Eighty-Eight Keys

by Catherine Lavender

Leah is a young woman who is trying to break free from a strict religious background and pursue her dream as a pianist in the world of show business. While trying to find her independence her heart is held captive by Jason Rowe, a local basketball star who established an organization to help troubled youth. When Jason is found murdered in his home, Leah is determined to get answers from a closed investigation. During her state of emotional turmoil, Leah finds comfort not only in the melody of her music, but in the arms of a married man named Calvin. With her dreams at her fingertips, Leah is tangled in a web of lies and deceit. Despite the fear of learning the truth, Leah has to realize that only the truth can set her free.

A dead lover, with a trail of broken hearts...
A married man, with a double-life...
A dream chaser, with a killer at her heels...
A piano, with eighty-eight keys...

Genres: Romance

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2013

About the author

Catherine Lavender is an author of Contemporary Fiction. Her first novel Eighty-Eight Keys was published in 2013 by Whimsical Publications, and in 2016 Catherine’s second novel In Black & White was published by Chamomile Books. Literary Critics continue to admire the published works of this emerging author.

"Such compelling writing and dialog forces readers onto a tumultuous emotional roller coaster..."

- The US Review of Books on In Black & White

"This is a well-constructed novel, rich with human emotions, authentic conflicts, and genuine, real-life characters who will remain in readers’ minds for a long time. Highly recommended!"

- The Columbia Review of Books & Film on In Black & White

Reviews

[Majanka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m having a hard time coming up with a proper rating for Eighty-Eight Keys. The book is a romantic murder-mystery with main character Leah stuck in the middle of something she barely understands. Her lover, Jason, was murdered. Now Leah is left to pick up the pieces. The police has no clue as to who’s done it, and the trail has reached a dead end. Occupied with hosting a charity gala for the foundation Bright Horizon, a foundation Jason helped established, she’s caught in the middle of schemes and plots. Rosa, the mother of Jason’s son, little Jay-Jay, helps out at Bright Horizon as well, and she’s the last person Leah wants to see.

But then Leah gets knocked out while at work and Tanvir, one of the other employees, gets attacked and falls into a coma. It looks like whoever killed Jason isn’t done with them yet. There may be more murders before the culprit gives up. Leah has to find out why and who, not ust for her sake, but also for Jason’s. Meanwhile she tries to get over Jason by dating another man, Calvin, who happens to be married. As Leah tries to solve the mystery, she also tries to find who she truly is.

My main issue with this book were the characters. Some of them fell kind of flat, like Coach Turner and Tanvir. We’re introduced to them, but that’s all. Their purpose in the book is minimal at best, so I didn’t understand why some parts of the book were from their POV. I think it would’ve made more sense to leave that out, since they’re small, insignificant characters anyway.Marla, Calvin’s wife didn’t have much personality either, yet again she gets some scenes from her POV. I actually felt sorry for her, and I didn’t mind her scenes, but I’d rather the story would’ve been more focused on the mystery at hand than dwelling off into several directions.

Some of the other characters do have personality, like Calvin, Leah’s newest love interest. To be honest, I barely understand the reason why Calvin would be introduced in the book in the first place. Making the main character likeable isn’t going to be easy if you have her snooping around with a married man, so this overly complicates things. Leah isn’t the most likeable person in the world from the get-go, but this just made everything worse for me. If actual feelings are involved then I can live with ‘home wreckers’ and adultery, but here it seemed so…random. Calvin is a pretty awful character. What little personality traits he has, they’re all awful. He’s the kind of spineless jerk who can’t stay faithful to one woman, and who can’t stand being on his own, so he jumps from date to date, cheating on his wife Marla like it’s a national sport. While that makes him an awful person, it actually had the potential to turn him into an interesting, dynamic book character. However, he fell a little flat, and this made his actions incomprehensible and random at times. I disliked him from the get-go.

What’s worse is that I disliked Jason as well. All right, he never makes a real appearance in this book except through memories – he’s dead the moment the book starts- but that doesn’t mean I can’t come up with my opinion about him. And my opinion is that he’s kind of a bastard. All right, they can try to blame Rosa as much as they want about trying to tie him down to her, but in all honesty, he was the one who chose to have sex with Rosa, which ended up in Jay-Jay being born. Rosa is a fierce woman, but she clearly loves Jay-Jay. Yet Jason was determined to ‘take his son and run’. Right, because that shows he’s the best Dad ever, and a responsible adult. The excuse for this woudl be that Rosa threatened to do the same. Two wrongs never made a right before, and it doesn’t happen here either. I actually thought Rosa was more likeable than Jason, and while I understand some of the nasty feelings toward Rosa, I thought she had every right to feel nasty feelings toward Leah as well.

