No Laughing Matter: An Izzy Brand Mystery

By Irv Sternberg

Comedy meets murder in the Mile High city Aging comic and widower Izzy Brand finds a new reason to face his empty life when his closest friend and owner of a comedy club dies after a mugging in a Denver alley. Izzy's search for the killer leads him into an underworld of white collar crime, commercial greed, and politics, as well as troubled street people and runaway teens, all in a city usually known for idyllic mountain views. Through his commitment to justice, Izzy learns what it means to take risks, avenge a crime and, coincidentally, find love along the way. No Laughing Matter is a suspenseful regional mystery warmed by the laughter of Jewish humor.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1432702580
• ISBN13: 9781432702588
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

No Laughing Matter

Irv Sternberg's No Laughing Matter is a treasure of humor wrapped in a fine mystery. While it is set in Denver, Colorado, the story of family dynamics, love, laughter and jealousies is universal. The twists and turns of the mystery kept me reading page after page. Sternberg writes with a unique voice bringing Izzy Brand, aging stand-up comedian, alive with warmth and canny observations. A fine book and a wonderful gift from a man with a gift. I heartily recommend this book for anyone who has a sense of humor and a love of 'who dunnits.'

Laugh your Way into Suspense

No one who loves Denver or comedians can resist this unusual match of subjects--joined in a manhunt staged by an aging comic with a big heart and a keen sense of what's really going on around him. You'll enjoy Sternberg's ability to create a completely believeable main character -- a man who leaves his everyday life in small increments to do a heroic deed. This is a perfect gift book for any Denverite who loves to laugh, cry, and get lost in their home town in a whole new way. If they're not from Denver, they'll see a new side to this trendy and beautiful area. Sit back and enjoy the story, flavored by Izzy Brand's Jewish humor and wisdom, and admire the superb writing -- there's plenty of both.