The Man Who Died Laughing / The Man Who Lived by Night

Stewart Hoag #1-2

by David Handler

“One of my all-time favorite series.”—Harlan Coben “When it comes to digging up the dirt, there’s nobody quite like natty ghostwriter Stewart ‘Hoagy’ Hoag. . . . As bitchily amusing as eavesdropping at Spago.”— People “Sprinkled with clues and snappy one-liners in equal measure with some very nicely drawn characters.”— The Denver Post “David Handler is a hoot, and his books are just the thing for what ails you.”—Parnell Hall “Charming lead characters and good breezy writing.”— The Wall Street Journal Back in print, the first two mysteries featuring celebrity ghostwriter Stewart “Hoagy” Hoag and his faithful yet neurotic basset hound Lulu.

Genres: Mystery, Animals

340 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

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

[RumBelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really care for this book for several reasons.

The plot, for most of these books was, at least to me, just a series of scenes. Were at a house, were at a restaurant were writing. It didn't feel cohesive or structured. In addition a lot of the language was unnecessarily crass. It didn't need to be, it just felt like shock value. In addition, a lot of the text was very repetitive, the same phrases and ideas over and over.

None of these characters were exceptionally likeable. Hoagy was the most likeable, but there were even moments when he was just off putting. I liked Lulu but there wasn't nearly enough of her.

Also, for this being a mystery, the mystery just seemed to happen. One moment were writing a book the next there's a dead body. The resolutions also were really quick, and kind of easy to spot. Overall, just not a well put together book or plot.

[Conny · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off its a great deal to get 2 books in one and I loved them both. I actually learned of this series by reading the last book that just came out this year first, and then just had to read the series right away because I found it so entertaining. I enjoyed the characters, the two and four legged kind, it was well written with a great storyline in each book, with plenty of mystery, romance and some action. I can't wait to get started on the next book.

[Susan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story in this two story "book" volume was interesting and engaging. The second was a bit more of the same. The majority of the characters were different, and the ending was a bit different, but the storylines and motivations of the main characters were strikingly similar. The humor in these books was a bonus and saved many of the more repetitive portions of the narrative. I would read this author again.

Borrowed from the Islands Public Library in Savannah, GA.

[BJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked both these novels despite the irritation I often felt while reading them. The main character, Hoagie, is a ghostwriter, and that is different and interesting. His basset hound, Lulu, seems a nice enough dog, but she is not really necessary and often feels out of place--I don't really like dogs in restaurants, especially drooling types (my son had a basset). Still, Lulu is okay, too. I liked this book enough to search for a used copy of the next omnibus of two books.

Now to the irritating parts. I really don't like the transcripts of recorded interviews as chapters. They would be so much better as actual dialogue with description of surroundings and reactions to bring them to life. I also do not like books that are loaded with name-dropping. In the second book, every rock star and movie star from the 70s and 80s is mentioned. Over and over. It really did get on my last nerve until I started skimming those parts. I wonder if I missed something, but it was a trade-off I was willing to make.

I liked the humor (no slapstick), which is really only a small part of the book. I will continue the series because it is a pretty good mystery, and I think it will probably get even better.

[Genie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Man Who Died Laughing - David Handler

The Man Who Died Laughing is the first mystery in David Handler’s series featuring celebrity ghostwriter Stewart Hoagy Hoag & his cat food eating basset hound, Lulu. Hoagy & Lulu travel to Hollywood, where Hoagy has been hired as a ghost writer by down-and–out funnyman, Sonny Day. Hoagy, suffering chronic writer’s block, and is short of cash and owes a stack of unpaid bills. He reluctantly took on this writing job with the hope of reviving his writing career. Writing the memoirs of a has-been comic seemed simple enough until he begins to unravel some well kept family secrets. It becomes apparent that someone wants to keep the book from being published. Hoagy soon discovers that ghostwriting can be murder.

[Roberta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stewart Hoag, AKA Hoagy, is a ghostwriting version of Monsieur Pamplemousse. Lulu and Pommes Frittes should have their own book.