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Stewart Hoag #1
The Man Who Died Laughing
First in the Edgar Award-winning series from "a novelist whose champagne-fizzy mysteries tickle the brain, heart, and funny bone in equal measure" (A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times-bestselling author).
Stewart Hoag's first novel made him the toast of New York. Everyone in Manhattan wanted to be his friend, and he traveled the cocktail circuit supported by Merilee, his wife, and Lulu, his basset hound. But when writer's block sunk his second novel, his friends, money, and wife all disappeared. Only Lulu stuck by him. The only opportunity left is ghostwriting--an undignified profession that still beats dental school. His first client is Sonny Day, an aging comic who was the king of slapstick three decades ago. Since he and his partner had a falling out in the late 1950s, Day has grown embittered and poor, until the only thing left for him to do is write a memoir. Hoagy and Lulu fly to Hollywood expecting a few months of sunshine and easy living. Instead they find Day's corpse, and a murder rap with Hoagy's name on it.
Stewart Hoag's first novel made him the toast of New York. Everyone in Manhattan wanted to be his friend, and he traveled the cocktail circuit supported by Merilee, his wife, and Lulu, his basset hound. But when writer's block sunk his second novel, his friends, money, and wife all disappeared. Only Lulu stuck by him. The only opportunity left is ghostwriting--an undignified profession that still beats dental school. His first client is Sonny Day, an aging comic who was the king of slapstick three decades ago. Since he and his partner had a falling out in the late 1950s, Day has grown embittered and poor, until the only thing left for him to do is write a memoir. Hoagy and Lulu fly to Hollywood expecting a few months of sunshine and easy living. Instead they find Day's corpse, and a murder rap with Hoagy's name on it.
184 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1988
618 people are currently reading
939 people want to read
About the author
David Handler
53 books261 followersAKA 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
March 12, 2022
I found this book by mere chance, by searching whatever there was on "Basset Hounds" on Amazon. I had never heard of David Handler before and I must say it was a nice little surprise to make this "acquaintance". Overall, the book is quite good, really entertaining and the descriptions of Lulu are second to none. I could totally see my own BH doing what Lulu did, except for the fact that my dog does not eat mackerel, but tuna. Being myself a teenager back in the 1980s I could relate to the atmosphere he described of California or Nevada back then... Surely, I never lived in Beverly Hills but I did watch a good number of films that showed the mansions like Artie's and their deranged dwellers like Wanda thanks to the "Brat Pack" lonesome, abandoned characters, so common back then. I started to have my suspicions about the murder perpetrator quite soon although there was a twist at the end that I did not see coming and which brought my interest back to the reading. I was kind of losing interest right after the crime. Anyway, what I really, REALLY enjoyed were the dialogues between Hoag and Artie, what a master Handler is at making them speak! I so much relished on the New York slang, the quick comebacks, their verbal fencing, everything. I might be reading another book by Handler's soon, and it will definitely be one of this series that involves Lulu in it.
August 28, 2022
The secrets of a Hollywood Comedy duo will soon come to light, in a tell all memoir that's being ghost written by our hero, or will someone put pay to his writings once and for all.....
A clever, witty, well written read with the murder coming towards the start of the 3rd act it's more of a paced thriller then a whodunnit but I still loved it.
My next Stewart Hoag book is ordered and I can't wait to find out what scrape he and LuLu (his canine companion) get into next.
A clever, witty, well written read with the murder coming towards the start of the 3rd act it's more of a paced thriller then a whodunnit but I still loved it.
My next Stewart Hoag book is ordered and I can't wait to find out what scrape he and LuLu (his canine companion) get into next.
September 7, 2017
3.5 STARS | This mystery was a re-read for me, having discovered it when it was first published in 1988. I enjoyed it as much as the first around, even though I've likely grown as a mystery reader, and Handler has undoubtedly grown as a writer. Hoagy and Lulu, his basset hound, are a likable sleuthing pair. My only quibble was it took almost 3/4 of the book to get to a murder. There is a mystery before that, but it has more to do with threats and why the famous comedy pair of Knight and Day broke up. Much of the story is told in interview format conducted by Hoagy in his role as a ghostwriter, which makes it an easy read, but sometimes I missed a little more description. I look forward to re-reading the others.
