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MUSIC CITY MURDERS: The Harry James Denton Series Book #5
A Manual Of Murder
This fifth installment in Steven Womack’s award-winning, best-selling Music City Murders series won the Private Eye Writers of America Shamus Award as Best Paperback Original.
The bestselling toast of Tennessee authors, Robert Jefferson Reed made a Lower Broadway party bus full of money publishing his folksy homilies like Never Go To Bed Angry and Eat Your Vegetables .
He should have added Don’t Drown Me In A Frickin' Hot Tub …
Which is exactly where Nashville P.I. Harry James Denton finds Reed after his wife hires him to catch her hubby in a tryst with a sexy secretary. Turns out Music City’s favorite wholesome, folksy All-American dad’s got an All-American roving eye…
That’s not the only problem. In the stuffy, genteel world of publishing, jealousies and resentments run wild. Reed’s not only made a ton of money, he’s made a ton of enemies as well. As Harry digs deeper, he finds a whole cast of characters who want Reed dead.
And one of them is out to set Harry up. Harry soon finds himself #1 with a bullet on the list of suspects. Can he uncover the murderer before he winds up on the remainder table?
Each installment of Steven Womack’s Music City Murders Series either won or was nominated for a major mystery award . Readers have compared his dry, acerbic writing style to John D. MacDonald, only with a side-dish of smart-ass on steroids.
"In the overcrowded field of private eye fiction, Steven Womack stands head and shoulders above most of the herd."-- Val McDermid , Manchester Evening News
“ Womack is right up there with Parker, Jance, and Grafton . He writes a fast-moving, humorous, well-plotted detective story. No psychology like Rendell, no agenda like Cornwell. His Nashville hero, Harry Denton, is colorful and likeable…” Joan Benny , Amazon Reviewer
The bestselling toast of Tennessee authors, Robert Jefferson Reed made a Lower Broadway party bus full of money publishing his folksy homilies like Never Go To Bed Angry and Eat Your Vegetables .
He should have added Don’t Drown Me In A Frickin' Hot Tub …
Which is exactly where Nashville P.I. Harry James Denton finds Reed after his wife hires him to catch her hubby in a tryst with a sexy secretary. Turns out Music City’s favorite wholesome, folksy All-American dad’s got an All-American roving eye…
That’s not the only problem. In the stuffy, genteel world of publishing, jealousies and resentments run wild. Reed’s not only made a ton of money, he’s made a ton of enemies as well. As Harry digs deeper, he finds a whole cast of characters who want Reed dead.
And one of them is out to set Harry up. Harry soon finds himself #1 with a bullet on the list of suspects. Can he uncover the murderer before he winds up on the remainder table?
Each installment of Steven Womack’s Music City Murders Series either won or was nominated for a major mystery award . Readers have compared his dry, acerbic writing style to John D. MacDonald, only with a side-dish of smart-ass on steroids.
"In the overcrowded field of private eye fiction, Steven Womack stands head and shoulders above most of the herd."-- Val McDermid , Manchester Evening News
“ Womack is right up there with Parker, Jance, and Grafton . He writes a fast-moving, humorous, well-plotted detective story. No psychology like Rendell, no agenda like Cornwell. His Nashville hero, Harry Denton, is colorful and likeable…” Joan Benny , Amazon Reviewer
456 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 1998
87 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Steven Womack
32 books43 followersWith the publication of his novel, FADE UP FROM BLACK: THE RETURN OF HARRY JAMES DENTON, Steven Womack brings back his award-winning MUSIC CITY MURDERS series, featuring P.I. Harry James Denton
Womack began his first novel when he was eighteen-years-old. A short eighteen years later, he finally sold one. His first published novel, MURPHY'S FAULT, was the only debut mystery on the 1990 New York Times Notable Book List. Since then, he has published ten more novels, winning both the Edgar and Shamus Awards, as well as receiving multiple nominations for major mystery awards.
His Edgar and Shamus Award-winning Harry James Denton MUSIC CITY MURDERS series--DEAD FOLKS' BLUES, TORCH TOWN BOOGIE, WAY PAST DEAD, NOBODY'S CHAIN LAYS STRAIGHT, A MANUAL OF MURDER and DIRTY MONEY--has been republished by Spearhead Press.
A scriptwriter as well, Womack co-wrote the screenplays for PROUDHEART, which was nominated for the CableAce Award, and VOLCANO: FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, an ABC television movie that was one of the most-watched television movies of the year.
Womack lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where for twenty-five years he anchored the screenwriting program at the Watkins Film School of Watkins College of Art. He also served five years as Chair of The Film School. When the college closed in May, 2020, he was the longest serving faculty member at the college.
A licensed pilot, Womack loves to fly and scuba dive in his spare time. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any spare time since 2001.
Visit his website at www.stevenwomack.com
Womack began his first novel when he was eighteen-years-old. A short eighteen years later, he finally sold one. His first published novel, MURPHY'S FAULT, was the only debut mystery on the 1990 New York Times Notable Book List. Since then, he has published ten more novels, winning both the Edgar and Shamus Awards, as well as receiving multiple nominations for major mystery awards.
His Edgar and Shamus Award-winning Harry James Denton MUSIC CITY MURDERS series--DEAD FOLKS' BLUES, TORCH TOWN BOOGIE, WAY PAST DEAD, NOBODY'S CHAIN LAYS STRAIGHT, A MANUAL OF MURDER and DIRTY MONEY--has been republished by Spearhead Press.
A scriptwriter as well, Womack co-wrote the screenplays for PROUDHEART, which was nominated for the CableAce Award, and VOLCANO: FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, an ABC television movie that was one of the most-watched television movies of the year.
Womack lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where for twenty-five years he anchored the screenwriting program at the Watkins Film School of Watkins College of Art. He also served five years as Chair of The Film School. When the college closed in May, 2020, he was the longest serving faculty member at the college.
A licensed pilot, Womack loves to fly and scuba dive in his spare time. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any spare time since 2001.
Visit his website at www.stevenwomack.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 21, 2022
Another amazing hit
First thing that strikes me is that for one reason or another I am reading this series out of order. To my great surprise and joy it is so well written it is easy to follow no matter the order you read it in.
Our hero is in it deep this time. Accused of killing a clients husband, and in a separate situation murdering his landlady, his pregnant girlfriend leaves him and moves across the country. How ever dose he get him self into these messes and will he be able to get out of this one?
First thing that strikes me is that for one reason or another I am reading this series out of order. To my great surprise and joy it is so well written it is easy to follow no matter the order you read it in.
Our hero is in it deep this time. Accused of killing a clients husband, and in a separate situation murdering his landlady, his pregnant girlfriend leaves him and moves across the country. How ever dose he get him self into these messes and will he be able to get out of this one?
October 29, 2016
I enjoyed this murder mystery book. It's a light read and I liked the main character's sarcastic sense of humor. He's a dispirited investigative reporter who stumbles onto one dead body after another. Add to that he decides to investigate the murder and gets into more trouble and bad luck. All in all a good read.
April 15, 2019
A Manual Of Murder
Another nail biter! Good story but Harry worries me to death! When I read I'm always thinking Oh carp Harry don't do that! But he always survives. Sure glad he has Lonnie watching his back.
Another nail biter! Good story but Harry worries me to death! When I read I'm always thinking Oh carp Harry don't do that! But he always survives. Sure glad he has Lonnie watching his back.
November 18, 2021
Oh Harry, Not Again
This story leads you on a story of bad circumstances. Poor Harry, is in the wrong place, for the right reason. How he gets out of this tangle leads the reader on a merry trip.
This story leads you on a story of bad circumstances. Poor Harry, is in the wrong place, for the right reason. How he gets out of this tangle leads the reader on a merry trip.
December 21, 2020
Predictable, but fun. Written by a Nashville local and set in the city, in the 90's. I was living in Nashville throughout that decade and I know the places and current affairs well. Just fun.
December 3, 2021
A fascinating series well worth reading
January 30, 2022
I just love this series. It is a roller coaster of a ride that includes murder, romance, laughs and a great cast of characters.
August 11, 2022
Another good story in the Harry Denton series. Man, that guy sure knows how to find trouble!
September 20, 2022
Very entertaining murder mystery. I enjoyed all the characters in this one!
February 26, 2024
I love this book because of the great story and because I live in Nashville! It’s cool to see the names of streets that I know as well as certain areas of town.
August 18, 2024
Music city murders
Always a surprise just when I think I know where its going Harry makes a wide left turn. So fun to see justice served. Keep the series going.
Always a surprise just when I think I know where its going Harry makes a wide left turn. So fun to see justice served. Keep the series going.
January 27, 2022
I just love this series. It is a roller coaster of a ride that includes murder, romance, laughs and a great cast of characters.
January 12, 2022
Interesting characters.
December 31, 2014
An easy book to listen to
July 8, 2016
Go look at my review at https://l882.wordpress.com/2016/07/08... I have some other book reviews to.
September 16, 2009
Womack gives Harry Denton the perfect PI voice. The book is quick paced, humorous and a light read.
Want to read
September 9, 2018Synopsis: our friend Harry James Denton is caught at the scene of a murder. It's a tangled web!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews