The Man Who Swore He'd Never Go Home Again

Stewart Hoag #16

by David Handler

In this case from early in Stewart Hoag’s career, the newly successful writer revisits his hometown to investigate the murder of a beloved librarian.


Stewart “Hoagy” Hoag always swore that he would never return to Montdale, Connecticut, the small mill town where his family lived for generations. He certainly has no desire to interrupt his high life as the newest great American novelist to revisit the town that hates his family and will only bring back memories of his unhappy childhood. But when his childhood sweetheart phones to say that her mother, Mary McKenna, the librarian who inspired Hoagy’s dream to be a writer, has died, Hoagy knows he has to return for her funeral. Especially when Maggie adds that her mother didn’t die of natural causes.


Who would want to murder a beloved mill town librarian? Determined to pay his respects to one of the few people in his hometown he truly cared for, Hoagy hops in his Jaguar and heads to Montdale with his new girlfriend Merilee and even newer basset hound puppy Lulu in tow. The town where his family’s brass mill once thrived is now a toxic, lead-poisoned ghost town filled with illegal drugs, broken families, violence, bitterness, and resentment. Hoagy is surprised to discover former classmate and bullying target, Pete Schlosski, has become the State Police Resident Trooper. But while Pete seems to have forgiven his past tormentors, he doesn’t have any ideas as to which of them might be a killer. Hoagy, on the other hand, has learned plenty about the art of investigation from hours spent in the library, and his four-month-old puppy shows a surprising knack for tracking down clues…


Readers will be delighted to return to where it all began and experience Lulu’s very first case in this charming installment of the Edgar Award-nominated Stewart Hoag series.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook

360 pages, Paperback

Published March 18, 2025

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

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Handler is author of the Stewart Hoag (Hoagy) mysteries featuring Lulu, the basset hound. Although this is the 16th in the series, it can be read as a standalone as it goes back in time to the 1980s and is the origin story of Lulu.

Hoagy has written a best seller and is enjoying his success when he meets well known actress, Merilee. Together, they acquire Lulu, a basset hound puppy and a vintage Jaguar. Hoagy’s father had owned a mill in Connecticut that was responsible for pollution and long term health concerns for the population. When he left for college, Hoagy swore he would never return home. That changes when his high school girlfriend calls to tell him her mother, beloved librarian of his hometown, has died. In fact, she was murdered. Hoagy, Merilee, and Lulu head off to the funeral where they witness the devastation left by the mill and its closing. As Hoagy reunites with old acquaintances, his life is suddenly in danger.

I thought the dialog in the beginning a bit cheesy and perhaps this book wasn’t for me. But the storyline and characters drew me in and I found it to be a quick, entertaining read. Lulu, and her penchant for smelly fish based cat food and anchovies is a delight.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @PenzlerPub for the DRC.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy David Handler’s Stewart Hoag mysteries. The characters are fun, the plots reasonable, and the dialogue and accompanying humor entertaining. The Man Who Swore He’d Never Go Home Again is a prelude to the other books in this series in that it provides the backstory about Hoagy’s rise to fame as an author, how he met Marilee, a famous actress, and the introduction of Lulu, their Basset Hound puppy.

Overall, the dialogue and the characters are entertaining and likable and it’s a good intro for the series. There are moments that are a bit crude and probably aren’t necessary, but that can be overlooked. But, while Hoagy and Marilee’s story is being told, the mystery tends to take a backseat and sometimes threatens to disappear.

This book also has quite a bit of unnecessary detail and information. In my opinion, the latter half of the story falters and practically grinds to a halt when the author adds page after page of descriptions about Hoagy while he’s in recovery. Good grief. It was way too much. Ditto the final reveal when all the evidence and suppositions are once again re-stated in great detail. I enjoy this series, but this book just wasn’t what I expected. It’s 2.5 stars but I’ll bump it up to 3 stars. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

[Maggie Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize that this was part of a series when I picked it up, but I had no problem following along. It works well as a standalone. I just grabbed it on a whim, because I can't resist a cover with Fall leaves. I did the audiobook, and the narrator had a pleasant voice that was appropriate for the main character.

I didn't like the main character or Merilee. The main character seems like kind of a jerk, and this may be the worst "insta-love" I've ever seen. The book would have been better if they dropped that storyline entirely. It would have made more sense if they said that they had been together for a year already when the book started. This part could possibly be more enjoyable if you read the other books in the series and know the characters... But to me, it was just annoying.

I did like the side characters. I liked that they were very different types of characters with totally different possible motivations. I figured out who the killer was, but still enjoyed the mystery. I like when the killer makes sense.

If you are already a fan of this series, I think you will really enjoy this book. If you are just looking for an interesting mystery with an '80s setting, this is also a worthwhile read. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jaclyn B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this one up not knowing that it was the 16th in a series. However, it was the perfect one to pick up late in the game, since it happens to travel back in time to Hoag and Lulu's first case.

We're taken to a time in Stewart Hoag's life when everything was easy. He'd just written his bestselling novel. He meets Merilee Nash and quickly falls in love with her. After their first night together, they decide to move in together. The next day spends packing his apartment and procuring a ragtop speedster, money no issue. Then they go pick up Princess Flavia, soon to be renamed Lulu, a Basset Hound puppy.

Their third day news reaches Hoag. Mary McKenna, the librarian who inspired him to become a writer, has died. And not from natural causes. Stewart had sworn to never return to his hometown, but for Mary, he feels like he has to go back.