March 8, 2022
Well-written, fast-paced read that seemed a familiar story (ala the Martin and Lewis era comedy scene) yet was able to remain relatively entertaining (up until a disturbing reveal and ending - Yuck!).
May 10, 2019
Bleeeeetch! The cover gives the impression that this is a fun, breezy mystery with a man and his dog as the lead characters. Fun, maybe a little quirky, right? Wrong! It's a story about a washed-up writer who goes to LA to rescue his career. It's surprisingly dark and crass. Didn't care for any of the characters really and the ending made me cringe. It did not age well from the 80s. I don't think I will read any more of Hoagy mysteries.
February 21, 2024
A cozy with f words. Not that funny. The best part of the book is the dog.
November 27, 2022
Needs more cowbell/ dog
If your call-out says it’s a story about a man and his Bassett hound, there needs to be more Bassett hound. Good enough story set in the 80s with a view inside of show business. The dog needed more lines.
There were also a disturbing number of punctuation errors in the library copy—possessive nouns without apostrophe in lots of places and missing periods and commas. Might be expected in an ARC but not in a library copy.
If your call-out says it’s a story about a man and his Bassett hound, there needs to be more Bassett hound. Good enough story set in the 80s with a view inside of show business. The dog needed more lines.
There were also a disturbing number of punctuation errors in the library copy—possessive nouns without apostrophe in lots of places and missing periods and commas. Might be expected in an ARC but not in a library copy.
December 24, 2013
Enjoyed it enough to move on to book two - but not without some hesitancy - a unique set up that should give the reader a bit more humor but somehow tAkes itself too seriously to be very much fun.
June 10, 2024
I read the 9th book in this series first. Enjoyed it so much that I went back and got this one, the first entry. Loved it—especially Lulu the Bassy Hound and her witty human, our protagonist, Hoagy, a failed novelist now paying his bills and keeping Lulu in cat food (she's quirky) by ghostwriting celebrity memoirs.
June 10, 2021
Interviews With the Comic
This was different - most of the book is transcriptions of interviews, and when you’d think it was boring, it’d get riveting again. I liked Hoagie, of course. I wonder what else he’ll come up in the next dozen books in the series.
This was different - most of the book is transcriptions of interviews, and when you’d think it was boring, it’d get riveting again. I liked Hoagie, of course. I wonder what else he’ll come up in the next dozen books in the series.
April 16, 2019
Not my usual, but I enjoyed it very much. Hopefully the solution to the mystery won’t be so obvious in the second book of the series.
April 29, 2020
This is the 3rd time I've read this series. Once in the 90s and once about 10 years ago. I still love these characters and the stories.
November 13, 2024
3.5 stars
A little long, but pretty good. I liked the main character and Lulu.
A little long, but pretty good. I liked the main character and Lulu.
April 6, 2021
2.5 ⭐ - I just don't know about this one. Something about the cover and seeing a man with a cute little dog gave me Alexander McCall Smith vibes. This was nothing like that. Vulgar and kind of trashy are two ways I would describe this one. I can say I appreciated how long it took to get us to the murder - this set up the story nicely and provided a fair amount of plot points and details. Buuuut at the end of the day I just really can't feel good about a child rapist not getting justice. At least, not really. Bummer ending for sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2016
Nicely written, and the protagonist has a dog,so what's not to like? I will read others in the series, but my pleasure was somewhat mitigated by a certain crudeness in the lifestyles of many of the characters and a very unpleasant denouement. I also do not like it when an author doesn't bother to get simple details right: one female character is described as being at University of Virginia in what must have been the fifties. UVA was not coed until 1970.
October 10, 2020
Good book. It started somewhat slowly, but is well-written with some of the best dialogue I've seen in a while. Very enjoyable read.
January 14, 2022
SPOLIER ALERT
I loved the series of Berger/Mitry and am disappointed that there have not been any further additions since 2012. I thought I would try this series, and was jolted to find out it is very different. This is the story of a very dysfunctional and nasty family and set of partnerships and friends that are equally unbalanced and nasty.
