The Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes

A wisecracking ghostwriter and his trusty basset hound investigate the mysterious behavior of a reclusive author in this humorous murder mystery.

Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiaasen.

“Handler is so good at writing one smart, funny page-turner after another that he makes it look easy.” —Harlan Coben

Once upon a time, Hoagy had it all: a hugely successful debut novel, a gorgeous celebrity wife, the glamorous world of New York City at his feet. These days, he scrapes by as a celebrity ghostwriter. A celebrity ghostwriter who finds himself investigating murders more often than he'd like.

And once upon a time, Richard Aintree was the most famous writer in America—high school students across the country read his one and only novel, a modern classic on par with The Catcher in the Rye. But after his wife’s death, Richard went into mourning . . .and then into hiding. No one has heard from him in twenty years.

Until now. Richard Aintree—or someone pretending to be Richard Aintree—has at last reached out to his two estranged daughters. Monette is a lifestyle queen à la Martha Stewart whose empire is crumbling; and once upon a time, Reggie was the love of Hoagy’s life. Both sisters have received mysterious typewritten letters from their father.

Hoagy is already on the case, having been hired to ghostwrite a tell-all book about the troubled Aintree family. But no sooner does he set up shop in the pool house of Monette’s Los Angeles mansion than murder strikes. With Lulu at his side — or more often cowering in his shadow — it’s up to Hoagy to unravel the mystery, catch the killer, and pour himself that perfect single-malt Scotch . . . before it's too late.

Praise for The Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes

“A plot with nearly as many moving parts as Murder on the Orient Express. . . . The characters and dialogue don’t disappoint, and the sorely missed hero’s mixture of cynicism and sweetness plays as well as ever.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Kept me turning the pages. . . . The plot is influenced by a range of mystery masters, from Ross Macdonald to Agatha Christie. . . . The Girl with Kaleidoscope Eyes will help you remember the sun-crazed Hollywood excess of what now seems like an innocent time.” —Seattle Times