done, her niece Adrianna shows no emotion and just wants to be done with anything related to poor Ethel. Laura is more than upset at this girls unacceptable behavior and can’t imagine why she treated the incident and Ethel like yesterday’s trash. But, there is much more as we meet Sanford Brown who has a special interest in this case and who adored Ethel. Well, wife Leena who is tons years his junior, does not like and did not like the relationship and who will do anything to keep her rich sugar daddy. But, would she commit murder?
Just as Laura and her live in boyfriend Gerry begin cleaning out apartments, dealing with Ethel’s death several incidents happen letting the reader know that someone is not happy that she is snooping around and someone just might get hurt. Her car is vandalized, her boyfriend is injured and someone on the phone verbally threatens her but she thinks she knows who that might be. Added to that to make matters even worse her ex-husband is hired by the owners of the restaurant where she works as the cook. Dealing with that and much more Laura surely needs more than just a hug from Gerry and support from her friends and family. So, what will happen when wife Leena learns that Sandy is about to try and cut her loose? What will be the killer’s next move?
Things get complicated as Gerry is injured, Laurie’s car is vandalized, Sandy is shot and one loony tune wife is on the run or just out there causing more havoc than she is worth. Let’s not forget sister Jackie who has issues with Leena of her own. Added to that Jackie and her father are definitely two of a kind and have a borderline personality that tips in the wrong direction when crossed. Did Leena pay someone with her father’s money to off poor Ethel? Just how far would this lunatic go before more bodies are found?
If Laura did not have enough trouble she relates to the reader how her ex-husband is having trouble with his parents and his new boyfriend who is pressuring him to make a permanent commitment. Sandy relates how Leena followed him to the Senior Center and demanded his drop poor Ethel? Poor Detective Gibbons never knew what hit him when Laura came to live in his town and poor Gerry is getting fed up with her playing amateur detective. Poor Laura can’t seem to win and she is getting it from all sides. Added to that a star witness is murdered, the sister needs protection, security has to be beefed up at Sandy’s and Laura now needs a police escort. What will happen next? When will the nightmare be over and will they ever be able to prove who killed Ethel and why?
Then Laura and Jackie are kidnapped and taken to stand trial. Wait until you find out who the judge is. Threatening to shoot jurors, kill Laura and Jackie will anyone find them before it’s too late? With an ending that will keep you guessing, laughing and definitely in suspense author Karen Vaughn once again delivers a wild and zany mystery with characters that are so unique and different you hope they come back for more. Will poor Laura ever go home and not find herself smack dab in the middle of a murder? Will they remain where they are or will they decide to move? Will Gerry and Laura ever tie the knot? What happens to Leena will endear you not only to the police department but to Sandy, Laura, Jackie and of course Gerry in more ways than one. What happens when a woman decides no one is going to take her man? What really happened to Ethel and how many people were involved in her murder? That is something I promised Gerry, Laura and Office Gibbons I would never divulge. After all: They still have to bring the culprit to trial. What is next for Laura and Gerry? Let’s hope author Karen Vaughan has more mysteries, plots, murders and excitement in store for our two favorite supers, amateur sleuth and of course readers. What happens at the end to prove that Adrianna might not be so cold and that she just might have loved her aunt? Find out for yourself when you read this great book.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
Let’s dedicate this review to Ethel Peterson and Sandy.
Author: Karen Vaughan
Reviewed by Fran Lewis
Just how far would you go to keep your man? To what lengths would an over the hill, used up pushing forty year old due to keep her hot 84 year old husband of more than 20 years? After all he is rich, gives her all the perks she wants and for that she keeps him relatively happy if you know what I mean. So, why would she be jealous of an octogenarian old woman who is friends with her husband?
Ethel Peterson had an untimely death. Well, not really she had some help. Someone came into her apartment and beat her over the head with a bat. From the prologue of the story we learn that someone was paid one million dollars to rid the world of this lovely lady. But, just who and why remains to be seen. From the talented author of Dead On Arrival where our main character Laura comes home and finds a dead coworker in her living room comes another hilarious murder filled with twists, mayhem, wild and zany characters and two building supers that play sleuth to help solve the case. Once again author Karen Vaughan delivers a first rate mystery.
Ethel is gone but her family does not seem to care. Or do they? Coming to see her affects and check out what needs to be done, her niece Adrianna shows no emotion and just wants to be done with anything related to poor Ethel. Laura is more than upset at this girls unacceptable behavior and can’t imagine why she treated the incident and Ethel like yesterday’s trash. But, there is much more as we meet Sanford Brown who has a special interest in this case and who adored Ethel. Well, wife Leena who is tons years his junior, does not like and did not like the relationship and who will do anything to keep her rich sugar daddy. But, would she commit murder?
