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Berger and Mitry #5
The Sweet Golden Parachute
A storm is brewing in Dorset.
Poochie Vickers, the local aristocrat, is becoming even more eccentric in her old age. She's taken up shoplifting and reckless driving but refuses to see a doctor. Her worrisome daughter, Claudia, is angling to take over the family fortune, which makes some of the would-be beneficiaries uneasy. Two of Dorset's biggest troublemakers are being released from prison. And the bad blood between these two families, rich on the one hand, swamp Yankee on the other, could come to a boiling point: Two young people from the families are dating, to no one's delight but their own.
Someone is bound to snap, and someone does, resulting in the brutal murder of a harmless and homeless man who went about town collecting recyclables.
While Des is trying to track down the murderer, she's also trying to wrap her head around the idea of marrying Mitch. When so many things are going wrong, loving someone seems like a big risk.
Handler's fifth novel in this charming and edgy series displays his deftness in creating memorable, distinctive characters and for crafting uniquely entertaining mysteries.
Poochie Vickers, the local aristocrat, is becoming even more eccentric in her old age. She's taken up shoplifting and reckless driving but refuses to see a doctor. Her worrisome daughter, Claudia, is angling to take over the family fortune, which makes some of the would-be beneficiaries uneasy. Two of Dorset's biggest troublemakers are being released from prison. And the bad blood between these two families, rich on the one hand, swamp Yankee on the other, could come to a boiling point: Two young people from the families are dating, to no one's delight but their own.
Someone is bound to snap, and someone does, resulting in the brutal murder of a harmless and homeless man who went about town collecting recyclables.
While Des is trying to track down the murderer, she's also trying to wrap her head around the idea of marrying Mitch. When so many things are going wrong, loving someone seems like a big risk.
Handler's fifth novel in this charming and edgy series displays his deftness in creating memorable, distinctive characters and for crafting uniquely entertaining mysteries.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2006
14 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
David Handler
53 books260 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 19, 2019
The Sweet Golden Parachute is book 5 in the Berger and Mitry series and finds them once again in the town of Dorset and on Big Sister Island dealing with the many quirky residents that make their homes there. An aging Poochie being one of them, eccentric, wealthy and having lead a colorful life, she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and caught between her two children who want very different things for her and from her. As Mitry waffles over the proposal Berger gave her at the end of the last book, she also works on solving the murder case. Berger finds himself in an entanglement involving an unpublished book that could spark a media frenzy. They work on their individual predicaments and their relationship throughout the book until everything comes together in the finale. Very good read in a fun series with interesting and real-feeling characters.
March 4, 2019
Mitch helps Des solve this one, as he follows up on the explosive novel written by Justine Kershaw about a 14 year old who is pulled into providing sex for her brothers, their friends and the towns prominent adults.
One of Dorset's extrmely wealthy families, the Vickers are constantly feuding. Pookie, the matriarch, a celebrity chef, has a gay friend who virtually lives with her, Guy Tolliver, whom she has provided for recently in her will, all her art which amounts to $100 million. Her son Eric and his wife are running an organic farm on a shoestring, which is hated by his sister Claudia. She is, in turn, trying to get her eccentric mother to a doctor to be declared unfit to run her own life, and avoiding more of the estate given away. An local "can man" who has mental health issues, and lives like a transcient, turns out to be a half brother of Pookie's. While thought to be a secret from everyone else, Eric has always known and is furious, and he and his wife murder first Pete, the Can Man, then Guy Tolliver, on the way to killing Claudia. Setting up the local ex-cons, first by stealing his mother's highly prized antique gull-wing Mercedes. All for the money.
Mitch ends up as a hostage as he accuses Eric and Danielle. He has found out that Eric was one of the adults who had had sex with Allison Mapes, the source of the story written by Justine Kershaw. More of the sordid lives of the rich inhabitants of Dorset.
