To Die for: A Bomber Hanson Mystery [Hardcover]

David Champion (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2005

When a young college student is questioned for the murder of her landlord, who was found dead in her bed, it’s up to Tod, Bomber Hanson’s investigator son, to unlock the secrets that lie behind this mysterious killing.

Unfortunately, his investigation is hampered by the over-zealous assistance of the girl’s father, the fabulous Fabrizio Fruta Franceschi, a wannabe detective.

Things take a turn for the worse when Tod stumbles onto a secret more complex than the girl’s relationship with her landlord. Following one of her housemates to a strange building, Tod is knocked unconscious and left for dead.

Why is the fabulous Fab so reluctant to work with the police? Could it be true the girl’s ex-boyfriend killed the landlord out of jealousy? What about the girl’s elusive housemates? What secrets are they hiding, and why are they so eager to make it look like she killed the landlord in a lover’s quarrel? Once again, world-famous attorney Bomber Hanson and his son Tod search for answers in an uphill battle for the truth.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Champion's winning eighth Bomber Hanson legal whodunit (after 2004's Easy Come, Easy Go) finds stuttering Tod Hanson still working for his father, Bomber, a delightfully pompous Southern California defense attorney ("I help people in trouble, not people who are trouble"), even though Tod would much rather compose music than investigate ("I have been locked in indentured servitude"). After much angst, Bomber agrees to represent a cute college student, Pia Franceschi, who stands accused of shooting her lecherous landlord. Pia professes innocence, though the victim turned up dead in her bed. Pia's obnoxious father, Fabrizio ("Call me Fab") Franceschi, can't resist playing amateur detective and muddling the case, while Tod chases down clues more like a bumbling dachshund than a bloodhound. The verdict? Tight, light reading but not lightweight. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

There's no one better than Bomber Hanson when it comes to representing the wrongly accused; in a courtroom, he is king. But until cases reach trial, it's Bomber's son, Tod, who reigns. No, it's not that he wields any power (in fact, no one is more intimidated by Bomber's presence than Tod himself, who sweats profusely and stutters only when near dear ol' dad). It's that Tod has grown into a talented sleuth, no matter the obstacles, and in this case, there are many. In representing Pia Fabrizio, a college student accused of murdering her slimeball landlord (he was found dead in her bed, after all), the Hansons encounter Pia's overprotective, self-proclaimed investigator father; her jealous, ever-present ex-boyfriend; and a group of catty housemates who insist Pia was sleeping with their landlord. Tod's uncanny ability to put people at ease and cut through to the truth serves him well until he uncovers some information that puts him in harm's way. With witty dialogue, oddball characters, and unique situations, Champion keeps this series, now in its eighth installment, utterly engaging. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Allen a Knoll Pubs (November 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888310715
• ISBN-13: 978-1888310719
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,008,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice old-fashioned mystery feel--with a disturbing twist, June 5, 2009

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: To Die for: A Bomber Hanson Mystery (Hardcover)

Disliking "call me Fab" Franchesi is easy--the man is annoying, demanding and obnoxiously certain. Still, lawyer/investigator Tod Hanson isn't sure that's enough reason to let Fab's daughter, Pia, take the rap for a murder. As far as the D.A. is concerned, though, the case is clear-cut. The dead man was found in Pia's bed, shot apparently with her gun, and was known to be blackmailing her into sleeping with him in exchange for free rent. The D.A. doesn't think even Bomber Hanson, Tod's father, can get this client off. Of course, persuading Bomber to take the case with Fab hanging around is a rough challenge.

Tod needs to discover why Pia's ex-boyfriend is mysteriously absent, what "call me Fab" is really trying to accomplish, who the disgusting new landlord thinks he is, and why the other girls in Pia's apartment seem to have turned against her--all while stuttering whenever his father is around and being stuck with the dirty jobs by both Bomber and Pia's mother.

Author David Champion writes a charmingly old-fashioned mystery, combining elements of Perry Mason and Nero Wolfe. Tod, the hard-working sidekick and narrator, gets to do the dirty work, talking to suspects, tracking down friends and witnesses, and getting knocked in the head when he sticks his nose where it isn't wanted. Bomber gets to drive his Bentley (Chinese Red), and wallow in the glory.

In a step away from the old-fashioned, Champion introduced an intriguing twist to the conclusion. I found it disturbing and it left a strange taste in my mouth. Other readers are likely to appreciate the jolt.

5.0 out of 5 stars Can Bomber Save the Day Again?, October 29, 2008

By 

Athalia Stoneback (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To Die for: A Bomber Hanson Mystery (Hardcover)

Tod and Bomber Hanson are at it again in David Champion's To Die For. When Pia Franchesi is accused of murder, her overzealous father Fab Fabrechezi jumps to her rescue and demands Bomber defend her. One problem, though- Bomber can't stand Fab! Can he put his personal feelings aside and do what he does best, that is, fight for truth and justice? Only one way to find out and that's to read the book! Just when you think a solution has been found, Champion surprises you yet again. Recommended for mystery fans, students college-aged and older, and anyone who's had a problem with relationships, whether romantic or parental.

-Athalia Stoneback