A Music Lover's Mystery, Rock & Roll Homicide - $2.99

[RJMcDonnell]

Rock & Roll Homicide is the first novel in my Rock & Roll Mystery Series. I’ve included a brief description followed by a few reviews.

Just as the rock band, Doberman’s Stub, was about to reach stadium tour status, its leader was brutally murdered when his headphones exploded during a recording session. The widow, who inherits $5 million, is the San Diego Police Department’s number one suspect. She hires Jason Duffy, a 27-year-old PI in his first year of private practice, in spite of his background as a former musician.

Jason learns that the victim was also a very skilled contract negotiator, who was in the middle of an acrimonious renegotiation with the record company at the time of his death. He also finds that the record company has a very unhealthy tie to the Russian Mafia.
As an inexperienced detective, Jason does not yet have the contacts within the police department to gather vital information. He is forced to mend fences with his estranged father, an opinionated ex-SDPD detective.

While Jason investigates the record company, he also takes a close look at the three surviving members of the victim’s band. One is an alcoholic/drug addict drummer, on the verge of being kicked out of the group. The second is a bass player who camouflages his rock star status by living in an ordinary house in a lower middle-class neighborhood. Third is a lead guitarist and writer of half of the band’s songs, who lives well beyond his means.
Jason has not yet become hardened to the very real dangers of his new profession. We experience his inner conflict as his girlfriend, staff, and family are drawn into the danger zone.

After Jason’s part-time employee is severely beaten during a stakeout, he sells the story of the Russian Mafia’s involvement in the record business to a tabloid journalism TV show in a misguided effort to protect his employer and coworker. This serves to drive the case to new heights of danger and suspense.

Jason goes behind the industry veneer of sex & drugs & hedonistic lifestyles. He shows us how the 21st Century world of downloads, file sharing, and image demographics need to be considered in a case of Rock & Roll Homicide.

Reviews:

“A brilliantly written tale of sex, drugs, rock & roll, and the Mob. Rock & Roll Homicide is highly recommended for community library collections.” – Midwest Book Review

“Rock & Roll Homicide is a fast-paced, deeply twisted, and hilarious story that will have readers salivating for more …” – Apex Reviews

“RJ McDonnell’s enjoyable style is somewhere between Carl Hiaasen’s in Basket Case and Michael Connelly’s in Chasing the Dime. – BookPleasures.com

“Wonderful character development. – Armchair Interviews Book Review

[Ann in Arlington]

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[Ciareader]

Rock & Roll Homicide is the first novel in my Rock & Roll Mystery Series. I’ve included a brief description followed by a few reviews.

Just as the rock band, Doberman’s Stub, was about to reach stadium tour status, its leader was brutally murdered when his headphones exploded during a recording session. The widow, who inherits $5 million, is the San Diego Police Department’s number one suspect. She hires Jason Duffy, a 27-year-old PI in his first year of private practice, in spite of his background as a former musician.

Jason learns that the victim was also a very skilled contract negotiator, who was in the middle of an acrimonious renegotiation with the record company at the time of his death. He also finds that the record company has a very unhealthy tie to the Russian Mafia.
As an inexperienced detective, Jason does not yet have the contacts within the police department to gather vital information. He is forced to mend fences with his estranged father, an opinionated ex-SDPD detective.

While Jason investigates the record company, he also takes a close look at the three surviving members of the victim’s band. One is an alcoholic/drug addict drummer, on the verge of being kicked out of the group. The second is a bass player who camouflages his rock star status by living in an ordinary house in a lower middle-class neighborhood. Third is a lead guitarist and writer of half of the band’s songs, who lives well beyond his means.
Jason has not yet become hardened to the very real dangers of his new profession. We experience his inner conflict as his girlfriend, staff, and family are drawn into the danger zone.

After Jason’s part-time employee is severely beaten during a stakeout, he sells the story of the Russian Mafia’s involvement in the record business to a tabloid journalism TV show in a misguided effort to protect his employer and coworker. This serves to drive the case to new heights of danger and suspense.

Jason goes behind the industry veneer of sex & drugs & hedonistic lifestyles. He shows us how the 21st Century world of downloads, file sharing, and image demographics need to be considered in a case of Rock & Roll Homicide.

