Rating: 
Summary: Baltimore's Favorite Mortician/PI is Back.....
Review: "Apparently I was the first person Shrimp Martin called after Lucy Taylor shot him." So begins Baltimore's favorite mortician, Hitchcock Sewell's Saturday afternoon; a call from an obviously wounded, sleazy nightclub owner. He has a wicked toothache, bodies to prepare, wakes to hold, funerals to schedule, and now as he hangs up the phone, a dazed Lucy Taylor in his office holding a gun. Fortunately, the gunshot wasn't fatal. Unfortunately, the stab wound directly to the heart that Shrimp received later that day in the hospital was. Now prime suspect, down-on-her-luck Lucy, has disappeared and Hitch feels obligated to help his old childhood friend clear her name. Sure she shot him, and probably had good reason. But murder, no way. It doesn't take long before Hitch realizes this is much more than a simple whodunit. He's in way over his head with a case full of murder, mayhem, and missing persons. So he works a deal and teams up with a real private investigator, Pete Munger, and together the two are determined to sort out this ever-growing mess, and bring the bad guys and killer to justice..... Turn off the phone and lock the door, Tim Cockey's latest is about to take you on a manic roller coaster ride through colorful downtown Baltimore. This is a light and thoroughly entertaining mystery that has it all...a compelling, intriguing, and intricate plot with twists, turns, and more than a few surprises, vivid scenes that crackle with humor and tension, and smart, crisp writing full of clever and witty asides and engaging, irreverent dialogue. But it's Mr Cockey's marvelous cast of well drawn, original characters that makes this novel really sparkle, and once you've been introduced to all the fun in Baltimore with Hitchcock Sewell and company, you'll be hooked for sure. The Hearse Case Scenario is the third novel of a series that just gets better with each new installment. For those of you new to Tim Cockey and his irresistible mortician, start at the beginning with The Hearse You Came In On and read them all. For those who are already fans, Mr Cockey's latest opus doesn't disappoint.
Rating: 
Summary: Sorry, weaker than expected
Review: Having thoroughly enjoyed the two previous Cockeys I was a bit disappointed in the latest offering. This is not a bad book in the genre but given the strength of the first two in the series, I felt that this one needed a bit of tightening. The jazz ambience worked well and Pete the hapless husband also struck the right note but I found that both Lucy, the dupe, and the poison dwarf failed to engage. Overall a slight sense that the same book but 50 pages shorter may have made more of an impact. That said, this remains a series to watch and fingers crossed for the next one...
Rating: 
Summary: Cockey Scores Again
Review: Hearse Case Scenario is as good-humored and amusing as its predecessors. It does, however, drag a bit; hence the four stars instead of five. Otherwise, Hitchcock Sewell's latest outing is entertaining and filled, as always, with well-drawn, viable characters. Particularly good are Pete Munger, the former lawyer turned private eye; weary and bewildered and angry; and Lee Cromwell, the Ida Lupino lookalike who sings like a noir dream and (kudos to author Cockey) is sexy and appealing at the age of forty-seven. The book has the usual generous serving of gentle humor and a plot that is so complex that it's all but impossible to forecast the ending. Points also to the author for not feeling compelled to subject the reader to endless graphic sexual scenes. This is a worthy addition to what is turning out to be a delightful series.
Rating:
Summary: Amateur sleuth and undertaker make this read a blast!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Amateur sleuth and undertaker make this read a blast!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed My Introduction to This Author
Review: I had never heard of Tim Cockey. The book was loaned to me and I enjoyed it. I could only give it four stars, because I felt it slowed down in places. I am interested in reading the others.
Baltimore has become a popular place for crime series. On television there was Homicide, Life on the Street, and the HBO Series, The Edge. It's a fun city to visit and some of this was brought out in the book. The Protagonist Hitch is funny and tart. He should put out a Private Detective shingle on the door of the funeral home. He is humorous next to his morose sidekick, Pete, the real private eye who wants to get out of the business.
Enjoy, tolerate the slowness in the writing at times. A romp through the streets of Baltimore and Rehoboth, Delaware.
Rating:
Summary: Hitchcock Sewell is back!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: a pleasant "disposable" mystery
Review: Like the 2 previous "Hearse" books, this is a pleasant "disposable mystery" -- a fun read, but 2 days later, you will have forgotten most of the details. I don't find the protagonist particularly interesting, but marvel at his ability to acquire (however temporarily) beautiful women...
Rating:
Summary: A LOT OF PUNCH TO THE PAGE
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: A LOT OF PUNCH TO THE PAGE
Review: 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
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