Just as Laura and her live in boyfriend Gerry begin cleaning out apartments, dealing with Ethel’s death several incidents happen letting the reader know that someone is not happy that she is snooping around and someone just might get hurt. Her car is vandalized, her boyfriend is injured and someone on the phone verbally threatens her but she thinks she knows who that might be. Added to that to make matters even worse her ex-husband is hired by the owners of the restaurant where she works as the cook. Dealing with that and much more Laura surely needs more than just a hug from Gerry and support from her friends and family. So, what will happen when wife Leena learns that Sandy is about to try and cut her loose? What will be the killer’s next move?
Things get complicated as Gerry is injured, Laurie’s car is vandalized, Sandy is shot and one loony tune wife is on the run or just out there causing more havoc than she is worth. Let’s not forget sister Jackie who has issues with Leena of her own. Added to that Jackie and her father are definitely two of a kind and have a borderline personality that tips in the wrong direction when crossed. Did Leena pay someone with her father’s money to off poor Ethel? Just how far would this lunatic go before more bodies are found?
If Laura did not have enough trouble she relates to the reader how her ex-husband is having trouble with his parents and his new boyfriend who is pressuring him to make a permanent commitment. Sandy relates how Leena followed him to the Senior Center and demanded his drop poor Ethel? Poor Detective Gibbons never knew what hit him when Laura came to live in his town and poor Gerry is getting fed up with her playing amateur detective. Poor Laura can’t seem to win and she is getting it from all sides. Added to that a star witness is murdered, the sister needs protection, security has to be beefed up at Sandy’s and Laura now needs a police escort. What will happen next? When will the nightmare be over and will they ever be able to prove who killed Ethel and why?
Then Laura and Jackie are kidnapped and taken to stand trial. Wait until you find out who the judge is. Threatening to shoot jurors, kill Laura and Jackie will anyone find them before it’s too late? With an ending that will keep you guessing, laughing and definitely in suspense author Karen Vaughn once again delivers a wild and zany mystery with characters that are so unique and different you hope they come back for more. Will poor Laura ever go home and not find herself smack dab in the middle of a murder? Will they remain where they are or will they decide to move? Will Gerry and Laura ever tie the knot? What happens to Leena will endear you not only to the police department but to Sandy, Laura, Jackie and of course Gerry in more ways than one. What happens when a woman decides no one is going to take her man? What really happened to Ethel and how many people were involved in her murder? That is something I promised Gerry, Laura and Office Gibbons I would never divulge. After all: They still have to bring the culprit to trial. What is next for Laura and Gerry? Let’s hope author Karen Vaughan has more mysteries, plots, murders and excitement in store for our two favorite supers, amateur sleuth and of course readers. What happens at the end to prove that Adrianna might not be so cold and that she just might have loved her aunt? Find out for yourself when you read this great book.
Fran Lewis: Reviewer
Let’s dedicate this review to Ethel Peterson and Sandy.
April 21, 2021
Love Karen's work.
October 2, 2011
Laura Hamilton has the perfect job for an amateur sleuth. It’s actually strange that no mystery writer I’ve read so far has thought of using this job for a main character, but I can’t think of one. She’s a building manager. Think about it. Here’s a person who has access to the apartments of many diverse individuals. She is no doubt aware of exactly which apartments hold nefarious goings on (if any) and which tenants (if any) are up to no good. She is in the perfect position to assist the police in their various lawful investigations--and to conduct her own private snooping by way of that handy little device called a master key.
So, it’s not surprising that Laura’s day starts out with a good jolt of murder when one of her tenants (sweet-natured octogenarian Ethel Peterson) is discovered head down in her shredded wheat. Laura is quick to assist local Toronto detective Gibbons, much to the consternation of her fiance and co-building manager Gerry. As with so many female sleuths, their men just don’t seem to want them to get down and dirty in the investigative trenches--although Gerry certainly doesn’t object to Laura assisting him with cleaning vacant apartments, a duty they split democratically.
The investigation into the old lady’s demise takes a quick and delightful turn when Laura and Gerry meet the dead woman’s sweetheart--Sandy. Although he was smitten with the deceased, the dapper old Sandy is unfortunately tied in a very legal way to a former Las Vegas showgirl named Leena, who gives new meaning to the term “jealous wife.” Even so, Laura and Gerry soon manage to befriend Sandy--and he, them. The group gather together to plan an appropriate way to memorialize the dead lady.
