THE COLD BLUE BLOOD [Paperback]

David Handler (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Unknown (2001)
• ASIN: B0028QED0C
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,152,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

These days, I live in a 200-year-old carriage house in a quaint, ultra-WASPY little historic New England village. Not surprisingly, I've taken to writing a series of five (and counting) retro-cozy murder mysteries set in a quaint, ultra-WASPY little historic New England village. I call it Dorset. It's a place where everyone knows everything about everyone ' or at least they think they do. Trust me, they don't. Dorset is a place full of secrets, many of them deadly. That's where my deliciously mismatched heroes come in, both of them strangers in a very strange land. Mitch Berger, a pudgy Jewish widower, is the lead film critic for the most prestigious and therefore lowest paying of New York's three daily newspapers. Desiree Mitry is an alluring beautiful Connecticut State Trooper who happens to be black, a gifted artist and strangely drawn to Mitch. Under normal circumstances, these are two people whose paths would never cross. But absolutely nothing about Dorset is normal.

I started the series in 2001 with The Cold Blue Blood , which was nominated for a Dilys Award. My most recent hardcover, The Sweet Golden Parachute came out in the spring of 2006. The latest paperback is The Burnt Orange Sunrise , which I'm happy to report made a few bestseller lists. You absolutely don't have to read the Berger-Mitry books in order, but you'll find it a kick to follow the unfolding romance if you do. Personally, I've found them to be a real treat. I get a chance to dissect the village and the people where I actually live. Absolutely everyone in town reads them. And I have fun bringing my own subversive contemporary edge to the classic old-school village murder mystery. The books feel real fresh to me. I hope you like them.

The Berger-Mitrys are my second crime series. My first foray, which you may remember, featured the dapper celebrity ghostwriter Stewart 'Hoagy' Hoag and his faithful, neurotic basset hound Lulu. I wrote eight novels about Hoagy, a fallen literary wunderkind turned pen for hire who travels the underbelly of show business helping famous stars tell their life stories, secrets and all. Generally, there are plenty of people who wanted those secrets to stay safely buried. Generally, our jaded hero knows how to dig them out. My first Hoagy, The Man Who Died Laughing , was nominated for an Anthony Award. My best known in the series, The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald , won an Edgar and an American Mystery Award. Sadly, several of the Hoagys are out of print right now -- so you may have to do a little on-line detective work to track them down. But go for it. You'll never find another wise-cracking hero quite like Hoagy.

Do you like political thrillers? If so, I took some time off between series a few years back to co-author an international bestselling page-turner called Gideon under the name Russell Andrews. I promise you it'll knock your socks off.

I've also taken the time to write some short fiction. Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine has published several of my short stories since 2001. Two have been included in anthologies ' Opening Shots Volume Two , edited by Lawrence Block, and A Hot and Sultry Night for Crime , edited by Jeffrey Deaver.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully quirky pairing, April 4, 2004

By 

Regina Hilburn (Columbus, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cold Blue Blood: A Berger and Mitry Mystery (Berger and Mitry Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

What makes this mystery so enjoyable is not so much the plot (which is good, but perhaps a trifle far-fetched) as the characters & their interrelationships, particularly Mitch & Des. I love the way both of them are presented as less than perfect, & having their wounds from the past. When this detailing is combined with smart & sassy dialogue similar to that of a '30s romantic comedy, a seemingly illogical couple becomes completely convincing, & highly endearing. Kudos to Handler for a great series setup!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Mystery, Great Characters,Interracial Romance, July 1, 2003

By 

Gypsi Hart - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cold Blue Blood: A Berger and Mitry Mystery (Berger and Mitry Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I usually don't read mysteries, but this one I liked. It wasn't too serious, but fun. I love the fact that it's an interracial romance and even though the mystery part is good, the romance developing bt. Des and Mitch is what draws you in. Mitch is open with himself and others while Des is afraid to do so. Mitch teaches Des about love and life. They help each other. I also loved the other characters in the book who were crazy in both good and bad ways. I can't wait to read other books in the series and hopes this series last a long time.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining, November 24, 2002

By 

"babsaholic" (BC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cold Blue Blood: A Berger and Mitry Mystery (Berger and Mitry Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I loved this book. It has everything I like in a mystery: good story, great setting (Connecticut's gold coast), 2 very witty, personable and unique main characters with lots of imperfections, and easy-flowing writing. I look forward to more in the series!