The Sour Cherry Surprise: A Berger and Mitry Mystery

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.

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.

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.

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 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