For some reason, not quite the gut buster for me as his previous 3 novels in the Hitchcock Sewell series. In this one, Hitch is his usual satirical self, and attempts to piece together the pieces of a murdered nanny for an old friend who's back in town. I think perhaps it's Pete's character, and his denial in facing up to the problems in his marriage that bugged me a bit more than it did in the previous book where Pete was first introduced. Beyond that however, the writing is sharp and snappy, and Hitch's character, though he has hard time being serious about anything, manages to uncover a few secrets which have put other people's lives in danger. I'm definitely looking forward to more Hitch!

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reminds me of the Plum series.

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Won't dissapoint fans of the series.

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This is the hardcover edition.

Witty Baltimore undertaker Hitchcock Sewell brings his healthy sense of fun and his bachelor's eye for the ladies to his fourth case, a favor for an old flame, Libby, who's left her abusive prosecutor husband and wants Hitch to find her missing nanny. When the nanny turns up drowned and pregnant and the police pass it off as suicide, Hitch drags his morose, unhappily married ex-private eye friend Pete Munger into the case and gets a bit of help from his gorgeous, zany ex-wife Julia as well.

Hitch's sense of humor and determination never flag as the case leads into a morass of shady dealings, adultery and quasi-religious opportunism. Another murder, a near miss for Hitch and a second missing nanny heat up the action, while Hitch juggles romance and funerals between times.

The writing is clever, smooth and fast-paced, the setting is well-drawn, the plot well-paced and Hitch is a strong likable voice. For anyone who likes their noir with laughs.

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Hitchcock is a funeral director who solves murders in his spare time. He has a quick tongue, wry humor, a great dog and a friend in his ex wife. This is a greatly entertaining series.

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