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)

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.

Minty Fresh

Liked it. I thought it was performed well. The story was weird adn funny at the same time.

Obsurdly funny

A great listen for when you want something proposterous and entertaining. Not for someone looking for serious prose. I agree with the other reviewers that the musical blips are bad - but they are very short and only mildly annoying. I loved all the discussion of beta males.

This will be short

I have listened to this book in the past year and a half no less than 6 times and I always catch something new. I just love it!

So now you're death...

This book was darkly hilarious and I couldn't stop listening. The premise, the characters, the narration, it all came together in a highly enjoyable Audible experience. The main character was slightly clueless but that made his falling into this soul collecting line of work all the more humorous and the cast of colourful characters, from the babysitter neighbour ladies to his colourful staff and domineering sister - everything was pitch perfect and lots of fun.

Had potential

This is not my genre so forgive my low star rating. It sounded like a fun story and thought my husband, who loves Dean Koontz, might like it. Too much profanity and graphic language which is too bad because I kept thinking a clean version would make a hilarious movie.

great book

i used my monthly credit on a impulse with this book without even listening to the sample and i have no regrets