An almost cozy mystery, with plenty of comedic moments, I loved the pacing and tone of the narration. Once I got into the rhythm of it, I couldn't think of anyone who could have done it better. At the final pages, I found myself wanting to pick up the first book in the series and go to the real start, where things weren't so easy. A wonderful audiobook I would definitely recommend, one that's great for casual listening!

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bad I actually re-downloaded Goodreads just to write my first review. The writing is appalling. I picked this up from the library after a cursory skim of the jacket, added to the pile of mysteries. Good lord I don’t think I made it past 20 pages, which unfortunately was long enough to endure the phrase “wild monkey sex” as well as meet two insufferable characters that somehow manage to be caricatures of multiple decades and genres all thrown in to one muddled, pompous, trite mess. You’re telling me there are multiples of these books??? Did not finish, suggest you don’t even start.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun mystery has a Nick and Nora feel to it - two glamorous people who meet and fall in love at first sight then end up solving a mystery with the help of their preternaturally adept basset hound, Lulu. It even finishes up like a classic mystery with everyone gathered together for the denouement. The audiobook narration was good, handling different voices and accents.
I have not read the novels that pre-date this book’s publication, but this was written as a prequel or origin story so I figured I could start here. I look forward to trying the series from the actual book 1 now.
My thanks to the author, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #TheManWhoSworeHedNeverGoHomeAgain for review purposes.

[Linda Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. An enjoyable read going back to the beginning when Hoagy met Merilee and they bought Lulu, the lovable basset hound. Hoagy goes back to his hometown in which he swore he’d never set foot , for the funeral of the town’s librarian who introduced him to books and the possibility of writing for a living. Lotsa bad memories and some good ones , but someone is killing people and is out for Hoagy. It was nice to read about the romance betweenoHoagy and Merilee’s . Great book, look forward to the next.

[JenJenReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Man Who Swore He’d Never Go Home Again was such a fun whodunit! The characters were charming and well-developed, and the fact that I didn’t guess the ending was such a pleasant surprise. It is the 16th book in the series, and I’m already excited to see what Hoagy gets up to next.

Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the chance to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.75

[Yasaman Sabersheikh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this book and wouldn’t recommend it. The story follows an author who returns to his hometown for a funeral after 11 years. Unfortunately, the plot and characters felt weak and underdeveloped. The romantic relationship was unrealistic and overly cheesy, and any promise of mystery was nonexistent.

There was no real hook to keep me engaged, and I found myself uninterested in continuing. Whether you’re reading or listening, I wouldn’t suggest spending your time on this one.

[Becky Frazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a nice and quick listen. It kept my attention and had a few surprises along the way. I found it very predictable.
I didn’t realize this was like number 16 or so, but didn’t really feel lacking in any information.

The story was interesting and the characters were intriguing.

Enjoyed the book and would probably look up others in the series in the future. Especially if it gives more insight to LuLu.

Thank you NetGalley for the listen.

[cMa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really thought I had everything figured out at first, but I couldn’t have been more mistaken! I absolutely loved the extra touch that Lulu brought to the story; what a fantastic read!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and HighBridge Audio for this ARC.

#TheManWhoSworeHedNeverGoHomeAgain
#NetGalley

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is Handler’s 16th entry in the Stewart Hoag Mysteries, it tells the origin story of Hoagy meeting his wife Marilee and the adoption of their adorable basset hound LuLu and so serves as a prequel to the series. It works fine as a stand alone as Hoagy returns to his home town for the burial of his favorite librarian.
A fun, quick read, but some of the crass humor felt unnecessary.

[Mark Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a fan of Handler’s Stewart Hoag mysteries and while this one was engaging enough, he phoned it in. Too much repetition, a long hospital scene that doesn’t move the narrative forward an inch, and the murderer is exactly whom you’d expect. Honestly, I don’t hold that last one against him, it’s hard to come up with an original plot twist.

[BRT · Rating 4 out of 5]

The absolute worst thing about David Handler's books....they are impossible to read slowly! They're so delightfully addictive that you inhale them and then is the interminable wait for the next one. That being said, this was, perhaps, not the best of the lot due to editing issues. The early days of Hoagy, Merrilee, and Lulu story was great, though.

[Brenda Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series never gets dull. This mystery goes back in time and tells how Hoagy met Merilee and how they got Lulu. Hoagy always says he wouldn’t go back home but when his childhood friend calls and says her mother has been murdered, he couldn’t say no.

[Meg Staggs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was just okay. There was so much of it that was unrealistic and some dialogue was out of pocket. It made it really difficult to get into the story or really care what happened to him or anyone else. It felt forced and just not well executed.

[Rita Gorra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was trying to think what this writing reminded me of. Then I remembered… It was the first grade readers, “ run spot, run. “
It is very basic, redundant explanations and super easy to figure out.
Pleasant but pretty boring.

[Summer Bendle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun quick book. I enjoyed the budding romance and how the dog was a main character. The ending surprised me. This was a good book.

[Faith Asdell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Nice to visit with characters again, but definitely not the best of the series.

[Rex Fausett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone else described this story as cheesy. That's pretty accurate. Some of the interactions were almost uncomfortably cringe-making. Good for a wet Sunday I suppose.

[Barondestructo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The dialogue is...an acquired taste. DNF

[Sarah Covol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give 5 stars just for Lulu the Basset Hound. But since I figured this out over halfway through, I dropped it to 3. It had me though, and overall was an enjoyable read.

[Lonie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish. Not for me. Thank you #netgalley