Late For His Own Funeral

Double Deaths…
Death Investigator, Angela Richman, has second thoughts when investigating her most recent assignment. Sterling Chaney is a high profile member of Chouteau society and he’s dead, crashing his Porsche and mangling himself badly in the process. But, at his funeral, the unexpected guest is Sterling himself sparking a great deal of media and coverage. Another crash, this time definitely killing Sterling, throws up more questions than answers for Angela. What on earth is going on? With a well rounded protagonist and an eclectic cast, plot twists aplenty and an immersive narrative this is enjoyable addition to this series.

I liked this book. Great writing and interesting characters. The story had enough punch and twists and turns to keep me interested. Highly recommend!

Elaine Viets has written such a true and wonderful female lead in her Angela Richman Series. She's loyal, outspoken, and fiercely protective of her friends. These attributes come to the forefront when one of her oldest friends, Camila, is accused (and arrested by Jace) for murdering her husband. This action causes rifts in both her relationship with Chris, as well as working relationship with Jace. It's interesting how Ms Viets navigates the conflict amongst her leading characters, as well as mixes in a very interesting murder mystery. This is a wonderful book! Thank you to Severn House for an ARC for my unbiased review.

Well written with a cast of well developed charcaters and a gripping storyline, I couldnt put ths book down.
It was twisty, mysterious and unpredictable. Really enjoyable

LATE FOR HIS OWN FUNERAL by Elaine Viets

Mom used to say I’d be late for my own funeral, and while I’m better at punctuality now, I’d have been late to any event scheduled in competition with reading this book, so plan accordingly. Camilla, Angela’s good friend, is a suspect in the death of her cheating, drunken, awful husband, but she couldn’t have, could she? Despite his faults, she still loved him, and there are plenty of others who had good reasons to want him dead. Angela’s loyalty and persistence in trying to clear Camilla’s name undermine other friendships and put her conflict with the “powers that be” in snooty Chouteau Forest. Fast cars, smooth martinis, splendid baked goods, deft foreshadowing, and humor add to the excitement. I’ve loved all of Elaine Viets’ books, but this might be my favorite.
(Little hint, this sleepy reader found she could get needed rest by sleeping when Angela slept. I also advise eating when Angela dines, NOT when she is working a scene). Coming in July.

This is a very original idea for a story and is cleverly delivered. It all takes place in a small Missouri town where there are still grudges about the poverty of some and riches of others. Sterling is one of the rich ones and also an adulterer. He is believed to have died in a car crash but turns up at the funeral organised according to his declared wishes by his ‘widow’ Camilla. Then it is discovered that his money comes from illegal online sexual conversations. Then there is another car crash and this time it really is him. Was someone out to murder him? Death investigator Alison, a long term friend of Camilla, believes the police have jumped to the wrong conclusion about Sterling’s murder and pursues the case in her own. There are many twists in the story to hold the reader’s interest and a satisfying conclusion. This is a good read and I recommend it.

Dead/not dead! Sterling wasn't dead the first time his funeral was held but he is the second time and his wife Camilla is the prime suspect. Angela is a death investigator- she photographs scenes etc- and she's been assigned to the case. More importantly, Camilla is her friend and she knows Camilla didn't cause Sterling's car crash. As readers of this genre know, the victim always has a long list of people who don't like him and Sterling, who exploits the workers at his "call center" is no exception. It's a zippy mystery and I'm a fan of Angela. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'd only read the first book in the series, making this pretty much a standalone for me and I enjoyed it very much.

Late for His Own Funeral: An Angela Richman Death Investigator Mystery
By Elaine Viets
Severn
July 5, 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

It’s not unusual for the guest of honor to be a late arrival to his own party, unless that event happens to be a funeral. Due to nepotism and shoddy investigation by corrupt detectives, Sterling Chaney was prematurely identified as the corpse in an automobile accident even though he was off vacationing in the Bahamas. His wife Camilla was not with him either in the car or on his illicit trip, so she’s not exactly thrilled to find him still carousing his way through his funeral. When Chouteau County death investigator Angela Richman is called to her next scene by the medical examiner though, there is no doubt that the head sitting in the middle of the road belongs to the definitively dead Sterling Chaney. That the philanderer wasn’t alone wouldn’t have been much of a surprise, but her identity certainly is. Erin McBride was a strident advocate for the voice artists of a company owned by Sterling, a company that happened to be a phone sex call line that exploited its workers and denied them livable wages and benefits. Camilla Chaney’s outrage at hearing about her husband’s exploits makes her the prime suspect in his death, and Detective Jace Budewitz uses Angela’s friendship with the new widow to solicit information for a quick arrest.

Angela is infuriated by what she sees as Jace’s betrayal, so she relies on her boyfriend Police Officer Chris Ferretti for investigative help in proving Camilla’s innocence. Still mourning the loss of her husband, it has taken months of friendship from Chris to coax Angela into taking the risk of a new relationship. While she doesn’t hesitate to rely on him professionally, moving on and opening up her heart is another matter. Raised within Missouri’s elitist community of Chouteau Forest, Angela uses her knowledge of the social morays to follow the clues to those who felt betrayed by Sterling and his shady lifestyle. It seems that Sterling was an equal-opportunity extorter, taking advantage of women with few resources as well as his neighbors who have too many.

This 6th in the series is perhaps the lightest of the novels featuring Angela Richman, who struggled to recover her life and her profession after suffering from 6 strokes at the age of 41. The death of her husband was just as debilitating, but she may now finally be ready to open up to the man who can cook an amazing dinner while respecting her capabilities as a Death Investigator. Angela’s wry observations about her socialite neighbors are balanced with her compassion for those she once overlooked, but she isn’t without her own prejudices. Angela makes the same assumptions most would about the women who work for Sterling’s call service, many who are victims of a system that doesn’t allow them to escape it. Chekov’s pepper spray comes in handy just when Angela needs it, at a moment when she fears that justice might never win out. The author’s epilogues are always a highlight for her mysteries, wrapping up plotlines and delivering satisfyingly and often ironic fates. Phone sex lines do still exist in this era of OnlyFans and Private Chat Rooms, and perhaps it is that very anonymity that keeps it alive. This is a fascinating exploration of sex workers, high society, and the ways in which they feed off of one another. Angela continues to be a very likable and sharp investigator, and readers will look forward to seeing her finally embrace the happiness she deserves.

Another intriguing case for Angela Richman, Death Investigator for Chouteau County, Missouri. Attending a funeral for her friend Camilla Chaney’s husband, who was killed in a car accident, imagine the shock when the husband enters the church, very much alive. When the public learns that he has been operating an “answering service” which is a front for a phone sex business and recording the conversations, he dies in a suspicious car wreck. The police believe that Camilla tampered with his car and she is arrested. There is an abundance of suspects; the men who used the service, the women he employed at the “answering service”, and the women with whom he cheated. Angela and her lover, Officer Christopher Ferretti, disagree on Camilla’s guilt, but she knows that Camilla could not have killed her husband…can she prove it? A mystery with a touch of humor as Angela searches for the killer. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

I love Angela Richman mysteries and loved this one, an unusual and entertaining story.
The plot is well developed and solid, the mystery kept me guessing, and I was glad to catch up with the characters.
The setting is well described and it was interesting to read about the hypocrisy and prejudice of the place.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Angela Richman is a death investigator for the county medical examiner's office in an upscale suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. She is providing support to longtime friend Camilla Chaney during the funeral for Camilla's estranged husband. Everyone is shocked when Sterling Chaney walks into the church drunk and very much alive! Due to the publicity this receives, unsavory details about Sterling's "phone answering" business come to light and soon afterwards, Sterling is found dead---again. Angela uses her skills and her knowledge of the wealthy Chouteau Forest community to confirm this second victim is truly Sterling and if so, who murdered him.

Although this book is part of a series, it works well as a standalone. Angela is, in the words of the police officer she is dating, "fearless and loyal." She is good at her job and won't rest until finds out the truth. She is even more determined in this case because her friend Camilla is accused of murder. Angela's snarky sense of humor can sometimes make her seem immature, but it also makes the book entertaining. I enjoyed her investigation and the way everything turns out in the end. The book can't be considered a cozy, but I think fans of the author's more cozy mystery series will also enjoy this story. 

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Severn House. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

After completing three successful series, Viets felt it was time for a change. In 2018 she published the first volume of the Angela Richman, Death Investigator series. Late for his own Funeral is book 7. I was unfamiliar with the profession Death Investigator, and also know very little about life in the Midwest. As a former reporter for the St. Louis Post Dispatch Viets is able to bring a true sense of authenticity to both the setting and the type of personalities found in her fictitious Chocteau County.

Viets has been known to say that murder is a messy business. She does not spare the reader when describing the state of the corpse. However, the humorous exchanges between her characters, combined with Angela's wry world view keep the plot line from heading into unsavory bleakness. Here the dead body is identified more on educated guesses - not much is left after a fiery automobile crash. Claiming to want to go out like a rock star, Sterling Chaney has insisted on a $30,000 casket, which comes with an velvet lined adjustable mattress. The casket is upstaged, however when Sterling walks into his own funeral, very much alive. Angela must now take over as the casket has become evidence.

Sterling revels in his new notoriety until once again there is a fatal car crash. Who wants him dead to the point they are willing to kill twice? Perhaps Sterling is not such a 'sterling' person after all. The twists and turns are fun to read, and the perpetrator is not easily guessed. This is a welcome read that will keep someone turning the pages until the wee hours. Highly recommended.

Death investigator Angela Richman needs to prove that a man is really dead after he had already shown up at his own funeral. It looks like some one was trying to kill him twice