He leaves Lucy in the capable hands of his aunt and mentor, Billie, and heads for the hospital with the hopes of talking to Shrimp and defusing whatever might have happened. Hitch arrives only to learn that someone has stabbed and killed Shrimp in the hospital. Now Lucy has disappeared, along with Hitch's ex-wife, the ravishing Julia, the person Hitch was counting to snap Lucy out of her shock to aid in her own defense.

While Hitch is out looking for Lucy and Julia and Shrimp's real killer, he runs into Peter Munger, an aging private eye with family issues who was hired by Shrimp's mother to locate his brother, Arthur Wisner, who has also vanished about the time of his brother's death. Peter tries to warn Hitch away from the case, but Hitch is insistent on proving Lucy's innocence and begins to follow the money.

He follows the money from a hotshot attorney to seedy nightclubs and smoky jazz spots and from illegal gambling rings to the saloons where questionable events occurred. Along the way, he meets many interesting characters, some with pasts that just don't seem to want to let go. Putting his own safety in jeopardy, and riding conspicuously around in a hearse (his normally inconspicuous ‘64 Valiant is undergoing major repairs) Hitch follows the money, hoping it will lead him to Shrimp's real murderer.

The Hearse Case Scenario is a fast-paced, private eye novel that focuses on an unofficial gumshoe that is very loyal to his friends and is willing to give anyone a chance, and sometimes a second chance, but is not willing to take anything from anyone. Hitch Sewell is a quick talker, many times his thoughts escaping too fast and getting him into trouble. His comebacks are often very funny, especially given the situations he uses them in and restrains himself from using them in. Hitch is very loyal to his family business, and takes it very seriously, although he readily admits it mightn't have been his first choice as an occupation.

The plot moves along quickly, from the Inner Harbor of Baltimore to the shores of Rehoboth, Delaware. While the money is easy to follow and leads to many plausible suspects, readers will be surprised when they learn the true motives behind the crimes and the true perpetrators. Julia is a saucy accomplice for Hitch and readers may get the impression that although they are no longer married, they may make another change in their relationship sometime in the future. The Hearse Case Scenario is a quick, enjoyable read, the third in the series to feature a charming undertaker with attitude.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry