If Wishes Were Hearses

A Mike Lanson Mystery

By: R.R. (Russell Robert) Winterbotham, J. Harvey Bond

Narrated by: Laurel Monroe

Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

This canny reporter's next headline was likely to be his own execution!

Mike Lanson was the ace crime reporter for the Gazette, so it was natural that he heard about the kookie wino who had reported eavesdropping on two men plotting a murder. So, it was also natural that he got on the case after one of the two plotters was found dead. Mike, like all reporters, was looking for an answer. But when he filled in the five W's on the next victim, he came up with this: Who: Mike Lanson. What: His own murder. When: As soon as that fire reached the explosives. Where: In a deserted storehouse. Why: Because he knew too much. It looked a lot like the end of this story would be his own end. It was a strange dilemma for a reporter—how do you blow a case wide open when you're about to be blown apart yourself? 

In this classic 1950s noir mystery, you will meet:

Mike Lanson: The Gazette's A reporter. He was always hungry for a good headline, but he was shocked when he found he was going to be in tomorrow's headline—as a victim! 

Freddie the Grape: This wino was a highly-scented character, and like the grape he was so fond of, he was about to be squashed. 

Corrine Nimes: A luscious doll who loved her husband, but discovered she couldn't live with him—and when he was murdered, she found she couldn't live without him. 

Addison Sharp: Like most lawyers, he knew other people's secrets—and then he learned one too many. 

Lieutenant Guffy: He liked to catch criminals and lock them up, but he always kept a cell open for nosey newspaper reporters who got in his way.

©2019 Deerstalker Editions (P)2022 Wordwooze Publishing

A fun noir mystery

If Wishes Were Hearses is a quirky noir mystery by RR Winterbotham (writing as JHarvey Bond). Gazette Reporter Mike Lanson is trying to get to the bottom of a overheard conversation about two men plotting a murder. The person who heard it is an old wino and may not be a reliable witness. Then people related to the case start dying and Mike may be the next to go! The narration by Laurel Monroe was wonderful. The performance brought the characters to life and added to the enjoyment of the story. I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Fun Mystery and Performance

This was such a fun listen! Great story and mystery. The narrator really brought the characters to life - I felt everyone was easy to distinguish which helped me really sink into the story. Would definitely recommend.

What a delight!

I’ve read a lot of mysteries but this one had me guessing. Mike didn’t give up. All the characters were enhanced by the narrator’s many voices and definitely added to the story. I highly recommend this book.

entertaining

Geez! This reporter had a dangerous job, because he not only writes the news; he solves the crimes too!!!! The old wino was a nice touch.
It was hard to sort the good from the bad because they all did illegal things. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters and story to life.

to long

the story was good and they should have had 2 narrators. It was just to long ad draw out.

The story feels jumbled

I could not get into this book. if felt like a lot was happening but the book had no punctuation. I tried twice and gave up. So that is not to say the story is bad (I didn't finish it). But the narrator does not fit this book.