Elinor Lipman

Contemporary

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When her bagel-making boyfriend jilts her, secretary/aspiring writer Harriet Mahoney heads to Cape Cod to work as a live-in ghost writer for Isabel Krug. A busty and big-hearted dame, Isabel wants to write a book about the murder trial that bought her 15 minutes of deliciously-salacious fame.

While living with Isabel in an ultra-sleek contemporary beach home, Harriet avoids writing, is creeped-out by Isabel's moody artist husband, Costas, and tries to avoid the earthy handyman who seems to know what Harriet needs, even if she hasn't figure it out for herself.

Elinor Lipman is a seriously fine writer. Her dialogue is tight and funny, her plot kooky, yet filled with the warmth one expects from her novels.