But Rosa isn’t the only woman Jason cheated on Leah with. He was also having an affair or something – it’s never really mentioned if it was a full-blown affair or not – with Claudia, a mysterious woman who once send him a love letter. So really, I have no freaking idea why Leah, Rosa, or anyone else would like the man. He clearly clarifies for the title of ‘scumbag of the year’ along with Calvin. Jason keeps on telling Leah he’s not ready for a full relationship and the troubles that come with that, yet he’s willing to settle down with Rosa and his little son. He keeps Leah on a string, and it angered me.

Then there’s something else. Leah. She’s the main character of this book and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to like her. I just couldn’t. It’s not that she’s mean or anything, but she’s just so ignorant. She acts like a sixteen-year-old girl instead of a grown-up woman. She goes around and dates Calvin although she knows he had a kid, without once bothering to wonder what could possibly have happened with the kid’s Mom. Even when she finds out Calvin is married, she happily goes on dating him after throwing a tantrum. Uhm. Right. That move certainly didn’t add to her credibility. She never really stops to think about Jason’s son either when she’s dating him, or the consequences it might have on the little kid that his Dad is seeing other women. And the moment she lands in Vegas, she instantly starts dating yet another guy, forgetting all about Calvin, Jason, etc. First of all – the meeting with Austin, the Vegas guy, was weird. I wouldn’t trust that, but Leah, although thinking he’s a creepy stalker at first, quickly changes her mind and hangs out with him. Why is every guy she meets interested in her? And why does she have to say yes to every person who asks her out? On top of that, her mind isn’t focused. She’s supposedly still mourning over Jason, but when she’s with Calvin or Austin, it sure looks like she’s moved on rather quickly. She’s trying to find who murdered Jason, but meanwhile she’s focused on her own journey to finding herself. I truly supported the latter, and thought that, especially for a character like Leah, some soul-searching would be great, but when Tanvir was attacked, it seemed logical to me she’d jump on the case and try to solve it asap. Why? She’d been attacked earlier, and the attack on Tanvir was obviously a lot more brutal, so wouldn’t she at least have considered herself in danger?

Oh, and that said, when Tanvir was attacked and put in a coma, the police was pretty much absent, like through the rest of the book. Even if they have no leads, the police handled the case rather disinterested here, and I don’t think it would happen that easily in real life. There’s protocol, and if a friend of a recent murder victim was brutally attacked, the police would look into it.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff. Because there is a lot of good stuff here too. The idea behind the book was intriguing, the build-up suspenseful. If the book had focused only on the murder mystery, or more profoundly on the murder mystery, it would’ve probably gotten a higher rating from me. As it stands, the plot is a bit all over the place. There’s the murder, the upcoming gala, the many murder suspects lining up, Leah doing her soul-searching. It would’ve worked if the book had been longer, but in its current form, it’s too much too soon, and it makes the book hard to follow. I was trying to find out who’d done it – like I usually do with mystery books – but because of the various directions the plot took, I had trouble focusing on the mystery. However, when it’s revealed who’s done it and why, and all the strings come together, then the plot starts to make sense. There are still some storylines left unresolved, but the main plot ties up nicely.

The writing itself was good, but it could use another proofreading round. There were about ten places I counted – and my grammar isn’t perfect either – where there should’ve been commas that had been left out. That aside though, the pace is solid, the style isn’t too flowery or descriptive, and the author obviously has a rich vocabulary and isn’t afraid to use it.

All that taken into account, I did enjoy the book. I wish the plot had been more consistent and the characters more likeable, but c’est la vie, and it’s actually quite refreshing to read a book about a main character I don’t like at all. The suspense build-up was solid, the writing was good and the overall reading experience pleasant. For a debut novel, I think the author did rather well. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author in the future. If you’re a fan of the genre, this is a decent, quick and enjoyable read.

[Rosieposie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review

I found Eighty-Eight Keys by Catherine Lavender to be a book with many surprises. As a debut novel, it was quite interesting and it was a pleasure to read. However, I personally felt there were too many characters in the book, and at times I found it overwhelming. Having two or three main characters in a book are more than enough to engage the reader; it also helps to establish a connection with said reader. I wanted to know more about Leah's life, about her trials, and what she went through, as well as what it took for her to break free of the the religious beliefs that music was not to be shared. Maybe more background and emotional drama and angst between her and her mother, for example, would have given me more insight as to what Leah had to endure in the past as well as in the present. Secondary characters are great, but I wanted Ms. Lavender to focus more on the main characters. By doing so it makes for great plot development and the reader is invested in the characters.

