Customer Reviews

The Sour Cherry Surprise: A Berger and Mitry Mystery (Berger and Mitry Mysteries)

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

 

 

Let me start off by saying that I love the Berger/Mitry series. That being said, there was something about this book that just had the ring of a "rush job". This wasn't Handler's best effort. Compared to the other stories, I didn't feel the characters or the storyline were developed or fleshed out well. Unlike some other reviewers, I didn't feel the breakup was resolved at ALL. What did Des say to Mitch when she dumped him in the first place? How did she turn off her emotions to Brandon like a faucet? I know she was trying to convince herself that she was still in love with Brandon, but it just didn't ring true. Both she and Mitch pulled a couple of 180's and I felt short-changed as a reader of the series. Something was just "off" about this story that prevents me from giving it a higher rating. I hope Handler turns it around in the next book.

I was so disappointed when I read that Mitch and Desi broke up. I couldn't believe that David Handler broke up the best couple...so I really couldn't wait to get my hands on this book to read why they broke up. Because at the end of the last book Brandon walked back into Desi's life after she had accepted Mitch's marriage proposal.
Well in this book, an explanantion is given about the break up...what follows next is a great ride to find out who is upsetting the tenants on Sour Cherry Lane. This was a great book very well written.

We meet new characters and some of our favorites characters are back...Bella the cranky jewish woman...she is a riot in this story as always. Also back are Lt. Rico Soave Tedone and Yolie Snipes.

There are some fabulous new characters as well Molly (9), Richard and Carolyn Procter Molly's parents, Clay Mundy and Hector Villanueva, Patricia Beckwith the land lord for Cherry Lane and her tenants plus her daughter in law and her grand daughter.

The citizens of Dorset are giving Des the cold shoulder because she broke Mitch's heart and Mitch has decided to move back to NY where he is extremely busy with his new endeavors. His agent Lacey is still around...

I loved the book and I can't wait for the next installment. Thanks

The latest Berger and Mitry novel begins roughly three months or so where the last one left off. Mitch and Desiree, one of my favorite mismatched couples, are no longer a couple and Mitch is no longer a resident in Dorset, MA. This installment is mostly about the mysterious murder in Dorset and how the two lovers are coping without each other.

I primarily read this series for the interaction between Des and Mitch. Their relationship was the initial draw for me and that is what keeps me coming back. Usually the mystery fades into the background. It is just a backdrop for the evolution of their relationship. That was not the case with this book.

Since Des and Mitch are estranged during most of the book, the mystery was more front and center for me. It was interesting trying to figure out who murdered who and what were their motivations. The mystery component was more compelling in this book than in previous works. That may be because I wasn't distracted by the interaction between Des and Mitch.

Although Des and Mitch have about two actual conversations together in the entire book, the author was great at guiding the reader through their respective feelings about their separation. I could feel Desiree's confusion (even though I thought she was crazy) and Mitch's determination to move on with his life. Although their estrangement lasted almost the entire book, the last ten pages or so, made it worth the wait.

"The Sour Cherry Surprise" still retained the quirky humor and charm that is the hallmark of this series, although it was painful in certain parts. It was difficult to rate this book. I think it should rate a 3 1/2 stars. It was better than okay, but not quite up to the normal Des and Mitch standard. This is not a book that I will be reading again, unless its the last ten pages.

I would however recommend it to Des and Mitch fans, but be prepared for the frustration of the star crossed lovers being separated for the majority of the novel.

After feeling somewhat disappointed with how David Handler treated faithful readers in his previous installment of the Berger-Mitry series I anxiously awaited amends in 'The Sour Cherry Surprise.' As usual, Mr. Handler delivers not only an excellent and enjoyable story consistent with the rest of this series but also strings the reader along in the Mitch & Des relationship storyline in a fair and entertaining way. Last night I finished this book and I am already looking forward to the next installment of the goings-on in li'l ol' Dorset where nothing and nobody is every what it seems. These stories are great reading for entertainment, the whodunit mystery and the occasional twist of phrase generating laugh out loud humor.

The Sour Cherry Surprise was SWEET!
I finished it in two nights, it was so good. It kept me on the edge of my seat because the main characters Des Mitry and Mitch Berger were NOT behaving as I expected them to. After reading the first five Berger/Mitry mysteries, I thought I knew them but I didn't. Des is usually so precise and knows her mind, but in this story girlfriend could not have been more addlebrained when she made a decision that pretty much ruined her relationship with Mitch. I couldn't believe it. What woman in her right mind would have done what she did? I don't want to spoil it for the other readers so I won't say what she did, but come on! It was so un-Desiree Mitry. That said, the mystery was cool, and the solving of it, unexpected. Also the supporting characters were interesting. The citizens of the little town of Dorset, Connecticut continue to be surprising and sometimes deadly. I'm not taking off any points for editorial mistakes because as a writer myself I know they happen and sometimes there's nothing you can do about them. So, the full five stars to you, Mr. Handler. I loved the story!

I was a little disappointed by the scenario Mr. Handler chose for his lattest Berger/Mitry novel. The idea that they had broken up and was living their separate lives didn't ring true to me. And when they met up, their normal chemistry was lacking (not to mention that they met up in an implausible way). Nonetheless, it was an overall okay read. If you're into interracial romance novels you may wish to try books like Back to Honor: A Reggie Reynolds Mystery by J.T. Watson; If You Wanted the Moon by Mallory Monroe; When We Get Married and Some Came Desperate, both by Katherine Cachitorie; and A Special Relationship by Yvonne Thomas. All of these novels are excellent reads.

I just got thru finish reading the entire Saga of all the Mitch and Des mysteries. I'm a Little late in finding this series but still, better late than never. I totally enjoyed every single book.

I read this book in one day. I was just too excited going from page to page wanting to know what was going to happen between Mitch and Des. Mitch was just something else, going on as if he was so darn happy when he fact he truly loves and missed Des. So he tries to convince himself he's moved on when we all know he did not. I could feel it thru every email he sends to Bella, the guy was still sprung. And Des, what a colossal mistake she made. She knows she loves the guy but instead of going with that and just being happy she ops for the safer way out.

The mystery aspect did not interest me that much; I just wanted my couple back together doing what they do best, solving crimes. I don't even understand why Des would go back to Brandon, that guy was just a loser for the way he treated her and the way he ended their marriage. Des certainly hit gold with Mitch.

I read this quickly, partly from of excitement and partly because it was easy to read. At first I thought I was satisfied, but then I realized that it wasn't as funny as his books (both series) usually are. While it did resolve the cliffhanger from the previous book, it felt a little too "loose ends neatly tied up", and I wonder if the author is saying good-bye to this series. Of course I'll miss Mitch and Des, but even Hoagy's (an earlier Handler detective) jokes got a little tired after too many books. I look forward to a new series if that's what the author is up to.

Things aren't peaceful like usual on Sour Cherry Lane. A well-behaved high school student throws a wild sex party, a distinguished history professor goes missing, and his estranged wife is strung out on crystal meth. Desiree Mitry, the resident trooper of Dorset, Connecticut, doesn't what to think of all these occurrences at first. Then she finds out that the new boyfriend of the wife on meth is under surveillance by a joint federal and state drug task force.

Plus Des has been fainting and under a lot of stress at work. Plus she recently broke up with New York film critic Mitch Berger and got back with her former husband.

With the discovery that a major drug cartel has been operating under her nose, Des sets out to protect and serve the citizens who she knows and cares about. But can she do that without destroying the work of the task force or putting herself or others in further danger?

This is the first book in this series that I've read. I really liked Des and other residents in town. The small town set in Connecticut was a great setting as well. I liked getting to know Mitch as well. It has piqued my interest to want to read others in this series.

The author did a great job of creating many interlocking stories and unraveling the pieces one by one. This is a fairly quick read as well. I highly recommend this book.

This is hands down my favorite series. The characters are so real; they are fully developed and believable. And, the sense of place (mostly the CT shore) is spot on. I love the intelligence of the major and minor characters and wish that the author could write one book per month of this series.