The Hearse Case Scenario

This was the third in Cockey's Hitchock Sewell series and again a very enjoyable book. There were times that I didn't find it as amusing as the other two, but still very much enjoyed the book and will continue to read the series. The main character is by far my favorite. He's such a smart alec and it's so fun to "watch" him mess with people. I highly recommend this series as a very enjoyable mystery with comedy thrown in for good measure.

In The Hearse Case Scenario, Hitchcock's childhood friend, Lucy, is accused of murdering her boyfriend, nightclub owner and sleaze extraordinaire, Shrimp Martin. Hitchcock points out to the police that just because she admits to shooting him doesn't mean that she snuck into the hospital later and stabbed him. The police are not so sure. When they find a witness who saw her near the hospital at the time of the murder, Lucy is arrested. Of course, Hitchcock can't let her go to jail and proceeds to investigate. Hitchcock's snappy one liners and dashing good looks endear him to readers and his unusual profession gives him lots of opportunities to investigate murders. Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series should get a kick out of Hitchcock Sewell. The first title in the series is The Hearse You Came In On and the second is Hearse Of A Different Color.

Hitchcock Sewell makes his living burying the dead-but he also seems to love trying to solve a good murder mystery. His newest problem arises when a childhood friend shoots her lover, the slightly sleazy nightclub owner Shrimp Martin. When Shrimp dies in the hospital, it isn't from the gunshot wound, but from being stabbed through the heart. Hitch's friend is arrested for the murder, but Hitch just can't believe that she killed him. Hitch is determined to find out who killed Shrimp to get his childhood friend off the hook. Of course things are never easy in the death business as Hitch soon learns while he searches for the real killer.Tim Cockey has written a darkly humorous book that had me alternately laughing and groaning at the outrageousness of Hitch's antics and bad jokes. Hitch is one of those characters that you can't help but love and tuning in to read his newest antics is a fantastic way to spend a few hours. I look forward to many more Hitchcock Sewell mysteries brimming with undertaker humor.

There's a lot of punch to the page in Tim Cockey's third tale. Readers of "The Hearse You Came In On" and "Hearse Of A Different Color" know they're in for another rollicking suspense filled ride with an appealing albeit unlikely hero - Hitchcock Sewell, an undertaker called Hitch who really digs gorgeous women and trouble. Hitch's life continues to be awash in both when he receives a call from a local nightclub owner, Shrimp Martin. The word from Shrimp is that he's just been stabbed. Lucy, one of Hitch's best childhood buddies seems to be the knife wielder. Surely, thinks Hitch, this could not be so. Guilty or not Lucy has disappeared and taken Hitch's ex wife with her. Bringing a curmudgeonly private detective along for the ride Hitch begins searching for his friend, which is where the frantic fun begins. Pursuit of the real killer moves at breakneck pace from the world of illegal sports to smoke-filled jazz joints to the beach and to several of Baltimore's infamous watering holes. As in his first two adventures Cockey peoples his fictional world with characters both amusing and off the wall - a jazz musician, a mentally syncopated dance instructor, and, are you ready for an Ida Lupino look-alike? Those who like their suspense served with fun will enjoy riding in Tim Cockey's Hearse series. - Gail Cooke

At Baltimore's Sewell and Sons Family Funeral Home, mortician and wannabe private detective Hitchcock Sewell receives the call from nightclub owner Shrimp Martin during a slow period in which Death takes a vacation. Shrimp, barely able to speak, mumbles that before Lucy Taylor left him she shot him. Later Shrimp is found dead. The police have one prime suspect Lucy. Though he believes Lucy shot Shrimp, Hitch refuses to accept his childhood friend as the murderess. He begins an investigation using his most incognito vehicle, the hearse. His inquiry leads Hitch to Pete Munger of Munger and Associates private investigation company who has been hired to find Shrimp's missing stepbrother. The amateur and the licensed agree to partner their resources to uncover the truth about a murder (or two) and a missing person. The third Hearse amateur sleuth tale is a weird case that contains Tim Cockey's all over the place sense of humor as the hero is parts reverent, parts street smart, and parts corny. The who-done-it entertains the audience thanks to a strong secondary cast that propels the plot forward and enables the fans to better understand Hitch. Fans of amusing amateur sleuth stores will want to read THE HEARSE CASE SCENARIO and the previous two novels due to Hitch, who knows that sooner or later he will get his man or woman.Harriet Klausner