The next clever, witty, and touching installment in the Edgar award-winning Stewart Hoag mystery series finds the beloved ghostwriter-sleuth and his faithful neurotic basset hound, Lulu, back in 1990âs New York City, investigating a bestselling authorâs stolen manuscript and three murders linked to the crime.
Washed-up celebrity ghostwriter Stewart âHoagyâ Hoag has finally rediscovered his voice and is making progress on what he hopes will be his long-awaited second novel. Burrowed up in his less-than-luxurious, sweltering fifth floor walk-up, he tries not to think of the disparities between himself and his ex-wife, celebrity actress Merilee Nash, who is sifting through film offersâand also her fickle feelings for Hoagyâfrom her elegant eight-room apartment looking over Central Park. When Merilee offers her home for Hoagyâs use while sheâs shooting on location, hope blossoms that he might finally get some real work done⌠and solidify their rekindling romance.
Then Hoagy receives a call from his literary agent asking if he can meet with publishingâs most ruthless and reviled editor, Sylvia James, for a drink at the Algonquin Hotel. After disclosing that aging literary genius Addison Jamesâalso Sylviaâs father and main clientâhas not in fact written his last two bestselling historical sagas, Sylvia reveals her suspicions that Addisonâs assistant Tommy OâBrienâthe true authorâhas run away with their most recent manuscript and is holding it for ransom. Tempted by Sylviaâs offer to bid a hefty advance for his novel-in-progress, Hoagy agrees to help unearth Tommyâs sudden disappearance. If only heâd known exactly what he was getting himself into, he mightâve saved himself from the ensuing grief that follows in his hot pursuit of Tommy. But then, that wouldnât be a normal day in the life of Hoagy.
With clattering claims of a mugging, a stolen manuscript, and three murders, now itâs up to Hoagy and his short-legged sidekick Lulu to unravel this baffling, bizarre case.