Man Who Wasn't All There, The

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Pub Date 4 May 2021 | Archive Date 12 May 2021
Canongate Books | Severn House

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Description

The latest installment of David Handler's Edgar Award-winning Stewart Hoag mystery series, set in 1990s' New York, sees the ghostwriter-sleuth and his faithful basset hound Lulu inadvertently make a dangerous enemy.

After six glorious weeks of hard work on his long-overdue second novel, celebrity-ghostwriter Stewart "Hoagy" Hoag has hit a crossroads in his plot. He thinks a change of scenery will do him good – and he knows just the place. His ex-wife, the actress Merilee Nash, has offered him the use of her idyllic Connecticut farmhouse, while she's away shooting a movie in Budapest.

Hoagy and his beloved basset hound Lulu settle in for a few days' rest and relaxation. Hoagy expects fall splendor, long walks and crisp night air. He doesn't expect Merilee's eccentric, unwelcoming neighbor. Austin Talmadge warns Hoagy not to get on his bad side, but what harm can a country oddball like Austin do?

Quite a lot, it turns out. All Hoagy wants to do is relax and clear his head, but soon he's caught up in a strange, complex mystery – and he'll need all his wits about him, and Lulu's unerring nose, if he's to come out of this one alive . . .

The latest installment of David Handler's Edgar Award-winning Stewart Hoag mystery series, set in 1990s' New York, sees the ghostwriter-sleuth and his faithful basset hound Lulu inadvertently make a...


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We will consider requests from established bloggers, Acquisition and Collection Development Public Librarians and booksellers in the UK and USA. For Goodreads and Amazon reviewers, we will take into...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780727892485
PRICE US$28.99 (USD)
PAGES 208

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Average rating from 20 members


Featured Reviews

Finished earlier today, another #russelreads of a book due out later this year: THE MAN WHO WASN'T ALL THERE by David Handler (@severnhouse, pub date, May 2021).

It's a kind of homage to both crime novels & movies, set in the 1990s with a fast talking sleuth/writer (and his faithful basset hound, Lulu) getting wound up in the death of a local eccentric when all he wants to do is relax at his ex-wife's country getaway while she's off making movies.

Although the series is usually set in 1990s New York, this one takes out hero, Stewart "Hoagy" Hoag to rural Connecticut, where he finds himself out of his depth dealing with moneyed neighbours, rich eccentrics and people who seem to want him out of the way -- by any means necessary!

It's not a pure hardboiled or noir novel, although some of Hoagy's past seems suitably shady (there are hints at quite a backstory during the 70s).

There's shades of Chandler-esque wit to the dialogue, a few nice jabs at genre tropes and a gentle sense of the absurd in Hoagy's relationship to Lulu, his faithful dog.

In short, it's a fun book.

Zippy, with just enough danger thrown in to add intrigue, and a central character who walks that fine line between smart-ass and actually likeable, it felt like the kind of escapist US mystery I haven't read in years -- just what's needed right now, perhaps.

Thanks to @severnhouse for sending me a copy via #netgalley.

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Author Stewart Hoag (Hoagy) has finally hit his stride on his second novel. But, he’s at a pivotal point and decides to take a break. Leaving New York City, he heads to his ex-wife’s farmhouse in Connecticut with his faithful basset house, LuLu, in tow. Little do they know that they are stepping into a strange mystery that could cost Hoagy his life.

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book by this author and it was fun to be reintroduced to his witty writing, great characters, and snappy dialogue. The plot is good and the story moves right along to a satisfactory conclusion. What is the sign of a good book for me? When I’m looking forward to reading another book by the author. David Handler’s The Man Who Wasn’t All There fits the bill.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

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Superlative Series..
The twelfth Stewart Hoag mystery finds our ghostwriter sleuth and his faithful hound making a dangerous and perhaps deadly enemy. Seeking relaxation and a change of scenery may not have been his best decision to date, but coming out the other end he determines to do. A mystery with a clever, sharp edge, enchanting dialogue and a wholly engaging plot. A worthy addition to a superlative series.

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