The Body in the Hole

The Undertaker Series, Book 1

By: Jonathan B. Zeitlin

Narrated by: Paul L. Coffey

Obnoxious, morally ambiguous protagonist? Check! Murder that needs solving? Check! Bungling amateur detective? Cops with no sense of humor? Yes, this story has it all! It’s Agatha Christie meets Inspector Clouseau in this darkly comedic murder mystery. Get a copy and find out who cracks the case first. Still on the fence? Read the reviews. How could 30 readers be wrong?

©2017 Jonathan B Zeitlin (P)2022 Jonathan B Zeitlin

Perfectly dark humor, quirky characters, and an awesome narrator

(I was provided with a free copy in exchange for an honest review)

The opening scene of the first chapter was enough for me to know I would like this story, because of the description of the characters and setting. Each person was described in enough detail that I could picture them on my movie screen, yet the format remained approachable and the pace of the plot kept me interested. I laughed out loud several times (mostly at the depiction of characters like Rocco) and got to know each character’s distinct personalities as I read further. The narrator does each accent and inflection smoothly and precisely, leaving me with no negative comments. I appreciated how the author switched back and forth between storylines, and I felt like I was watching everything unfold in real time. This book was a unique experience for me (a somewhat unseasoned reader) and I intend to read the next book.

Great read for any mystery lover!

This murder-mystery novel is dark and moody, with brilliantly added humor. Listening to this book on Audible easily got me through my two-hour daily walks feeling entertained and looking forward to what was coming next. The writing is articulate, well composed, with realistic dialogue. How can you not like a fast-paced story with so many interesting and eccentric characters? Excellent narration, with just the right voice, accentuation, and tone. Unfortunately, if I don’t like the voice of the narrator, I can’t focus on the story, and I will stop listening. Not an issue in this book!! Yvgeny Jedynak- an undertaker by trade, and wannabe detective the rest of the time, is going to get to the bottom of a murder before the incompetent small-town police screw it up. Yvgeny has a lot of confidence (haha). The plot is skillfully developed, with vivid passages and great descriptions that put the reader in the scenes, without exposure to extreme violence. I highly recommend this novel.

Giving this a 4

This shows a whole lotta promise as this
series opens. it was hard to settle on a listening rhythm, which is not unusual with a first in series book. Book 2 will be settled in with characters outlined.
I look forward to many of these "round and round we go" adventures with these guys. And it is quietly funny.

Fun and Enjoyable Book

I enjoyed listening to this book as I took long walks or drives. The characters are intriguing, quirky, and interesting and the "who dunnit" kept me guessing until the end. It's not heavy or overly verbose; instead, it's light and engaging with moments of laughter. I would recommend this book to anyone. Cudos to Mr. Zeitlin on a well-written story and to Mr. Coffey's ability to narrate and transition smoothly between characters!