Criminal Pursuits

Praise for Bride of the Living Dead

"Anyone needing a laugh-out-loud romance full of lovable and real people need look no further."
—Margaret Vickers, BookWomanUnbound

"In Lynne Murray's fabulous version of romance, lovers find true pleasure in all body sizes and shapes, wedding dresses are altered to fit the happy bride's body (not bride made to fit brocade), and readers feast on smart detail and smarter dialogue. When they make the movie of this book, Renee Zellweger won't need to alter her diet or her weight to get a part and viewers will scream with delight!"
—Marilyn Wann, author of FAT!SO?

"Bride of the Living Dead is an irresistible comedy that's got it all: a big, beautiful, witty heroine, true love, scary stalkers, reluctant in-laws and monster movie magic. Buy it, read it, laugh out loud and enjoy the heartfelt love story."
—Jaqueline Girdner, author of the Kate Jasper & Cally Lazar mystery series

"Jane Austen meets the Marx Brothers. Lynne Murray has written a delightful comedy of manners with impeccable politics."
—Laurie Toby Edison, Photographer, Women En Large: Images of Fat Nudes

"From the start you will find yourself cheering for Daria as she overcomes hurdles such as a control-freak sister, his and her stalkers, and her own nagging self doubt, to marry her beloved Oscar. Bride of the Living Dead is a fun read about love, friendship and being true to yourself."
—Sue Ann Jaffarian, author of the Odelia Grey mystery series & The Ghost of Granny Apples mystery series

Reviews:

Shon Bacon on ChickLitGurrl:

Big Girl Love Can Be Cute, Funny & Touching, TOO!
I'm a big fan of the romantic comedy, and I'm an even bigger fan of romantic comedies that feature sassy, full figured women who believe in living life and not living in the center of their weight. Unfortunately, stories like that are few and far between. Enter Lynne Murray and her novel, Bride of the Living Dead, where we meet Indie film critic Daria MacClellan. Almost immediately, Daria meets her one true love and the pair set upon getting married and spending the rest of their lives together. There are a few snags, however. Past loves, both on Daria and true love's part, threaten to break up the nuptials. Daria's perfect, anoxeric, older sister Sky—who is dealing with her own personal issues—steps in to micromanage the wedding to death. And at times, Daria has a sneaking suspicion her mother-in-law-to-be would prefer her son marry a psychopath than to marry Daria. Each day, as the wedding approaches, a new set of drama unfolds, and Daria can't help but to wonder if her wedding will turn her into the Bride of the Living Dead. As a rom com, the novel has everything you'd expect—cute, fun, light, hilarious moments and lots of romance. What I love the most about this book is that the focus of the book is not on Daria bemoaning her weight. Yes, we know of it. Yes, it is referenced—by Daria and by other characters. But the story is about a sassy girl who meets and falls in love and has to jump hurdles and crazy situations to make it to her I DO. Don't think it gets better than that.

Lara Frater on FatChicksRule:

Attack of the 50 foot Wedding
The advice I would give to anyone, fat or thin; when it's time to tie the knot, elope. That's the advice I would have give to my past self and to the heroine of the very funny novel: Bride of the Living Dead by Lynne Murray, who brought us the flabulous Josephine Fuller mysteries. The novel will be out in June and if you don't see it in your local bookstore, ask that they carry it.
In this novel Murray's main character Daria, an independent sarcastic film critic, starts off her story with a wedding, not hers but her anorexia sister Sky as she marries a "perfect" man in a perfect wedding to start a perfect life (known only Daria and her family, her attempts to get into the perfect wedding dress landed her in the hospital). Growing up, her sister's entire life focus was a five-step list: find a man, get him to propose, plan a wedding, attend the wedding, and live the married life. And it seems that the one thing that doesn't belong in Sky's perfect life is her fat sarcastic sister.
Daria, now living her life in San Francisco, recalls her past love life: the lover with a roaming eye and her first boyfriend who loved her and left her, leading Daria to engage in a small amount of stalking. But now, Daria is over her first love and previous boyfriend, and meets her true love Oscar at a film review. After a whirlwind romance, Oscar pops the question and on that very day, Sky, whose perfect life has fallen to pieces, returns and decides she will plan Daria's wedding and adding in the mix: Daria's first boyfriend, Oscar's crazy staking ex, and Oscar's disapproving mom.
However, underneath all the humor and the sarcasm lies a woman's desire to get over past insecurities brought on not only by the perfect sister but her idea of love. Daria often questions herself that Oscar doesn't really want her and will break up with her at a moment's notice. In the end, she learns he loves her dearly, enough to tell off his mother.
Daria's wedding planning is a little too much like my own, I also didn't really care much for the fanfare of weddings, but ending up with a very traditional one as my mother, like Sky, was driving me crazy until I did what she wanted. Even funnier is Oscar admitting he saw Daria entering a theater and decided to buy a ticket and follow her. My husband often jokes when people ask me how we met that he followed me home from the movies.
I only had a few issues with this book. While Daria's size is never mentioned, I'm guessing she's in the 12-16 catagory. Enough that she can fit into a boutique dress. 10 years ago when I got married, I was a size 18-20. There was no way I would ever fit into a boutique dress. When I went to one, there were no dresses in my size and I had to have it pinned to my clothes to see how it would look. (I ended up at David's Bridal where they did have dresses in my size.) In this story we don't see much about Daria's fatness which is more significant in Murray's other works.
That being said, Bride of the Living Dead is a fun read and I recommended for those who like Romntic comedies and especially anyone getting married.
And I repeat my warning, elope!

Helen Ginger on her blog StraightFromHel:

Author Lynne Murray has a fresh voice that will draw you into Daria's life. Daria's family and friends are unique and different, yet at the same time you'll swear they could be your family, extended family and crazy college pals. You'll be happy you don't have Daria's life, even as you envy her spunk, self-confidence, friends, and love of life (and her family, extended family and crazy pals).
It doesn't matter whether you're young, old, skinny or not-so-skinny, out-going or shy, you'll get along with Daria and she'll put you on the wedding invitation list. If they can pull off this wedding, it'll make a great video, maybe even a movie. Luckily or maybe not so luckily, Daria's friend is a videographer and is taping every little detail, the bad, the good and the relatives.
If you're a fan of romantic comedies, you'll probably like Bride of the Living Dead.