Stewart Hoag, Hoagie, and his sidekick Lulu, a basset hound, travel to the L.A. home of Sonny Day, part of the highly successful comic duo, that made millions on their stand-up comedy performances and their movies. He is to ghostwrite Sonny's life story. What he finds is a man who is prone to bouts of rage and violence, spouting foul tirades that fire and rehire Hoagie multiple times during the story. Hoagie has writer's block, after a highly successful novel and abundant life with his ex-wife Merilee Nash. He needs this job. Sonny has not worked in years and hopes the book with bring new life to his career.
In the end the question the publisher wants answered is why the duo split years ago. It is rumored that it was due to gambling debts, and maybe because Gabe and Connie Morgan, Sonny's wife had an affair. In truth, Gabe had been bullied by the nasty Sonny for years and made fun of in and out of their routines. In retribution Gabe sexually abused Sonny's 7-year-old daughter Wanda. She is now living with Sonny. Her mother found them together.
Wanda hates her father, and she kills him. A truly nasty and sad story. Perhaps one of the most disappointing parts of the story is that Hoagie gets sexually involved with Wanda, even seeing her unbalanced and violent behavior and listening to her foul mouth. Such a huge difference from Merilee.
I loved the series of Berger/Mitry and am disappointed that there have not been any further additions since 2012. I thought I would try this series, and was jolted to find out it is very different. This is the story of a very dysfunctional and nasty family and set of partnerships and friends that are equally unbalanced and nasty.
Stewart Hoag, Hoagie, and his sidekick Lulu, a basset hound, travel to the L.A. home of Sonny Day, part of the highly successful comic duo, that made millions on their stand-up comedy performances and their movies. He is to ghostwrite Sonny's life story. What he finds is a man who is prone to bouts of rage and violence, spouting foul tirades that fire and rehire Hoagie multiple times during the story. Hoagie has writer's block, after a highly successful novel and abundant life with his ex-wife Merilee Nash. He needs this job. Sonny has not worked in years and hopes the book with bring new life to his career.
In the end the question the publisher wants answered is why the duo split years ago. It is rumored that it was due to gambling debts, and maybe because Gabe and Connie Morgan, Sonny's wife had an affair. In truth, Gabe had been bullied by the nasty Sonny for years and made fun of in and out of their routines. In retribution Gabe sexually abused Sonny's 7-year-old daughter Wanda. She is now living with Sonny. Her mother found them together.
Wanda hates her father, and she kills him. A truly nasty and sad story. Perhaps one of the most disappointing parts of the story is that Hoagie gets sexually involved with Wanda, even seeing her unbalanced and violent behavior and listening to her foul mouth. Such a huge difference from Merilee.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2020
Stewart Hoag (Hoagy - not like Carmichael, like cheese steak) is an author. He wrote a critically and commercially successful novel. Then, writer's block. He is wallowing in his misery when he is approached by Sonny Day, a bigger than life comic of the Jackie Gleason, Milton Berle ilk. Sonny wants to write his memoirs and wants to hire Hoagy to be his ghost writer. Hoagy wants nothing to do with the loud, abrasive, abusive comic, but ends up saying yes and traveling to Hollywood. Sonny had a partner, Gabe Knight, and in their heyday they were like Martin and Lewis. Good looking suave Gabe, and over the top gagster Sonny. 30 years ago their partnership ending in spectacular fashion but neither will discuss the reason why. Hoagy spends a lot of time listening to anecdotes from Sonny's colorful life, but Sonny won't talk about the only thing people will really want to know - why did he and Gabe break up. Sonny is threatened, Hoagy is threatened. It seems someone or someones do not want the secret of the breakup exposed. Hoagy gets involved with Sonny's emotional train wreck of a daughter. Then, when he and Sonny have a major argument over the book, Hoagy leaves for New York only to learn that Sonny has been murdered. Back to Hollywood to find out why. I like this book up to a point. The ending does indeed reveal the big secret that someone wanted to remain hidden. And I won't reveal it here, but just to say I found it disappointing the way it just all wound down after the big reveal. An okay book, but not especially satisfying.
October 23, 2017
I missed David Handler’s Stewart Hoag mysteries completely when they were published in the 1980s. I picked up the first one, The Man Who Died Laughing, when it popped up on an ebook sale email recently (I get far too many of those). How could I resist a mystery starring a one-hit wonder writer conned into trying his hand at ghostwriting? Not to mention the basset hound, Lulu.