Des agrees to marry Mitch...and the ending is her ex-husband Brandon showing up as she returns home from a celebration with Mitch, thereby leaving the reader hanging with anticipation for the next installment.
One of Dorset's extrmely wealthy families, the Vickers are constantly feuding. Pookie, the matriarch, a celebrity chef, has a gay friend who virtually lives with her, Guy Tolliver, whom she has provided for recently in her will, all her art which amounts to $100 million. Her son Eric and his wife are running an organic farm on a shoestring, which is hated by his sister Claudia. She is, in turn, trying to get her eccentric mother to a doctor to be declared unfit to run her own life, and avoiding more of the estate given away. An local "can man" who has mental health issues, and lives like a transcient, turns out to be a half brother of Pookie's. While thought to be a secret from everyone else, Eric has always known and is furious, and he and his wife murder first Pete, the Can Man, then Guy Tolliver, on the way to killing Claudia. Setting up the local ex-cons, first by stealing his mother's highly prized antique gull-wing Mercedes. All for the money.
Mitch ends up as a hostage as he accuses Eric and Danielle. He has found out that Eric was one of the adults who had had sex with Allison Mapes, the source of the story written by Justine Kershaw. More of the sordid lives of the rich inhabitants of Dorset.
Des agrees to marry Mitch...and the ending is her ex-husband Brandon showing up as she returns home from a celebration with Mitch, thereby leaving the reader hanging with anticipation for the next installment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2018
I try to pace myself with this David Handler series..... not reading one right after another. BUT the last was a cliff-hanger! (Have I mentioned? ...I despise cliff-hangers)
So..
I do love the romance component between Mitch and Des, the secrets (and multiple murders) in such a small Connecticut coastal town, and the film trivia woven cleverly into each novel. Most of all, I LOVE how Handler crafts his characters and rolls out the edgy mysteries for all of us to figure out!
This edition presents Poochie Vickers, an eccentric multi-millionaire and Julia Child protégé. She has plenty of relatives and they all want her money. Some folks may even consider murder to get to the dough!
And, lest I forget to mention it: There's another cliff-hanger. I hope this doesn't get to be a habit, Mr. Handler!!
So..
I do love the romance component between Mitch and Des, the secrets (and multiple murders) in such a small Connecticut coastal town, and the film trivia woven cleverly into each novel. Most of all, I LOVE how Handler crafts his characters and rolls out the edgy mysteries for all of us to figure out!
This edition presents Poochie Vickers, an eccentric multi-millionaire and Julia Child protégé. She has plenty of relatives and they all want her money. Some folks may even consider murder to get to the dough!
And, lest I forget to mention it: There's another cliff-hanger. I hope this doesn't get to be a habit, Mr. Handler!!
January 20, 2025
Another good mystery in the Berger Mitry series by David Handler. This one start with a seemingly harmless old gentleman who lives in a rundown trailer and collects returnable bottles for money and is murdered. It is just the beginning of a twisted family tail involving two families who are intertwined, but most of the family members do not realize the connection and care nothing for their "unknown" relatives. The story of Berger and Mitry progress nicely with a romantic surprise at the end. But that is not the only surprise. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next one in the series.
Borrowed from the Savannah Public Library System in Savannah, GA
Borrowed from the Savannah Public Library System in Savannah, GA
November 9, 2018
A homeless man who rides around town on a bicycle with two shopping carts in tow collecting recyclables is murdered. As the investigation unfolds, the story revolves around a local wealthy family and their estate. Poochie Vickers inherited money, married money, and then made her own fortune as a celebrity chef specializing in French country cooking. Although the plot is a little stronger than most of the previous entries in the series, the main attractions of the book are the two protagonists, movie critic Mitch Berger and resident trooper Des Mitry.
January 20, 2018
Such an enjoyable series this is. Nothing heavy. Nothing diabolical (with the exception of the author's tease at the end of this book!) No blood and guts. Nothing but people - some who happen to kill other people. It was the perfect book to bring me into time off after 42 days straight cat sitting over the holidays.
