The Cold Blue Blood
A
Berger and Mitry Mystery
David Handler
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-312-28003-3 (0312280033)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-28003-1 (9780312280031)
Publication Date: October 2001
List Price: $23.95
Synopsis (from
the publisher): Mitch Berger, a top film critic with a major New York
newspaper at a surprisingly young age, has become almost a recluse
since his wife died one year ago. He spends his time secluded in his
apartment or in the dark recesses of a screening room. Although he
continues to dazzle moviegoers and the film elite with his criticism,
his editor and good friend, Lacy Mickerson, is alarmed about him. As a
scheme to pull him out of the doldrums of his grief, she gives him a
nonfilm assignment - to do a color story on the wealthy and social home
owners on Connecticut's Gold Coast. It takes some doing, but in the end
Mitch agrees.
He is fortunate to find a cottage to rent on Big Sister, the absolute
top-of-the-line private island outside the town of Dorset. His
landlady, Dolly, is pleasant and friendly, but some of the other
inhabitants of this small piece of land, although too well bred to come
right out and say it, are not happy to have Mitch - born of parents
only one generation away from Eastern Europe and raised on the city's
pavements - arrive in their backyard. But Dolly, whose husband has
recently left her, needs the money, and at least she is more than
gracious.
The discovery of a body during a bout of optimistic gardening in
Dolly's backyard brings on the other main player - Lieutenant Desiree
Mitry, one of only three women on the Connecticut State Police major
crimes squad, the youngest of the three, and the only black. A
dedicated officer, she is the terror of everyone who doesn't really
want to give a home to one of her stray cats. She is, as well, a closet
artist and a complicated and beautiful woman, and she intrigues Mitch
from the start.
Review:
David Handler introduces Mitch Berger and Desiree "Des" Mitry in a new
mystery series with the unsatisfactory The Cold Blue Blood.
What is particularly disappointing about this debut is that Handler is
the author of the consistently excellent Stewart Hoag mysteries.
There is little doubt that Handler is an accomplished writer with a
strong sense of character, good dialog, and descriptive locales. And
each of these components is present in The Cold Blue Blood
in addition to an intriguing prologue. But the plot is incongruous and
Handler simply doesn't bring all the elements together well.
The Cold Blue Blood
is presented as a Berger and Mitry mystery, but Mitch Berger has a much
larger role than Des Mitry in the story, yet Mitry is by far the more
interesting character. There is potential for this series, and Handler
is certainly capable of doing better than this first mystery would
suggest.
Review Copyright © 2001 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
Have you read The Cold Blue Blood? How would you rate it?
Mysteries in this series ...
The Cold Blue Blood
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), October 2001
ISBN-10: 0-312-28003-3 (0312280033)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-28003-1 (9780312280031)
The Hot Pink
Farmhouse
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), November 2002
ISBN-10: 0-312-28015-7 (0312280157)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-28015-4 (9780312280154)
The Bright
Silver Star
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), November 2003
ISBN-10: 0-312-30714-4 (0312307144)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-30714-1 (9780312307141)
The Burnt Orange
Sunrise
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), October 2004
ISBN-10: 0-312-30735-7 (0312307357)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-30735-6 (9780312307356)
The Sweet Golden
Parachute
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), March 2006
ISBN-10: 0-312-34211-X (031234211X)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-34211-1 (9780312342111)
Sour Cherry
Surprise
St. Martin's Minotaur (Hardcover), July 2008
ISBN-10: 0-312-37669-3 (0312376693)
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-37669-7 (9780312376697)
Omnimystery keywords for The Cold Blue Blood
...
Location(s) referenced: New York City, Connecticut.
