📖 Overview
David Handler is an American mystery novelist best known for creating multiple successful crime fiction series, including the Berger and Mitry mysteries and the Stewart Hoag mysteries. He writes under both his own name and the pseudonym Daniel Elias.
The Stewart Hoag series, featuring a ghostwriter-turned-detective and his basset hound Lulu, earned Handler the Edgar Award for Best Paperback Original in 1992 for The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald. The series gained recognition for its wit and insider perspective on the publishing industry.
Handler's Berger and Mitry series follows an unlikely pair of investigators - a Jewish film critic and a small-town female police officer - through multiple novels set in Connecticut. The books demonstrate Handler's ability to blend elements of traditional mystery with contemporary themes and complex character relationships.
Beyond his series work, Handler has written standalone novels and young adult fiction. His writing career spans over three decades, with more than twenty published books that have been translated into several languages.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently highlight Handler's humor and character development across both major series. His dialogue receives frequent mention, with Amazon reviewers often noting the natural banter between protagonists.
What readers liked:
- Sharp wit and literary references in Stewart Hoag series
- Complex relationship dynamics in Berger/Mitry books
- Well-researched settings, especially Connecticut locations
- Balance of mystery elements with character development
What readers disliked:
- Some find early Hoag books dated in cultural references
- Plot pacing described as slow in several Berger/Mitry entries
- Several readers note formulaic elements developing in later series books
Ratings overview:
- Goodreads: Stewart Hoag series averages 3.8/5 across 2,500+ ratings
- Amazon: Berger/Mitry books average 4.2/5 from 1,000+ reviews
- Most reviewed: "The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald" (4.1/5)
One reader on Amazon summarized: "Handler excels at creating memorable characters but occasionally sacrifices mystery plotting for relationship development."
📚 Books by David Handler
The Berger & Mitry Series:
The Cold Blue Blood - Film critic Mitch Berger and black female state trooper Des Mitry investigate a body found on a Connecticut beach estate.
The Hot Pink Farmhouse - A murder at a local dairy farm leads Berger and Mitry through the complex politics of rural Connecticut.
The Bright Silver Star - The duo investigates the death of a famous director who fell from a historic lighthouse.
The Burnt Orange Sunset - A Hollywood location scout is murdered during a movie production in Dorset.
The Sweet Golden Parachute - The death of a wealthy widow draws Berger and Mitry into the world of corporate intrigue.
The Stewart Hoag Series: The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald - Celebrity ghostwriter Stewart Hoag helps a literary sensation who may be a fraud.
The Man Who Died Laughing - Hoag investigates the murder of a famous comedian at a comedy club.
The Man Who Lived by Night - A reclusive rock star's memoir project leads to murder.
The Boy Who Never Grew Up - Hoag looks into the death of a former child star attempting a comeback.
The Woman Who Fell from Grace - A Hollywood actress's memoirs reveal dangerous secrets from her past.
Standalone Novels: Kiddo - A father searches for his missing daughter in 1970s New York.
Just Another Pretty Face - A plastic surgeon becomes entangled in a web of deception and murder.
The Hot Pink Farmhouse - A murder at a local dairy farm leads Berger and Mitry through the complex politics of rural Connecticut.
The Bright Silver Star - The duo investigates the death of a famous director who fell from a historic lighthouse.
The Burnt Orange Sunset - A Hollywood location scout is murdered during a movie production in Dorset.
The Sweet Golden Parachute - The death of a wealthy widow draws Berger and Mitry into the world of corporate intrigue.
The Stewart Hoag Series: The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald - Celebrity ghostwriter Stewart Hoag helps a literary sensation who may be a fraud.
The Man Who Died Laughing - Hoag investigates the murder of a famous comedian at a comedy club.
The Man Who Lived by Night - A reclusive rock star's memoir project leads to murder.
The Boy Who Never Grew Up - Hoag looks into the death of a former child star attempting a comeback.
The Woman Who Fell from Grace - A Hollywood actress's memoirs reveal dangerous secrets from her past.
Standalone Novels: Kiddo - A father searches for his missing daughter in 1970s New York.
Just Another Pretty Face - A plastic surgeon becomes entangled in a web of deception and murder.
👥 Similar authors
Donald E. Westlake writes humorous crime fiction featuring hapless criminals and elaborate capers. His Dortmunder series shares Handler's mix of mystery and comedy with memorable recurring characters.
Lawrence Block writes both hardboiled and lighter mystery series set in New York City. His Bernie Rhodenbarr series about a bookseller/burglar combines wit with traditional mystery elements similar to Handler's work.
Carl Hiaasen creates crime fiction set in Florida with eccentric characters and satirical plots. His novels blend murder mysteries with social commentary and dark humor like Handler's Stewart Hoag series.
Simon Brett writes traditional mystery series with a strong comedic element. His Charles Paris mysteries about an actor-detective share Handler's blend of showbiz settings and murder investigation.
Sparkle Hayter writes mystery series featuring female protagonists in media settings. Her Robin Hudson mysteries contain the same mix of insider knowledge and humor found in Handler's work.
Lawrence Block writes both hardboiled and lighter mystery series set in New York City. His Bernie Rhodenbarr series about a bookseller/burglar combines wit with traditional mystery elements similar to Handler's work.
Carl Hiaasen creates crime fiction set in Florida with eccentric characters and satirical plots. His novels blend murder mysteries with social commentary and dark humor like Handler's Stewart Hoag series.
Simon Brett writes traditional mystery series with a strong comedic element. His Charles Paris mysteries about an actor-detective share Handler's blend of showbiz settings and murder investigation.
Sparkle Hayter writes mystery series featuring female protagonists in media settings. Her Robin Hudson mysteries contain the same mix of insider knowledge and humor found in Handler's work.