A Dirty Job

This book was well written and REALLY well read. Is the narrator Fisher Stevens – the actor? It would make perfect sense – this book is so much fun - and the read was a big factor.
I enjoyed the whole experience and would happily recommend you get this one. It is not often the reader will get me to laugh out loud – ( I wonder what the other drivers on the road with me were thinking?) - This is an interesting and silly take on death and the transition of the human soul. If you have ever been a fan of Piers Anthony, you will surely enjoy this romp through the macabre. This author is a more mature writer. Please Note: This book not intended for anyone but an adult audience, so be sure you are not sharing with the kids. There are a few words the kids can wait to learn – at least until after your mother-in-law comes to visit.

This was my first experience with a Christopher Moore Novel and I can't wait to listen to the next one! Part of the enjoyment was the giddiness with which Fisher Stevens read the book. He was having as good a time narrating as I was listening. The previous reviewer must not have been a Beta male. Alpha males are so full of themselves they'd not recognize brilliant humor if they were hit in the back of the brain stem with it! For us Beta males, understanding that we are flawed and forever trying to come to grips with our failings, only helps us to appreciate the humor with which Moore spins his tale!

I was actually disappointed when I was on the last CD to know it was coming to an end soon. I'll miss Ray and Lilly and Charlie and Sophie, now that they won't be part of my daily drives. They're all such great characters and Fisher Stevens brought live to all of them. Especially the "sewer harpies." His voices for those underworld misfits really captured the essence of who and what they are: "Guns suck, I can tell you that!"

So, if you're a Beta male or a woman who just feels pity for Beta males and goes out with them, only to find they are such terrific guys after all, then this book is for you.

It was one of the best audio books I've ever listened to!

I only hope that Tony Roberts narrates The Stupidest Angel with such a flair for the characters and the brilliant comic talents of Christopher Moore.

A Dirty Job is vintage Christopher Moore. For those familiar with his writing style, you will be unsurprised to find Death taking the form of a neurotic second-hand shop owner (in Moore-speak, a classic "beta male"). Add to this: a Goth-girl assistant who can't decide if she's jealous or repulsed that her dorky boss is a "Death Merchant"; a designer-men's-suit-wearing lesbian sister whose ultimate goal is to get her widowed brother laid (for the good of humanity); a seven foot tall record shop owner slash compatriot Death Merchant named (and I'm not making this up) Minty Fresh; a trio of Celtic dealth goddess avatars with a penchant for torture and kinky sex (but not dogs); and, just for good measure, a toddler whose sidekicks are two four hundred pound Hell Hounds whose favorite snacks include toasters and hubcabs, and you pretty much get the picture. Like I said, classic Moore.

Fisher Stevens does a fantastic read - it sounds like he's having a blast, which definitely moves the story right along, even during the slow bits. The weird disco-music that separates the chapters is annoying, particularly when whoever did the sound editing forgot to turn it down so that the narration would be more audible. Fortunately, it doesn't last very long.

If you're a Moore fan, you'll find all the classic bits here (and even a return character from some of the previous books, but I won't ruin it for you). If this is your first experience with Chris Moore's writing you'll find that this is a lighthearted book that doesn't take itself too seriously when it doesn't need to, and knows enough to end before it all gets to be too much. Sit back, relax, and be prepared to giggle. A lot.

Awesome story of a beta male who becomes a death merchant, (collector of souls) Funny to the last page. Fisher Stevens does an outstanding job.

This is absolutely one of the funniest books I have ever read or listened to! The story manages to be heartwarming and edgy at the same time, and the narrator puts in an amazing performance. I don't even know how many times I've listened to this book in the few months since I downloaded it, but I still laugh every time!

This was my first Christopher Moore book from Audible, and I loved it. I quickly got everything else from this delightful author that is on this site. Though it is all light fare, Moore is a wonderful writer. He knows how to tell a tale, create compelling characters, build tension in all the right places and, most important, how to do that most astonishing thing - make one laugh out loud.

The narration on this story is terrific. Fisher Stevens hits perfect notes of mild bemusement, subtle enthusiasm and stark terror as he tells the story of the ultimate "Beta Male", Charlie Asher (don't let the music in the beginning throw you, it only comes up a few times, thankfully). All of the characters are well drawn and loads of fun; particularly Lilly, the perpetually irritated goth working at Asher's Second Hand. Though she does stand out (Moore must have a teen-age daughter), there is not a dull individual in the lot.

I believe this to be one of Moore's best in the Audible collection (only beaten by Fool), but I have not been disappointed by any of his titles here. Enjoy!

This is a great book. Fischer Stevens narrates to a "T". Silly and strange, I some how cared about the characters. I never wanted it to end. One of my top 10 reads.

I have never been let down by a Christopher Moore book, and this is no exception. This book is clever and preposterous, but not totally unbelievable. How can I say that a book about death coming to earth is believable? Well, that's just what Christopher Moore does. He takes the craziest stuff (I mean really crazy, like I must have been high when I thought this up kind of crazy) and makes you think that it's all possible. He does this by developing the characters into people that you like. People you could go have a beer with, or talk about shreiking ancient sewer dwelling goddesses over a latte with. And his pacing is right on. He never slows down so much that you lose interest, or speeds up so much that you're left scratching your head, saying, "Wha...?"

So what I'm trying to say is, if you already like CM, this is one of his many great books. You'll like it. And if you've never read a CM book before, this is a good place to start. You'll also like it.

My husband and I listened to this together. We both laughed so hard at some parts that we were crying! This book does not take itself seriously AT ALL. Christopher Moore knows how to write a funny book! He loves San Francisco and he loves to write and it all shows in this book. This is meant to make you laugh but it's also a good story with a great plot and wonderfully funny supporting characters. If you want serious, go grab a copy of the history of Egypt or something but if you want a laugh-your-head-off break from life then this is the book for you. Anyone with a broken or missing sense of humor, WALK AWAY NOW!

This audiobook is the funniest laugh-out-loud listen I've ever had. The content was wonderful -- it probably would have been a good book to read -- but the narrator adds a lot to the audio version. This book is so great it may make you want to listen to something else by the same author. Don't do that. Moore's "Lamb" was awful in all the ways that "A Dirty Job" was terrific. I don't know how it's possible that the guy who wrote one could go on to write the other.