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JP Kinkaid Chronicles #4
Graceland
When Blacklight guitarist JP Kinkaid is asked to introduce Delta session legend Farris "Bulldog" Moody as an Early Influences inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, he's delighted. And when JP learns from young Cleveland music historian Ches Kobel that Bulldog is still alive and living in Southern Ohio, he jumps at the opportunity to meet his idol.
Ches, who's working on a book about American blues players, brings JP and Bulldog together. The elderly black musician and the rock superstar form a deep, immediate bond, and JP learns more about the man whose music so influenced him.
But when Ches is found dead outside the Hall of Fame, JP is sent his notes on the unfinished book. Those notes contain puzzling discrepancies in what Bulldog has told JP about himself and his history. As doubts rise about how-and why-Ches died, JP knows he needs to know the truth behind Bulldog's life, and behind Ches Kobel's death.
284 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2011
About the author
Deborah Grabien
29 books26 followersDeborah Grabien is a world traveller, retired medieval historian, and lifelong rocker chick. Her short fiction, reviews, and essays can be seen in many diverse venues.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 7, 2011
Whoah mama.
Richer and darker than earlier Kinkaids, full of the luscious rock and roll detail we long for and expect. Backstage at the Rock Hall of Fame, how the jamming gets done, who plays with whom and how. Told, as always, in JP's voice. There's a death only later seen as murder, there's JP meeting one of his blues heroes, there's a lot of Delta blues history, and there's JP and Bree, after 30 years together still finding in each other power and mystery. Crank it up loud.
Richer and darker than earlier Kinkaids, full of the luscious rock and roll detail we long for and expect. Backstage at the Rock Hall of Fame, how the jamming gets done, who plays with whom and how. Told, as always, in JP's voice. There's a death only later seen as murder, there's JP meeting one of his blues heroes, there's a lot of Delta blues history, and there's JP and Bree, after 30 years together still finding in each other power and mystery. Crank it up loud.
April 23, 2011
JP Kinkaid, guitarist with the great rock band Blacklight, suggests Delta bluesman
Ferris "Bulldog" Moody for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Imagine his joy when he
learns that his idol is still alive, just several hours south. Of course, things
are never what they seem. Graceland touches on themes of family, lies, ethics,
and of course, music and food.
Ms Grabien's strength is atmosphere. Blacklight is fictional. On one hand, too
bad. But then, because of her writing, I absolutely know what "Liplock" sounds
like. I can hear JP's riffs for "Moody's Blues." Elsewhere I have tried to
describe this series as the next best thing to a backstage pass. Due to the strong
integration of music history into the plot I have put this book on my music shelf here
despite it being a novel.
JP and Bree step out of the pages, into my life. Ms Grabien's descriptive power
includes showing us a glimmer of what dealing with MS is like on a daily basis.
The odors emanating from Bree's kitchen make me hungry.
She writes in a conversational, first person style. Usually first person is my
least favorite POV, but it works for this series. Being in JP's head is what
gives the books their reality and sense of the moment. I find myself using JP's
language, to the puzzlement of my family. They are not used to the exclamation
"Gordon Bennett!"
I recommend this series strongly, but please do read them in order. Which is,
Rock and Roll Never Forgets
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
London Calling
Graceland
Ferris "Bulldog" Moody for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Imagine his joy when he
learns that his idol is still alive, just several hours south. Of course, things
are never what they seem. Graceland touches on themes of family, lies, ethics,
and of course, music and food.
Ms Grabien's strength is atmosphere. Blacklight is fictional. On one hand, too
bad. But then, because of her writing, I absolutely know what "Liplock" sounds
like. I can hear JP's riffs for "Moody's Blues." Elsewhere I have tried to
describe this series as the next best thing to a backstage pass. Due to the strong
integration of music history into the plot I have put this book on my music shelf here
despite it being a novel.
JP and Bree step out of the pages, into my life. Ms Grabien's descriptive power
includes showing us a glimmer of what dealing with MS is like on a daily basis.
The odors emanating from Bree's kitchen make me hungry.
She writes in a conversational, first person style. Usually first person is my
least favorite POV, but it works for this series. Being in JP's head is what
gives the books their reality and sense of the moment. I find myself using JP's
language, to the puzzlement of my family. They are not used to the exclamation
"Gordon Bennett!"
I recommend this series strongly, but please do read them in order. Which is,
Rock and Roll Never Forgets
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
London Calling
Graceland
August 13, 2011
#4 in the JP Kinkaid Chronicles finds JP and his band Blacklight donating items to the rock and roll hall of fame. While there, he is asked to recommend someone for nomination into the hall of fame. He instantly thinks of an old guitar player who influenced him as a young boy. Shocked to find out he is still alive, JP travels to Mississippi to meet his idol. The story begins to revolve around a writer who is trying to put together a book based on the man, but "dies" of a heart attack, but later is decided that he was murdered. JP's wife Bree is more prevalent in this book.
"Blues fans will welcome Grabien's fourth mystery featuring British session guitarist JP Kinkaid, now a San Francisco resident and member of the rock-blues band Blacklight (after 2009's While My Guitar Gently Weeps). When Kinkaid nominates Farris "Bulldog" Moody for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Early Influences category, he's amazed to learn from blues critic Ches Kobel that the 86-year-old blues guitarist is still alive. Kinkaid meets Moody at Moody's home in southern Ohio, where they make music and plans for the Hall of Fame induction. When Kobel, who's writing a history of the blues, dies unexpectedly and perhaps suspiciously, Kinkaid asks SFPD Det. Patrick Ormand to (unofficially) investigate. While the solution to the mystery will strike many as mundane, Grabien is particularly good on the early blues players and their continuing influence—and she handles Kincaid's multiple sclerosis with sensitivity and insight."
"Blues fans will welcome Grabien's fourth mystery featuring British session guitarist JP Kinkaid, now a San Francisco resident and member of the rock-blues band Blacklight (after 2009's While My Guitar Gently Weeps). When Kinkaid nominates Farris "Bulldog" Moody for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Early Influences category, he's amazed to learn from blues critic Ches Kobel that the 86-year-old blues guitarist is still alive. Kinkaid meets Moody at Moody's home in southern Ohio, where they make music and plans for the Hall of Fame induction. When Kobel, who's writing a history of the blues, dies unexpectedly and perhaps suspiciously, Kinkaid asks SFPD Det. Patrick Ormand to (unofficially) investigate. While the solution to the mystery will strike many as mundane, Grabien is particularly good on the early blues players and their continuing influence—and she handles Kincaid's multiple sclerosis with sensitivity and insight."
August 25, 2014
#4 in the Chronicles of JP Kincaid, 2nd guitar for the British megaband Blacklight.
At a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame function, JP meets a writer, who asks him who he would recommend for induction in the Early Influences category. It happens the the writer had breakfast with JP's nominee the day before. JP gets to meet his idol, but soon after, the writer is found dead in front of the Hall of Fame building and away we go.
At a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame function, JP meets a writer, who asks him who he would recommend for induction in the Early Influences category. It happens the the writer had breakfast with JP's nominee the day before. JP gets to meet his idol, but soon after, the writer is found dead in front of the Hall of Fame building and away we go.
April 18, 2011
I really liked this title--and I'm new to the series. I loved Grabien's style (easy-going rock and roll master telling us a story). The case involving the blues legend and his relationship with the dead-too-soon journalist builds up steadily thanks to JP's intervention. Even more fascinating (for me) was the story of JP, his music, his wife, and his battles with MS. Great stuff. LJ 4/11
June 6, 2013
Though not a music buff, I find JP Kinkaid and interesting character and the author really knows her ins and outs of musicians lives. Though not a big mystery in this book, it was enjoyable to see how the lives of the characters were continuing and sets up the next book Book of Days.
May 21, 2011
Always a good read.
June 18, 2014
Riveting mystery.
Read
September 21, 2011Ok. Weakest of a great series.
May 12, 2011
3 1/2 but my least favorite of the books in this series so far.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews