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)

Very good book, excellent performance

Overall the book was very good. There were a few moments that maybe took away from the story a bit. I enjoyed the plot but the pacing of the beginning could have been better. The performance was excellent.

Great story, not so great narrator.

I love Christopher Moore's humour. Unfortunately, Fisher Stevens uses tired old stereotypes for all of his side character voices, even if they don't remotely fit the character. Spoiled an otherwise great time filler.

Laughing in my car

I laughed so much. I swear the one liners is sh** I would say. It’s a scary story but told in such humor. good job. I could see this one as a classic b movie

Weird, Hilarious, Different

It was a little difficult to get started listening to this book because the concept presented about souls was hard to understand - but the book is so entertainingly funny I just quit trying to figure that part out and went with then flow. I’m ready to listen again so for the off the wall humor.

Not a YA novel and...

...I was relieved! It's difficult to find light hearted adventure stories that are not YA books. This is one of those rare books that has the feel of a quick and witty comedy without the kid gloves.

love the novels!

this is pretty great, I get to listen to this while I work and it's really a time saver.

great book .

loved it !! it's a great story. I found myself listening to this book everywhere. I'm going to pre-order the next installment of the story.

great adult humor

Fisher Stevens did amazing. He got the main character to come to life in a relatable humorous way. Definitely recommend this book. The story was so well paired with the voice. I enjoyed every second.

Entertaining to the last word

As always, Christopher Moore spins a great tale. This story has it all; great plot, laughter, mystery, and romance. This story will grab you in draw you in within a few sentences.

very enjoyable

different, Funny and witty, Not like the other books I have been listening to. Humor was a nice change.