Bill Moody (1) (1941–2018)

Like other books in this series by Moody, the plot is secondary, while the main attraction is the jazz information. Moody relates some interesting stories about the stars of the jazz world and their music then wraps it in a murder mystery. He really knows his stuff regarding music but in this case the plot was a bit weak, silly even. However, I enjoyed every page. Somebody should tell Evan Horne not to trust the FBI, especially if the agent wears short skirts.

The story of Chet Baker's fatal fall in 1988 from an Amsterdam hotel windowledge is well-known so there was not much else to be detected or discovered by jazz pianist and occasional detective Evan Horne. What he found himself looking for was his academic friend Ace Buffington, who went missing while researching a book he was writing about Chet Baker's demise. Ace had asked Horne to accompany him on a research trip to Amsterdam, a request that was declined, although Horne was going to be show more playing in the same city. Miffed at the rebuff Ace got out of a tight spot by mentioning Horne's name before taking off back to California, thus putting his friend in a dangerous jam with Baker's Amsterdam drug dealers.

The mystery in Moody's novels, especially this one, is not the main attraction, but the talk about jazz and jazz musicians is a big draw and is what I find most interesting and appealing. Moody is a jazz musician and music critic so knows his subject thoroughly making this series a pleasure to read. show less

This is the second book in a series with jazz pianist Evan Horne as the detective. Horne is based in Los Angeles but he is Las Vegas this time exploring the circumstances of the death of a saxophonist named Wardell Gray 37 years before the time this book is set. Since he died in 1955, that means the book is set in 1992. I kind of like mysteries that are set before everyone had cell phones and computers; sleuths have to use their brain power to solve them.

Ace Buffington, a literature show more professor at UNLV, is hoping to do a paper to present at a conference about Wardell Gray's death. He asks his old friend, Evan Horne, to come to Las Vegas to carry out some investigative work. He is putting Horne up in the self-contained apartment on his property and he's got him a gig playing piano at an upscale shopping mall. It seems like a pretty sweet setup for just doing a little legwork into a cold case that no one is sure is a murder or just a death by overdose. As a jazz musician, Horne can talk to some of the old guard that were around in 1955 and maybe they'll open up to him more than they would to the professor. At first that seems to work; then Horne gets a visit from a couple of goons who tell him to back off. Of course, that's not going to happen. He even calls up his police buddy, Coop, from LA to find out if he has contacts with the Las Vegas police. Coop does, and even better he's planning a trip to Las Vegas with a new flame. So he offers to put Horne in touch with the local cop if Horne can get him tickets to a show. Wayne Newton isn't Horne's style but Coop loves him so Horne gets some comp tickets. Turns out the lady friend, Natalie, is more into jazz and she and Horne are sensing attraction. When Coop has to go back to LA, she stays around and contacts Evan. They will see how those initial feelings pan out while tracking down some more information about the night Wardell Gray died. Coop gives their relationship the okay since things weren't working out between them. When the daughter of a star witness is kidnapped, Horne and the police and everyone else realize they have to put a stop to the intimidation from the gangsters. It's a cool takedown scene all while Horne is playing piano in the mall.

I love all the references to the old greats of jazz like Dexter Gordon and Benny Carter and so many more. I had never heard of Wardell Gray but he was well-known jazz musician, playing with Earl Hines, Count Basie, Benny Goodman's bands and famously doing sax duels with Dexter Gordon. He was only 34 when he died. show less

This book is now 30 years old but if you read it like it is historical fiction I think it comes off pretty well. In this book set in LA among the jazz fraternity, it helps that the author lived in Los Angeles and was a jazz drummer. This is the first book in a series that ran to seven books. I have a few others in my TBR and I look forward to reading them.

Evan Horne was in an accident and his right hand (aka solo hand) was badly injured. Since he works as a piano player he has had to find show more other ways to earn a living. He didn't intend to become a detective but he was approached to look into a blackmail scheme that involves a singer he used to work with. This singer, Lonnie Cole, has made a record of duets with Charlie Crisp, a country singer. When the record was finished, they had a huge party in Las Vegas and someone took an incriminating picture of the two singers together in bed. Copies have been sent to Cole and Crisp together with a ransom note for a million dollars. The ransom note also specified that Horne would be his intermediary. Discussions with people at the party don't turn up any clues but Horne does find out that the picture was taken from a movie. So, if the ransom is paid they will need to get back not just negatives of the picture but also the original movie. When it comes time to deliver the ransom money, Horne is told to go to a boat in the marina for the exchange. However, Horne is knocked on the head and goes into the water, losing the money in the process. Now it's personal and Horne is determined to find out who carried out this scheme even though the police are now involved. It's obvious it is someone who knows him and Cole. When the police analyze the note and determine it was typed on a typewriter just like Evan's even Horne is under suspicion. That turns out to be a valuable clue for unravelling the whole scheme which involves a fraudulent scheme for record royalties. Hmm, who could come up with that kind of idea?

I enjoyed this book a lot. I don't know if I'll ever read all seven of the series but since my favourite mystery book store has a few of them I might as well add them to my TBR shelves (especially since there's a half price sale on right now). show less