No sooner do they start implementing their plans, but accidents begin to occur, people are shot and killed, and it soon appears that people interested in investigating Ethel Peterson’s death are being warned to mind their own business in no uncertain terms. Of course, Laura cannot be threatened. It must be her training as a building manager that makes her so daring.
OVER HER DEAD BODY is a fun, fast-moving mystery. The plot is tight and the character dialogue rings true. I was immediately involved and my interest was maintained until the end. The only real complaint I have is the lack of red herrings; you really know who dunnit, just not how it will be solved. Now, I’m wondering what Laura’s next adventure will be--and which apartment in her building will hold the clues.
So, it’s not surprising that Laura’s day starts out with a good jolt of murder when one of her tenants (sweet-natured octogenarian Ethel Peterson) is discovered head down in her shredded wheat. Laura is quick to assist local Toronto detective Gibbons, much to the consternation of her fiance and co-building manager Gerry. As with so many female sleuths, their men just don’t seem to want them to get down and dirty in the investigative trenches--although Gerry certainly doesn’t object to Laura assisting him with cleaning vacant apartments, a duty they split democratically.
The investigation into the old lady’s demise takes a quick and delightful turn when Laura and Gerry meet the dead woman’s sweetheart--Sandy. Although he was smitten with the deceased, the dapper old Sandy is unfortunately tied in a very legal way to a former Las Vegas showgirl named Leena, who gives new meaning to the term “jealous wife.” Even so, Laura and Gerry soon manage to befriend Sandy--and he, them. The group gather together to plan an appropriate way to memorialize the dead lady.
No sooner do they start implementing their plans, but accidents begin to occur, people are shot and killed, and it soon appears that people interested in investigating Ethel Peterson’s death are being warned to mind their own business in no uncertain terms. Of course, Laura cannot be threatened. It must be her training as a building manager that makes her so daring.
OVER HER DEAD BODY is a fun, fast-moving mystery. The plot is tight and the character dialogue rings true. I was immediately involved and my interest was maintained until the end. The only real complaint I have is the lack of red herrings; you really know who dunnit, just not how it will be solved. Now, I’m wondering what Laura’s next adventure will be--and which apartment in her building will hold the clues.
October 8, 2013
Laura Hamilton's fiance, Gerry, calls her a corpse magnet. Even if he is the one to find poor Ethel's body, he still blames Laura.
Working part time as assistant building super and full time as manager of the Moose Burger Emporium, Laura's life is full. Unfortunately, dead bodies cross her path and she can't resist the urge to solve the murder.
Over Her Dead Body is the second book in Vaughan's Laura & Gerry series. Funny and light hearted, it's also a murder mystery that keeps fans on the edge of their seats until the end.
Vaughan's funny, sarcastic dialogue peppers the pages as the story revs up and drives onward. Her characters are wacky, dapper, sophisticated, slutty, raving lunatics or all around nice guys.
Over Her Dead Body will keep you laughing all the way to the morgue.
5 Golden Acorns
© Dellani Oakes
Working part time as assistant building super and full time as manager of the Moose Burger Emporium, Laura's life is full. Unfortunately, dead bodies cross her path and she can't resist the urge to solve the murder.
Over Her Dead Body is the second book in Vaughan's Laura & Gerry series. Funny and light hearted, it's also a murder mystery that keeps fans on the edge of their seats until the end.
Vaughan's funny, sarcastic dialogue peppers the pages as the story revs up and drives onward. Her characters are wacky, dapper, sophisticated, slutty, raving lunatics or all around nice guys.
Over Her Dead Body will keep you laughing all the way to the morgue.
5 Golden Acorns
© Dellani Oakes
September 14, 2011
Personally I think as the author that OVER HER DEAD BODY is a well written and edited book. It is a hilarious battle with a would be bimbo trying to hold her man and get away with murder. If you like humor action and steamy romance this book maybe for you. If you have read DEAD ON ARRIVAL you will enjoy this bookover her dead bodyDead On Arrival
January 1, 2018
Laura and Gerry are back! Of course, Laura finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery when the upstairs neighbor is found dead. The woman is old, but did not die of natural causes. Readers get to join in on the mystery as well as the fun. Karen H. Vaughan has created a wonderful character when she invited Laura Hamilton and her quirky family and friends. The best advice I can give readers is just to sit back and enjoy the ride,
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews