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Title: Unhappy Hooligan

Subtitle: Howie Rook, Book 1

Author: Stuart Palmer

Narrator: A. C. Fellner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-21-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Suspense

Publisher's Summary:

The Big Top in California is the background which Howie Rook, ex-newspaperman and collector of murder cases, takes on for protective coloring when he is tossed an impeccable suicide by the dead man's widow. Objectively observing, taking part in the clown acts, getting the walk around from two and four legged performers, he sweats it out to prove his verdict.

Members Reviews:

True Classic

Unhappy Hooligan (Howie Rook Series) & The Penguin Pool Murder (Hildegarde Wither Series) are my introduction to Stuart Palmer. I've read about Stuart Palmer's mystery series but never tried them. I came across these two during a break from suspense and thrillers. I needed a mystery that challenged me as a reader - without giving me nightmares. As luck would have it these two were offered as a review copies at NetGalley.

Unhappy Hooligan has Rook bantering with a Police Officer ordered to bring him downtown. Instead of being arrested - again - the Chief wants Rook to assist with a locked-door murder. Jame McFarley was murdered in his apartment. McFarley was dressed normal with the exception of wearing clown makeup. Rook discovers McFarley joined a local circus as a clown (Hooligan). He does the same with the hope of solving the case. Rook meets some unusual people in the circus as well as in McFarley's personal life. Rook is a likable know-it-all. It's best to have him on your side. This is definitely a locked-door mystery for the armchair sleuth in need of a challenge.

The Penguin Pool Murder has teacher Hildegarde at the New York Aquarium with her third graders. Hildegarde gets more than expected when the Penguins outplay the Aquarium Fish. It's Hildegarde and a student who spot a body in the Penguin pool. Hildegarde proves herself indispensable as she helps Detective Piper solve the Stockbroker's murder. Hildegarde is a teacher to be reckoned with. She and Piper make a great team. The Hildegarde series is one of my new favorites... New York and the 1930s, you just can't beat it.

Both eBooks offer an excerpt of the next title in the series.

eBooks have done more than expand our reading choices. eBooks are turning the Old into the New - giving us access to some wonderful classics. I really enjoyed reading Unhappy Hooligan and The Penguin Pool Murder.

Lots of fun, an interesting circus backdrop, and a laugh or two

Suicide? Or murder? A body in clown costume found in a locked room; the victim, a circus enthusiast, had just finished a guest spot as a clown; the police think, suicide, but Howard Rook, thorn in the police departmentâs side with his constant newspaper letters about their failures, thinks otherwise.

Join Rook as he joins the circus as a clown to find out the truth behind the death in the locked room â this mystery is lots of fun, with an intriguing circus backdrop, and a laugh or two as well.

Fine light reading

I thoroughly enjoyed Rook's personality and detective work. The other characters were also pleasant, in the highly theatrical way you would expect of a circus troop. The details of circus life and its economics add to the interest, as do the many literary references.

This isn't gritty detective fiction, though there are murders, near murders, and suspense.