A Dirty Job

By: Christopher Moore

Narrated by: Fisher Stevens

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)

CUTE

A fun story. Death looked at in a fun and interesting way. Once the narrator calmed down and actually told the story, I was able to listen without distraction. His "Black Jive" talk was actually pretty funny. A good get away fantasy listen.

What a delight!

Funny, fresh and well written, this was a nice find after so many disappointments lately. Best audio since Vonnegut and Confederacy of Dunces.

Loved it! Don't f--k with me!

Would you consider the audio edition of A Dirty Job to be better than the print version?

The narration helps make this a great, funny book!

What did you like best about this story?

The characters are a hoot. This book was fun and even charming.

What does Fisher Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Loved hearing the Morrigan.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughed out loud!

Any additional comments?

I am reading the second book in series and loving it as much!!

Someone please make this book into a HBO Series

Some stories are great for the movies this book is so awesome that you could not make it justice by making it into a movie, there are enough stories within this book to make it a series but an HBO or Showtime type series. Or Netflix! This is a great, great book one of my favorite.

Amazing!

This book is absolutely hilarious! It's extraordinary well written, and the story is genius! I loved the characters and the dialogue. The story has that quirky attitude that never fails to make me giggle. It's great background noise, but at the same time it is intriguing. The reading is fabulous too. There is a great variety of voices and the reader keeps the tone lighthearted when necessary, and ominous and heart quickening. Overall, the story is hilarious and interesting, and the reading keeps the story intriguing.

It's worth a listen!

Would you consider the audio edition of A Dirty Job to be better than the print version?

Pulled into the story immediately, held my interest, insightful, funny and I didn't want it to end.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Actually, I appreciated all of them...lively bunch.

What does Fisher Stevens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Tone...good lively energy.
Surprised to find no other books with him as narrator.

Who was the most memorable character of A Dirty Job and why?

Find I don't want to select one.

Any additional comments?

I was surpised that it deals with deep issues...

amazing book

I found myself laughing out loud throughout this book. Loved it the story and the neverending humor.

funny and great.

do not get if you have had your humor removed. It may just come back....

So Very Funny

Christopher Moore has such a strange sense of humor - very odd - but I laughed out loud so many times. Lots of fun.

love it

I loved this book, it was funny and had a great story line to it. I can't wait to read more by this author