The Man Who Couldn't Miss

Stewart Hoag #10

by David Handler

In the next novel in David Handler’s Edgar award-winning series, Stewart “Hoagy” Hoag and his beloved basset hound, Lulu, investigate a murder in a fabled Connecticut summer playhouse

Hollywood ghostwriter Stewart “Hoagy” Hoag has chronicled the rise, fall, and triumphant return of many a celebrity. At last he’s enjoying his own, very welcome second act. After hitting a creative slump following the success of his debut novel, Hoagy has found inspiration again. Ensconced with his faithful but cowardly basset hound, Lulu, on a Connecticut farm belonging to his ex-wife, Oscar-winning actress Merilee Nash, he’s busy working on a new novel. He’s even holding out hope that he and Merilee might get together again. Life is simple and fulfilling—which of course means it’s time for complications to set in….

When the police call to ask if he knows the whereabouts of a man named R.J. Romero, Hoagy learns of a dark secret from his ex-wife’s past. It’s already a stressful time for Merilee, who’s directing a gala benefit production of Private Lives to rescue the famed but dilapidated Sherbourne Playhouse, where the likes of Katherine Hepburn, Marlon Brando and Merilee herself made their professional stage debuts. Her reputation, as well as the playhouse’s future, is at stake. The cast features three of Merilee’s equally famous Oscar-winning classmates from the Yale School of Drama. But it turns out that there’s more linking them to each other—and to their fellow Yale alum, R.J.—than their alma mater. When one of the cast is found murdered, it will take Hoagy’s sleuthing skills and Lulu’s infallible nose to sniff out the truth…before someone else faces the final curtain call.

 

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, American, Historical Mystery, Crime

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 14, 2018

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

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to give this one a try. Apparently, this is the 10th in the Stewart Hoag Mystery Series.

The basic premise is the following...

It’s the nineties, and author Hoagy and his trusty basset hound Lulu, is staying with his ex, actress Merilee, on her Connecticut farm while she directs a performance of Noel Coward’s Private Lives to try and save a classic playhouse.

And...It doesn't matter if you haven't read any of the other books in the series. The author does an excellent job introducing his characters.

Also...It is definitely a period piece, featuring celebrities of the early '90s and timely connections that can't be revealed without spoiling the plot.

[Linden · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s the nineties, and author Hoagy is staying with his ex, actress Merilee, on her Connecticut farm while she directs a performance of Noel Coward’s Private Lives to try and save a classic playhouse. I was interested in reading this novel when a review of the series proclaimed it “for fans of Hiaasen and Evanovich.” I don’t think they have anything to worry about—I am a fan of both of these authors, and I did not detect any similarity here. Shallow, unlikable characters and excessive name-dropping made me realize that I did not care to read any more books in this series.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I liked this book. A mystery that was a look into the life of a man who is a writer and his ex-wife who is a famous actress. It is set in the 90s and the writer does quite a bit of letting you know that it's set in the 90s. Many references to that fact. It could very well have been my imagination that had me noticing the references. I liked the smartass humor, the characters, especially the main character/voice of the novel, Hoagy. I liked his dog, Lulu. Hoagy's ex-wife is pretty spiffy too.
The mystery was two-fold or there were two mysteries, not sure how to phrase it. It was really well done and I had no idea whodunit until the end and it made sense, no eye-rolling for me. That is key for my enjoyment. I hate to roll my eyes.
I believe I will look for more books in this series, Stewart Hoag Mystery. I enjoyed myself and I'd like to visit more often with this group.

[Bertha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read a good old fashion mystery. No blood, guts,or bad language. I just finished David Handler's new book, The Man Who Couldn't Miss. The book is part of his Stewart Hoag mystery series. It doesn't matter if you haven't read any of the other books in the series. The author does an excellent job introducing his characters.
The story was engaging, with well developed characters and a great story.
If you're looking for a good well-written mystery I recommend this book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once famous novelist Hoag (Stewart, not Stewary, as GR would have it) is working on a new book at his ex-wife's farm, where she's busy directing an all-star production to raise money to save a decrepit summer theater with an illustrious past. Hoagy must do two things: Free ex-wife Merilee from a blackmailing ex-b0yfriend who's now a drugged-out felon, and find out who murdered one of the cast during the intermission of the first, and only, performance. Four of the five people in the cast went to Yale Drama school together, and have a long, complex history. This episode gives full play to Hoagy's fascination with luxury brands and his adoration of basset hound Lulu.

