Murder in the Hearse Degree

Hitchcock Sewell #4

by Tim Cockey

"Hitchcock Sewell really should know better by now. His job as an undertaker is to bury people, not to go snooping into the reasons why they've ended up on his slab. But then again, if Hitch didn't stick his nose where it doesn't belong, he just wouldn't be Hitch - and readers would be robbed of the latest installment in one of the most talked-about new mystery series to come along in years." This time out, Baltimore's most eligible mortician is taking up the cause of a former flame whose young nanny has just been fished out of the Severn River, near Annapolis. The police are calling it suicide, but Hitch isn't buying it. And it's more than just the cause of death that Hitch finds suspicious. A felonious former governor of Kentucky; a tainted right-wing religious organization; a really, really bad actor; and a dogged tabloid journalist with more interest in chasing down Hitch's luscious ex-wife Julia than in chasing down the story all fall into Hitchcock's path as he attempts to sort out the truth behind what really happened to the nanny.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

aka Richard Hawke

Tim Cockey is the author of the award-winning “Hitch” series: The Hearse You Came In On, Hearse of a Different Color, Hearse Case Scenario, and Murder in the Hearse Degree. He has been a story analyst for many major film and television companies, including American Playhouse, ABC, and Hallmark Entertainment. He grew up in Baltimore and now lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baltimore Undertaker/detective looks for the murderer of his former girlfriend's nanny.

It's all too familiar.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect from Murder In the Hearse Degree (Hitchcock Sewel #4) by Tim Cockey given it's the fourth book in the series, but that was pretty good and had a good sense of humor. Maybe I will try more of the series in the future.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 3 out of 5]

Might even be a 2.5 read for me because there is a lot of objectifying of women in this as part of the 'humor.' It's an interesting, Hitch being an undertaker but we don't see him doing much work and being the fourth in the series (but my first) I'm not sure why he divorced his wife (but remains friends with her) but he is quick to jump in bed with others.

The mystery begins with a woman he loved coming back into town with her two kids in tow after her nanny has disappeared and her husband on the brink of being indicted for breaking the law (as a lawyer). She knows Hitch has solved cases (presumably with his friend who is a PI) and wants him to find the nanny.

Once the nanny turns up pregnant but dead, and the police quick to call it a suicide, Hitch is out to prove otherwise.

As mysteries go, it was good but I'm not sure I liked the characters enough to read another.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cynthia H hipped me to this series. The hero is an undertaker with the kind of name that in a previous life would make me want to learn the trade myself, just to embalm his smug ass.

But I'm better now.

Breezy, funny stuff. Clever. Amusing. Entertaining. Not in Hiaasen or Westlake's league.

[Laqua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bueno, bueno... mucho gusto, Sr. Hitchcock Sewell 😊
Qué decepción venir por aquí y encontrarme con que no es el primer libro de la serie, pero por otro lado, y esto es un buen punto a su favor, no se nota. Es perfectamente posible empezar por aquí con este interesante y pintoresco personaje.
Hitch es enterrador, funebrero, como le decimos por estos lares. Tiene una ex (bueno, tiene varias) cuya niñera muere en circunstancias sospechosas, todo el mundo tiene una explicación extraña para el hecho y le da curiosidad. Y se pone a investigar.
Termina destapando una trama bastante turbia que involucra de todo, pero recién hacia el final. Mientras tanto, el recorrido de Hitch por Baltimore y alrededores es... colorido. Y pintoresco. Y de a ratos, me aburrí. Si bien me gusta como se expresa y su extraño sentido del humor (AMÉ sus diálogos con sus amigos, se parecen mucho a los que tengo con los míos 😆😂), que toooodo el libro esté escrito así de a ratos cansa, porque se alarga mucho la descripción de un día. Si bien, en total, toda la historia transcurre en una semana o algo así, el libro se hace laaaargo... y como se resuelve recién en las últimas 5 páginas, bueno... se me hizo trabajoso llegar hasta ahí.
Como comentario: no soporté a Pete y sus ideas y venidas con Susan. Qué agotador, por la Diosa. Me importaba la nada misma lo que pasa con él. Pero además, no aporta nada a la historia. Si sacamos a Pete... pues Hitch llega al mismo resultado. Julia, por otro lado... me encantó, un personaje distinto y refrescante que aparece lo justo y le da un toque interesante. Ídem Faith. Cynthia, además, es la que termina resolviendo el caso.
Un libro de misterio tranqui, para ir leyendo salteado (yo demoré casi un mes y podía retomarlo sin perderme ni retroceder) con un personaje más atípico por sus comentarios que por su profesión. Una lectura para domingo a la tarde cuando no hay nada interesante en televisión 😊 ¿Leería otro de este autor y personaje? Sí, pero cuando no tenga ganas de pensar 😉

[Judy Blachek · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first cozy mystery written by a man (other than Alexander McCall Smith, but I consider them more about Africa than a mystery). It was amusing at times, but the author's asides to instill humor got tedious. I also felt like the author was trying to impress us with some obscure words he chose to use.