I did like the transition from past to present, giving the reader a glimpse into Leah and Jason's relationship before he died. However, the relationship they shared failed to keep me interested. His character was flawed, which I don't mind, as I believe flawed characters are a plus in a novel. The reader follows them as they mature and change, and they become a better person, if that character is a protagonist. However, Jason, a main character in the book, is murdered, thereby never getting the chance to redeem himself. (It did seem to me as if Jason wanted to be a better partner to Leah while he was alive.) There is a part in the book, which I can't mention due to spoilers, where Jason takes steps towards redemption, but again he can't because he's no longer alive. Maybe to some the possibility of what could have been is enough. However, my belief is that change and redemption are a process that readers want to read, and they want to be there when it finally happens.

The character I found to be the most interesting was Marla. Marla is the wife of Calvin, the man who Leah goes to for comfort. There is a definite attraction between them. I had the most empathy and sympathy for this character, and I rejoiced in her journey throughout this story. She displayed her vulnerability, and later on, the inner strength she needed to move forward.

The murder and the who-done-it were interesting; but if I were more invested in the characters, I think it would have been even better. All in all ,the book was engaging, and the writer is quite talented with her writing skills, and I look forward to seeing the growth in her future works.

[Literati Literature Lovers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Eighty-Eight Keys by Catherine Lavender to be a book with many surprises. As a debut novel, it was quite interesting and it was a pleasure to read. However, I personally felt there were too many characters in the book, and at times I found it overwhelming. Having two or three main characters in a book are more than enough to engage the reader; it also helps to establish a connection with said reader. I wanted to know more about Leah's life, about her trials, and what she went through, as well as what it took for her to break free of the the religious beliefs that music was not to be shared. Maybe more background and emotional drama and angst between her and her mother, for example, would have given me more insight as to what Leah had to endure in the past as well as in the present. Secondary characters are great, but I wanted Ms. Lavender to focus more on the main characters. By doing so it makes for great plot development and the reader is invested in the characters.

I did like the transition from past to present, giving the reader a glimpse into Leah and Jason's relationship before he died. However, the relationship they shared failed to keep me interested. His character was flawed, which I don't mind, as I believe flawed characters are a plus in a novel. The reader follows them as they mature and change, and they become a better person, if that character is a protagonist. However, Jason, a main character in the book, is murdered, thereby never getting the chance to redeem himself. (It did seem to me as if Jason wanted to be a better partner to Leah while he was alive.) There is a part in the book, which I can't mention due to spoilers, where Jason takes steps towards redemption, but again he can't because he's no longer alive. Maybe to some the possibility of what could have been is enough. However, my belief is that change and redemption are a process that readers want to read, and they want to be there when it finally happens.

The character I found to be the most interesting was Marla. Marla is the wife of Calvin, the man who Leah goes to for comfort. There is a definite attraction between them. I had the most empathy and sympathy for this character, and I rejoiced in her journey throughout this story. She displayed her vulnerability, and later on, the inner strength she needed to move forward.

The murder and the who-done-it were interesting; but if I were more invested in the characters, I think it would have been even better. All in all ,the book was engaging, and the writer is quite talented with her writing skills, and I look forward to seeing the growth in her future works.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book for the blog tour.Thank you!

General Opinion: When I read the blurb nd saw that the main character is a pianist, I was sure that I had to read the book. I love books where the main character is musician and I expected a t from this book. To be honest, I am a little dissapointed because it wasn't as amazing as I expected. Yes, it was an interesting book, but not the best.
What I liked the most: The fact that the book is easy to read and captivating. But it's also very tangled and slighty confusing.But I'll talk about this later. Now, speaking about things I liked. As I said, the book is a quick, short read. I read it in just one day.
"Eighty-Eight Keys" captivates you. What captivated me the most? I was very curious to see if Leah (btw, I love this name!) will reach her dream of being a pianist. Something that captivated me was Jason's murder.I wanted to see how killed him.
Other good things: I think that the autor is talented, but she needs to improve her writing. Don't get me wrong, I liked this book, but the author felt undecided about the action and aboout the characters' feelings. I mean, one day,Calvin wanted to get rid of his wife, and the nest day, he was desperate to get her back. I also felt like she was skipping some important details. But she is talented and I think that, with more patient and work, she'll publish a sucessful book.
I really liked Leah and her love about music. Though I expected the music part to be more accentuated it was great to meet a character as Leah.
The characters are great, very realistic. But I didn't like all of them. *cough*Calvin*cough*
What I disliked: I didn't know if I should take this book as a mystery/crime novel, love story or a book about musician. In the beginning, I felt a little confused by the action but I quickly understood it and I came to like the characters.
I'd totally kill Calvin. Ugh, men like him make me wanna kill them!!
Final opinion: "Eighty Eight keys" it's a great book, with a captivating action, but with cons. I expected more from it and I feel a little dissapointed. Of course, you might love it, so don't hesitate.
I recommend it to: Everyone
Would I read it again: No, I don't think so.
Do I want to read a sequel: The ending didn't leave room for a sequel, so I don't want one.
Rate: 3.5 stars out of 5