[Erik Deckers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my introduction to both David Handler and Stewart Hoag, and if I can expect more work like this, I shall have a great time delving into the David Handler canon. It’s a nice, fairly short book, and a quick read with a satisfying ending. I thought I had guessed the killer, but ended up being wrong about it all. At one point I thought I had selected him/her correctly, and quickly discarded my choice based on the clues I tried to find. I should have gone with my first guess.

[L.L. Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew a murder mystery could make you laugh. I guess David Handler does, and he did a wonderful job in The Man Who Couldn't Miss. But don't let the idea of a lighthearted murder mystery with a few laughs steer you away from this book, it is truly a delightful read.

[Jodell Larkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It developed the characters well and moved quickly. The Basset Hound added to the story, adding a little humor. The book ended with a slight twist, with an unexpected murderer. Very good read!

[DELLA · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty shitty, only highlight is that basset hound

[Sue Trowbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Man Who Couldn’t Miss" is a bit of an anomaly in the Hoag series in that none of the celebrities are true doppelgängers for real-life stars. The crop of actors in the book are former Yale Drama classmates of Hoagy’s ex-wife Merilee Nash, who has brought them together to perform a one-off benefit performance of “Private Lives” to raise money to repair a cherished old playhouse in Connecticut. Hoagy and Merilee are still broken up, but getting along fairly well; he’s working on a new novel while staying in her guest cottage, escaping the heat of a Manhattan summer. Not surprisingly, some long-simmering tensions between the actors rise up, and one alumni who was not invited to take part is lurking on the sidelines. R.J. Romero is the man of the title, perhaps the most talented actor in the class but the least successful, due to his bad temper and criminal tendencies. Romero gets in touch with Hoagy to tell him that he has some damaging information about an incident in Merilee’s past, and unless Hoagy is willing to pay up, he will go to the tabloid press and it could destroy Merilee’s career.

Like all of the books in the series, "The Man Who Couldn’t Miss" is a delight, though it’s perhaps a bit darker and more poignant. Fortunately, Lulu (who “has a very menacing growl for someone who once got beat up in Riverside Park by a Pomeranian named Mr. Puffball”) is always around to provide some comic relief, though my guess is that it would make her quite cross to be thought of in that way.

Read more about my history with, and love of, this series at https://saturdayreader.wordpress.com/...

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found an oversized envelope waiting for me on my porch. Inside I found a book titled The Man who couldn't miss by David Handler. It was an uncorrected proof. There was not a letter stating who sent this book, but I presumed it was sent by the publisher.
I read the story and I liked it a lot. The author is from Old Lyme, in Connecticut, my home state.
After finishing the book, I have a new favorite author, and now I have to find other books written by him. If you are into mysteries, then you must read this series. 4 stars

[Barb · Rating 2 out of 5]

While there were some twists, I figured out the killer pretty early on. I didn't really enjoy the characters either so I guess this is not a series I'm interested in reading. Not bad, just not for me.

[Christopher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. What a piece of crap.

[Julia Barugel · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Handler never disappoints!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollywood ghostwriter Steward “Hoagy” Hoag finds himself in Connecticut with Lulu the basset hound at his side, bunking in his ex-wife Merilee’s guest house while he works on his next novel. Optimistic and inspired, he hopes that perhaps the future holds a reconciliation for the two of them.

It’s the summer of 1993 and actress Merilee Nash has rounded up Dini Hawes, Greg Farber, and Marty Miller, three of her Yale classmates . . . all famous, award-winning performers . . . for a gala one-night-only theater presentation of “Private Lives.” The production is to benefit the dilapidated Sherbourne Playhouse where Katherine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, and many others, including Merilee, made their professional stage debuts.

But a phone call from the local police leads to the discovery of a dark secret from Merilee’s past, one involving another Yale classmate.

And then murder claims the life of one of the cast members . . . .

Following “The Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes,” debonair ghostwriter Stuart Hoag and his timid basset hound, Lulu, return for a tenth outing in the mystery series. And, once again, Hoagy brings his unique perspective to the investigation of a murder.

Peppered throughout the narrative, the names of well-known film and theater people likely to be contemporaries of Merilee, Marty, Greg, and Dini, infuse the tale with a strong sense of credibility. The clever plot unfolds with unexpected twists, surprises, and comedic moments, keeping the pages turning as readers follow Hoagy’s inspired investigation. Although this book is a perfect addition to the series, it also works well as a stand-alone. New readers and fans alike will find much to appreciate in this quirky mystery tale.

