The Moody Mortician

When a grumpy funeral director finds herself caught up in a high-stakes investigation, she'll prove nobody can solve a murder like a mortician.

For Riley Peluso, a twenty-eight-year-old funeral director, the dead aren’t scary, gross, or annoying—it’s the living who are a problem. She loves her job at a century-old family-run Italian American funeral home, as she doesn’t have to talk to anyone. Besides, she’s the best embalmer in quaint Dorchester, Connecticut. That’s why she notices what someone else overlooked: something is amiss with the decedent she’s embalming, something that might indicate foul play.

Before she knows it, Riley is embroiled in a murder investigation. She’s the first and last witness to a crime whose evidence she mistakenly destroyed while doing her job. The police settle on the easiest answer, and Riley is convinced the wrong person has been arrested.

Meanwhile, her nosy, overbearing Italian family is constantly on her case about her introverted lifestyle. To top it all off, she’s gotten herself mixed up with the obnoxiously competitive—and annoyingly handsome—heir to the rival Irish American funeral home. In the middle of this mess of living-people drama, can Riley figure out the truth about a murder and restore her faith in her profession?

Charming, gory, and laugh-out-loud funny, The Moody Mortician is a delectable puzzle featuring one of the most endearing amateur sleuths to grace the pages of a murder mystery.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs