Roadhouse Blues

Mike Travis #1

by Baron R. Birtcher

Just as Mike Travis was relaxing into his new charter sailing business, he's called back to the LAPD Homicide Department to help with the investigation of a string of murders involving the LA music scene.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

About the author

Baron R. Birtcher spent a number of years as a professional musician, guitarist, singer and songwriter and founded an independent record label.

His first two hardboiled mystery novels, Roadhouse Blues and Ruby Tuesday were Los Angeles Times and IMBA Best-Sellers.

Angels Fall, the third installment in the critically-acclaimed Mike Travis series, was nominated for the 2009 Left Coast Crime Award (the “Lefty”) for Best Law Enforcement/ Police Procedural novel of the year.

Rain Dogs is Mr. Birtcher’s first stand-alone novel, and a Claymore Award finalist.
He has also had the honor of serving as a judge for both the Edgar and the Shamus Awards.

Baron currently divides his time between Kona, Hawaii and Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[3 no 7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Roadhouse Blues” by Baron Birtcher, is the first book in the Mike Travis series. Travis is a retired LAPS homicide detective and arrives on the scene in this first book with a complicated personality, His backstory is revealed piece by piece as part of the narrative. Travis is called out of retirement to investigate a murder that appears to be part of a series of murders that he previously investigated but did not solve.

The title of the book, “Roadhouse Blues” evolves from a prologue, a scene created within the backdrop of a famous LA concert by The Doors. Their album “LA Woman,” provides a soundtrack for the book. I suggest listening as you read. It will create a reading experience like none other. “There’s a killer on the road … if you give this man a ride, sweet family will die.”

The plot is complex, detailed, and well organized. The victims and the places where they are found are part of the message. The killer has no regard for life, yet he is astute enough to get victims to cooperate. Details are important, and things come together in a surprising yet inevitable way.

Baron Birtcher is a professional musician and LA Times best-selling author. The titles of all of his books are also song titles, and each book has a “play list” of music that provides background and atmosphere to enhance the storyline. He also interviews authors and musicians on his YouTube channel “Writers Bar with Baron Birtcher.”

“Roadhouse Blues” and other books by Baron Birtcher are available in print, as e-books, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, and anywhere you get your books.

[Alexandria Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roadhouse Blues* starts with a deceptively calm pace, immersing readers in Mike Travis’s new life of sun-soaked solitude on Catalina Island. But when a murder reopens old wounds, the narrative shifts into high gear, delivering relentless suspense. Birtcher excels at character development. Travis’s internal struggle between his desire for peace and his obsession with justice is palpable. The killer’s taunts, particularly the grotesque lizard imagery, add a layer of psychological horror. The climax is both explosive and emotionally resonant, leaving me eager for the next installment in this series. A standout in the genre.

[Smill Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birtcher nails the tone of classic noir while keeping the story fresh and unpredictable. Mike Travis is a fantastic guide through this shadowy world his weariness and determination make him instantly compelling. The murders are gruesome but not gratuitous, and the killer’s mind games add a psychological edge. The Catalina setting is used brilliantly, offering moments of tranquility that only heighten the tension when the violence erupts. One of the best crime novels I’ve read in a while—highly recommended.

[Thompson Bart · Rating 5 out of 5]

What starts as a quiet retirement for Mike Travis quickly spirals into a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game with a killer who knows how to push his buttons. Birtcher’s writing is crisp and immersive, and Travis’s first-person narration adds intimacy to the hunt. The rock ‘n’ roll elements are woven in seamlessly, giving the story a unique edge. The climax is intense, with a resolution that’s both satisfying and bittersweet. My only quibble is that I wanted a bit more backstory on the killer, but that’s a minor gripe in an otherwise excellent book.

[Ross Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a detective novel with brains, heart, and edge, Roadhouse Blues delivers. Mike Travis is a protagonist you’ll remember world-weary but not cynical, tough but vulnerable. The case that pulls him out of retirement is cleverly constructed, with enough twists to keep you guessing. Birtcher’s prose is lean and mean, with just the right amount of lyricism in the quieter moments. The rock references are a bonus, but the real star is the storytelling. I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next Mike Travis mystery!

[Craig Kingsman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baron Birtcher has a terrific police procedural in Roadhouse Blues. But it has a couple of flaws. The Kindle version I read needed better formatting. And, as per my personal policy, I knocked it down one star because of the "smell of cordite". Cordite hasn't been used in gun powder since WWII.

But...neither of those should cause you to shy away from this novel. It's a fast run as retired cop Mike Travis tries to finally catch the serial killer that evaded him while he was working. I thought the thing that drives the killer forward was brilliant.

[Stacey Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to get pulled in so quickly, but Roadhouse Blues hooked me from the first chapter. Mike Travis is a complex, flawed, and fascinating lead. The Santa Catalina setting adds a moody, weatherworn edge to the story. The killer’s twisted calling card, a computer-generated lizard was especially eerie. Loved the rock history nods too.

[Morgan Keith]

I’ve read a few of Birtcher’s books and Roadhouse Blues might be my favorite. It’s got heart, tension, and a seriously haunting antagonist. Mike’s struggle with the past makes this more than just a whodunit, it’s a meditation on trauma and redemption. Can’t wait for another Travis novel!

[Aurelia Hulls · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a unique mix crime thriller meets rock mythology? Somehow, it works. Travis is a deeply human character, and his quiet moments on the water were just as powerful as the action scenes. Loved the psychological angle too.

[Pati Roberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good first novel written by an author who splits his time between Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest. I met him at a Friends of Mystery gathering and he's quite an interesting gentleman.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will be reading more of this series