In The Man Who Died Laughing, Hoagy heads to California to ghostwrite the autobiography of famous comic Sonny Day. Much of Sonny’s story comes out in the form of interview tapes, but he’s reluctant to answer the one question everyone asks—what caused the public fistfight which ended his partnership with straight man Gabe Knight. That question seems to be at the heart of a whole string of drastic events: death threats, vandalism, arson, and finally murder. Someone clearly does not want the answer to become public.
The book is set in the early 1980s, and many celebrities of the day wander in and out of the story (perhaps to assure the reader that Day and Knight are not based directly on any real people), lending considerable atmosphere to the setting. There’s quite a bit of wry humor, but the mystery is a bit darker than I expected. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I have another (The Woman Who Fell From Grace) waiting on my Kindle. I’ll be watching for others in the series.
In The Man Who Died Laughing, Hoagy heads to California to ghostwrite the autobiography of famous comic Sonny Day. Much of Sonny’s story comes out in the form of interview tapes, but he’s reluctant to answer the one question everyone asks—what caused the public fistfight which ended his partnership with straight man Gabe Knight. That question seems to be at the heart of a whole string of drastic events: death threats, vandalism, arson, and finally murder. Someone clearly does not want the answer to become public.
The book is set in the early 1980s, and many celebrities of the day wander in and out of the story (perhaps to assure the reader that Day and Knight are not based directly on any real people), lending considerable atmosphere to the setting. There’s quite a bit of wry humor, but the mystery is a bit darker than I expected. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I have another (The Woman Who Fell From Grace) waiting on my Kindle. I’ll be watching for others in the series.
July 21, 2024
Эта книга оказалась полна сюрпризов. Первым стал сеттинг — мне давно хотелось почитать что-то про внутреннюю кухню «Золотой века» Голливуда, и здесь попадание было если и не точным, то довольно близким. Вторым — главный герой: начав как типичный опустившийся писатель, отстранённый и желчный, он быстро отошёл от этого образа, даже не забыв над этим посмеяться (а ещё у него оказались на удивление хорошие отношения с бывшей женой). Третьим стало настроение книги: с лёгкого начала оно постепенно стало темнеть и темнеть, и сделано это удачно, финал не вызвал диссонанса и не показался шокирующим лишь ради шока. Собственно, финал стал четвёртым сюрпризом, а может, и пятым: если сразу после убийства я хотела, чтобы мои догадки о личности убийцы не подтвердились — — то в финале, когда они подтвердились, мне очень понравилось, почему. Я не угадала с мотивом, а он-то как раз и преобразил итог. Очень хорошо технически, очень грустно эмоционально, . И открытость финала понравилась — , так, что осталось место и трагедии, и надежде.
4.5
4.5
March 1, 2025
This was fine. I hope, for the benefit of the author, that the writing style and editing improves with each new book in the series, because both were a bit loose with this first offering. The murder in this murder mystery doesn't hit the page until more than two thirds of the way in. Many of the chapters are written as transcripts from taped conversations between the main character (an author) and the subject of the memoir he's ghost-writing, and it smells a bit lazy. Ultimately, the "who" part of the whodunnit was fairly well hidden, as was the "why" - with perhaps 20 pages to go, the reader is able to sort it out and feel clever in having done so. Some of the writing is well crafted, but some seems lackadaisical. Some of the loose ends that are inherent with any red herring-laden murder mystery were either left unresolved or thrown together hastily, and unsatisfactorily.
If I'm feeling nostalgic some time down the road, I may consider grabbing another book in the series.
If I'm feeling nostalgic some time down the road, I may consider grabbing another book in the series.
July 23, 2018
After a very successful first book, author Stewart Hoag is asked to work with an old comedian on a story of his life, including the reason why he and his old partner split up. It turns out that there are many who want to find out what happened, but some who do not want the book to be written. While writing the book, "Hoagy" must also avoid danger and determine who killed Sonny Day.
I've read several other books in the Stewart Hoag series and enjoyed them, so I decided to read his first one. It doesn't have as many humorous parts as in others I read, but it's well written with several twists. I also enjoyed the interviews by Hoagy with Day and others and how Mr. Handler linked Sonny with many other real celebrities of the day.
