Highway 61 Resurfaced

Rick Shannon #2

by Bill Fitzhugh

In a review of Highway 61 Resurfaced, the brilliant music writer Greil Marcus "A lost-tapes mystery -- all blues mysteries are lost-tapes mysteries -- but unlike the rest, this pays off with a climax so rich you want to hear the tapes as much as the people hunting them down." It all starts when Southern Belle Lollie Woolfolk sashays into Rick Shannon’s office at Rockin’ Vestigations in Vicksburg. She hires him to find the grandfather she never met, one-time blues producer Tucker Woolfolk. The day after Rick finds him, the old man is murdered. A couple of days later, Tucker Woolfolk’s former partner is killed too. Then Lollie Woolfolk disappears. Things start to get weird when another woman claiming to be Lollie Woolfolk shows up and hires him to find out who killed the two men and why. Rick’s investigation turns up evidence pointing to the legendary Blind, Crippled, and Crazy sessions, a fabled blues recording date featuring Blind Buddy Cotton, Crippled Willie Jefferson, and Crazy Earl Tate. Blues scholars have been searching for these tapes for fifty years. But no one has ever killed for them. Until now. Rick and Lollie soon find themselves looking back half a century to solve the case and it takes them up famed Highway 61 to places rich in the history of the blues. A place where, for the past fifty years, certain people have worked very hard to keep the lid on some unsavory business. But when Pigfoot Morgan gets released from Parchman Farm half a century after going in, all hell breaks loose, threatening the fortunes of three old bluesmen and four generations of a Delta cotton dynasty. Marilyn Stasio of the New York Times “Fitzhugh’s satire isn’t subtle, but it’s hilarious – and dead on. In sending Rick [Shannon] up and down the Delta in search of Blind Buddy Cotton, Crippled Willie Jefferson, Crazy Earl Tate and the missing tape of their collaboration. . . Fitzhugh treats us to a tragicomic tour of regional black-and-blues history. Fitzhugh, born and reared in Mississippi, has a belly full of feeling for the songs and legends of his Southern musical heritage. But where he really shows his artistry is in his richly comic, warmly affectionate character studies of battered old men with long experience in living – not just playing – the blues.” The New York Times My pal Carl Hiassen “Bill Fitzhugh is a deeply disturbed individual who uses his talents to write very funny novels, the latest being Highway 61 Resurfaced. You will seriously dig this book if you like classic rock, southern blues, clever mysteries, and cats with loathsome sinus infections.” Carl Hiaasen

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Adult Fiction, Mystery Thriller

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Bill Fitzhugh worked at several FM rock radio stations in the 1970s and 1980s. Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, he prefers The Band, Little Feat, and Van Morrison to Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Iron Butterfly. The author of numerous screenplays and five comic novels, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife and his record collection.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

As many moviegoers have learned, sometimes sequel's just aren't a good idea. Fitzhugh, for the first time in his 8 or so books, decided to carry forward with his disc-jockey/private detective combo from Radio Activity, and give Rick Shannon another music-based crime spree to solve. However, to say "another" would mean he didn't pretty much just repeat the first...and he did. Between a similar romantic angle that ended up not working out, a collection of characters that seemed ripped out of a Hiassen novel (down to an amputated limb) and a constant harkening to a particular era and type of music, it was easy to see how Fitzhugh just copied over his outline, did a bunch of "find and replace" in the story and out of the 350 pages maybe put in a total of 50 new ones.

As a straight read, it was an easy-enough ride that wasn't terrible, but I'm glad I had read a few of his other works first or I wouldn't have been apt to try anything else after this one. Everything I've read seems that his earlier work was his best, and I concur as Pest Control just makes me chuckle thinking about it. This one is no Pest Control, and is a downgrade from it's prequel. I'd skip it if anyone liked the rest of his work - no reason to tarnish that.

[Doris W. Skoch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Fails

Bill Fits high never fails to engage his readers. The story line, the insertion oh history and nostalgia! This book will have you listening to Blues and chasing down rare recordings.

[D. Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story and music history lesson.

[Barbara Fraley · Rating 3 out of 5]

humerous tale of rick shannon and his second occupation. one that may get him killed. but he has a trusty sidekick - a sick cat rick names "crusty boogers" lagh your way through.

[Reynolds Darke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good comic mystery by Bill Fitzhugh. If you haven't read "Pest Control" I highly recommend it. This is the second in the Rockin' Vestigations series about a radio DJ moonlighting as a PI.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the 12 best mysteries I read in 2005.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned many blues facts. Hated the cat crusty

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun whodunnit that romps through the blues and the landscape in which it thrived - with some classic rock and social commentary thrown in.

[Paul Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

A southern noir novel that highlights murder, music,and racism.

[Carolyn Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing mix of humor, the blues, and crimes in the past and present.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quirky mystery featuring a Vicksburg DJ who's also a PI. Besides being into golden oldie music like the Allmans and ZZ Top, he's also into blues musicians and minstrel shows most of us have never heard of. Some readers will complain Fitzhugh gives too much information about these characters and slows the pace; I'm not one of them. For me, the anecdotes and historical vignettes makes this story come alive

Our hero Rick ends up smelling like a pig sty after chasing down a cheating spouse. Then he runs across a famished kitten and, soft-hearted guy that he is, takes it to the animal shelter. And, soft-hearted guy that he is, ends up having the fast-talking technician talk him into keeping it. And paying vet bills and buying its medicine, litter box, crate and other toys that he can't afford. I can't help warming to him.

Then a woman hires him to find her grandfather Woolfolk, a retired music producer. In fact, it turns out the old man's mixed up with some legendary lost tapes that some old musicians supposedly made fifty years before.

And speaking of those lost tapes, Clarence happens to be one of the musicians supposedly in them. And he's just getting out of prison after serving a fifty year sentence. Could be he's holding a grudge against the other musicians for hanging him out to dry. Maybe Clarence holds a grudge against the producer, too. Because no sooner does Rick start looking for Woolfolk than the producer turns up dead.

And then, another woman comes along, claiming to be Woolfolk's granddaughter and wanting Rick to find out who murdered the old man.

After more murders, more shootings, and a crazy villain who gets crazier and crazier, I'm cheering like crazy at the ending.

Not for everyone, but anyone interested in old musicians -- like Isham Bracey, Ma Rainey, Muddy Waters, Rufus Thomas and lots more -- will love this mystery.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read "Mistery" books, but this one was recommended to be because I love Christopher Moore. This book was a good read, I went through it quickly and couldn't wait to see what happened next. On top of that, it is based in Mississippi and has several references to Arkansas, Louisianna and Memphis. It is mostly based on music and classic old Blues Singers, so if you like that kind of music you will like this book and learn a lot from it.
I like to say that it read like a movie. As in, it was described just and well enough for my imagination to see it perfectly and it was like watching a movie in my head. I love books like that. I will be reading another one of Bill Fitzhughs books in the future and I recommend this book to music lovers, mystery lovers, cat lovers, and humor lovers.

[C.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a marvelous book! From the title to the last page, Bill Fitzhugh manages to combine the Deep South of Flannery O'Connor, Carl Hiassen, and Muddy Waters, not to mention Bob Dylan's eponymous highway. It's a satisfyingly suspenseful mystery which is also very funny and full of great music. I'm hard to bowl over, but I really liked this one.

FYI - Pandamonkey, who gave this book 1 star and blasted "a guy breaking the law of chastity with a dog," clearly didn't read it very carefully. Many laws are broken in this book, but not that one. Which isn't a law anyhow. Comments like this are Goodreads' Achilles Heel.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read and a much needed break from the emotional books I have been reading of late. Most of the humor revolved around a rescue kitten dubbed Crusty Boogers. Fitzhugh inserted some fairly well researched history of early Blues music. The story drug on a bit at the end, it could have used a quicker wrap up. Never going to win any prizes but it was an okay diversion. Mindless reading and not one of those books that makes me want to run out and pick up more of his books for a binge read fest. More of a 2 1/2 star than a 3, but then again I am a harsh critic.

[Cindy Grossi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh-I loved this book. It was packed with so many of my favorite elements - witty, witty writing set in the Mississippi Delta with blues history and a mystery. Fitzhugh is Mississippi's Carl Hiaasen.
I had read Fitzhugh's first book and and really liked it, but this far excelled that initial effort.

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fitzhugh is usually a great deal of fun. He's funny and irreverent, and likes classic rock even more than I do. But this one is just not that great. The characters, which are never that strong, are even less interesting. By halfway through, I didn't care about the whodunit.

It's better than some books, if only because it's so very light. It's not aiming for much or asking for much. But there are better.

[Tom Buske · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the second of a series involving Rick Stafford, rock and roll and blues DJ and part-time private investigator. Stylistically, a little like Hiassen but without his Florida settings, this book is a loving yet unflinching look at Mississippi in the 1950s. Add lots of cool blues history stuff, good dialogue and some amusing situations and this easy reading book is a fun time.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book because I love music and mysteries. I learned about songs's origins and lots about Mississippi and the delta blues. Very fun, whodunit story. I will put his other books on my fun list to read.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am in love with his main character

[Pandamonkey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was horrible. It was vulgar and crude (including a guy breaking the law of chastity with a dog). It is books like this that make people ashamed to read.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, but I don't know whether I will read any other books in the series. I may move on to some other interesting authors and series.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this light mystery by a friend. Loved the setting and the blues topic.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining and I learned a lot about the history of blues music.

[Carol Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice Delta atmosphere and great old bluesman characters. Fitzhugh does have a way with words. I particularly liked the quip, "He won't go bowlegged toting his brains around."

[Planet J · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the blues and mystery novels..this is the book for you.

[Carole Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Delta blues and then some!

This book was a great read. Well written, interesting, and entertaining. What more could you want in a Summer read?