High Notes Are Murder

by Barbara Reed

A "Killer" mystery with its own music! Los Angeles jazz musician Barbara Reed releases a taut suspense novel accompanied by its own "soundtrack" of songs composed for and about the characters and events in the story.

350 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2000

Reviews

[Denise Zendel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liz Hanlon is a struggling jazz musician who makes her living performing in piano bars, at country clubs, anywhere, really, that pays. She gets a shot at real fame by landing a gig as the headliner in live TV concerts and she starts to think that maybe the struggles are over. Just before things really take off, her cousin Gina (whom she’s had a shaky relationship with) winds up dead at the club where the live concerts are set. Since Liz stumbles over the body – literally – she becomes a person of interest. Her life is complicated by the fact she’s got an increasingly aggressive stalker, and by long-buried secrets involving her family coming to light.

I liked this book – Liz is a three-dimensional character and the details of a musician’s life ring true. The subplots are interesting, and move the story forward. Well-written, light, engaging, entertaining read, great for the treadmill. I see there is a second book in the series available, and I’ll be buying that soon.

[Wendy Kalthoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the ending but did not love the fact that we did not know who was leaving the creepy notes. Also, I knew halfway through the book that the killer was Tonyi It seemed very obvious to me. I could not ge a feel for Gina and the aunt's character was confusing.