Hanging Hannah (Jane Stuart and Winky Mysteries) [Paperback]

Evan Marshall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2001 | Series: Jane Stuart and Winky Mysteries

Widowed literary agent Jane Stuart is throwing a birthday party for her son at a local inn, but before anyone can say "make a wish," the body of an unknown young woman is found hanging in the woods. Keeping busy to shake the gruesome murder out of her mind, Jane is grateful when editor Holly Griffin gives her the chance to represent a hot new pop star. Then Holly is found dead, stabbed with a letter opener. Now Jane, with the help of Winky, is determined to solve both murders . . .

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Three deaths, apparently unrelated, and a missing pop star slowly reveal their interconnections in Marshall's second mystery (after Missing Marlene) featuring the charming Jane Stuart, literary agent and "North Jersey's Miss Marple." A demi-celebrity as a result of a People magazine profile inspired by her first case, Jane finds her business picking up with the addition of her newest--and most demanding--client, the pop media sensation Goddess, billed in the press as "Madonna and then some." Meanwhile, Jane, a recent widow, has rediscovered romance with Shady Hills, N.J., police detective Stanley Greenberg. But events conspire to throw a pall over her good fortune. A grizzly discovery interrupts a birthday party for Jane's 10-year-old son hosted by her friend Louise, owner of the local inn. An unknown young woman is found hanging in the woods behind the inn-and the scanty clues point to Louise's husband as the killer. Later, an editor is stabbed to death at a book party for one of Jane's authors, and Goddess disappears. Even the wedding of Jane's assistant, Daniel, is an unhappy occasion when Daniel's father suffers a fatal heart attack. Driven by curiosity and compassion, Jane uncovers more than a few family secrets in her efforts to unravel the various mysteries. A rich, well-developed ensemble of neighbors and colleagues flesh out this fast-paced cozy. The satire on the New York publishing scene is fun, even if the ending is too tidy. Agent, Maureen Walters at Curtis Brown. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Airy prose, domestic subplots, and an appealing heroine characterize this second title in the series. Literary agent Jane Stuart, living in bucolic Shady Hills, NJ, gained local fame when she investigated the disappearance of her son's nanny (Missing Marlene). This time, she helps solve the case of a woman found hanging in the woods behind the local inn. A filched quilt, a crazy-acting cat, a ghostly girl in the twilight, an incipient romance with a handsome detective, and a client's publishing party all contribute highlights to a deftly handled plot. For most collections.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575666634
• ISBN-13: 978-1575666631
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,266,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Evan Marshall is an internationally recognized expert on fiction writing and author of the "Hidden Manhattan" and "Jane Stuart and Winky" mystery series. A former book editor, for 27 years he has been a leading literary agent specializing in fiction. His Marshall Plan® Novel Writing Software, written with Martha Jewett, is an adaptation of his bestselling Marshall Plan® series.

Marshall Plan® blogs:
http://www.WriteANovelFast.com
http://www.WriteYourMemoir.com

Psychology Today - The Literary Life:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-literary-life

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/TheMarshallPlanet

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/MarshallPlanet

Evan Marshall's mysteries:
http://www.evan-marshall.com

Evan's LinkedIn Profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/themarshallplanet

E-mail: [e-mail]

6 Tristam Place
Pine Brook, NJ 07058

T 973.882.1122

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful work, April 23, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hanging Hannah (Jane Stuart and Winky Mysteries) (Hardcover)

People's Magazine heralds Jane Stuart as North Jersey's Miss Marple for solving the case of the missing nanny. Owner of the Kenneth Stuart Literary Agency, Jane has no aspirations to a sleuthing career, but her reputation makes her a crime magnet. When a stranger is murdered, the shocked citizens of Shady Hills expect their local "private investigator" Jane to uncover the truth. Jane has a personal interest in this crime since her son discovered the body and the victim was seen hanging around the inn owned by Jane's friend Louise.

When the police question Louise's philandering husband Ernie, the innkeeper asks Jane to help solve the murder. Reluctantly, Jane agrees to conduct some inquiries although she is becoming romantically involved with the lead investigator. Her professional job also turns complicated when she agrees to handle Goddess, a female Fabio, as a client. However, Goddess' editor is killed during a publishing bash given for another of Jane's clients. Jane realizes she now needs to solve these homicides fast or she will become a media event again.

Life parallels art in this amusing and entertaining amateur sleuth mystery. The author, like his protagonist is a literary agent residing in a small New Jersey village and knows first hand how to deal with authors and publishing houses. This experience is firmly focused in Jane's professional life so that readers have an up close and personal look into the publishing world. Winky, the feline owner of the Stuart family, provides humorous relief from the high-tension environment and will be adored by animal lovers who read this mystery. HANGING HANNAH is a humorous who-done-it that captures the essence of modern day living in a small town amidst the BosWash megalopolis.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great mystery series!, July 19, 2000

By 

Brenda "MYSHELFDOTCOM" (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hanging Hannah (Jane Stuart and Winky Mysteries) (Hardcover)

HANGING HANNAH is the second mystery in this enjoyable series. Our sleuth is Jane Stuart. She is a sensitive widow and mother of one. She is also a literary agent, which adds some interesting elements to the story for those who love to learn more about the book business. Winky is her cat. She helps Jane to solve mysteries in the most unusual ways.

During a birthday party Jane is throwing for her son, there is a gruesome discovery. When the mystery begins, everyone reminds Jane that she is the new Miss Marple and expects her to get involved. One of the perks for getting involved is meeting a handsome returning detective. Jane juggles her job as parent, friend, agent and sleuth with more grace than she realizes. She is a strong, nonsense character surrounded by other well developed and yet to be developed secondary characters.

I enjoyed this cozy so much I plan to follow the series in the future. Besides some terrific series characters, the mystery itself was fascinating. It blended in with Jane and other characters lives without loosing ground. It took a turn or two that I wasn't expecting and the ending was a remarkable surprise.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, October 22, 2002

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hanging Hannah (Jane Stuart and Winky Mysteries) (Paperback)

Jane Stuart is busy planning her sons birthday party, when the body of a young woman is found hanging from a tree. Dead. By a group of kids playing an innocent game of scavenger hunt. Immediatley everyone turns to Jane, Shady Hills, New Jersey's very own private detective. As a recent story in "People" stated. Much to Jane's chagrin. Before she knows it, another murder takes place. This time editor Holly Griffin is murdered. But not before she can sign Jane up to be the pop star Goddess' literary agent. Before Jane knows it, she's in over her head. What with murder, kidnapping, book parties, weddings, funerals, and cheating. Who would have ever thought that a small town like Shady Hills could be so full of mystery?

I found this book enjoyable and fun, yet lacking in the mystery department. "Hanging Hannah" is more of a book that deals with relationships. Whether it's between Jane and her son, Jane and her boyfriend, Jane and her co-worker, etc. Still, it's a nice cozy read when you've got nothing to do.