How to Murder the Man of Your Dreams

Ellie Haskell Mystery #6

by Dorothy Cannell

Life has been hectic in the Haskell household, but a lull in household affairs should allow Ellie time enough to slim down, pick up the threads of her interior design career, and kick the romance reading habit that keeps here from her marital boudoir. But murder rears its ugly head when the body of the Chitterdon Fells librarian found sprawled among the library stacks. The only positive side of the untimely demise is the arrival of male romance cover model, Karisma, come to town to strut his tawny mane and sun-bronzed muscles for a fund-raiser in the late lamented librarian's name. But when hunky Karisma's entourage is poisoned, and the spouse of a Library League newlywed dies mysteriously, fantasy life careens toward a collision course with reality. Ellie must find a clever killer before she meets a sinister and decidedly unromantic fate! Fizzing with deadly wit and outrageous secrets, How To Murder The Man Of Your Dreams is a mystery to swoon for.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Cozy, Crime, Romance

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

(from Fantastic Fiction online)

Dorothy Cannell was born in London, England, and now lives in Belfast, Maine. Dorothy Cannell writes mysteries featuring Ellie Haskell, interior decorator and Ben Haskell, writer and chef, and Hyacinth and Primrose Tramwell, a pair of dotty sisters and owners of the Flowers Detection Agency.

(from Internet Book List)

Dorothy Cannell, a mother of four, grandmother of ten, and owner of a King Charles Spaniel, was born in England and moved to the United States when she was twenty. After living in Peoria, Illinois, for years, she and her husband recently moved to Belfast, Maine. Her first Ellie Haskell novel, The Thin Woman, was selected as one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Twentieth Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.

Reviews

[Cynnamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 Sterne, großzügig aufgerundet

Es handelt sich hier um ein Cozy Mystery, mit sehr viel Cozy und sehr wenig Mystery.
Meine spontane Assoziation war anfangs: Hier haben Agatha Christie und Janet Evanovich zusammen ein Buch geschrieben. Im Verlauf der Geschichte kam für meinen GEschmack aber der Mystery-Aspekt deutlich zu kurz.

Teilweise war ich von der Protagonistin unglaublich genervt, was dann aber durch etliche wirklich lustige Szenen wieder ausgeglichen wurde.

Nette, leichte, lustige Unterhaltung für zwischendurch, aber nicht weiter bemerkenswert.

[Ruth York · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, simple read. The antics of some of the characters was humorous. Not a profound literary work, but it was a fun read. Would be good for a beach or vacation book. This is the second I've read in this series. And it's nice that they don't have to be read in order.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in the Ellie Haskell of Chitterton Falls, a small English coastal town, mystery. This one deals with the 100th anniversary of the death of a townsman who cursed the town's library because of readers of romantic novels. Romantic novels serve as the basis of the plot as Ellie and other townswomen are avid readers with resulting romantic fantasies. Things are brought to a head when the male model (closely resembling Fabio) for romantic novel covers comes to town setting all female hearts aflutter as a number of deaths start happening.

As with others in this series, the focus is on humor rather than investigating and solving the mystery. Ellie continues to stumble through things, jumping to incorrect conclusions, and wise cracking her way through the day and events.

[Linda Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is more of an entertaining romp than a riveting mystery, centered around a series of tongue-in-cheek send ups of romance novels, romance readers, and the idea of the "man of your dreams." When the stern Chitterton Falls librarian is found dead with a copy of "The Dream Lover" at her side, the Library League determines to honor her with a bronze statue. As Ellie Haskell helps to raise funds for the tribute, her path is cluttered with domestic crises--a surprise visit from glamorous cousin Vanessa, the arrival of a heartbroken middle-aged au pair, and the antics of the dead librarian's dog, Heathcliff. As if that weren't enough, Ellie has to fight her own addiction to Zinnia Parrish's steamy romance novels, contend with Hector Rigglesworth's curse on the library that fed his seven daughters' romance addiction, and comfort a host of friends with their own amatory problems. When the world's most popular male heart throb--Karisma, who adorns the covers of Parrish's novels--agrees to do a fundraiser at the library, conflicts intensify. Did the Virgin Bride of Chitterton Falls murder her faithless suitor years ago? Who really writes the Zinnia Parrish novels? Is the library really cursed? T

[elizabeth mcguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A better job of murder

Ellie has a secret, she loves bodice rippers. She, like me with my stories, reads til the early hours. She is also smitten by the cover model, who poses in very little and has an abundance of flowing locks.
Cut to the chase, the model Karisma, has agreed to do a benefit for a statue to the recently deceased librarian.
As usual with an Ellie story, all is not what it seems. Another round of unlikely/impossible/farcical happenings, that keep me captivated, page by page.
I only give 4 stars as I cannot being myself to call these stories, criminal.
Thank you Dorothy for keeping me amused and entertained hour after hour.

[Jessica Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m giving this 2*, but I didn’t realize this book is in the middle of a series until after I started it. You don’t need to read the books before it, but I think it would have helped understanding the characters and how they relate to one and other. Had I read it in order, it might have been higher. That being said, as a stand-alone, I found the plot lacking. It’s 270 page book and the murder mentioned on the back of the book doesn’t happen until page 248. I think this has potential to be a fun cozy series, but I wouldn’t recommend reading them out of order.

[Brittany Bowers · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a silly little book. Ellie is hilarious in her antics as always. And I love that her imagination is always sky rocketing to the most ridiculous scenarios. As for the mystery part of this book. It didn't actually show up until the last 40 or 50 pages. So I don't feel like it's really a mystery book.
If you haven't read the other books, this one might not land as well, just because you would be unfamiliar with the characters.

