The Woman Who Lowered the Boom

Stewart Hoag #15

by David Handler

This new installment of the Edgar award-winning Stewart Hoag mystery series finds the beloved ghostwriter-sleuth finally on the precipice of reclaiming his previous literary fame when threats against his editor appear to put both his career and her life in jeopardy. Stewart “Hoagy” Hoag is walking on cloud nine after a meeting with his editor, Norma Fives, where she predicts his new book is sure to establish him as the next great American author. It has been years since he has even dreamed of such success after a crippling case of writer’s block limited his literary aspirations to ghostwriting celebrity memoirs. But his happiness is short-lived when at his next meeting with Norma she asks for his help in discovering who is behind a series of increasingly threatening letters sent to her attention.

Norma herself is not overly concerned about the letters but her boyfriend, Detective Lieutenant Romaine Very of the NYPD, thinks the threat of violence against Norma should not be so easily dismissed. Very feels the combination of Hoagy’s detective skills and knowledge of the underbelly of the publishing world make him the perfect person to investigate the matter. Plus, Hoagy is a friend he can trust to take care of the love of his life. Hoagy agrees if for nothing else than to ease the minds of two people he cares about very much. After all, this is likely to be nothing more than a dramatic gesture from a frustrated writer.

But as Hoagy and Lulu investigate, the threats move beyond the written word, making it clear that someone out there is determined to write a vicious ending to Norma’s life. Could it be the wealthy aging children’s author? The unethical snake of a literary agent? Or the handsy historian? This is not the return to the literary world that Hoagy dreamed of, but he is determined to unravel the mystery before the author of these crimes gets the last word.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

1 pages, Audio CD

Published March 19, 2024

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

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always pick up these books by David Handler, despite knowing I will be irritated by the name-dropping that is so large a feature of them. As the hero, Stewart Hoag, describes everything that the characters are wearing, his ex-wife, now girlfriend, a Miss Porter's girl, Hollywood star, and Oscar winner remarks "We're just plain folks," while tidying her Upper West Side penthouse. Hoag has finally completed his comeback book, and it's sold to a prestigious publishing house, whose sharp young editor loves it. But she is getting death threats, especially upsetting to Hoag's best friend, New York's top homicide cop and the editor's boyfriend. There are two bloody murders before Hoag and the cop track down a psychopathic killer.

[Donna Huber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be pretty slow. It has little action and what action it did have occurred off the page. It was just a lot of the main character walking around talking to people. I liked the characters a lot. They are interesting and I wouldn't mind getting to know them more. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads.

[rebecca O. webber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading a David Handler Hoagy novel is like unwrapping a Hershey’s Kiss: there is not much there, but it can enjoyably satisfy your taste for this genre.

I was happy the author finally dropped the line about his name Hoagy—not the sandwich. I believe it was in every book prior to this one. Nails on a chalkboard if you are a regular reader.

Next, he did not use the line about reading a certain dead, white author (fill in yourself) to remind him of what good writing is to literate readers.

[Gr · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by David Handler, the writer of the award-winning Stewart Hoag mystery series. I picked this book up after reading a glowing review. Looking back, I should have recognized that the review appeared in a New City publication.

This book feels like an attempt to write a Neo-Noir crime novel set in the 1980s in the Upper East Side. There is just nothing here. The writing and dialog are bland, and the plot is without action, predictable, and plodding. The police actions come off as unrealistic.

The writing style is a first-person narration from the view of the main character, a writer and part-time crime sleuth. I found the characters distasteful. My guess is that unless the reader is a left-leaning Ivy League grad living in Manhattan, this story and the characters will come off as unrelatable and tiresome. Steeped in Upper East Side affluence, bullshit, and melodrama, this book is little more than a novella, but it dragged. The most interesting character in the book is the seafood-eating dog, Lulu. I kept reading waiting for the twist or surprise, and it did not come.

I listened to the audio version narrated by Peter Berkrot. The narration was okay, if a bit overly dramatic - trying for that Noir feel. Ultimately, this book, and the characters, were a turnoff. Maybe if you are a resident of the West Village, you will find this read enjoyable - I did not. I finished it. Solid prose did not make up for a weak story. I have rounded up from 1.5 stars because of the writing. I am probably not going to come back to this author.

[Thea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Handler's work. He has several series but believe Hoag was his first and probably my favorite. He set this character aside for many years apparently an read Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes -his comeback novel first, although there's quite a lot of changes his protagonist has been through-I had no problem just enjoying the book and when that happens I generally go find the beginning of a series as I did with this one. His Berger and Mitrie series is a lot of fun too. He's the kind of writer whose talent reaches beyond the genre. I'm pretty sure anyone who writes or works in the arts will find a lot to identify with.

[Eydie sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by this author. I love the NYC setting, and he brings it to life. Handler is a good writer, he especially excels at dialog. Of course, the story is a bit far-fetched; a civilian would never be allowed to accompany a cop everywhere on an active murder investigation. He certainly wouldn't be allowed to question suspects. There is a massive amount of suspension of disbelief required here. If you can get past that and just roll with it, the story is very entertaining. Also, you'll love Lulu!

[Race Bannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hardly even 3 Stars, this latest Hoagy story is
not all that great. Nothing clever here. Hoagy
does not so much as figure anything out, as
to just stumble and accuse someone of
committing the crimes, and then
the murderer just confesses everything. Most
of the book has to do with what everyone is
wearing, or what they are eating. And of course
the same old lines about Lulu that are in every
book.
Meh.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book in this series, and also by this author. There is an unusual foursome at work here, with a ghostwriter as the identified protagonist but also a police detective as part of the foursome, and in this one the intended victim is a book editor. She is getting threatening letters, pieced and pasted together, and they go about figuring out who is sending them. The solution is less satisfying than the rest of the book and overall I would say it was good enough.

[Linda Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 A good mystery with our author/ sleuth Stewart ‘Hoagy ‘Hoag ‘s beloved hound Lulu. His new editor is getting nasty letters hinting at death and then it happens! The editor happens to be the love of a police lieutenant’ Romaine Very’s life and together he and our sleuth try to find out whodunnit. Big twist at the end. Love these books.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just ok. I've always enjoyed this series a great deal but the characters felt sort of stale in this one. I don't find the Lieutenant Very character believable or interesting and sadly he was in this storyline a lot. Can we give it a rest on the "Dude" thing please. I still love Hoagy though, and of course LuLu.

[BRT · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not my favorite of the series, sorry to say I like Hoagy better at his worst, this is still a good read. Good mystery that hits too close to home for Hoagy, his faithful sidekick LuLu, and his favorite Detective Very.

[Brenda Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love an anchovies mackerel eating dog? Lulu and Hoagy are back for another investigation. When your job includes telling writers there contract has ended, it can be dangerous. Norma gets old fashioned letters threatening her life, with no real reason listed.

[Kris Hansen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should have followed my first instinct and mad this one a DNF!!! One of the worst endings EVER

[Lauren Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book essentially in one day. It just grabbed my attention and did not let go.

[S. Maddalone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pleasant back and forth dialogue. Not believable.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A smooth read but not a very satisfying ending.

[Brennan Grignon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic David Handler page turner.

[Charmaine Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read. Being somewhat familiar with the setting of the story made it fun to visualize where the characters went around the city.

[Elizabeth]

DNF at 13%.

Enh. Not feeling it.

[Marguerite Downing · Rating 3 out of 5]

No spoiler but I hated the lack of consequences for the person who did the deed. In fact, that almost ruined the book for me.