First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #11 and Tuesday Teaser

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea. It's an opportunity to share the first paragraphs of a book I am currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

This week I'm featuring the opening paragraphs of The Christie Curse by Victoria Abbott, a book I recently purchased. 

Read on after the intro for my Tuesday Teaser.

 

Published by Penguin Group (USA), Berkley Prime Crime

March 2013

 First in the new A Book Collector Mystery Series 

 CHAPTER ONE

"IF I HADN'T been desperate for a job and a new place to live, I might have made a run for it as soon as I got a good look at that sour face.  But I was feeling the pinch, and in a sea of want ads seeking waitstaff, topless dancers, and telemarketers, this job description was clearly written for me.

RESEARCHER REQUIRED

Discreet, flexible and educated individual required to research documents and artifacts.  Must be free to travel, and possess valid driver's license and reliable vehicle.  The successful applicant must be willing to relocate to Harrison Falls, New York.  Accommodation will be provided.  Do not bother to reply unless you have an excellent grasp of the English language.  Knowledge of Latin will be considered a distinct asset.  Good personal hygiene and formal wardrobe required.  Should be able to cope with irregular schedule.  Must appreciate cats.  No allergies please.  Three references, official transcripts and other documentation to be produced at interview.

The inscription on my master's degree was barely dry, much like the red ink on my student loans.  My former mooching boyfriend had maxed out my credit card before I'd managed to catch on and dump him.  The only thing healthy was my run of bad luck.  I could feel my PhD possibilities receding.  There wasn't much call in our area for an enthusiastic graduate in English with a minor in languages and a fondness for Jane Austen and the Brontes.  I had all the qualifications, and my family is nothing if not discreet, for reasons that are nobody's business but our own.  Plus my references were solid.  I was already back in Harrison Falls, and I figured I could always fake the cat thing.  There was no clue as to who was offering this position, but I figured I had nowhere to go but up."

What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

 

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Teaser Tuesdays, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading, is a weekly event where bloggers open to a random page of their current reads and share a teaser from somewhere on that page--no spoilers allowed.

 

Here's my teaser from The Christie Curse by Victoria Abbott:

"The temperature in the room dropped by ten degrees.  The soft, sweet pallid people seemed to develop sharp edges.  They stared at me with narrowed eyes.  Mr. Fine crossed his arms.  Mrs. Fine moved the Pirouette Wafers out of my reach.

'So you're saying you didn't go to school with Alex and you work for that horrible woman?' Mrs. Fine said."

~ p. 74

 

 

Enjoy life with books . . .

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

 

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph #11 and Tuesday Teaser was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without attribution.