The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald

Stewart Hoag #3

by David Handler

Ghostwriting an expose of the dirty business behind megabuck book deals, and how they have launched handsome brat pack novelist Cam Noyes's career, Stewart Hoag is shocked when members of the publishing community are targeted for murder. Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Audiobook, Novels

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

AKA Russell Andrews (with Peter Gethers)

David Handler, who began his career in New York as a journalist, was born and raised in Los Angeles and published two highly acclaimed novels about growing up there, Kiddo and Boss, before resorting to a life of crime fiction.

Reviews

[marco renzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

[[commento dell'aprile 2012]]

Un thriller-noir semisconosciuto, ma che meriterebbe senz'altro un po' più di notorietà.
È in primis una lettura assai scorrevole, e possiede un articolato intreccio à la Chandler spostato tra la fine degli Ottanta e i primi Novanta.
Il protagonista-narratore è infatti una specie di Marlowe della Mtv Generation, un ex-autore di best seller caduto nella merda, ridottosi a fare lo "scrittore fantasma". Il suo compito è quello di far tornare l'ispirazione a una giovane promessa della letturatura, che ha tirato fuori un esordio col botto ma che ha già perso lo smalto a causa di una vita che, più che a quella di uno scrittore, somiglia a quella di una rockstar.
Lo scrittore-detective si ritroverà a questo punto in una situazione apparentemente più grossa di lui, che lo porterà a scoprire vari misteri che si celano sotto al maledetto ragazzo prodigio.
In tutto ciò, oltre a un mistero messo su bene, c'è una bella critica, a dire il veropiuttosto marcata, all'editoria, alla critica letteraria e al mondo della letteratura di consumo in generale.
Davvero da non sottovalutare.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up mainly for the title which I love, but it was a fun read. Very engaging characters, including the dog, a clever plot, and nice wry humor. Will read more of this series because the titles of the others are equally good.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable installment in the series.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly literary mystery. I really enjoyed it.

[Simona Moschini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sul tema dei plagi letterari sono stati pubblicati parecchi romanzi: in questo momento mi vengono in mente "Il caso Harry Quebert" e "Notizie sull'autore", ma sicuramente ce ne sono molti altri che non ho letto o su cui la memoria non mi soccorre.
Sul romanzone di Joël Dicker posso solo ribadire che è una ciofeca e compiangere gli alberi abbattuti per stampare quell'inutilmente complicato, stancante feuilleton pieno di cliché. Molto migliore il tomo dell'almeno in Italia semisconosciuto John Colapinto, che peraltro ha scritto solo tre romanzi, preferendo il giornalismo e la saggistica.
Questo romanzetto trovato in un mercatino, che scopro aver avuto parecchi sequel, sia con lo stesso protagonista (un ghost writer fallito come romanziere in proprio) sia con altri, uscito dalle meningi di un autore losangelino trapiantato a NYC prima e nel Connecticut poi, è una delle migliori opere sul tema che mi siano capitate fra le mani.
Intanto David Handler scrive in modo più che decente e fa dichiaratamente manierismo dei noir anni Quaranta. Poi è una graziosa satira della scena letteraria anni Novanta, quella già pesantemente contaminata dalla cultura pop, ma non senza richiamare, tra il nostalgico e il critico, i tempi dell'elitario mondo degli editor alla Maxwell Perkins in cui scrittori, revisori ed editori si conoscevano tutti ed erano passati quasi tutti da Yale o Harvard. Anche se la trama gialla, per chi abbia già letto romanzi sul tema del plagio, non è particolarmente difficile da scoprire, i personaggi principali sono abbastanza umani, illogici e non banali da risvegliare l'interesse farci appassionare alla lettura.
Ottimo nel suo genere.

[Kay Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald is David Handler’s third Stewart Hoag mystery, this one set in the cut throat world of New York publishing back in the early 1990s. Hoagy has been hired to help write the memoir of a young literary star who can’t seem to produce a second novel (booze, cocaine, and women may have something to do with that—or maybe not). The young writer reminds Hoagy a bit too much of himself and his own tanked literary career, so it takes him a while to see what’s really going on.

I enjoy Handler’s technique of telling part of the story through Hoagy’s taped interviews with his subject and others. Handler also enjoys sprinkling real people though the story, an immediacy which seems to work with the basic ghost writer premise. Whoever had the print version scanned for digital publication, however, should have read through the manuscript. The formatting is fine, but there are a lot of scan-induced typos. On the other hand, I’m delighted to have found a mystery series that I missed when it was published on paper.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stewart Hoag, accompanied by his faithful basset hound Lulu, has once again been asked to ghost write a book, this time for Cameron Noyes, an author with only one acclaimed book who seems to be unable to write another. Cam's life style is much like F. Scott Fitzgerald's. As Hoagy gets involved in the story, many things appear to be questionable about Cam's life, and people start being killed.

