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    The Man Who Couldn't Miss: A Stewart Hoag Mystery
    The Man Who Couldn't Miss: A Stewart Hoag Mystery
    The Man Who Couldn't Miss: A Stewart Hoag Mystery
    Audiobook6 hours

    The Man Who Couldn't Miss: A Stewart Hoag Mystery

    Written by David Handler

    Narrated by Sean Runnette

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateAug 14, 2018
    ISBN9780062882530
    Author

    David Handler

    David Handler was born and raised in Los Angeles. He began his career in New York as a journalist, and has since written thirteen novels about the witty and dapper celebrity ghostwriter Stewart Hoag, including the Edgar and American Mystery Award-winning The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald and the newest entry The Man in the White Linen Suit. David's short stories have earned him a Derringer Award nomination and other honours. He was a member of the original writing staff that created the Emmy Award-winning sitcom Kate and Allie and has continued to write extensively for television and films. He lives in a 200-year-old carriage house in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

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    Reviews for The Man Who Couldn't Miss

    4/5

    46 ratings19 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This is the kind of mystery that you take to the beach or in the winter to a nice fire and a cup of coco. You just move from page to page in a easy flow, enjoying the words as they build the story page after page until you reach the end and think this was fun. I have not read any other fo David Handler's books, but he reminds me of the style of writing that Lawrence Sanders used in hils McNally books.
    • 4/5
      These are different type mysteries than I have listened to thus far. I enjoy the historic literary and movie references that are woven into the story and characters. Hoagie is a great character — smart and sarcastic but with very human hopes, desires, and feelings. The narrator in this book and the others has done an excellent job without going overboard on the different voices.
    • 3/5
      This is the first Stewart Hoag mystery that I've read, and it was short and sweet. I liked the discussion on how best to raise money to repair an old theatrical playhouse by putting on a one night performance by experienced actors. It did seem like an Agatha Christie book in that all the people who could have possibly done the murder were gathered together to reveal the reason for the murders and who did them. Not sure if I would read any other books in this series.
    • 4/5
      Two years ago I read The Girl with the Kaleidoscope Eyes, the continuation, two decades after he stopped writing the series, of David Handler's Stewart Hoag Mysteries. And despite not being much of a mystery reader, I thoroughly enjoyed the witty and fun amateur detective mystery. So it's no surprise that I happily added the second novel in this series reboot (actually tenth if you count the books from 20 years ago) to my stacks. Having finally gotten around to reading it, I found that it was a welcome re-immersion in the life of Hoagy and his faithful basset hound Lulu.It's 1993 and Hoagy is living in his ex-wife, famous actress Merilee Nash's guest cottage out in Connecticut. He's working feverishly on his second novel and feeling really confident about what he's producing. Meanwhile Merilee is working hard on a production of Noel Coward's "Private Lives," which she is directing as a special, one night fundraising event to save Sherbourne Playhouse, a summer playhouse where many famous actors, including Merilee, made their stage debuts. Acting in the play with her are three of her very famous, Oscar winning Yale School of Drama classmates and one young, unknown but talented actress. When another former classmate, R J Romero, the one who everyone thought was the most talented, the most likely to make it and make it big, reappears, it is clear that the grudges and animosity from that time in all their lives has never completely disappeared. In fact, R J, now a criminal and drug addict, is blackmailing Merilee for something scandalous that could derail her career forever. Hoagy is determined to protect Merilee, because although she is his ex-wife, he still loves her, and so he gets a little more involved in the upcoming production than he normally would. That means he's right on site when after the successful first act of the play, performed in front of an audience of who's who in Hollywood and Broadway, one of the leads is found murdered in his dressing room. Hoagy, Lulu, and the police have to uncover the murderer in what is almost a locked door mystery, backstage and below stairs in the dilapidated, storm flooded playhouse.When Handler wrote the first books in the series, it was the 90s so they were set in present day. Now they are set twenty years in the past but Handler has done a fantastic job of still grounding the book in that time period through references, name dropping (especially the actors expected at the fundraiser), and the technology used. Hoagy is a likable character and he narrates the novel. In order to keep the reader in suspense until the very end, he will intentionally leave out information, answers to questions he's asked or even the question itself, in order to signal to the reader that he is on the right track, even if we readers aren't yet. Lulu is an adorable sidekick who is only anthropomorphized to the extent that other dog owners understand but her sniffing investigations do help Hoagy in his conclusions. The wit and humor threads through the story and the visuals of Hoagy's attire are a complete delight. The ending is a surprise but an entirely believable one. As a bonus, in this novel, the whydunit relies on a situation that is quintessentially 90s. I liked the previous installment a little bit better than this one but I am still looking forward to the next novel because I enjoy my time with Hoagy, Merilee, and Lulu. If you're looking for a fun and quick whodunit read, you should definitely take a look at this one.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 3/5
      This is a fun little read. An Americanization of the English traditional "Gentleman Detective " genre. The case is one of blackmail against a famous actress currently engaged in a community play house production. the deceive and his trusty hound must thwart the dastardly villain and save the damsel. The book is well written and story unfurls at a pace that makes it perfect for a poolside read. I found my self smiling at several passages, as our protagonist is blessed with a sardonic wit. A very pleasant read.