Maybe the problem was that I read it over two weeks with just a chapter or two a night. I kept reading because I wanted to know how it ends.

The women in this book did not feel real to me. Julia is absolutely a man's fantasy woman with the references to her looks, attire, and sexual prowess. Libby was the Madonna. And Hitch and Faith went from 0 to bed. Did they even have a real conversation ever?

This is one author I can skip the next time I run into one of his books.

[Bucciali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy to read, language wise. I am not sure why exactly, but it never really caught my attention. Perhaps because I started it after Frantzen's The Corrections and this was too light?. Perhaps due to the 'action-descriptive' writing style? Dialogues had plenty of ironic responses, but they never really had me laughing or even grinning. It may very well have been the wrong time for me to read this. I've noticed, after having come back to reading after 20+ years, that each book demands its own. I might just try the other Hitchcock Sewell that's on the shelf, to see where it's at. This was not a bad book per se, just didn't hit home with me.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this book. Loved all the characters although the wrap up was a bit complicated. I've already downloaded Hearse of a Different Color. Just love Hitchcock and look forward to more of his antics.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hitchcock Sewell, undertaker, amateur PI, is out to find out what actually happened to the nanny - suicide or murder?
With a generous sprinkling of exceptional humour, the story has its disturbingly dark side.
Well written, a tiny tad too long, but an entertaining yarn non the less.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the writing and all of the characters were well written. The mystery itself was good too.

[Teresa Mills-Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! Fast paced! Well balanced. Definitely want to read more by this author.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dark humour and a very good mystery with a great twist at the end. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

great story - will be checking out all this series

[DEBORAH G · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have never read Tim Cockey, you have to read at least one of his books before you die. Laugh out loud.

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's story line, there's character, there's beautiful writing, there's great dialog...this one, the dialog is just so great, so funny, so whitty, so snarky...

[Carolyn Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darker than the other book I read in this series and not quite as funny - although that could be a "my bad" and not any fault of the book.

[Toni Perreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different type of character with an unusual profession and a witty voice. Have read 2 books in the series now and enjoy them.

[Marie Roughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undertakings galore

Hitchcock is a hoot of an undertaking amateur sleuthing. I’ve read all three of Tim Cockey’s novels and am looking forward to the next!

[Audrey Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit strange to me to get into it, but very interesting story about an unlikely sleuth.

[Tom Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent mystery. rough around edges - dialog, and situations.

[Alfredo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Con justicia, 2.5. No es este, de hecho, un libro pésimo. Es solo que es un libro que no propone nada en absoluto. O que, en el peor de los casos, tiene en su propuesta —un tipo que se mete a investigar cosas A o B mientras dirige su propia empresa de pompas fúnebres— su punto más débil. Uno no termina de comprender por qué es que el sujeto puede extraer información de donde, se supone, solo podría hacerlo un policía o un investigador privado. No se sabe cómo lo hace, pero lo hace. Tampoco es muy entendible el por qué del montón de información extra que Cockey le da al lector y que no tiene nada que ver con la trama, que no la mueve y que tampoco funciona de forma alguna. Parece información puesta para engordar el libro. Menos aún se entiende por qué el autor se esmera en tratar de que el personaje cuente un chiste malo tras otro, diga un disparate tras otro, se crea ingenioso un momento sí y el siguiente también. No se entiende. Esto último menos se entiende cuando uno ve que, si el personaje se dedica a razonar y a actuar en función del caso, sale más que bien librado. Sin embargo, como todo autor de novela negra cree que es indispensable seguir la receta Chandler —esto es, haga simpático al detective, o hágalo bobo, o hágalo simple, o hágalo un cretino—, tenga o no tenga talento para ello, Cockey se esmera en darle a su personaje un toque irónico que no cuaja bien y que termina por fastidiar. Incluso parece que fastidió al propio Cockey, al ser notable que los chistes malos, las gracejadas gratuitas y las puntadas que no van a ningún sitio disminuyen conforme avanza la novela. Una novela escrita en primera persona, en pasado. O sea, instalada definitivamente en el únto de vista del protagonista. ¿Qué tiene de malo? Que obliga a contar las cosas conforme suceden. Cockey lo olvida y, por momentos, decide que es bueno que el protagonista se calle lo que le dice alguien para ponerle un poco de suspenso más bien soso a la trama. Y eso, señor mío, es una infracción al canon empleado: no puede ocultarle al lector lo que el personaje sabe, aunque se decida a contárselo dos o tres páginas adelante. Como recurso para inyectar misterio en la trama —una trama que, aunque sorprende un poco al final, no consigue crear un ambiente real de suspenso—, es algo más bien ridículo.

