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Harmonic Deception
HARMONIC DECEPTION
Does a tragic childhood excuse murder?
Fast paced, entertaining, and witty . . . a great ride through today’s music business.
Tonight’s performance could make Liz Hanlon’s career. For Liz, the night is magical until three teenage girls in outlandish disguises burst into the LA nightclub with assault weapons. In minutes, two hundred patrons have been stripped of their cell phones and valuables, one man is dead, two others wounded. As the robbers make their getaway, the shooter’s belligerent remarks let Liz know this is more than a random attack . . . and she is the target.
Desperate to expose the shooter before she attacks again, Liz seeks help from an eccentric investigator and her brother, an attorney, but neither they nor the police detectives believe the crime was personal.
Her debut is on hold, her love life in a tailspin. She devises a perilous plan to draw the shooter out of hiding, but the girl makes a counterattack, and face to face, Liz’s desire for revenge forces her to make a choice.
By morning, it’s over, or so it seems. But an unresolved issue from the past comes to light and it changes everything . . .
Does a tragic childhood excuse murder?
Fast paced, entertaining, and witty . . . a great ride through today’s music business.
Tonight’s performance could make Liz Hanlon’s career. For Liz, the night is magical until three teenage girls in outlandish disguises burst into the LA nightclub with assault weapons. In minutes, two hundred patrons have been stripped of their cell phones and valuables, one man is dead, two others wounded. As the robbers make their getaway, the shooter’s belligerent remarks let Liz know this is more than a random attack . . . and she is the target.
Desperate to expose the shooter before she attacks again, Liz seeks help from an eccentric investigator and her brother, an attorney, but neither they nor the police detectives believe the crime was personal.
Her debut is on hold, her love life in a tailspin. She devises a perilous plan to draw the shooter out of hiding, but the girl makes a counterattack, and face to face, Liz’s desire for revenge forces her to make a choice.
By morning, it’s over, or so it seems. But an unresolved issue from the past comes to light and it changes everything . . .
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 1, 2012
I must admit right off the bat that I am very partial to the author of this story. After all, she did give me the birds & bees talk. That said, I can still be a little bit objective and read a book for what it is regardless of the author. Some of my favorite writers have written an occasional disappointment. Harmonic Deception was NOT one such disappointment! Liz Hanlon might just be one of my favorite repeat characters in any series of books I've read. She is genuine, spunky, caring, and tends to over-analyze things just like I do. I love that! It's fun to read about her but it's an extra treat to get a sneak peek into the background of the music world. It will help you appreciate your favorite musician even more because Barbara brings so much reality and so much experience to her stories.
Technically, you don't need to read "High Notes Are Murder" prior to reading this, but I very highly recommend that you do. You'll get more history on Liz and understand many of the references to things that happened in her past. Makes me want to go back and read that one again.
Harmonic Deception starts out with a bang. There isn't much fluff before getting to the point of the story, which captures your attention quickly. It only took me a few days to read this because I was immediately hooked. I kept wanting to know what happened next. And of course, “whodunit”. The story flows well and any questions that develop throughout the book are answered by the end, but not so soon that you lose interest.
I am most definitely looking forward to a third book with Liz, her music, and her affinity for the non-mundane. And please do definitely listen to the accompanying music. Barbara has an amazing voice. Very soothing and calming.
Technically, you don't need to read "High Notes Are Murder" prior to reading this, but I very highly recommend that you do. You'll get more history on Liz and understand many of the references to things that happened in her past. Makes me want to go back and read that one again.
Harmonic Deception starts out with a bang. There isn't much fluff before getting to the point of the story, which captures your attention quickly. It only took me a few days to read this because I was immediately hooked. I kept wanting to know what happened next. And of course, “whodunit”. The story flows well and any questions that develop throughout the book are answered by the end, but not so soon that you lose interest.
I am most definitely looking forward to a third book with Liz, her music, and her affinity for the non-mundane. And please do definitely listen to the accompanying music. Barbara has an amazing voice. Very soothing and calming.
June 29, 2013
From the very beginning, Barbara Reed brings her character to life in a fast-paced novel of mystery and music. It kept me guessing from the very beginning! Truly a good read!
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October 21, 2014Mystery infused with song!, August 12, 2011
Review by Terell Byrd
Harmonic Deception By Barbara Reed
I have always loved reruns of the old TV detective shows that took place around a night club: Hawaiian Eye, Peter Gunn or Surfside 6. There was always a band and a woman who performed everything from novelty tunes to heart-rending ballads. The music was secondary to the case that the stalwart male detectives solved, but it was always a high point in the show - a woman, wearing a silky dress, singing in the spotlight, giving a performance that everyone stopped and watched. No over-singing as a substitute for passion, no moaning or screaming, words that you could understand and emotions that could be felt in the soloist's voice.
