THE THIN WOMAN

by Dorothy Cannell ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 27, 1984

A jumbled-up, disjointed, but likable debut--combining fairy-tale romance, treasure hunts, and a homicidal maniac. Interior designer Ellie Simon, Cannell's vastly overweight heroine, has a lively, mostly self-deprecating sense of humor but zilch self-esteem. So, faced with a dreaded family reunion, Ellie hires an escort and fakes an engagement--with urbane Bentley Haskell, a struggling writer, as her paid fiancÉ. And the twosome thus heads off to meet an assemblage of loony relatives: recluse Uncle Merlin and his lifetime, incredibly inept housekeeper Aunt Sybil; regal widow Aunt Astrid and her gorgeous, feather-brained daughter Vanessa; lascivious Uncle Maurice and his semi-hippie son Freddie; plus handyman Jonas, who's not wrapped too tight either. Is there murder at the reunion? Surprisingly--no. But some weeks later Uncle Merlin is dead, leaving his house to Ellie (and fiancÉ Ben)--provided that Ellie loses 60 pounds, Ben writes a book, and they find an unnamed treasure. . . all within six months. So wild complications and lots of family-history tidbits ensue--while subplots multiply and Ellie's initial charm fades into the giddy murk. Still: sporadic amusement, along with signs of a talent that might well rise to the fore in leaner, more disciplined sequels.

Pub Date: June 27, 1984

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1984

Categories: FICTION