[Terry Polston · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Ellie Haskell. Karisima, the dashing heart throb of many, many romance novel covers is going to visit Merlin's Court. My mind hears and sees Fabio in Karisima. Has Ben been reading Ellie's romance novels? He seems to be saying phrases straight out if the book. It's all just too amusing and I broke out in laughter more than once.

[Jeannine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have read and enjoyed others in this series but this one was a disappointment. Part of it was the fact that a large part of the plot revoves around bodice-ripper romance novels and the town's addiction to them, including Ellie Haskell. Ellie is so clueless and out-of-touch that she is annoying and without humor.

[Theresa Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this series. The cast of characters keep the laughs coming with enough action and mystery to make it difficult to put down. I normally finish each book in this series in a day and eagerly await the next adventure. Highly recommend!

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are so entertaining. I love the characters and things happen that you don’t expect. I love the funny bits. They come at you so unexpectedly. I feel good when I read about Ellie and Ben. Their friends and family. Each novel has its own unique story.

[Harry Addington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wacky mystery with some interesting characters

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

HOW TO MURDER THE MAN OF YOUR DREAMS: Balderdash, fiddle faddle , hurrumph ! 3 stars was the best I could go....

[Donna Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun books To read



This light mystery series has been delightful. Great author for light late night reading. Take up a book and follow along.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little overwrought, but cute.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usual cast of characters featuring Ellie Haskell. I felt that the naming of the murderer was somewhat contrived.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was going to give it 2 stars for the silliness of Ellie and a reminder it’s formulaic; however, I did laugh out loud a few times in the bank half so I’ll say 3.

[Carmen Radtke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This written love declaration to romance novels, the escapism and familiarity they offer, plus a nice little twist make this another pleasurable Ellie Haskell read.

[Gillie Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the authors use of the language, unfortunately, I don’t like the characters or storyline

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing to know everything is not always murder

[Angie S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book that makes a bit of fun the 1990s Fabio craze. The mystery portion was very, very minor which I found a bit disappointing. But, it was still a fun read. It was just closer to chick-lit than mystery which I wasn't quite expecting.

[Velma Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am looking forward to reading another Dorothy Cannell book.

[C-shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A library book with same characters as _The Thin Woman_.
* * * * *
Entertaining, if a little silly at times, with some story lines and people that trailed off with no resolution or apparent raison d'etre. I hated the way the main character let others run over her and the way she ignored her long-suffering husband; however, in general she was likeable, as was this light mystery.

Dorothy Cannell has a lovely style of writing, and I copied many quotations for my common book: "Rumour had it that she [Miss Bunch, stalwart librarian] had been born there [at her library desk the size of Amelia Earhart's practice runway]--fully grown, already stout, red-faced, and with her hair cropped to an uncompromising bob. I had it on good authority. . . that Miss Bunch did not possess a first name. Doubtless her parents had instantly realized the impropriety of attempting to become too familiar with their offspring."
"The Library League would never vote for a nude [statue]. We're a very conservative group. I don't think there's one amongst us that reads poetry that doesn't rhyme."
"Poor Sylvia, she truly was afraid of everything from spiders to the pages of a book being turned too quickly. On one regrettable occasion, when Lord Pomeroy had let wind at a library meeting, she dived for cover as if in the thick of a hurricane."

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title is the reason I picked up this book. Giselle "Ellie" Haskell lives in a castle called Merlin's Court with her husband and twin boy and girl Tam and Abbey. She is on the Library League and before a meeting she and the "Brigadier" find the librarian (who ruled the library with an iron fist) dead in the stacks. She died from a virus that attacked her heart. Ellie and the other members of the league decide that they need to raise money for a statue to honor their librarian. It is suggested that they ask Romance literature cover model Karisma to come. The woman who helped bring Ellie and her husband together, is the manager for Karisma and she agrees that they will come. After he arrives things start to fall apart or in place (depending on the different people). Funny book. The murders are hidden and thought to be accidents or something else. Then the confessions start.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the greatest fun to read! I laughed out loud over and over, the turns of phrase are from a master, the plot is a delicious fantasy, and the characters are so individual I could drop into Chitterton Fells and greet each one by name. Satirical take on the romance genre, but a meta-fiction, for it is a romance itself and features romance novel lovers (yes, in both meanings of the word). The unexpected pops up several times, adding to the fun. So glad this was presented at book group and I immediately got a copy. Cannell is a superb writer!

[Anne Hawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book in the series Ellie Haskell series. This one has a little more plot than the last few, but still not as good as the first. But then, in these books, it isn't really the crime that is most important. It's just fun settling in with an odd bunch of characters, especially Ellie and her housekeeper.

Ellie stumbles upon a body in the library and the romance readers of the town are under suspicion. As usual, Ellie stumbles into the solution as she takes us up and down with her.

[Lynngfox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dorothy Cannell never fails to entice with wit,humor and great mysteries!!! The best !!!!

The characters are more like living people not characters in a book. I love her storyline, the pace, the core people that are a steadfast part of her books. The best and leaves me wanting more stories to enjoy with Ellie and her family and those around her. Just the greatest!!!!

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took a while to hook me and even then I didn't have much difficulty putting it down. It did include a couple clever plot twists, which I enjoyed, but overall I would not really recommend it.

[Humbledaisy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite Ellie Haskell mystery - possibly because it was written in the style of a hackneyed romance novel - but I still love the characters. I read this years ago when it was first released. Right now, I am re-working my way through the Kindle versions from my library.

[Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When Ellie Haskell arrives at the Chitteron Fells Library meeting, she discovers the librarian's corpse sprawled next to an open copy of "The Dream Lover" and must unmask the killer before she meets her own untimely and unromantic fate."