The Snow White Christmas Cookie

Berger and Mitry #9

by David Handler

The newest adventure featuring the mismatched romantic crime-fighting duo of New York City film critic Mitch Berger and Connecticut State Resident Trooper Desiree Mitry presents Des with her first taste of Christmas in the historic New England village of Dorset.

And what a taste it is. Three blizzards have blanketed the village in forty inches of snow. Bryce Peck, Mitch's blue-blooded neighbor out on Big Sister Island, has just been found dead of a drug overdose. Young Kylie Champlain has slammed her car head-on into an office building after she's caught trying to shoplift a pair of Ugg boots. And a grinch has taken to stealing the mail from Hank Merrill's postal route, which happens to be the main route through the historic district.

Stealing the U.S. mail is a serious federal crime, but Des soon discovers that she's onto something much bigger: a black-market prescription drug gang with ties to organized crime. And now a fourth blizzard is on its way. And so is another murder. And, somehow, the man in her life has managed to land himself smack dab in the middle of the whole mess. Not to mention that he's in way over his head with Josie Cantro, the beautiful and treacherous life-coach who just may be responsible for it all. If Des doesn't act fast, this will truly be a Christmas to remember---but for all of the wrong reasons.

David Handler's ninth book in this original series is brimming with plenty of murder, mayhem, and holiday spirit.

Genres: Mystery, Christmas, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Cozy, Cozy Mystery

272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 2012

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

[Viccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful entry in the Berger/Mitry series by David Handler. Des Mitry is a Connecticut State Trooper and Mitch Berger is a widowed New York film critic. All the odds say they shouldn't have met, let alone fallen in love, but it happened and now they have each other's back at all times. Someone is stealing the mail in Dorset and Mitch and Des are asked to quietly look into it before the U.S. Postal Inspectors get called in because people in Dorset use the postal service for a lot more than just mail. Before they can begin, Mitch's next-door neighbor on Little Sister island commits suicide. As the investigation begins, more deaths begin to occur and questions begin to arise about whether or not the suicide might have been a murder. Mitch get in over his head again and Des has to rescue him, but that's all part and parcel of the charm of these books. It's always enjoyed to visit historic Dorset and see what Mitch and Des are up to.

[Cheryl A · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's nothing more enjoyable than settling in with a couple of old friends on a cold winter's day and catching up.

This is exactly how I feel about revisiting Dorset, CT and Resident Trooper Des Mitry and her main man, film critic Mitch Berger. The unlikely pair have found a comfortable living in Dorset, where "swamp monkeys" rub elbows with New England blue bloods. When mail starts missing out of the historic districts' mailboxes, Trooper Des is asked to look into it before calling in the postal inspectors. When Des realizes that prescription drugs are also being taken, she knows she has a bigger problem on her hands.

When a mail carrier is found dead of an apparent suicide, she brings in the big guns - FBI, Postal Inspectors and the state's Narcotics Squad. And when Mitch turns up missing from the roadhouse bar with ties to the mob, things go from bad or worse in a hurry.

The Berger and Mitry series are a quick and quirky read. Not quite a "cozy" mystery - the harsh realities of life are dealt with in a no nonsense manner - but a very comfortable read with engaging characters.

[Joe Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ninth entry in David Handler's wonderful series about Mitch Berger & Desiree Mitry, a film critic & state trooper who solve cases on the CT shore. A tad too realistic to be called a 'cozy' but with too much charm & wit to fall in the hard-boiled category. The result is a bit like one of the classic Hollywood pictures Mitch keeps trying to turn Des on to - great entertainment!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. And David Handler is coming to the Westport Library (as part of WestportREADS to talk about his book The Man who would be F. Scott Fitzgerald.

[Sonia Jacobsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mail goes missing on one Dorset postal route, Hank’s. His live-in friend Paulette is the post-mistress and her son Casey is a part-time postal carrier. Life coach Josie is Mitch’s running partner. Her live-in Bryce commits suicide. Hank appears to commit suicide the same day and Dorset is reeling. Des calls in Yolie and her new sergeant Toni Tedone. An interagency task force convenes Including a postal inspector. Some of the mail that goes missing is prescription drugs which can be sold easily. Cash for the man who plows driveways is missing as well as Christmas tips for Hank. Casey has gotten in debt trying to win money gambling to be able to take Josie to Hawaii. Paulette has helped Casey by “test driving” postal trucks behind Hank’s and removing items from mailboxes. The goods are sold or passed along to pay Casey’s debts. Mitch figures it out and gets kidnapped and dumped on the beach naked. Des and Yolie dash to the beach and bring a very cold Mitch to the hospital.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very disappointing to me. I found the characters very one dimensional with little development. In fact it got to the point i just didnt care about either of them and when one was in danger I did not care if they lived or died. I also found the writing style hard to read at times. There were a lot of references to movies and people I did not understand not sure if it was because I'm not in the right generation or if it's because I'm not from the country this is set in. Some of the descriptions of people and analogies frustrated me at times as well with fat boy and transgendery haircut used as descriptors which seemed obnoxious to me. To be honest only reason I find finished it was because it was a relatively short book and the plot was interesting enough that I hoped it would get better. I know allot of people rated this very high but unfortunately I did not enjoy it.

[Pammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, #9 for our mismatched romantic crime fighting duo!
And Christmas time should be romantic, right? That's made a touch complicated with this Mitch and Desiree novel, since three blizzards in a row have hit the charming community of Dorset.
To make it truly a Christmas to remember, there's a suicide by one of the blue-bloods (or was it?); there's someone stealing mail from the town's historic district mail boxes (a federal offense possibly tied to organized crime); and then, another suicide (or was it?).
How can anyone get any Christmas shopping done or even feel like singing a carol or two with all this murder and mayhem going on???