I've read several other books in the Stewart Hoag series and enjoyed them, so I decided to read his first one. It doesn't have as many humorous parts as in others I read, but it's well written with several twists. I also enjoyed the interviews by Hoagy with Day and others and how Mr. Handler linked Sonny with many other real celebrities of the day.
December 13, 2021
I picked up this series with a book later in the series and enjoyed it enough to start at the beginning. I enjoy these stories so much that it feels comfortable. Stewart Hoag is a rising literary genius who tanked after one book, lost his beautiful actress wife through his behavior heading to rock bottom. In this first of the series, he is asked to ghostwrite for a famous comic who himself is rolling around on the rocks at the bottom. The writing is quick, funny, and intelligent. The mystery is presented like the reader is being pulled inexorably to the answer. The characters are full and fleshed out to the point we feel we've known them before. The time period, and the name dropping, bring pleasant memories, for me at least. His dog, Lulu, is a wonder throughout.
December 24, 2020
I enjoyed this read. Sonny Day (of the famous former comedy duo, Knight and Day) hires washed up novelist Stewart Hoag to ghost write his biography. The big selling point for the biography is an explanation of Day's parting with his partner, the handsome singer Gabe Knight (think Martin and Lewis). Sonny tells Hoag everything except for the real dirt behind the breakup. Meanwhile Hoag receives threats and warnings suggesting that he withdraw from the project. When Danny appears to be ready to share the secret he turns up dead. Hoag has to decide whether he'll continue to pursue the truth or pull out of the project.
December 28, 2021
Stewart Hoag had everything and has since lost it due to writer's block. He's desparate enough he has agreed to help a TV star (think Jerry Lewis) write his memoirs, but someone is trying to stop that from happening. It was hard for me to enjoy this book because I really didn't like the TV star character or the main character really. It was a good book and interesting story, so others I think I would really like it. It just wasn't for me. I don't know if I'm going to read the second book. I don't want to deal with another tempramental celebrity, but the mystery part of the book was good, so I'm still deciding.
June 19, 2017
I discovered this series the wrong way around, I read the last book first and liked it so much that I wanted to find out how Hoagy got started, and I am so glad I did. I liked the characters, especially Lulu, and the storyline, I can't wait to read the next book in the series. It had me guessing all the way until the end on who done it. With plenty of action, some romance and murder the book had me reading way passed my bedtime. David Handler has a fan in me for sure. Well written and very entertaining.
December 18, 2018
Stewart Hoag’s first novel made him the toast of New York. He traveled the cocktail circuit supported by Merilee, his wife, and Lulu, his basset hound. But when writer’s block sunk his second novel, his friends, money, and wife all disappeared. Only Lulu stuck by him. The only opportunity left is ghostwriting. His first client is Sonny Day, an aging comic who was the king of slapstick three decades ago who decides to write a memoir. Except he ends up dead. Pretty predictable but has good writing and entertains you.
July 22, 2019
The author uses a different type of protagonist as his detective, a writer. He gives details which flesh out his character:physical description, marital status, writing history, family background, etc.
To lighten the suspenseful tension the author introduces the character's pet, a tuna fish eating basset hound! It injects humor and a feeling of normality into the plot.
He sets his story in a time when one went to the library for research in the stacks of newspapers, cell phones were a novelty, and recordings we're on actual tape. ❤️🌸🌺❤️
To lighten the suspenseful tension the author introduces the character's pet, a tuna fish eating basset hound! It injects humor and a feeling of normality into the plot.
He sets his story in a time when one went to the library for research in the stacks of newspapers, cell phones were a novelty, and recordings we're on actual tape. ❤️🌸🌺❤️
January 22, 2020
I really liked this one a lot. The fictional story of an equally fictitious comedian in the mold of Jerry Lewis, Milton Berle, Bob Hope, guys of that era. As the story progresses the characters come to life in such a realistic way I kept thinking to myself, "Wow! Why haven't I ever heard of this guy before?" Because he's a work of fiction!
Great fun story. I have since read several more in the series and loved them all. Highly recommended for those who like a little humor with their crime but don't want it too saccharine.
Great fun story. I have since read several more in the series and loved them all. Highly recommended for those who like a little humor with their crime but don't want it too saccharine.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews