The Burnt Orange Sunrise

Berger and Mitry #4

by David Handler

The legendary ninety-four-year-old Ada Geiger was one of the twentieth century's most illustrious, controversia,l and remarkable cultural figures--- the only person, living or dead, who had been a colleague of both Amelia Earhart and the Rolling Stones. She was also one of Mitch's absolute idols.... When Les, the innkeeper, had contacted Mitch a few weeks back, Mitch was thrilled to participate in the event planned for Ada's return.... Les had promised him that it would be a dignified, low-key symposium.
- from The Burnt Orange Sunrise


But Les lied. He had much bigger plans, full of Hollywood heavy-hitters, supermodels, rap music stars, high-profile athletes, and camera crews from every celebrity TV show in America. They are all to gather at the faux castle that Ada's husband had built for her in little Dorset, Connecticut. All of them would come to celebrate the return of Ada Geiger from self-imposed exile---just the kind of event Mitch Berger hates, even though idolizing Ada was one of the things that had led him into the film world as a critic. But it's too late to pull out now.

Then Mitch has a lucky break---or so he thinks at the time. The snowiest winter anyone under the age of ninety could remember has hit Dorset and vicinity with what seems like six more inches every three days. Soon, the regrets and "have to wait till tomorrows" come flowing in. The gathering is pared down to what Les had falsely promised---just a few people: Ada's immediate family, Mitch and his lover, beautiful police officer Des Mitry, and a few "deserving" others make a manageably small group. When it snows even harder, they are all prisoners of the storm.

The reduced guest list makes the job a little easier for Des and Mitch when one by one the people at the Castle are killed off. Since our two friends have no intention of waiting to pinpoint the murderer until he---or she---is the only one left standing, Des and Mitch dare to dive into a breathtaking climax that has Des taking a terrible chance, and Mitch taking a worse one.

Genres: Mystery, Interracial Romance, Cozy Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Cozy, Contemporary Romance

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

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

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Burnt Orange Sunrise is book 4 in the Berger and Mitry Mystery series. This installment takes place in the dead of winter and the weather creates a Christie-esque locked room, in this case a locked B & B. Des and Mitch find themselves trapped along with other guests by the weather, downed trees and a power outage. Soon it becomes evident that one of their companions is a murderer. This was another good installment in the series with a side plot that is left as a cliff hanger. Very enjoyable mystery read!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice mystery, ala And Then There Were None, but the best part for me was the commentary on our culture of "happy endings"- I would really like to read Mitch's book... :)

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved be this series. Some of my favorite writing!

[Pammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Handler manages to create this entertaining series of mysteries with just the right balance of the dark and comic sides of human nature. Not an easy task!
This adventure with the folks of Dorset Connecticut centers in a faux castle owned by a remarkable and controversial film director of the twentieth century. A big media event is stalled out by a unprecedented ice and snow storm, isolating several key attendees at the castle (Mitch and Des included, of course).
Then..... one by one, the people at the castle are killed. Des and Mitch team up to stop the madness and figure out who among them is a killer. It's like a game of Clue. The reader finds themselves analyzing the information and trying to determine if the culprit is the colonel in the billiard room with a candlestick ! Good fun for the reader. Not so good for those marooned at Astrid's Castle.
Beware! It's a cliff-hanger! Wish someone warned me so I could have # 5 in series at the ready!

[Anne, Unfinished Woman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greed and vituperous relationships of family and employees are the focus of this installment the series. The dialogue is hateful, the characters lack many redeeming qualities. The suspects are too numerous to name, as they all fear for their lives, as a serial killer is loose in the castle. In the end it is a twist to have the two plotting in the beginning, turn out to be the brother and sister who are employees of the castle, having been since their father was employed there, and who have killed three people. Then have the killings turn on the issue of the brother being in love with and having had a sexual relationship with his sister since they were teenagers. Sick. The hardest of the threads that is left glaringly hanging is Mitch's proposal to Des, and have the story end in silence...awaiting an answer and the next book.

[Susan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This begins as a traditional mystery where a group of individuals gather for a big ceremony/party and the top of a mountain and then the ice/ snowstorm comes and they are snowed in for days with no power, downed trees and no phones. Of course, there is a death. Is it murder or just related to a bad heart? Mitry and Berger are among the stranded guests, and they take charge. And then, a second death. This is clearly murder. And so, the cat and mouse game begin. Who is lying, who has an ax to grind, who will inherit the money. Like many mysteries lots of information is provided but is it all true or are some of these "guests" lying. It all becomes apparent in the end and our protagonists survive. But the last page holds suspense for a question asked but not answered.