[Anne, Unfinished Woman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Under more than 40 inches of snow with another blizzard on the way, Mitch and Des must deal with Christmas mail which includes prescription drug packets, tips and bills for clearing snow put in the mailboxes, being taken. There are any number of people who are suspect, and with the tradition of using the boxes for other than the mail Paulette the post master is reluctant to report to the USPS. Des gives her one day while she watches the only route involved. But with a murder, and drugs involved, it is not only the USPS involved now, it is narcotics and the homicide state police and the FBI. In this installment, Mitch's nosy involvement nearly gets him frozen to death.

[Susan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The writing is humorous, and the characters are interesting. This plot was regarding stolen mail at Christmastime. It is fascinating that we do protect our homes and our electronic communications, but our mailboxes hold untold wealth in gift cards and packages, not to mention prescription drugs, even more so during the holidays. This book was not quite up to the standards of the previous books, but I do still intend on finishing the series.

Borrowed from the Savannah, GA library system.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wintry mix of too much snow, too many crimes/personal losses--all at the time of peace and goodwill. Quirky characters abound : Josie, the fully accredited life coach; Paulette Zander, the local postmistress with missing mail, a lump of a son, and a live-in lover with big financial problems; and. Rut Peck, retired postmaster who is related to everybody and knows everybody. The ending is icy cold.....

[BRT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love David Handler's writing style. The relationship dynamic between Mitch and Des is a joy to behold. This wintry mystery is as dark and disturbing as his mysteries get but he still manages to have light shine through in his characters. One quirk that some might find annoying, detailed descriptions of what people are wearing.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

You will never ever want to use your mailbox for anything other than stamped mail after reading this book - as a matter of fact you will strongly consider a post office box! A good mystery but not much holiday cheer or cookies to be found.

[Sarah "Kat" · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was interested enough to finish it but wouldn’t run out to gey more of the series. I was not in my mind a cozy and I’m still stumped as to the title of the book. It had nothing to do with anything.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mitry is on the case of two suicides in one day. Were they suicides or murder? Missing mail, drugs, thugs, a wayward teenager and a life coach all are mixed up in this mystery. Berger tries to help without the knowledge of Mitry which gets him in big trouble.

[Linda Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Just started this series with Berger and Mitry and found it delightful. Not often do you read of a woman of colour being a police officer. Loved the repartee and the mystery had a twist at the end that made it satisfying as a who dunnit. Will continue to read them all.

[Patricia Piacentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertaining

[Hrn1947 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again murder in a small town. Is there anyone left? The love story is everything.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read 3 books in this series years ago and revisited it and now want to read more. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it.

[Evelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title didn't show up in the story. The story was okay.

[Tweller83 · Rating 4 out of 5]

#TisTheSeasonAthon
52 Books challenge: read a book with a character that shares my name. This one had a minor character with my first name.

I enjoyed this one. Even though it was #9 in the series and I haven't read any, it gave enough of a description of the characters to get me by. I'm sure I missed out on some of the references to things that had happened in the past but it didn't hinder the story. It was a decent mystery and one I enjoyed for this time of year.

[Tatie Punkinhead · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too depressing for a Christmas read, with everyone unhappy, angry, and no one really loyal to anyone. Just anger and adultry.

[Pam McClure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the series. Want more.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

overall good but has sex, not good for bookclub reading

[D.L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down.

[Elizabeth Tysdal · Rating 5 out of 5]

My love for this series never waivers! I will be so sad when Mitch and Des are done sleuthing 😢🤣

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really do like this series.

[Rebecca Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was okay.

[Edward Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This most recent entry into the Mitry/Berger series continues its tradition of light reading, straight forward plot, and interesting characters. Focusing on the unlikely relationship between a black state police sergeant and a white, Jewish film critic, the series is set in a coastal Connecticut town that, at first blush, is right out of Currier and Ives. Under the surface, however, all is not well -- money, drugs, and other valuables are missing from mailboxes along one postal carriers route. In an effort to avoid involving the postal inspectors, the local postmistress asks Mitry to investigate, an investigation that deepens as two murders are discovered. As is often the case in this series, Berger can't resist jumping in to help. While his involvement moves the case forward, it also lands him in trouble, allowing Mitry to come to the rescue.

This is an easy and enjoyable book to read, especially when you are looking for something fairly mindless and not to gruesome and if you enjoy old films and Burger's frequent references to them.

[Kelly Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I regularly grab books off the new books shelf at the library, especially in mysteries, because I read 'em faster than the authors write 'em, so I need to find new authors I like. I get a lot of duds that way, but this wasn't a dud at all. The gimmick of our protagonists is a bit gimmicky - schlubby Jewish movie critic and his girlfriend the 6 foot tall black Connecticut state trooper - just a tad unlikely, but not nearly as annoying as most of the gimmicks you see these days, and they're really likeable characters. Well written, well edited, good story. I'll go back and read more by this author. One note: the title has nothing at all to do with the story, other than that it takes place around Christmas. There are no special cookies (and no cookie recipes, thank the ghods) although there is a marble cake that has a bit part.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

OMG, this just confirms my overall prejudice that I Do NOT Like Small Town Cozies..... What I don't understand is this was written by a male, and I don't understand why a male would want to write in such a "blah, blah, blah" manner.
In the prologue, a schlub has unbelievably found the girl of his dreams and as quickly as his dreams come true they just as come crashing down around him....
So in this small town there are things disappearing from the mail boxes..... money and packages. A wayward son has just met the woman of all men's dreams..... Just too good to be true and all of a sudden he ends up dead of an overdose.....
It is up to the local friendly police woman to query the town to find out who the thief is & who the murder is....
I didn't like the story, I didn't like the characters, I didn't like the minute detail writing... What a waste of my time.........