Customer Reviews

Hearse of a Different Color

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The second novel in Tim Cockey's series featuring amateur sleuth/undertaker Hitchcock Sewell is another delightful romp. Hitch finds himself at the center of another case of murder (well, the corpse sort of turns up on his doorstep) and must wade through the not-so-usual assortment of suspects, shady characters and femme fatales.

Cockey's wry wit, excellent dialogue and engaging characters are one again in evidence in this higly recommended novel!

Here's hoping that Hitch has a very long life.

Once again, Tim, kudos!

The blizzard that hit Baltimore without warning made the wake at Sewell & Sons Family Funeral Home difficult enough for managers Hitchcock Sewell and his Aunt Billie. The corpse unceremoniously dumped on the outside steps of the funeral home becomes even more arduous to deal with because Hitch allows his girlfriend Bonnie Nash to persuade him to help her investigate. Bonnie insists that she is an investigative reporter hiding inside the guise of a TV weathergirl, which her peers loosely interpret as an amateur meteorologist who would have been better suited at rock singing.

Hitch and Bonnie begin to conduct inquiries, which as with their first case (see THE HEARSE YOU CAME IN) proves that in their minds the shortest distance between two clues is an arc. The duo draws wrong conclusions, fumbles clues, and makes error after error that should star them on a version of Bloopers. Other murders follow that expand an already widening circular investigation making it seem most unlikely that this amateur duet will ever solve the case.

The second Hitch-Nash amateur sleuth tale, HEARSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR, is an amusing novel due to the eccentric lead couple and his even more outlandish family members. The investigators seem to always land in weird, humorous situations that bring to life Baltimore's neighborhoods. Surprisingly, Tim Cockey provides an underlying theme involving dysfunctional relationships that keeps the novel from spinning into Pythonesque territory yet never overwhelms the drollery of a top notch tale.

Harriet Klausner

Hitchcock (Hitch) Sewell, Baltimore's most eligible undertaker and murder mystery mortician, is back for another totally enjoyable adventure. This time around, someone has left a potential client (body) on the front steps of Sewell and Sons Family Funeral Home in the middle of a wake for a prestigious heart surgeon and a pre-Christmas snowstorm.

In case you missed the first book in this series (The Hearse You Came In On), there are no sons at Sewell and Sons, just Hitch and his Aunt Billie. And the body on the doorstep is that of an ordinary (though formerly beautiful) waitress from a low-end airport pickup bar and grill. Since the police are involved with a series of "shot in the foot" murders, Hitch (being Hitch) decides he will find out who killed the women, especially after he meets her sister.

As you'll discover, there is this mutual attraction between Hitch and women. In this book alone, there's his ex-wife Julia; Bonnie, his weather-girl girlfriend; Vickie, the victim's sister; clients' widows plus a few B-girls and strippers thrown in for good measure. In all, it's a totally enjoyable mix.

Anyway, the plot really starts getting complicated and it becomes more than a case of who killed the waitress and why. And just when you think you've got the whole thing figured out Cockey throws you another twist. In other words, you'll love this one. Now I've just got one more book in the series to read before the new one (fourth) is published in February.

Tim Cockey writes gently amusing mysteries--not laugh out loud, make-your-sides-ache hilarious, but good-natured prose that makes you smile now and then. This second book in what I hope will be a long series, is as amiable as the first, wonderfully well-plotted, with good characters--particularly ex-wife Julia who's a uniquely believable creation.

Poor old Hitch can't resist the ladies, but, mercifully, the author is reserved in his renderings of Hitch's dalliances and doesn't subject the reader to a lot of tiresome descriptions of meshing body parts. He focuses instead on personality (the weathergirl Bonnie in this volume is especially well done, as is Hitch's Aunt Billie) and on attraction predicated on character rather than on pure sex appeal. In itself, this is refreshing. Combined with a true talent for quirky plotlines, the Hearse series is entertaining and, even better, satisfying. It is delightful to read a mystery where everyone is suspect, and it's impossible to predict who "did" it.

Most highly recommended.

To be honest, I can't say I was that "into" this, the second of Cockey's Hitchcock Sewell mysteries. I thought the first book "The Hearse You Came In On" was fresh, witty, fast and fun. Now, to a certain degree, the bloom is off the rose. I didn't really care who killed Helen, the dead waitress Sewell finds on his doorstep, nor was I particularly interested in her gorgeous sister and sleazy ex-boyfriend. But everytime I was bored enough to put this book down, Cockey would pull me back in with some of the funniest dialogue I've read in years. In fact, the humour in "Hearse of a Different Color" is its blessing, even it is is a bit arch at times (just like Hitch's girlfriend accuses him of being).

Hitchcock Sewell, tall, dark and handsome mortician has got problems. It's December and an unexpected cold snap has hit Baltimore. There's ice, snow and worse, a dead body dumped on the steps of Sewell and Sons Family Funeral Home. She's young, blond, shot twice in the chest and her waitress name tag says, Helen. Hitch's TV meteorologist girlfriend, Bonnie says it's fate that this murder landed on his doorstep and he has to help her investigate and solve the crime. This could finally be her big break from weather girl to hard news reporter. One look into those big baby blues and Hitch is sold. But as the body count begins to rise, this rather inept detective duo find they're in way over their heads with have too many suspects, too many unanswered questions and a nasty killer who just might be after them next..... Tim Cockey's Hearse of a Different Color is a fast paced, well plotted page turner that will have you laughing out loud and rooting for the good guys as they hit dead ends, come to wrong conclusions and miss vital clues before finally stumbling over the truth. This entertaining mystery has it all...crisp, witty writing, great dialogue, vivid scenes and a quirky cast of unique characters. This is the second book of a funny and light-hearted series. For those new to Hitch and company, start with the first, The Hearse You Came in On. For those who are already fans, you won't be disappointed.

Another great book by Tim Cockey. I'm really looking forward to finishing the series. The characters are so much fun, and Hitch has the ultimate dry wit. A true fun mystery!

...in the mystery genre. Who would have ever thought a smart, fast paced, and funny mystery could be written about a protagonist who is an undertaker by trade. I wouldn't have thought it possible, yet Mr. Cockey manages to do just that. This is the second entry in the series and it stands very fine on its own, but still I would reccomend you read the first, because it too is a fun book. The plot here is twisted enough to keep you turning pages and the characters are interesting and well drawn. I look forward to the next from this author.

Endlessly entertaining, even if you're not an avid mystery reader (which I'm not). Get it for the summer. His first book, the Hearse You Came In On, is also good.

I picked this up as a pre-pub back when I was working at a bookstore chain. Therefore it was still filled with those annoyingly obvious spelling and type errors. Even so, this book was quick to engage, and was one of the best books I read that summer. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that I was born and live in Baltimore, and I've spent alot of time in the Fells Point area, but I've also talked to other book fans who aren't from this area at all who like it.

Hitchcock Sewell is a pretty interesting character, though I do kind of find it odd that he seems to be able to attract, and obtain, every single attractive female he comes across. Hopefully Cockey will have Hitch strike out some more, simply to add some realism. Otherwise, a undertaker/very amateur detective makes for some very fun writing. I also enjoyed the very amateur theatre troupe, and am waiting for Cockey to bring them back (since Hitch said he has done productions with them before). I've been in similarly doomed productions, and Cockey's portrayal is not very far off.

Overall, very enjoyable, and I've been looking forward to each subsequent novel.