A Dirty Job

By: Christopher Moore

Narrated by: Fisher Stevens

Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Charlie Asher is a pretty normal guy. A little hapless, somewhat neurotic, sort of a hypochondriac. He's what's known as a Beta Male: the kind of fellow who makes his way through life by being careful and constant, you know, the one who's always there to pick up the pieces when the girl gets dumped by the bigger/taller/stronger Alpha Male.

But Charlie's been lucky. He owns a building in the heart of San Francisco, and runs a secondhand store with the help of a couple of loyal, if marginally insane, employees. He's married to a bright and pretty woman who actually loves him for his normalcy. And she, Rachel, is about to have their first child.

Yes, Charlie's doing okay for a Beta. That is, until the day his daughter, Sophie, is born. Just as Charlie, exhausted from the birth, turns to go home, he sees a strange man in mint-green golf wear at Rachel's hospital bedside, a man who claims that no one should be able to see him. But see him Charlie does, and from here on out, things get really weird.

People start dropping dead around him, giant ravens perch on his building, and it seems that everywhere he goes, a dark presence whispers to him from under the streets. Strange names start appearing on his nightstand notepad, and before he knows it, those people end up dead, too. Yup, it seems that Charlie Asher has been recruited for a new job, an unpleasant but utterly necessary one: Death. It's a dirty job. But hey, somebody's gotta do it.

©2006 Christopher Moore (P)2006 HarperCollinsPublishers

Critic reviews

• 2006 Quill Award Nominee

"Moore's enthusiasm and skill make it convincing, and his affection for the cast of weirdos gives the book an unexpected poignancy." (Publishers Weekly)

Funny!

I'm in an audiobook club and this book was one of the books we had picked o read. As the title wasn't to attractive, the book was a great book. This was my first christopher moore book that i have ever read and this was acutally the first audiobook I have ever read and it was great! I like how he incorporates characters from other books in this book and these sames scenario's take place in the ther books with these sames characters as well. Great author can't wait for the next Christopher Moore book I read as I'm sure it will be just as good. Another good Christopher Moore book is "You Suck".

Laugh out loud

This is my first Christoper Moore book and I had a blast listening to it. I loved the off-beat sense of humor and found my self laughing out loud to this book more than once while riding along in the car. A few warnings, this is NOT a book to listen to around children, the F bomb is used, A LOT! ADULT CONTENT! Ok, other than that, lets just say I can see my child saying "not up the ......" to some class too as I would be in some ackward situation like that. Enjoy it as I have!

Funny and Clever..;

Once again Christopher Moore has delivered a funny,clever and totally believale book about a dark topic. Well developed plot and characters. This book was fun to listen too.

A fun read - but nothing too serious

A clever and entertaining story about a "death merchant" and his unusual daugther. Although the literary style, and the narrator's style of reading, make the characters seem cartoonish and immature, the story slowly grabbed my interest. Although I can't say that I did too much "laugh out loud" chuckling - there were quite a few times i had a quiet laugh as I enjoyed Moore's unusual story. By the time it got to the end though the story was quite absurd and had lost much of its earlier quirky charm and appeal. Nevertheless, I recommed the book as a fun, but not too serious, read (or listen as the case may be).

Comical Brilliance

I reserve the expression "Must Read", or listen in this case, for novels that are truly deserving. I'd put this book on that list if you are ok with adult themed conversations and dark humor. I haven't laughed this hard throughout an entire book in ages. The characters are diverse to the extreme and posses great depth all while having just the right place in a crazy plot. Brilliant writing.

The narration is top tier. Fisher Stevens earned a standing ovation from me. I'm not sure this book would be as comical without him.

Amusing story, but the caricature stereotypes

While the book is representative of an amusing take on fantasy it’s attempts to create and develop realistic characters who are not stereotypical is abysmal. The lesbians are an interesting addition, but seem overemphasized and the one African-American character sounds like a character from a 1970’s TV Detective Show with a one word name. The latter even drives a red Cadillac and owns a record store. Really? These issues make the book almost offensive if not unbearable to listen to.

Laughed out loud

Liked the book, don't take it seriously - there is no great meaning of life here but parts made me laugh out loud during my commute.

Slow start, interesting modern fantasy

The book got off to a slow start, chronicling the life of its beta-male protagonist (the term used in the book), but after the first hour or so, I had a tough time turning it off.

Some of the concepts were quite good, and original to my ears, dealing with the concept of the soul as well as the body as it relates to Death (and his/her minions).

The wrap-up was a bit obvious, but still fun.

loved it

Not for those easily offended by language but this was so fun. Great reader....out of this world story line and just plain enjoyable. I didn't think I would like this type of story as it isn't "real" life at all. Laughed out loud many times.

great

a great story with wonderful narrations by Fisher Stevens. Christopher Moore at his best! worth the credit!