“The Sour Cherry Surprise” by David Handler

A few years ago I met David Handler at the Lyme Public Library. I had just finished the Stewart Hoag series and was gratifyingly entering the world of Berger and Mitry. Now, six engaging books into the series, I am, more than ever, hard-pressed to pick a favorite and write just one review … but I’ll try.

I’ll get to Hoagie, whom I also love, at a later date.

For now, I will chose the latest in the Berger Mitry series, “The Sour Cherry Surprise”, as the archetypal Handler.

As a presumable homage to the great John D. MacDonald , each title is a color: “The Cold BlueBlood,” “The Hot Pink Farmhouse,” “The Bright SilverStar,” “The Sweet Golden Parachute,” and now, “The Sour Cherry Surprise.”

Handler is exceedingly worthy of this colorful legacy.

As LymeLine’s Arts Editor Linda Ahnert observes, one of the joys inherent to the series is its local setting. It is great fun to see a Porsche whip past Tiffany Farm or cookies delivered to the red house overseeing the salmon ladders at the base of Mount Archer. I was especially pleased to see my favorite gastronome, Christine, from “Fromage” in this book. All of it serves to cosily ensconce us in the world Handler creates.

Even so , that is hardly where the appeal ends. As I learned from Handler’s first series, he would be irresistible whatever the locale. His characters and the ease with which we find ourselves both ingrained in and heartened by their lives is a function of Handler’s literary skill, which extends beyond simple neighborhood recognizability.

His style is as marvelous as his stories. The lingo is always amusingly hip. Think, “Wow Man” and, “Prepare to get funky.” The chuckles are rampant and there is a laugh-out-loud joke about Groundhog Day. Handler is cleverly funny.

“The Sour Cherry Surprise” is one of the best in the series for many reasons. Not the least of which is the amorous incertitude between the protagonists. It is a step back for Des and Mitch … and a subsequent step forward in the evolution of the series.

Like any couple, a great deal of the appeal lies in their attraction. (Think Scarlett and Rhett, “I love you.” “I hate you.” “I love you.”) To have them immediately marry at this early juncture could shorten the lifespan of the series by putting a key element out to pasture prematurely.

However, the idea to re-boot their relationship is a bit too abrupt. “The Sweet Golden Parachute” ends with engagement and three short months later, they have moved on. (Well, they are lying to themselves that they have, obviously.)

I initially felt a bit excluded. Had I missed a book? What transpired tantalizingly unbenownst to the hapless reader? My qualms were eventually quieted by a stellar, fast-moving maelstrom of activity. Handler mixes a mean plot.

That said, the changes make this a better book. Nothing is a done deal. We honestly don’t know what will happen. After all, what fun is a “who-dun-it” if you already know?

Will Trooper Mitry and Mr. Berger reunite? Is it too late now that other lovers are involved? More importantly, what the heck is going on down by the river?! Happy to say that you don’t really guess.

The plot is classic Handler. Very comfortably amusing and scarily real. Both frighteningly relevant and lovingly small town. The characters are both familiar and surprising.

In a world of peripatetic fiction, we can come home to Mr. Handler’s books … and I’m quite pleased to say that we find him still at the proverbial top of his game.