I borrowed this book from the Savannah, GA library system.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the middle of an epic snowstorm, the murderer decides to take out the victim on the one night that a state trooper is snowed in for the night. The trooper, Des Mitry, and Mitch Berger are terrific characters and the bits of movie lore woven into the story are fun. Mitch is stuck in writing his latest book, which sounds a lot like a popular version of Hockley and Fadina’s “The Happiness Illusion.”

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A castle On top of a mountain, an ice and snowstorm, A power outage, and murder all wrapped up in one setting. Berger and Mitry are invited to dinner at a castle in celebration of a 95-year old woman’s accomplishments in both her movie and journalism careers. This gets Berger and Mitry unwittingly involved in a family feud, jealousy, infidelity, greed and murder ensues. Mitry is on her own bc help cannot get there due to the weather. She can only trust Berger.

[Adam Pfeifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just a ripoff of ‘And Then There Were None’, which is funny because the author alludes to it and goes on to say it’s not going to be like that. The ending was abrupt and, quite frankly, bad. Also there was incest. Unlikable characters, etc. Wouldn’t be an awful airport read but it just wasn’t good, unfortunately.

[Lychee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continue to love his storytelling and unfolding of his central characters. Am finding that I love the storylines up until the endings which often seem overly complicated and quite gruesome, albeit psychologically compelling. Regardless, I love the stories so much, the endings won't get in my way.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch Out for the Crazy Trains

Okay, this one did not go the way I thought it would. Plus, it’s late, after midnight, and I need to get some sleep. Will she or won’t she? The prologue kept me guessing about the perpetrators.

[BRT · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth in this delightful series has Berger and Mitty stranded in a castle with a murderer. Modern Connecticut version of a Regency mystery. Plenty of dirty secrets, sleeping around, and caustic remarks together with a complicated mystery makes this another great read.

[Araych · Rating 3 out of 5]

Berger and Mitry #4. The plot for this one is sort of And Then There Were None. Big house, terrible storm, power out, no one can leave, people are dying (being murdered?). Not the best in the series -- couple of pretty obvious plot holes. 3 stars.

[Hrn1947 · Rating 3 out of 5]

More murder in paradise. Big ice storm

[Jenn Mull · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Took a while to get into. Lots of characters introduced early on, sorta tough to keep them all straight. But a good ending, solid storytelling; I'm ready for the next one.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these books.

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much like an Agatha Christie murder mystery. Also growing tired of Mitch & Des. Too many new characters every story. I think I'm done with this series.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this !! And then there were none vibes…

[Elizabeth Tysdal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The relationship between Des and Mitch is one of the reasons I love this series. #4 finds them storm stayed with a small group in a castle like resort and the question is will any make it out alive?

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite. Too much frantic happenings.

[Kat Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to take a break from the series, but, alas, I need to know Mitry’s response. So, I know what I’m reading next…#5

[Liz Clappin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good, solid, old fashioned Agatha Christie style murder at a country house style mystery. And Then There Were None/Ten Little Indians was even referenced several times, though this one had a much happier ending. Good plot twists, plenty of red herrings, just gory enough and all paired with interesting and complex characters and a phenomenal setting. Mitch and Des are at their finest, maturing as characters and staying dynamic, the debut mystery was very good I would say this was even better.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic "stranded in a remote location in the middle of a snowstorm and then the real shit storm begins with people dying all over the place." I really enjoy this series and this book too. The two main characters are endearing, there is always a cat or two, and the motives are multiple, eccentric, and need to be cleverly unraveled.

[Pat Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death stinks! Extramarital affairs pain! Hidden incest and rape wreck lives and a mother who does not protect her child are all issues addressed in The Bright Silver Star by David Handler.

We go back to the small affluent village of Dorset, where newcomer and widower, Mitch Berger, is trying to find his balance and get back into life. His feet now planted in the Dorset Community, he reaches out to a group of three men and become a part of their weekly walking group. Soon Mitch will find out that all that glitters out goodness, prominence and above-reproach is not gold.

The Bright Silver Star presents human misery that echoes betrayal and depravity in an extremely affluent community. Mitch and his ladylove Desiree Mitry, who just happens to be the Resident Trooper for Dorset, solve the situations with adroitness.

The light throughout this entire book was Berger and Mitry coming closer in their relationship. He finally gets her to go to New York City with him; she crosses the threshold of his apartment he shared with his late wife, Maisie, and Mitry gets him on the dance floor.