I have enjoyed several of the Stewart Hoag books already and liked this one as well. Besides being a mystery, there is much good humor and dialog as well as the loving relationship between Hoagy and his ex-wife Merilee. This book in the series was written in 1990. Mr. Handler received Edgar and American Mystery Awards for this one.

[Conny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this series and I am so glad I discovered it, even if it is a little late. Also the nice thing about the books is that you can read them out of order without too much trouble, I actually discovered the series by reading the last book first, but once I met Hoagy and Lulu I couldn't get enough. There was plenty of mystery, some action, sexual tension and as always, some dry humor, and a slew of interesting characters that made it hard for me to get any work done because I just couldn't put it down. Very entertaining and lucky for me I already have the next book in the series lined up to read next.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoagie and his dog, Lulu, are hired to ghostwrite the life story of a young man who has writer’s block. This man is a model, a writer of one book that became a bestseller, a lover to a few women, a drinker and a drug addict. He’s also got a lot of secrets that Hoagie begins to uncover that causes some people to be murdered before secrets are told. Hoagie and his ex-wife become friends again which becomes part of the story. I like Handler’s ability to weave a good story, characters and humor.

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2 1/2). Even though this was published in 1990, it feels about as old school as you can get. In this case, a very good thing. Stewart Hoag is about as cool a throwback protagonist as you can get, and he leads a very elegant New York life. We go to all the hot spots and drop all the right names along the way, but most of all, we have a pretty fun little mystery to try and figure out. Some nice twists and turns, especially in the last part of the book get us spinning nicely and at 200 paperback pages it is a very nice dish to partake in. Fun stuff.

[Nadine Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nowhere near as good as his far more recent "The Man in the White Linen Suit." I expected more. Guess I am not into publishing industry hijinks. Also it was easy to figure out and very dated. Part of the problem with pop name dropping, I guess. Hoagy is very affected and he is more into himself than I am. Still, it's good book.

[Larry V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is good reason this book won the Edgar award!

Oh my goodness, I absolutely loved this book! Beautifully realized characters--including a basset hound with personality; a wonderful, engrossing, fast paced mystery; and tremendous wit and tenderheartedness throughout. Mr. Handler has a new, and-going-to-be devoted fan!

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoagy is hired to ghost a book for a young wunderkind one book wonder. On the surface, this seems all too familiar to Hoagy's own literary career so he feels an affinity for the young man. However, details don't seem to be fitting and someone begins threatening Hoagy as bodies begin to pile up. Yet another good mystery in this series.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

I started with The Man in the White Linen Suit. I was hooked. So I went back to book one and have been following along with the adventures of Hoagy and LuLu since then. Handler's use of understated metaphors is sublime. As an aspiring author I can only hope to be half as good at character development and plot pacing. I highly recommend.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoagy is called in to ghost write for an author who is too busy being famous to work. Soon bodies begin accumulating and Stewart and Lulu, the basset hound, must come to the rescue. Fun, clever series. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[DonHSr · Rating 3 out of 5]

liked this better than the first one of the series that I read. The name dropping continues but it wasn't as much of a distraction as in the first episode. I'll read a couple more in the series before I finally decide whether or not to follow the whole thing.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery

I read a Bibliomystery by David Handler and really liked it, so I thought I'd try one of his novels. I was not disappointed. It was a good mystery. I never guessed the end. The character of Stewart Hoag is quite likeable and I LOVE Lulu.

[Kim Gasparini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun murder mystery. I didn't realize this was the third in the series. I should have read the other two first.

[Niki Greenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good light read

Wish it had been proofread, though, a gajillion typos that auto correct cannot discern. Would have rated higher if not for this disrespect......

[Angie Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay.

[RustyShack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turner Classic Mystery, but there are worse things. Better than #2.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy the adventures of Hoagie and Lulu.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liking this series. It's addictive.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: best-selling first-time novelist Cam Noyes can't find the time for #2. Enter ghostwriter Stewart Hoag. The bodies start piling up.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible Audiobook

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun adventure with Hoagy.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

This actually won an Edgar but I thought it was just a light, fun read.
Not much of a mystery but I liked it.

[Kait · Rating 3 out of 5]

I vaguely remember liking this book. I really need to write fair reviews but it's been eight years since I read this one so maybe I better abandon now.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Wow. This one was amazing. Seriously amazing with several different levels criss-crossing. And the clues are ALL right there, if you know where to pay attention.