The Woman Who Lowered the Boom by David Handler ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Stewart “Hoagy” Hoag is walking on cloud nine after a meeting with his editor, Norma Fives, where she predicts his new book is sure to establish him as the next great American author. It has been years since he has even dreamed of such success after a crippling case of writer’s block limited his literary aspirations to ghostwriting celebrity memoirs. But his happiness is short-lived when at his next meeting with Norma she asks for his help in discovering who is behind a series of increasingly threatening letters sent to her attention.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

February 2024; Mysterious Press; 978-1613165133
ebook, print (284 pages); mystery

I have not read anything by David Handler and I didn't realize that The Woman Who Lowered the Boom is part of a series. The characters weren't too hard to figure out but I did wonder how "Hoagy" and Lieutenant Very first met since there seemed to be history and though Very is with Hoag's editor, I felt like that was a recent development - I could be wrong though.

I found the book to be slow and kind of boring. There's not any action. The two opportunities for some action took place off the page. 

I liked the characters but I didn't care for just walking around and talking to people. 

The mystery was interesting in its premise but the execution could have been better. Also, Very and Hoag talked to a lot of people and there weren't any clues to help the reader discover who the murderer was. When they reveal it, it kind of comes out of the blue how that deduced it. 

When you have a title like the one this books has I like when there is a reference to it in the story. However, once is enough. The phrase was repeated 3 or 4 times. 

If sedate mysteries are your thing, then you will enjoy this novel.

Buy The Woman Who Lowered the Boom at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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