2.5. Si fuera película, estaría en el estante de las palomeras. Las palomeras, además, dobladas por algún cretino que se olvidó de aquello de que el español debe ser neutro y que, por lo mismo, convirtió a un puñado de tipos que viven en Baltimore en residentes de Vallecas o de algún lugar por ahí. Pésima traducción. Desde el título. Cierto es que el original —Murder in the Hearse Degree, algo que ni siquiera tiene sentido puesto en español, porque equivale a «asesinato en grado de coche fúnebre»— es una ridiculez. Un título pésimo, puesto solo porque hearse puede rimar con first y, en el primer caso, resaltaría la profesión del tipo que termina investigando el caso. Así de rebuscado, así de bobo. Sin embargo, eso de El caso del enterrador y la niñera es una simplonada. Desde ahí va mal eso de la traducción. No debe extrañar a nadie que todos los volúmenes de esta colección, editada por Roca, terminaran vendiéndose a menos de cien pesos, con urgencia de que algún incauto se los llevara. Justo como sucedió con el que estas líneas escribe.

[Jerry B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fourth in Tim Cockey’s 5-book “Hearse” series completes our reading of these generally light-hearted mysteries featuring undertaker Hitchcock Sewell, set in downtown Baltimore. Hitch’s Aunt Billie does most of the funeral duties, so Hitch seems free to roam about town, wining and dining himself and friends, many of which are comely females who often spend the night.

In “Hearse Degree”, his ex-flame Libby is back in town, following the death of her nanny, which the police waste no time ruling a suicide when her body is found in the Severn river near a bridge from which they presumed she jumped. Those close to her don’t believe it; and knowing Hitch is a busybody at the least, and an amateur sleuth at the most, they beg him to look into it. He does of course, and is assisted by a real-life PI, Pete, who has his own share of personal problems requiring Hitch’s friendly assistance. Before it’s over, all manner of political skullduggery, cult activities, and sordid inter-family details are revealed in what turns out to be a plot more complicated then most of the entries in this set. Whether Hitch would really have the wherewithal to do all this is something we’re not supposed to question! So – yet another typical Cockey – entertaining exploits of man-about-town wrapped around a mystery – not bad once in a while…

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to try to make this brief, otherwise I'm afraid I'd just be repeating much said in my previous reviews as to what I like about this series. So I'll say this right off, Tim Cockey amazingly improves with each novel in this series, or so it seems as I'm reading each book. So it shouldn't be a surprise that I think Murder in the Hearse Degree is the best one yet. You should read this series in order because each one is terrific and to fully appreciate the reoccurring characters, it's best to meet them properly. Besides they are loads of fun.

Read the rest of my review here:
http://mostlyfiction.com/sleuths/cock...

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baltimore's insouciant undertaker Hitch Sewell is just trying to help an old girlfriend, now married and with children. She's left her husband, who hit her, and her nanny has disappeared. But when a body is found, Hitch finds himself suspicious and at odds with the Annapolis police. He learns that the nanny has met with the head of a seemingly innocuous religious group. Soon there are more bodies to account for, and Hitch--with the help of his beautiful ex-wife, a depressed private investigator, and an Australian tabloid reporter--is trying to find out just what has caused the turmoil.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly lighthearted tale featuring an undertaker who either likes to solve murders, or is a busybody--maybe some of both. I don't believe that I shall search out others in the series, but as a one time occurrence, it was okay. There doesn't seem to be too much interaction between Hitchcock Sewell and his partner, his aunt. There is a joke about taking a cigarette smoking kid on as an assistant. Hitchcock seems willing to hop into bed with just about any female acquaintance. He is a fairly good friend. At one point, he nearly gets run over. Cute title!

[Writerlibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth book in the series was interesting enough but not as good as the first two books. Not enough Julia I think, too much Pete. Hitchcock is still interesting and puts his nose into stuff he really shouldn't.

The case is somewhat interesting: a dead "au pair" babysitter, a cheating husband, a dubious religious organization. Lots of pieces that gel at the end into a solution that wasn't as satisfying as it could have been. I've come to except better from this series.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fourth in the Hitchcock Sewell mystery series was a fun read -- it reminded me of the Stephanie Plum series, which is always a pleasure to escape with. One of the things I enjoyed most was the setting of the book -- it takes place in and around Baltimore and Annapolis (primarily), so I was able to envision the locations well. The banter between the likable characters and the story's pacing kept me turning the pages. It's always great to discover an author with local roots who is new to me!

[Maurean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hitch sets off to find whoever murdered on old girlfriend's nanny. The police are calling it a suicide, but Hitch sees it differently. Enlisting the help of his buddy, Pete, they chase down the story; thhrough a felonious ex-govenor of Kentucky, a tainted right-wing religious organization, and a really bad actor, they attempt to sort out the truth.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kind of late 20th century Raymond Chandler but ... funny and optimistic, not noir.. and set in Baltimore in modern times. Instead of a detective, the hero is... an undertaker. I've read two in this series now and found them both entertaining, well plotted and quicky easy reads.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the fourth installment of the mis-adventures of Baltimore's ever helpful, eligible bacheor, and ametuer slueth with the ever witty remark. I still have to say one of the best aspects of this series is the friendship Hitch has with his ex Julia. Some of the best, humorus banter in the story. Fun light reading.