Highly recommended.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stewart “Hoagy” Hoag is on a roll. He is living on the Connecticut farm of his ex-wife, Merilee. He and his trusty sidekick, Lulu his Basset Hound, are living the good life. Most importantly, his writing ability is returning. He has been in a drought of mediocre and is happy to get his skill back.

Merilee and some other stars of film and theater, are putting on a charity event in order to save a well loved theater, The Sherbourne Playhouse. It is falling apart and the money raised at this star studded event will pay for all the needed repairs. They are putting on Private Lives by Noel Coward. The audience is filled with the famous and near famous. All of the audience are wealthy.

Then one of the stars is murdered right after the first act.

Hoagy has experience working with police and solving mysteries. He steps in to help put together the clues and find out who among the cast is a murderer.

This is the 10th book in a series. I did not really have any trouble with characters, relationships and past actions.

Mr Handler is a very talented author. He has created characters who are interesting and entertaining. Hoagy and Lulu are quite a pair. Both of them are humorous, at times it is difficult to tell who is the more amusing.

The mystery is well done. It was not difficult to figure out the villain. But, the journey getting to the solution was a terrific one.

The motives are many. The suspects are wonderfully fully developed characters. And the police are accommodating.

This is a good book. I am glad I read it. And I am pretty sure I am going to look for some more of Hoagy's adventures.

[Lesley Truffle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel, ‘The Man Who Couldn’t Miss’ features fiction writer/amateur sleuth Stewart Hoag. It opens in the Summer of 1993 with ‘Hoagy’ penning a new book, while living on his ex-wife’s Connecticut farm. She’s in residence but they live separate lives.

Hoagy’s former wife – and love of his life – Merilee Nash is a famous actress and director. She’s holding a fundraiser on behalf of the famous Sherbourne Playhouse. It will be at one night only benefit, featuring Noel Coward’s play 'Private Lives' to an A-list audience of New York’s creatives, actors and wealthy influencers.

As the celebrities huddle under umbrellas, torrential rain pours down on the decrepit theatre. The roof leaks, the basement fills up with water and the murders occur shortly after the first act.

Hoagy and his intrepid Bassett Hound Lulu are instrumental in solving the crimes. It’s a whodunnit similar to Agatha Christie’s style. A restaging of the end of Act One reveals the motives and operandi of the killer. It is a somewhat drawn out scene, with stock characters that appears to be meaningless until the dénouement.

The novel is the tenth in the series featuring Hogey. A suspension of belief is required to accept that his dog Lulu understands human speech. She also has a phenomenal sense of smell and provides evidence which confirms Hogey’s suspicions as to the killer. The cynical cop – Lt. Carmine Tedone of the Connecticut State Police – who was initially antagonistic to Hoagy gets to successfully wrap up the case.

[Liana · Rating 3 out of 5]

While one book (book #9) from the past a nice look at something that had happened before Merilee, setting the rest of the series prior to Book #8 is not a good choice. All of the character development that we saw happen is simply gone--from both Hoagy and Merilee, as well as Pam and Vic.

I'm not sure if I buy into Handler's reasoning that contuing in the age of internet was implausible due to "there being no secrets" anymore or want of celebrity memoirs. Plenty of celebrities write memoirs still, and there are still shocking stories that come out even recently. Also, The Man Who Loved Women to Death was published and set in the mid-90s. He could have continued from there. I personally think he may have not wanted to write about "a baby" or child. This could have been avoided as Hoagy is often away with his celebrity.

While these books are somewhat entertaining, they're short and lack any realy depth of character and plot development the Stewart Hoag series had become. They're pale next to The Man Who Loved Women to Death.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read any of the books in this series that showcase Stewart Hoag and his Bassett Hound, LuLu.
In this book, Hoagie and Lulu are staying with his ex-wife, Merilee. She is directing a play at an old historic playhouse in Connecticut that is falling into ruin.
The play is an effort to save the playhouse by inviting VIPs to watch and famous actors to perform.
The cast are all members of a Yale University Drama class that produced very talented performers many years ago.
The years have not erased all the memories of class member interactions and some have festered and never healed.
Of course there is a murder. There is also a blackmail attempt, a side plot, that intersects with the cast and crew of the play.
Hoagie solves it all as he has done in nine previous books.
Beautiful setting, well written with good characterization.
An old fashioned, comfortable book.
Read as an ARC from LibraryThing.