DD@Phila
DD@Phila
August 3, 2023
When the local close to homeless eccentric is murdered and a wealthy eccentric widow's wildly expensive car is stolen, Mitry tries to find the connection and Berger does his schmoozing among the residents to help her. The quirky and often disturbing residents of this small Connecticut enclave together with the relationship between the main characters make these mysteries smooth reads.
November 8, 2023
Book #5 and I am addicted to the sleuthing of Mitch and Des. Their relationship plays a big part in why I’m addicted and dreading what will happen when I reach the end. The town of Dorset reminds me of Cabot Cove in the “Murder, She Wrote” television show and the way such a small place has so many murders and so many conniving residents.
March 30, 2025
Always too many characters and family lines to keep straight. Finally figure them out and they start dying until only the guilty are left and a few red herring bystanders. Then, the final cliffhanger, which makes you read book 6. And I’m all in.
September 20, 2025
Berger and Mitry #5. The 2 local low-lifes are back in town and Mitch and Des have to deal with them while trying to keep the lovable rich old lady from being murdered. I like the series and I liked this one but it's nothing special. 3 stars.
November 6, 2017
The best one yet. Must be something in the water. Dead rich people. Good endiG.
May 18, 2019
Berger and Mitry get involved in two murders, a rich eccentric family and many of the towns characters.
March 26, 2021
This a great instalment in the Berger Mitrey series. It kept me guessing.
June 18, 2021
Try Solving This One
Lots of fun, and Handler lays the clues right out in front of you. I still didn’t get it, not until the end.
Lots of fun, and Handler lays the clues right out in front of you. I still didn’t get it, not until the end.
August 18, 2024
Bloodier than usual. Not much togetherness for Mitch and Des.
March 18, 2017
Handler's books are always fun and enjoyable, with good characterization and a solid mystery. This one is a bit disjointed, I see where he was trying to go with it but the different threads never really come together, the ending is certainly foreshadowed but not organized enough, the coming together feels kind of lame despite a big finale. I also wish that there was more carry through with characters. The whole point of cozies if that you get to know your little town and the people there, more and more these begin to read like standalone stories that happen to share a setting and main characters.
April 6, 2010
#5 in the Mitry and Berger series, featuring Desiree Mitry, the local Trooper for Dorset, Connecticut and Mitch Berger, film critic for a New York newspaper who now lives in Dorset. Rumor has it that Berger and Mitry have split up after she said "No" when he asked her to marry him, but that's not true. They're still very much together, although Des did put off Mitch's proposal for the time being.
When the local "Can Man," a strange hobo-like character named Pete who rides around on a bike collecting recyclables is found dead just off the road near the stately home of blue blood Poochie Vickers not long after a pricey classic car is stolen from her garage, it's first believed that Pete witnessed the robbery and was permanently silenced. It's also believed that a pair of brothers just released from prison are the culprits, but when Des and Mitch combine the information they gather, it's obvious that there is more motives that may be at play rather than just that quick, easy answer. So dig they do--although Mitch does so often unwittingly--and come up with the answer eventually...an answer that was painfully obvious to me almost from the beginning, but there you go. LOL
I do enjoy this series, more for the characters and the visit to Dorset than the mysteries themselves, although I've found as the series has gone on, it seems to be getting a bit frayed around the edges and the characters and situations a bit cliched. I only see one more book in the series listed, published in 2008, which I have, and which I'll definitely read, but to be honest, it might be good if the author retired these folks after that while the books are still commendable reads rather than run a series into the ground as some authors have done.