What a joy to find that those days of detection and song are not gone; they are very much alive in the novels of Barbara Reed. The difference is a marvelous twist, the main character, Liz Hanlon, is both vocalist and detective.
In this, the second of the Mystery and Music Series, the story begins just before a release party. Liz has just signed a three CD contract with Ardor Records. Tonight she will be heard nationally and all of the VIP's in the Los Angeles music industry are in attendance. Just as the show is about to start, a group of disguised teenaged girls invade the room, brandishing automatic weapons and demanding everyone's valuables. Before the robbery is over there will be one man dead and several others critically injured.
Liz knows that the incident was personal. She races against time to solve the puzzle of who could hate her so much. She was stalked by someone once; greeting cards with messages of love mixed with death threats had appeared regularly and then stopped. Is there a connection or are there two people who want to harm Liz and those she loves? She must find out the truth to save lives and to keep her career from ending on the first step to success.
This is a fascinating look into the "back bar" of the life of a nightclub. If you don't know what back bar means (I didn't) you will learn a lot about the hard work that goes into the performance of a concert in an intimate setting. If you are familiar with the entertainment industry, you will glimpse old friends and make new ones as you meet Liz, Sonnie the club owner, Police Detective Milleski and private detective Enos. I especially like Liz's brother Carl. Carl, a lawyer, sounds very much like family and is a steady practical anchor in the artistic whirlwind of Liz's life.
This series has real incidents woven into the fabric of the fiction. Barbara Reed has extensive personal experience in the music industry. She is a professional vocalist and songwriter. Each book has an accompanying CD with songs that are introduced in the course of the story. No more wishing at the end that you could hear the lyrics!
Grab your portable CD player, a lounge chair and the iced beverage of your choice. Adjust the light and prepare to spend an evening immersed in a mystery infused with song! Enjoy!
Review by Terell Byrd
Harmonic Deception By Barbara Reed
I have always loved reruns of the old TV detective shows that took place around a night club: Hawaiian Eye, Peter Gunn or Surfside 6. There was always a band and a woman who performed everything from novelty tunes to heart-rending ballads. The music was secondary to the case that the stalwart male detectives solved, but it was always a high point in the show - a woman, wearing a silky dress, singing in the spotlight, giving a performance that everyone stopped and watched. No over-singing as a substitute for passion, no moaning or screaming, words that you could understand and emotions that could be felt in the soloist's voice.
What a joy to find that those days of detection and song are not gone; they are very much alive in the novels of Barbara Reed. The difference is a marvelous twist, the main character, Liz Hanlon, is both vocalist and detective.
In this, the second of the Mystery and Music Series, the story begins just before a release party. Liz has just signed a three CD contract with Ardor Records. Tonight she will be heard nationally and all of the VIP's in the Los Angeles music industry are in attendance. Just as the show is about to start, a group of disguised teenaged girls invade the room, brandishing automatic weapons and demanding everyone's valuables. Before the robbery is over there will be one man dead and several others critically injured.
Liz knows that the incident was personal. She races against time to solve the puzzle of who could hate her so much. She was stalked by someone once; greeting cards with messages of love mixed with death threats had appeared regularly and then stopped. Is there a connection or are there two people who want to harm Liz and those she loves? She must find out the truth to save lives and to keep her career from ending on the first step to success.
This is a fascinating look into the "back bar" of the life of a nightclub. If you don't know what back bar means (I didn't) you will learn a lot about the hard work that goes into the performance of a concert in an intimate setting. If you are familiar with the entertainment industry, you will glimpse old friends and make new ones as you meet Liz, Sonnie the club owner, Police Detective Milleski and private detective Enos. I especially like Liz's brother Carl. Carl, a lawyer, sounds very much like family and is a steady practical anchor in the artistic whirlwind of Liz's life.
This series has real incidents woven into the fabric of the fiction. Barbara Reed has extensive personal experience in the music industry. She is a professional vocalist and songwriter. Each book has an accompanying CD with songs that are introduced in the course of the story. No more wishing at the end that you could hear the lyrics!
Grab your portable CD player, a lounge chair and the iced beverage of your choice. Adjust the light and prepare to spend an evening immersed in a mystery infused with song! Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews