Customer Reviews

Dust Angel

"Dust Angel" reaches us as the fourth novel from German author Jutta Profijt, following on the heel of her three "Morgue," mysteries,Morgue Drawer Four, Morgue Drawer Next Door, and Morgue Drawer for Rent. Her first book featuring coroner Martin Gansewein, MORGUE DRAWER NUMBER FOUR, was shortlisted for the German 2010 Friedrich Glauser Prize for best crime novel, and praised by "Mystery Scene Magazine" as "not only funny, but...insightful.". I've previously read and reviewed MORGUE DRAWER NEXT DOOR in these pages, wasn't crazy about it: it got old fast.

DUST ANGEL is a standalone, a light comic caper, featuring protagonist/narrator Corinna Leyendecker, set in Dusseldorf, Germany,a city by which it does a good job. Corinna has had the unenviable experience of losing her job in advertising, her boyfriend, and her apartment all the same morning. She does her best to cope with the red tape associated with unemployment insurance, does a couple of pointless job interviews, and decides to start her own business, Dust Angels, a cleaning, concierge, and catering service for wealthy men without wives. The business is doing well, until Corinna finds the body of a dead homeless man in the walk-in cooler of a fussy new client. She's got a bad case of flu, but she must somehow cope.

Profijt was born in 1967 in Ratingen, Germany. After finishing school, she lived abroad working as an au pair, an importer/exporter, a coach to executives and students, and a business English instructor. She currently works as a freelance writer and translator. DUST ANGEL appears to have been ably translated by the Seattle-based Erik J. Macki.

The book's thin, but charming and entertaining. I enjoyed it, aside from the minor annoyance of oddly capitalized words now and then; I have very little acquaintanceship with German, but believe it is characterized by capitalization of words not capitalized in English. Though of course, our narrator Corinna is using the capitalization for emphasis. Mind you, it's chick lit, of course, written by a woman, about women, for women. Couldn't recommend it to those of the male persuasion, but it's girlish fun.

Fantastic book! Right up there with Morgue Draw 4.

Felt Profijt had given up slightly with Morgue Draw for Rent but with Dust Angel, BOOM - right back up there!

Brilliant :)

The book started slowly which after Morgue Drawer 4 was a little disappointing. However, once the pace increased, I enjoyed it although the story around the body in the boot fell a bit flat. Probably best as a holiday read or on a train journey to work.

After reading her Morgue Draw books I couldn't wait to give this a try and it was well worth it. I didn't want to put it down.

This book was recommended for my Kindle so I read the sample and was hooked. I bought the book and enjoyed it immensely and will look out for more by the same author.

Funny and kept you wondering what was going to happen next.
Liked all the characters as they were interesting. Good

Enjoyable light reading. The story was not at all what I was expecting. The ending definitely was not as expected but actually in a good way (trying not to include any spoilers)! Much lighter reading than the Morgue Drawer series the author is known for. Very good for a short quick read!

It was a good story but it fizzled out at the end. I wanted there to be more behind the dead body, whereas it just went a bit flat.

I liked this novel because of its humerous flavour. The story was well constructed and flowed smoothly and I believe the author(ess) wrote it with a 'tongue-in-cheek' attitude which I found enjoyable.

A light read just when I needed one in the middle of studying! Will think again about having anyone in to clean though!