When one of the stars of the boozy, risqué reality show, Charleston Buzz, takes a bullet to the head in mid-tryst, homicide cops Nick Janzek and Delvin Rhett swing into action. Within twenty-four hours they have five suspects…problem is all of them have solid alibis.
Meanwhile, across town, is that a clandestine brothel being run by the fat cats of Charleston? And what’s with all those college girls hanging out there?
As new partners Janzek and Rhett stumble along looking for a break, it becomes clear that some of Charleston's most prominent citizens are up to their eyeballs in it all.
A native New Englander, Tom Turner ran a bar in Vermont after college, then moved to New York and spent time as an award-winning copywriter at several Manhattan advertising agencies.
After years of post-Mad Men life, he made a radical change and got a job in commercial real estate. A few years later he ended up in Palm Beach, buying, renovating and selling houses. On the side, he wrote Palm Beach Nasty, its sequel, Palm Beach Poison, and a screenplay, Underwater.
While at a wedding, he fell for the charm of Charleston, South Carolina, and moved there. He recently completed his third novel entitled, Killing Time in Charleston.
Violent crime detectives Nick Janzek and his partner Delvin Rhett get called to the scene of a murder. Not just any murder, but the star of a locally shot reality show called Charleston Buzz. Charleston Buzz is a typical losers, boozers, womanizers, hot tempers and idiots reality show.
The main character is found dead in bed, skimpy ladies panties found tucked underneath. The wife is nowhere around. Meanwhile, Nick is called to a brothel across town filled with local elites and college girls. Too many suspects and no good leads. Nick has to sort out the corruption, the real leads from the just plain crazy people. Kept me guessing. Lots of twists to the story. And a good detective story.
With a flavour of both a Carl Hiaasen novel and a Will Smith/Bad Boys movie, Book 2 of the brilliant Tom Turner's A Nick Janzek Charleston Mystery series, is Charleston Buzz Kill, that begins with the wittily literal kill of the eponymous shock-jock show Charleston Buzz' presenter, David Wayne Marion, aka 'D-Wayne.'
Meanwhile a separate investigation begins when they have complaints of two older men entering a sorority house, with nefarious intent. What is going on behind closed doors there?
Despite several leads to the killing spree in Charleston, lack of viable witnesses hampers both D-Wayne's murder investigation and the college inquiry. Where and from whom, does Janzek finally get the vital clues that solve both cases?
When the denouement takes place on a golf course, you won't believe how quickly the sidekicks turn against their paymaster. Tom Turner expertly turns the reader into an amateur sleuth, keeping them concentrated on who's who in the dramatic (and occasionally romantic), interludes, that make Charleston Buzz Kill, a fantastic sequel to book one. You'll end up reading all night, so get the coffee blender going, then get your copy ready for the off!
Charleston Buzz Kill is the second in a series and has a great book cover and description. But although I was enticed to read it, once I started the story did not hold me. I think it was the characters and the style of dialogue used in this series as I read the excerpt of another series written by the author and was instantly much more engaged in that series.
I think for this book, it leans more towards a diverse male audience, who enjoy more plainly written, gritty stories.
Tom Turner is an exceptional author. First with his “Palm Beach Mystery” series and now his “Nick Janzek” Series both of which are, in my opinion, total 5-star reads.
The plot is tight. The characters well developed, and believable. The story travels forward with plenty of action, mystery, and of course a bit of humor as well.
I highly recommend this book and all other books written by this author.
Detective Nick Janzek and his partner have a new murder to solve: a reality TV star is found with a hole where he shouldn't have one; a co-ed female student assaulted by a powerful, rich property tycoon (don't you just hate that type); and an ex-con, again with more holes in him than God intended. The deeper he investigates, the more the body count increases. He's got more suspects than mice in a cheese factory. How is he going to narrow down the suspect pool? See how he methodically trudges through a quagmire of what we call civilized society to get to his quarry.
This is a fun read considering the subject matter, with well-rounded and developed characters, and a well-paced narrative that flows effortlessly, with very few to no lulls.
Overall, it's an entertaining and enjoyable whodunit, worth your time in my opinion.
Basic story is okay but needs a new editor. So many errors: our hero gets shot in the head and his wife gets murdered. He goes right back to work. Seriously? Next in Charleston he drives his car to the villains house where he is shot with buckshot, chased through a forest and swims down a free flowing but "brackish" creek. When the sheriff gets him to the villains house he's accused of drinking heavily and smoking pot. Sheriff dismisses it all and hero leaves with his partner. Leaves his car, clothes etc. Doesn't insist on being tested for alcohol or pot. AND leaves the wound untreated. The finale where he and his partner magically appear in the helicopter coming in to whisk away the bad guys? Poorly written.
Well if you like the author's Palm Beach series you'll probably like the Charleston ones. Just substitute Det. Nick for Det. Charlie. Same angst, same turnout from policing up"north". Same type of partner albeit Black. A nod to current times. Nick is still a chick magnet. The story itself I thought was a little over the top. Really could be 4 stars if you're still really into this. I'm getting a little bored give us series a curve ball instead of always straight down the plate.
This is an entertaining and enjoyable read! Nick Janzek, moved from Boston to Charleston for a slower pace of life -- and the first two books are any indication, he's not going to get it. I really like Nick and Delvin, and the partner relationship they share. There is such a multitude of characters moving in and out of the story, and in some way, each of them contribute. I liked Tom Turner's series about Palm Beach, and I think I will like this one. After reading the first one about Savannah, I believe that it will be good.
Charlie Crawford stories are much better than Nick’s
This book is a lot like the first one and had few surprises but well worn plot elements - old rich men with young sweet girls, Nick changing partners again & the weird relationship ship between Nick and his African American partner. Just not as good as the Palm Beach series and somewhat boring too.
I love this series. It has mystery, a little romance, and some humor thrown in to make a great combination. I love Charleston and how accurate it is to the area. You can't go wrong by reading this. I hope the series is continued. I can't wait to check out Savannah with Mr. Turner.
This book has it all. Murder, mystery, love, lust, jealousy and more murder from start to end. Like his other books featuring Detectives Charlie and Ott and set in Palm Beach, this Charlston thriller is very engaging. So much so that I am writing this review at 4:29 AM, having just finished the book! Yikes!
Got hooked on Turner's book series based on Palm Beach - a place I know real well! So thought I'd give this series s read. Great characters and great plots. Got me loving Charleston! I highly recommend this series to everyone and can't wait for the next book.
Love Tom Turner's books. They're interesting, fun, all the while solving murders. This book has several stories going on that come together perfectly. Plus who doesn't like Charleston with all its quirky characters, history and romance. Well written and well worth the read!
Four in the morning and I just finished this book.
Seems once I started on this series there is no stopping place. Always a good mystery with a lot of action. Janzek and Rhett keep me laughing and biting my nails at the same time.
Who’s on first? But it moved though to an exciting conclusion. A fantastic read is Ben Porter In False Assurances, Threat Bias and Subversive Addiction!!!
Interesting book,makes characters seem real. The plot is kind of predictable, a lot like a number of other detective stories. Its an easy read on a boring night.
It’s a great read. It’s book 2 in the Charleston series. There were two places in the story that the name Crawford was used instead of Janzek! Waiting for book 3!