In Clubbed to Death hapless Helen Hawthorne, on the run from her greedy deadbeat ex-husband, takes on yet another dead-end job, this time as a receptionist in the complaint department of an exclusive Ft. Lauderdale resort. Having served stints as bookstore clerk, telemarketer, motel maid, staffer at a pet boutique, and more, Helen knows what she's getting into--yet another thankless low-paying job at which her days will be numbered. As a former professional who once earned a six-figure salary, she doesn't suffer maltreatment gladly. She also doesn't tend to keep jobs that turn murderous, which, for Helen, is all of them. Helen shifts into sleuth mode when she stumbles upon yet another body, this time the remains of a universally disliked co-worker. Who had sufficient motive, opportunity and malevolence to perpetrate the crime? Helen and her boyfriend Phil leap into action to solve the mystery. This main plot, along with a humorous subplot involving Helen's brushes with, and avoidance of, her ex-husband, contribute to the pleasures of this delightful novel.
Viets cleverly characterizes the nature of "dead end" jobs in an amusing manner, accurately capturing the futility of the workplace for many--perhaps most--people, who cannot change jobs with alacrity.
The social commentary is leavened with humorous vignettes, an exaggerated plot line and an engaging narrative style. And Viets knows whereof she speaks; surprisingly, she has actually worked all of the jobs about which she writes.