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: 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: Exciting amateur sleuth
Review: 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
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: 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.
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