[Dan Leblanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic murder mystery, writer Stewart Hoag is at his ex-wife, Merilee's farmhouse in Connecticut with his basset hound, Lulu. He's here to try too find some solitude in the country to put him in the right frame of mind to write his novel. On the other hand Merilee is working hard trying too raise donations to save the Sherbourne Playhouse from demolition, she's planning on holding a benefit play to raise a great deal of the money needed to save the theatre from destruction. The plot thickens when Greg Farber is found dead in the basement of the playhouse after the first act of the play was performed. This throws everything haywire, the performance of the rest of the play is halted and the investigation begins as to who wanted Greg dead and who had the opportunity too commit such an act.

[Karen Gill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fun, short read that was nice to pick up before bed or in my free time.

It is a witty and clever murder mystery without being too heavy, with somewhat of a dual storyline structure. Heavily centered around a man and his dog. The real gem of the writing is the quirky characters. The reveal at the end is exactly what you’d want out of a mystery: dramatic and mostly unexpected. Due to how easy it was to read, I may consider reading the whole or more of the series.

My husband got me a a subscription to 12 months of surprise books for Christmas and this came in Januarys box. It’s the second book in the reboot of this series. 6 books in the series I believe written in the 90’s. Then picked back up I think in the late 2010’s.

[Nese · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Handler is one of my favorite authors who has a unique writing style and complex characters with even more complex relationships. In this book, Stewart Hoag and his ex-wife, a famous actress, Merilee continue their complex and hard to understand relationship and Steward ends up getting involved with Merilee’s old friends, including her ex, from her youth in an attempt to protect her. The characters are self-absorbed and hard to relate to, but storytelling and character development are done very well.

[Linda Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great mystery done in the old fashioned way, no internet, no Google ,nothing but detective work. I found some of it a little pat but overall it was interesting. I have trouble remembering how badly everyone dressed in the 80’s and 90’s and Hoagie sure seems to typify a certain sartorial elegance best left in that time. The literal brotherhood of law enforcement and their recommendations was somewhat alarming but I suppose it exists. Good read, waiting for the next one.

[Vontel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure I have read at least one of the earlier Stewart Hoag books since the two main characters seemed familiar, although I have no notes since I started using goodreads.
Kept me reading, although at times the celebrity name-dropping (albeit from the early 90's) grew stale quickly. I plan to read the previous "new" book in the series about Stewart & Merilee, "The Girl With The Kaleidoscope Eyes", to get a better sense of the back story.

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh I am so going to miss this series and its titular character, Hoagy, "as in the cheesesteak", in all his flawed, sardonic glory. Not to mention Lulu, the wonder dog with the fishy breath. Hoagy's ex-wife Merrilee is staging a fundraiser play in her little Connecticut town and is plagued by bad weather, nerves, blackmail, and death. Always a funny, and a bit sad, mystery. The biggest literary mystery is the disappearance of their child.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast & easy read. Reminds me of the Father Brown and Grandchester tv series. Common guy gets mixed up in a murder while hanging out with his ex wife and her group of actors during a 1 night performance to save the legendary theater in a small town outside of NY. Common Guy plays detective along side the actual homicide division and comes to the conclusion of who the killer is. Of course other things happen, other characters who come into play in the book, however this is the main story.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Hoagy as a character. This was a slick, fast read.

I didn't like the author playing coy by having Hoagy ferret out a clue and then keeping it from us.

I was disappointed by the implausible murder and the staged let's-get-the-suspects-together-for-the-big-finish (it fizzled). Marty managed to bash in someone's head but didn't have a speck of blood on him when seen moments later?

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elements of this book were interesting, particularly the description of the heroes clothes and his satirical comments to the police. However, the prose was a little lacking in challenge. The number of possible suspects was limited from the beginning and the probable suspects was even more sharply curtailed to make the outcome fairly clear.

Enjoyable for a Sunday afternoon.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and one half stars. Enjoyable book with vivid characters. I LOVED Lulu the Bassett hound. I liked the way the real movie stars
were incorporated into the story. Unfortunately it made me think about how many of them are no longer with us. Sigh! Reminiscent of the Kinky Friedman series. Me? I’ll read more of Handler’s work.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Hoagie novels right from the start. Their low-grade, easy going pace, and very likeable characters feel like old friends at first read. This is the first audio version of one of them that I've heard - it was even better. David Handler name-drops celebrities by the dozen and it really seems like his main characters live in that world of fame and super-stardom.