The Bright Silver Star, another enjoyable read with the fascinating duo, Desiree Mitry and Mitch Berger.

Shalom Aleichem,
Pat Garcia

[Tiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't say that this one is my favorite. I love this series, but as with book #3 in this series, it was kind of predictable from the minute the whole cast of players was introduced what was going on despite Handler's best efforts to make everyone appear to have a motive. Despite that, though, I still love Handler's characters and the flair he gives them. Still, I was more interested in learning what was to become of Mitch and Des' relationship since they were obviously on different planets (Mitch wanting to move forward and Des thinking Mitch wants to break up with her). I wish there had been more on what's going on with the two of them, but this is a mystery series before it's a romance series. I was glad to see Handler using a little less sista-girl talk in this book. It always seems so unnatural when Des talks to anyone like that who isn't Yolie or Soave because of the upper crust picture that Handler has painted of Dorset's residents. Even though I wasn't blown away by this one, I can't wait to get the next book and see what becomes of my favorite mystery duo.

[Cindy G. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story and the mystery itself were fine, but the characters do not feel at all real to me. I loved the theme, though, best stated in this quote from Mitch, the film critic. "Hollywood keeps treating us like little children. That's how they rake in the big bucks -- by encouraging us to choose storybook fantasy over adult reality. And we're only too happy to comply because life is so much easier that way. It's easier to believe in miracle-diet cures than it is to exercise every day and eat right. It's easier to believe you'll win the Powerball lottery than it is to work hard for a living and pay your bills on time. It's easier to dream of some fairy tale romance than it is to apply yourself to a real relationship based on commitment and support and trust. And so we believe. That way we're off the hook. We never have to take responsibility for our own lives. And this is not a healthy thing."

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like mysteries with a snowed in theme, you should like this fourth book in the Berger and Mitry series. Mitch and Des are invited to a small intimate dinner at Astrid's Castle. Mitch was invited to meet the legendary ninety four year old Ada Geiger who is one of the century's most remarkable people. She is outspoken and says exactly what she thinks.

Due to the worse ice and snow storm of the winter, the area becomes shut down. Trees, electrical wires are snapping and roads are completely blocked. The dinner guests are now prisoners of the storm. The storm doesn't stop a murderer and murders start occurring. Even with all the guests being held separately in locked rooms, a murder is committed.

The mystery was well thought out and intriguing. Mitch is a very likable character. In the first four books that I have read, I have noticed that he seems to be liked by all the characters he meets in the books. Looking forward to reading the next book The Sweet Golden Parachute.

[Deb]

"A classic snowed-in mystery, with a tinge of ""And Then There Were None"" (that was mentioned several times, actually). A variety of characters, some Hollywood types, some merely related to them, trapped in an historic castle hotel during one of the worst storm of the wimter. Mitch and Des are two of the guests, of course, and each gets to play to their strengths: movie criticism and murder investigation. [return][return]The character of Ada was great - a woman old enough to no longer care at all what anyone else thinks - and she didn't care all that much to start with. The way she runs roughshod over anyone not willing to stand up to her was quite amusing. The other media people were a touch stereotypical, although at least one was made much more human as the book progressed.[return][return]Thoroughly enjoyable."

[Grey853 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose this is a modern version of the British Manor House mystery where guests are at party and they get cut off by a storm, in this case a massive ice storm. Then the fun begins when people start dying.

Mitch and Des are at a faux castle of a famous, but aging star for dinner. The guests are bitter and fighting, then the power goes out, and they're stuck there with all these unhappy people. A woman dies in her sleep, but then another is strangled. It's like a free for all of murders.

The murdering was a bit out of hand in this one, but I did like that there was tension between Mitch and Des. Des thinks Mitch wants to break up with her so she's more wary and prickly than usual until the end when Mitch tells her what he really wants which is to get married. She's got no answer for that, at least not in this book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its means, dear boy, that it is always a mistake to predict one's own future. Because if you can imagine it happening, if it is rational and makes good sense to you, then that is not what will happen."
"What will?"
"Life will."


Or death will. Nonagenarian Ada Geiger is speaking to her grandson and neither of them know what is in store for them except that the weather man has been right for a change and they are in the midst of a terrible ice storm that is to be followed by several inches of snow. They both have come to Astrid's Castle near the coast of Connecticut. They were meant be part of a large party of the glitterati who were gathering from both the East and West Coast to celebrate Ada's return from France. But now this is a party for murder