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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
Since You Are Leaving Anyway, Take Out the Trash by Dixie Carter



Avon, Sep 2004, 5.99, 384 pp.
ISBN: 0060595361

In Salt Lick, Texas, someone murders wealthy but odious Pearl Ann Carruthers. Because of her nasty haughty ways, most of the townsfolk detested Pearl Ann. Salon owner Debbie Sue Overstreet figures she can get some solid gossip to share with her customers since her former spouse Buddy is the sheriff and on the case.

When Debbie Sue learns that Peal Ann's family is offering a reward of $50,000 she decides to do some sleuthing, but knows she must not let Buddy learn what she is doing or he would be upset. She also knows she must coax him into revealing insider information without his knowing why she is asking him; the latter is simple as he is a man and she can pretend it is for salon gossip. However, as Debbie Sue stumbles about, the killer keeps an eye on her to make sure that she does not get unlucky because he will try to kill her if she learns the truth.

Harriet Klausner



Plot & Themes
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 70%
Kind of investigator
Any non-mystery subplot?
descript. of violence and chases - 10 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 %
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Texas

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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