Denver, Colorado - the Present

Francie Starzel moved to Denver from Chicago three months ago. One reason was to make a better life for her nine-year-old adopted son Mac. She inherited Mac when her fiancé died a year ago in a meth lab fire. Francie didn't know he was in the drug industry and lets Mac believe his dad died a hero. Another reason she moved was to escape the influence of her crime-challenged family, challenged as in continually committing crimes. Lastly, her good friend and college roommate, Helene, hired her for a great job at Techlaw, a company that makes and markets software for lawyers. Imagine her surprise when that same 'friend' fires her at her three-month probationary evaluation Francie does exactly what anyone else would do in a similar situation -- she leaves the office with her held high after threatening to kill Helene. That was just an ordinary human response from someone in shock and distress. It takes her a week to find another job -- telemarketing funeral services.

So what else could go wrong? Let's see. No one wants to buy funeral services and Mac buys a tarantula with his birthday money from her mom. Francie hates spiders, and this female really is poisonous. And when she searches her car to discover what stinks so bad, she discovers Helene's body in the trunk.

With her background, Francie knows she will be Detective Dominic Wolfe's prime suspect. Even though the hunky cop sparks her interest, cops are forbidden territory in her family. She certainly won't trust him. The only way she can save Mac from foster care is to find out who is attempting to frame her for Helene's murder. She focuses her investigation on Helene's lawyer husband. There was also Helene's reaction to the financial report Francie gave her just before Helene fired her. Maybe one of her coworkers at Techlaw has something to hide? However, wherever Francie goes, disaster is sure to follow. Like Mac shooting a hole into the upstairs bathroom water pipe (with the gun she told Wolfe she didn't own) at Helene's wake and the weight of leaking water collapsing the foyer ceiling on the mourner's heads.

Francie is an offbeat, totally mesmerizing heroine and tells her story in first person narrative. Her attempts at her telemarketing job are hilarious. She constantly fights her genetically criminal disposition and tries to do the right thing, but even when she uses her lock-pick tools, her efforts are for Mac's welfare. Her Intelligence, humor, persistence and a blasé act carry her through most situations, except when the murderer threatens Mac. Author Christine T. Jorgensen writes a funny, smart mystery with the barest hint of impending romance. You will be hoping for a sequel by the time you've finished reading CALLING FOR A FUNERAL. The superior characterizations and suspenseful but comedic situations earn CALLING FOR A FUNERAL a Perfect 10.

Robin Lee