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighty-Eight Keys is an intriguing romantic suspense novel about the complexity of relationships in the midst of murder, blackmail, threats, betrayal and hidden secrets. In her debut novel, author Catherine Lavender weaves an intense tale of mystery and suspense written in the third person narrative that alternates between the present with flashbacks of the past. The reader follows along as Leah tries to forge a life away from her restrictive upbringing in a Pentecostal family. She aspires to become a pianist, but along the way she faces turmoil and danger from the complicated entanglements in her relationships.

This story has a large cast of characters who are realistic and flawed, their individual perspectives, intense dialogue and interactions keeps the reader on their toes. There is a lot that goes on in this multi-layered storyline, it is an action-packed story that is full of drama, murder, mystery and suspense mixed in with complicated romantic relationships. It has intriguing clues, secrets and twists and turns that keeps the reader engaged and guessing what will happen next. I have to admit that because there was so much going on in the story, I had to keep a list of the characters and take notes in order to keep up with them and their involvement throughout the story. Nonetheless, I found Eighty-Eight Keys to be a riveting romantic suspense story, it has a little bit of everything, what more could a reader ask for?!

Eighty-Eight Keys is a fine debut novel for author Catherine Lavender. I look forward to seeing what future novels she has in store for her readers.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Lynelle Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Author, Catherine Lavender has done a wonderful work in this entertaining murder romance story. Filled with characters that all had reasons to murder the victim Jason Rowe.
The whole plot evolved around Bright Horizon, home for troubled kids but with lots of potential. Helping the children furthering their careers and opportunities in life. Woven with greed, lust, affairs, doubt and their own ambition to enhance themselves to the end. But as we all know pride always comes before the fall.
The one true character in this book was Leah who found herself mixed in all of the confusion trying to find the murderer of her murdered lover. The daughter of a minister whose teaching kept her almost on the straight and narrow. Finding her self in a affair with a man that was not honest with her. Learning about his family, doing some investigating of her own into Jason's death. Discover secrets as she went along. Hated almost by every woman in the book.
While she dreams of becoming a pianist. Taking matters in her own hands to make her dream come true. Her strong will filled spirit refuse to lay down but fight for what is hers, finding her solace in music as it lifts her from her circumstances into a new life.
The supporting character of Mrs. Jacobi, elderly neighbor and retired piano teacher who had a profound take on her life sets her on her course to meet a man Austin while in search for her own dreams.
The many characters involved with their own stories, some living in lies, others with deceit was nicely illustrated through out the book. As the plot thickens and more people got hurt, were blackmailed or threatened.
A nice build up to this good read.

[Darlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a mixed feeling about the book. Apart of being a book of mystery or suspense that I would read, the book actually leave me wonders about every details of the characters. I wouldn't say there's so much things I don't like when the story is quite good. A short story with such a condense plot may be one of the reason why. Sometimes I felt the story have some hangings despite of the tense of the situations. Leah's character for me is quite shaky, or maybe that's what her character is. She's quite insecure with herself when is a very a talented pianist but somehow when she tried to find out the murder, she seems brave and knows what to do.

Whilst the book might have a tiny flaw, I still find the book is a good book to kill some time. It's a fast read and the book has quite good twist in the end.

[Samantha March · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Lavender is now on tour with CLP Blog Tours and Eighty-Eight Keys.

I did enjoy this book, as I’m a big fan of mysteries, but at times I found myself a little lost in the shuffle with all the characters. Leah is the leading lady, but we often get insight from other characters in the story and while I liked that for the most part, sometimes it got to be a little much. All the little twists along the way and the secrets hidden were intriguing. I read this pretty quickly and thought it was an interesting murder romance novel that will leave readers in suspense.
3.5 stars

[Margaret Tidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and I liked that the author kept you guessing as to who the murderer was. I had it completely wrong and that isn't something that happens often to me. I really loved how the author told the story and how things went in the book. I would recommend this book if you love a good suspense book.

[Julie Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complete review is posted on my book blog at Chick LIt Chit Chat. I will post it here in the coming days. Stay-tuned!