The Burnt Orange Sunrise: A Berger and Mitry Mystery (Berger and Mitry Mysteries) (Hardcover)

by David Handler (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A severe winter storm and a house full of trapped guests, a murderer among them, test odd couple Mitch Berger and Des Mitry in their fourth agreeable outing (after 2003's The Bright Silver Star). Berger, a white middle-aged syndicated movie critic, and Mitry, a homicide-toughened black cop now providing police service for the village of Dorset, Conn., attend a dinner party at Astrid's Castle, an inn run by Les Josephson and his wife, Norma, for Norma's 94-year-old mother, Ada Geiger. A reclusive pioneer film director, Ada is enjoying a revival of interest in her noir films. Berger's caustic views on modern movie-makers, celebrities and hangers-on add spice to the proceedings. A handful of other guests, including Ada's vitriolic grandson and his wife, complete the group that soon finds itself effectively cut off from the outside world by a fierce storm, which provides an awesome backdrop. The first death appears natural and unsurprising, but the second is obviously murder. Although Mitry takes charge, more deaths follow. Handler makes the most of his small cast of suspects as revelations suggest unsuspected connections, motives and opportunities. This is a cozy series with some meat on the bone.
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From Booklist
Among the unique features of Handler's Berger and Mitry series is the setting: a tiny village on the gold coast of Connecticut filled with the requisite cast of quirky small-town characters. Another is the relationship of the protagonists: film critic Mitch Berger and state trooper Desiree Mitry. The fact that Mitch is white and Des is black is not as startling a contrast as their respective physiques: he is short and dumpy, while she is tall and glamorous. This adventure finds them trapped at a local bed-and-breakfast fashioned to resemble a castle. An ice storm has rendered the roads closed, and Des must solve a series of murders that must have been committed by one of the guests or staff. Des has her hands full keeping the guests separated while keeping her eye on all of them--and her anxiety only rises when Mitch is walloped on the back of the head and knocked unconscious. An entertaining and warmhearted series that pairs nicely with Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr adventure The Burglar in the Library (1997). Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur; 1st edition (September 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312307357
• ISBN-13: 978-0312307356
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #566,076 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars delightful police procedural Connecticut Yankee cozy, September 29, 2004

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

On the surface film critic Mitch Berger and state trooper Desiree Mitry have nothing in common. She is a black Christian and he is white. She is athletically fit while he is a pudgy couch potato. She keeps her feelings inside while he is an extrovert wearing them on his sleeves. In spite of all that and more they share a terrific personal relationship. They even have successfully solved a couple of homicide cases together although murder is the last thing on their minds when they attend a society gala at Astrid's castle in Dorset, Connecticut.

The party honors film director Ada Geiger, who broke the gender wall in the 1950s, but had to leave Hollywood due to the McCarthy persecutions. Her daughter Norma and her son-in-law Les own and run Astrid's castle, a hotel that is barely breaking even. The next morning, Norma is found dead in her bed from an apparent heart attack. Not long after that Ada is found also deceased, strangled by a telephone cord. Des believes that Norma was a homicide victim too and with Mitch covering her back and ignoring jurisdiction she investigates who killed the mother and daughter.

Mitch and Des are definitely the odd couple, which adds to the charm of this delightful police procedural Connecticut Yankee cozy. In some ways this tale is a twenty-first century version of Christie's AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. This is locked room mystery which makes the case more difficult for the lead duo, but more fun for the fan. David Handler provides a unique voice that uses excellent characterizations to provide a fabulous mystery.

Harriet Klausner

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable as always, October 12, 2004

By	kmorical (Belmont, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I love a mystery that keeps me involved. Until the inevitable murder, not only was I diligently trying to figure out who would get it first, and of course, who was responsible, but the added mystery of Mitch and Des's relationship status kept my mind busy as well. Mr. Handler is the master of engaging you in the story and holding you there until the bitter end. I love this series. Again, my hat's off to you Mr. Handler.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Appealing characters, interesting plot, December 27, 2004

By	Claudia McGill (Wyncote, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is part of a series, and I reccomend them all. (It's fun to read them in order to see the development of the main characters' relationship -- this is the latest in the series, by the way). The strength of the book is the acceptance and warmth in Mitch and Des' romance, and the fact that neither of these two follow the conventions of society. The mystery is well-plotted, with attention to the emotional effects on all those involved.