Reviews:

“A brilliantly written tale of sex, drugs, rock & roll, and the Mob. Rock & Roll Homicide is highly recommended for community library collections.” – Midwest Book Review

“Rock & Roll Homicide is a fast-paced, deeply twisted, and hilarious story that will have readers salivating for more …” – Apex Reviews

“RJ McDonnell’s enjoyable style is somewhere between Carl Hiaasen’s in Basket Case and Michael Connelly’s in Chasing the Dime. – BookPleasures.com

“Wonderful character development. – Armchair Interviews Book Review

Sounds interesting.

[Maria Savva]

The story really catches my attention.  I'll have to put this on my 'to read' list!

[WestofMars]

Maria, it's a great one. A definite West of Mars recommended read. The cast of characters alone makes it worth the price of admission, so the saying goes.

[RJMcDonnell]

Thanks for the endorsement, Susan.

[Maria Savva]

Susan, you've convinced me! It is going on my list

[WestofMars]

You earned it, RJ.

Maria, I'd send you my hardback copy, but... no. Not sharing this puppy.

[RJMcDonnell]

Glad to hear I made your list, Maria. Thanks for the recommendation, Susan.

[stacyjuba]

These both sound like must reads. Love the premise!

[RJMcDonnell]

I'd love to hear your opinion you you get a chance to read them, Stacy.

[Darcia]

I loved both books in this series! RJ does a fantastic job of blending the rock and roll world with the traditions of a mystery series.

[RJMcDonnell]

Thanks, Darcia. I recently participated in an anthology where over 20 indie authors submitted the first chapter of one of their novels. A brief bio of each author is also included. I found it to be a great way to sample new authors. The link to the anthology is: http://www.scribd.com/doc/46280302/2-BsB-Anthology-Vol-Two

[MarkPaulJacobs]

Are your 2 books part of a series, RJ?

[RJMcDonnell]

Yes, Mark, the books are part of my Rock & Roll Mystery Series. My detective is a former club musician who got into the family business (criminal justice) after two years as a mental health counselor. His PI agency is staffed by a couple of former patients, and his old band mates frequently lend a hand. Besides the two novels shown below, a third book in this series, The Concert Killer, is scheduled for release early this summer.

[WestofMars]

a third book in this series, The Concert Killer, is scheduled for release early this summer.

YES!!! Do I get a sneak peak???

[RJMcDonnell]

I think a West of Mars review can be arranged after The Concert Killer is through editing. In the meantime, I met a music insider who knows several rock stars. He's in the process of finding out which ones read mysteries.

[MarkPaulJacobs]

That's sound like a good idea.

[WestofMars]

I think a West of Mars review can be arranged after The Concert Killer is through editing. In the meantime, I met a music insider who knows several rock stars. He's in the process of finding out which ones read mysteries.

SWEET! If you give it to me before a final edit, I'll throw some retired copy editor love at you, as well. Make sure Jason shines.

In a similar vein to your mystery about who reads mysteries (ha), I wound up overnighting a copy of Trevor's Song to a friend who is going to hand-deliver a copy of Trevor's Song to a band member he's doing a personal errand for. Tell me that's not a true friend -- he gets the offer to do this errand and the first thing he does is get in touch with me and tell me to get him a book so he can pass it along!

(and no, I'm not revealing any more details than that. Sorry. Not my story to tell.)

[RJMcDonnell]

Susan, thanks for the copy edit offer. It's in the early proofreading stages right now.

Congrats on your friend passing Trevor's Song to a known rocker. Endorsements and blurbs can be huge.

[WestofMars]

Well, the book has been delivered. We'll see what happens. Even if nothing big happens for me, personally, at least I've got another good story to add to the stable. The tales of adventures past are getting a bit long in the tooth.

[RJMcDonnell]

Contacts in the music world can be a great source of ideas, and an excellent way to confirm info. Last night I got invited to a show where a drummer who played in a band with Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience (in the 90s) will be performing.  I grew up across the street from him and ran the sound board for his first band. It should be fun catching up. Too bad Noel isn't still alive. A blurb from him would be golden in many circles.

[MarkPaulJacobs]

Yes, it sounds like you were ver fortunate...

[Michele Scott]

This sounds cool. I'm a native San Diegan so I love anything set in our city. I will definitely put this on my list!
Thank You,
Michele
http://www.adventuresnwriting.blogspot.com

[RJMcDonnell]

Rock & Roll Homicide and Rock & Roll Rip-Off are both set in San Diego county. My PI, Jason Duffy, lives in Serra Mesa, works in La Jolla, and frequently visits his retired SDPD detective father in Little Italy. It's inspiring to have America's finest city as the backdrop for my mysteries.