Ok story; little breezy for my tastes. I will give the series a chance or two. Too Miss Marple for my tastes (too much "like a cozy mystery"); every suspect in a defined space. Rock world not that interesting to me; give me organized crime. ( )

Kate Branigan is a private investigator. She's investigating knock-off clothing. Her boyfriend, Richard, is a music reporter. They're invited to a concert and after-party for a singer named Jett. At the party, Jett asks Kate to find his former girlfriend/muse, Moira. Although computer fraud, not missing persons is her strong point, she is obliged to accept.

She finds Moira who agrees to meet with Jett. Several weeks later, she's found dead in Jett's mansion. Now Kate has to find a killer.

McDermid has populated Dead Beat with interesting characters: Kevin, Jett's overcontrolling business manager, Neil Webster who is writing Jett's authorized biography, Gloria, the overbearing administrative assistant and Tamar, Jett's hanger-on.

The book moves quickly. Not much blood and guts. Not a police procedural. More like a cozy mystery. I'd read other books of McDermid and probably would try one of her other series. Definitely worth a read. ( )

En av böckerna i kate brannigan serien.
Läs någonting annat! ( )

Setting: present-day Manchester, England
Protagonist: Kate Brannigan
Series: #1

Kate Brannigan is hired by rock legend Jett to locate his former partner,
Moira. Kate finds Moira, who reluctantly agrees to return to Jett. Kate goes
back to her investigation of counterfeiters only to be brought back in six
weeks later when Moira is murdered. Jett wants to know which member of his
inner circle is the culprit. As Kate questions Jett's entourage, she
discovers that everyone close to him wanted Moira dead.

I enjoyed the setting, the fast pace, and Kate herself. I'll definitely be
looking for others in this series. ( )

First book in the Kate Brannigan series and a great read. Kate tracks down missing song-writer Moira Pollock and shortly after that Moira turns up dead. ( )