Blue Moon

Philip Damon Mystery #1

by Peter Duchin, John Morgan Wilson

Bandleader Philip Damon still hasn't recovered from the death of his wife-victim of a still-unsolved murder-when he arrives at a charity ball at San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel. So, understandably, he's quite shaken to meet Lenore Ashley there, as she uncannily resembles his late wife. But the belle of the ball becomes a suspect when her companion is found dead with an ice pick in his heart. Now, Philip must solve two murders-and discover why he is the one link between them.

Genres: Mystery

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Ok for the writing and editing, and some pretty unbelievable scenes. 3.5 for the history, music, setting, and likable characters. May read more in the series to see what happens next.

[Michelle F · Rating 3 out of 5]

A jazzy little who-dunnit set in 1960's San Francisco. The not-quite-Big-Band atmosphere is fun and elegant, though the heavy-handed use of celebrity seems a bit overdone. Successful Bandleader Philip Damon is playing a glitzy ballroom fundraiser when the lights go down, a scream rings out and a wealthy man is found dead on the dancefloor, an icepick through his chest. The woman doing the screaming, well...she just happens to look exactly like Philip's wife, who was murdered one year earlier.

This was a pleasant read, fitting solidly into it's genre. It wasn't terribly remarkable in any way, though the view from behind the piano, if you will, was a nice conceit and added some fun to the story. The mystery itself was probably fair-play (I'm not the most observant cat in the litterbox), and twisty enough to stay interesting.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Famous musician Peter Duchin pairs up with mystery writer Jon Morgan Wilson to pen a multiple-murder mystery set in the era of beginning rock'n roll music. A pair of amateur sleuth "help" the first black detective on San Francisco police force to solve several related murders.

[Lori S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little meandering, but interesting none-the-less.