    • 5/5
      So glad to return to the familiar world of Hoagy and Lulu, along with Merilee. I was happy when David Handler revived the series with The Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes, and was especially happy to receive this in the ER program. It did not disappoint. I do think it helps you get into the world of Hoagy if this is not your first venture into the series. I was surprised at the plot twist, and somewhat surprised at the ending. I'm tempted to go back and re-read the first 9 which have a valued space in my library.
    • 4/5
      This is my favorite kind of mystery novel, with a sardonic lead character, a well fleshed supporting cast, and the literary/theatrical setting. I’ve read Hoagy many years ago and it was good to get back into the swing of things.
    • 3/5
      This is the first Stewart Hoag mystery that I've read, and it was short and sweet. I liked the discussion on how best to raise money to repair an old theatrical playhouse by putting on a one night performance by experienced actors. It did seem like an Agatha Christie book in that all the people who could have possibly done the murder were gathered together to reveal the reason for the murders and who did them. Not sure if I would read any other books in this series.
    • 2/5
      This book is a nice, quick, cozy mystery read. And that's really about all I can say about it. I wanted to enjoy it more than I did, I wanted to like the characters more than I did, I wanted to get to know Lulu the dog more than I did, I wanted to see more of a mystery and a puzzle than I did. But, well, I didn't. No harm done, of course. It was a light read and then it was over. But I feel absolutely no desire to read any other books in this series (this was my first one). Predictable and formulaic. And the ceaseless name-dropping was incredibly annoying, as was the minute attention to the details of what they were all eating, drinking, and wearing. It was, in plain, a story that felt like it was dashed off by the author with no real thought, energy, or interest. And that's exactly how I read it.
    • 4/5
      I received this book from Early Reviewers. It is written in first person, from the viewpoint of the writer/sleuth named Hoagy who is involved in the story. The plot harks back to a crime committed years ago, which comes back to haunt Hoagy's ex-wife Marilee, with whom he is still in love. He is trying to write a novel, while she is directing a play at a small local theater. There are a lot of celebrity names bandied about in this novel, which was a bit confusing at times. I could have done without some of the detail about what Hoagy and his dog were eating and what he picked from the garden. However, for some this may help to set the stage and contrast the action in the story.The reader should note the book is set in 1993, which is stated right up front. The ending has a bit of a twist, so be prepared.
    • 4/5
      This is the first book in the Stewart Hoag mysteries that I have read. I enjoyed reading this mystery and had no idea who did it until the end. The author had more than one story line going, and that added to the overall mystery. Stewart Hoag is a very likable character and his dog Lulu is great. A fast fun read.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 4/5
      The Man Who Couldn't Miss is the tenth novel in the series featuring Stewart Hoag. I haven't read any of David Handler before, but now I am wondering how I missed him. In spite of not knowing the background of "Hoagie" and his family (ex-wife Merilee and dog Lulu), I was quickly brought into a feeling of connection with them and empathy for the protagonist. The story line develops smoothly and catches the imagination quickly. Merilee is directing a one time only production of a Noel Coward play to raise funds to save a landmark theater. All the New York stars are coming to see it when things start to go awry, starting with major thunderstorms over a badly leaking roof. Throw in some blackmail, a couple of deaths and it turns out to be a tough event. I enjoyed the entire book but did regret that it was fairly short. My main quibble is that celebrity name dropping becomes a bit overdone and more could have been done with the blackmail subplot. Nevertheless, I will be adding Handler to my reading list.
    • 5/5
      Back from a dry spell author Stewart Hoag is excited about how this new book is coming along. And then comes along another murder to slow down his creative process and redirect him into solving this latest who-dunnit.This is the first Stewart Hoag Mystery I have read and I truly enjoyed every bit. Thanks to Author David Handler, William Morrow Publishing and LibraryThing for the chance to find a new Author to add to my bookshelves!
    • 4/5
      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.I received a free copy of this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers program
    • 3/5
      I read the book in two sittings as soon as it arrived. My comments will start with I didn't dislike it, but I am not a fan of books filled with characters included mainly for name dropping purposes. Anyway, Hollywood celebrity ghostwriter, Stewart "Hoagy" Hoag travels to Connecticut to stay at his ex-wife's estate--in the guest cottage--while working on his next book. His ex-wife is an Oscar-winning actress donating her time to produce a local stage production with the proceeds benefiting the historic theater. Hoagy zips in and out of the rehearsals and opening night, with a full house of name dropped celebrities, until one of the production's stars is found murdered after the first act (or second-I can't recall). Then Hoagy and his faithful dog, Lulu, are front and center in solving the murder, with limited help from the local police. Of course, lots of characters with lots of secrets thicken the somewhat pedestrian plot. The best part of the book is Hoagy's way with words. The dialogue is a joy to follow and Hoagy loves to verbally spar with anyone willing (or unwilling) to engage him.I guess the book fits the genre of cozy mystery as character and environs seem to be the key to enjoying the book. It's worth a read if you are in need of a beach or airplane book companion to while away the time.