cover image Death by Roses

Death by Roses

Vivian B. Probst. SelectBooks, $16.95 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-1-59079-148-6

A catchy premise and entertaining characters mostly outweigh the unpolished writing of Probst%E2%80%99s debut. When smalltown housewife and busybody Mae Rose dies ignominiously on the toilet, killed by a lifetime of rage against her husband and just about everyone else, she%E2%80%99s set up to learn a heavenly lesson in forgiveness and being careful what you wish for. Mary Lee is a famous horror-movie writer, terrible mother, and outrageously difficult cancer patient with a burning desire to finally win an Oscar before she kicks the bucket. Nearly dead, she is revived when Mae Rose%E2%80%99s spirit joins hers in Mary Lee%E2%80%99s body, leading to hilarious situations and an unlikely%E2%80%94yet oddly believable%E2%80%94connection between their family members. As their families, friends, frenemies, and others circle like curious vultures, the two women cobble together one life between them, irrevocably changing both their destinies. Humorous and flowing despite awkward prose, this should elicit giggles all the way through. Agent: Neil Gudovitz, Waterside Productions. (Feb.)