When the local "Can Man," a strange hobo-like character named Pete who rides around on a bike collecting recyclables is found dead just off the road near the stately home of blue blood Poochie Vickers not long after a pricey classic car is stolen from her garage, it's first believed that Pete witnessed the robbery and was permanently silenced. It's also believed that a pair of brothers just released from prison are the culprits, but when Des and Mitch combine the information they gather, it's obvious that there is more motives that may be at play rather than just that quick, easy answer. So dig they do--although Mitch does so often unwittingly--and come up with the answer eventually...an answer that was painfully obvious to me almost from the beginning, but there you go. LOL
I do enjoy this series, more for the characters and the visit to Dorset than the mysteries themselves, although I've found as the series has gone on, it seems to be getting a bit frayed around the edges and the characters and situations a bit cliched. I only see one more book in the series listed, published in 2008, which I have, and which I'll definitely read, but to be honest, it might be good if the author retired these folks after that while the books are still commendable reads rather than run a series into the ground as some authors have done.
December 14, 2014
The Sweet Golden Parachute is the 5th book in the Berger and Mitry series. Some mystery books start out slow and at about page 200 a murder is committed. Not so, in the Berger and Mitry series. In the 5 books that I have read, the crime is committed in the prologue so they start out fast. There are always more crimes to follow.
The books center around Mitch Berger who writes movie reviews for a major New York City newspaper and Des Mitry who is the resident trooper of Dorset Connecticut. They are in a romantic relationship and Mitch becomes involved in solving the crimes much to Des's concern.
Beside the pacing of the book, I like the characters of Mitch and Des. Des when not working, is an artist and rescues feral cats. Mitch who now lives with two of those cats, is humorous and has the ability it seems to get along with most people he meets. People seem to trust and like him. This series is very strong in character development.
The mystery was quite good. It contained several murders, a stolen car, family secrets, madness and of course greed. I am very glad to have found this series and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
The books center around Mitch Berger who writes movie reviews for a major New York City newspaper and Des Mitry who is the resident trooper of Dorset Connecticut. They are in a romantic relationship and Mitch becomes involved in solving the crimes much to Des's concern.
Beside the pacing of the book, I like the characters of Mitch and Des. Des when not working, is an artist and rescues feral cats. Mitch who now lives with two of those cats, is humorous and has the ability it seems to get along with most people he meets. People seem to trust and like him. This series is very strong in character development.
The mystery was quite good. It contained several murders, a stolen car, family secrets, madness and of course greed. I am very glad to have found this series and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
January 19, 2015
A local homeless man is hot by a car and killed while collecting cans by the side of the road. Two local troublemakers are just released from prison, and the matriarch of a local founding family, Poochie Vickers, has been driving recklessly and shoplifting. It’s up to local state trooper Desiree Mitry to sort it all out, with the help of her main squeeze, film critic Mitch Berger.
The characters of Mitch and Des are what make this series special. Fifth in the series.
The characters of Mitch and Des are what make this series special. Fifth in the series.
August 1, 2011
I've not read a good mystery in awhile, and this qualifies as a good mystery. Funny and suspensful, this is not the first book in the series, but I wasn't lost for back story. Enough is given to understand the past stories. I do want to start from the beginning of the series, so this is recommended.
July 20, 2011
I thought that with this Mitry/Berger novel, Handler had begun repeating himslef. While the mystery plot was adequate, it didn't have the panache of earlier plots and the lovey-dovey romantic sub-plot of the main two characters hade begun to become stale!
October 16, 2012
Excellent mystery, I kept thinking I'd guessed it and then changing my mind. Very well done. Good character development and great storyline. I have read a few of this series but out of order and it doesn't seem to matter except that you know where Berger and Mitry's relationship is going.
April 23, 2009
Great story. Thanks
March 15, 2011
Well, now why did he have to go and do that?! Messed up a perfectly good book! That's what I get for finishing a book during the Ides of March...
July 29, 2016
Another Mistry and Berger Mystery this one better than the last few
June 16, 2014
Another excellent entry in the Berger and Mitry mystery series.
April 15, 2012
A good mystery book without a lot of blood and gory details.
December 16, 2013
Congenial story and characters .
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews