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Player Piano Mysteries #1
The Player
When young music teacher Andre Beaufort discovers an antique player piano in the basement of his apartment building, he is visited by the ghost of the original owner: a dapper and charismatic playboy from the Roaring Twenties, Freddy Birtwistle.
Andre has never seen a ghost and Freddy has never been one, so they get off to a rocky start. But when Andre finds his neighbor murdered on his doorstep, he and Freddy join forces to narrow the pool of suspects.
Soon Andre and Freddy discover that opposites attract, even if one’s alive and the other dead. Together these amateur detectives make an enticing team, and it’s a good thing too, because the first murder they solve together won’t be their last. But the real mystery isn’t just whodunit—it’s how a romance between a man and a ghost can have a happily ever after ending.
The Player contains two stand-alone cozy murder mysteries, The City House and The Country House.
Andre has never seen a ghost and Freddy has never been one, so they get off to a rocky start. But when Andre finds his neighbor murdered on his doorstep, he and Freddy join forces to narrow the pool of suspects.
Soon Andre and Freddy discover that opposites attract, even if one’s alive and the other dead. Together these amateur detectives make an enticing team, and it’s a good thing too, because the first murder they solve together won’t be their last. But the real mystery isn’t just whodunit—it’s how a romance between a man and a ghost can have a happily ever after ending.
The Player contains two stand-alone cozy murder mysteries, The City House and The Country House.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2020
4 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Joe Cosentino
45 books194 followersJOE COSENTINO was voted Favorite MM Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine for Drama Queen, the first Nicky and Noah mystery novel. He is also the author of the remaining Nicky and Noah mysteries: Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle, Drama Dance, Drama Faerie, Drama Runway, Drama Christmas, Drama Pan, Drama TV, Drama Oz, Drama Prince, Drama Merry, Drama Daddy, Drama King; the Player Piano Mysteries: The Player and The Player’s Encore; the Jana Lane Mysteries: Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll; the Cozzi Cove series: Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Moving Forward, Stepping Out, New Beginnings, Happy Endings; the In My Heart Anthology: An Infatuation & A Shooting Star; the Tales from Fairyland Anthology: The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland and Holiday Tales from Fairyland; the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Anthology: A Home for the Holidays, The Perfect Gift, The First Noel; and the Found At Last Anthology: Finding Giorgio and Finding Armando. His books have won numerous Book of the Month awards and Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions. As an actor, Joe appeared in principal roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Jason Robards, and Holland Taylor. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Goddard College, Master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz, and is currently a happily married emeritus college theatre professor residing in New York State.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 12, 2021
This would be so much better without the romance. It's a ghost/human romance with little possibility of becoming anything else, and I simply found that distracting. (Not to mention it's instalove.). The mysteries are fine, cute, but I can't get over the ghost thing.
Oh, and the slang! The ghost comes from the 20s, and the slang is handled SO BADLY. It's like the author had a list of slang phrases from the 20s, and for some reason thought that those phrases completely replaced the non-slang versions of them, to the point where the ghost would be incapable of saying anything else? SO DISTRACTING.
Oh, and the slang! The ghost comes from the 20s, and the slang is handled SO BADLY. It's like the author had a list of slang phrases from the 20s, and for some reason thought that those phrases completely replaced the non-slang versions of them, to the point where the ghost would be incapable of saying anything else? SO DISTRACTING.
March 11, 2021
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
The Player
A Player Piano Mystery, Book 1
by Joe Cosentino
★★★★★
273 Pages
POV: 1st person, one character POV
Content Warning: sibling abuse, homophobia, death of family members
The Player is the first the Player Piano Mystery series. Combining two stories – The City House and The Country House; with the same main characters – the stories are clever, intriguing, and full of quirky humour and a murder mystery.
Reminiscent of the Amy Myers “Auguste Didier” series, there is a comfortable balance of comedy and mystery, while Andre starts to navigate through a murder investigation in his own apartment complex. Finding a player piano in the basement is exciting, but when he begins playing and a ghost from the 1930s appears and begins flirting with him, Andre is dropped into the unknown. When a body drops outside his apartment door, Andre is thrust into a murder investigation, as the prime suspect. To prove his innocence, he begins to investigate, battling on all fronts: a flirty ghost no one else can see or hear, a murder investigation, and the usual antics of living in a busy apartment complex.
There are a dozen characters in the book, but the central and recurring characters are: Andre and his ghost Freddy; Andre's aunt, his best friend Victor and his boyfriend. Each of those characters appear in both stories within the book, which take place 1 year apart.
The City House – the first story – takes us straight into the characters, the mystery, and the return of Freddy into the land of the living, or undead. From page one, we take a deep-dive into Andre's life, which lets us get to know our central character, and allows us to feel for him, to worry about his fate, and hope for his future. As soon as the ghost, Freddy, was introduced I was even more drawn to the story, because both he and Andre were perfect main characters to keep the story alive, exciting, and add a touch of romance to the plot.
The pacing and writing, as usual, were brilliant. I have been a fan of Cosentino's for years, and this one is perfectly in line with everything I've come to know, expect and love of their writing. The wit, the humour, and the mystery were all right up my alley. The humour was fun and a touch slapstick and quirky, but not over-the-top. The mystery was intriguing, but like any good mystery, we were given plenty of breadcrumbs to follow throughout the story.
I loved the way Freddy – especially in The City House – is used to explore both the 1930s era and the modern era. Andre shares the good and bad advances of the modern world, and even how things haven't progressed as far as he'd like, while Freddy shares a riot of history and fame and fortune that is far removed from Andre's less glamorous life.
Overall, the entire novel was fun, lovely and super cute. It had an intriguing mystery and, though I did spot some of the clues early on, it was a fun journey to follow Andre and Freddy to the final conclusions. The first story lasted for 58%, which gave us plenty of time to feel connected to Andre and Freddy and explore their relationship, before progressing into the second story. I loved the pacing, the plotting and the natural way Andre came across information to help him solve the case.
I can't wait for the next installment in this series.
~
Favourite Quotes
“We need to get it up to my apartment.”
He laughed ironically. “You and me and which professional piano movers?”
“Victor, we’ve both been working out at the gym.”
“To attract men, not to move pianos.””
“What if he arrests me?” Victor rose and sat on the arm of my chair. “If I go to prison, a tall, muscular inmate might want to have his way with me.” He thought about it. “Okay, maybe we shouldn’t rush into a defense.””
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
~
The Player
A Player Piano Mystery, Book 1
by Joe Cosentino
★★★★★
273 Pages
POV: 1st person, one character POV
Content Warning: sibling abuse, homophobia, death of family members
The Player is the first the Player Piano Mystery series. Combining two stories – The City House and The Country House; with the same main characters – the stories are clever, intriguing, and full of quirky humour and a murder mystery.
Reminiscent of the Amy Myers “Auguste Didier” series, there is a comfortable balance of comedy and mystery, while Andre starts to navigate through a murder investigation in his own apartment complex. Finding a player piano in the basement is exciting, but when he begins playing and a ghost from the 1930s appears and begins flirting with him, Andre is dropped into the unknown. When a body drops outside his apartment door, Andre is thrust into a murder investigation, as the prime suspect. To prove his innocence, he begins to investigate, battling on all fronts: a flirty ghost no one else can see or hear, a murder investigation, and the usual antics of living in a busy apartment complex.
There are a dozen characters in the book, but the central and recurring characters are: Andre and his ghost Freddy; Andre's aunt, his best friend Victor and his boyfriend. Each of those characters appear in both stories within the book, which take place 1 year apart.
The City House – the first story – takes us straight into the characters, the mystery, and the return of Freddy into the land of the living, or undead. From page one, we take a deep-dive into Andre's life, which lets us get to know our central character, and allows us to feel for him, to worry about his fate, and hope for his future. As soon as the ghost, Freddy, was introduced I was even more drawn to the story, because both he and Andre were perfect main characters to keep the story alive, exciting, and add a touch of romance to the plot.
The pacing and writing, as usual, were brilliant. I have been a fan of Cosentino's for years, and this one is perfectly in line with everything I've come to know, expect and love of their writing. The wit, the humour, and the mystery were all right up my alley. The humour was fun and a touch slapstick and quirky, but not over-the-top. The mystery was intriguing, but like any good mystery, we were given plenty of breadcrumbs to follow throughout the story.
I loved the way Freddy – especially in The City House – is used to explore both the 1930s era and the modern era. Andre shares the good and bad advances of the modern world, and even how things haven't progressed as far as he'd like, while Freddy shares a riot of history and fame and fortune that is far removed from Andre's less glamorous life.
Overall, the entire novel was fun, lovely and super cute. It had an intriguing mystery and, though I did spot some of the clues early on, it was a fun journey to follow Andre and Freddy to the final conclusions. The first story lasted for 58%, which gave us plenty of time to feel connected to Andre and Freddy and explore their relationship, before progressing into the second story. I loved the pacing, the plotting and the natural way Andre came across information to help him solve the case.
I can't wait for the next installment in this series.
~
Favourite Quotes
“We need to get it up to my apartment.”
He laughed ironically. “You and me and which professional piano movers?”
“Victor, we’ve both been working out at the gym.”
“To attract men, not to move pianos.””
“What if he arrests me?” Victor rose and sat on the arm of my chair. “If I go to prison, a tall, muscular inmate might want to have his way with me.” He thought about it. “Okay, maybe we shouldn’t rush into a defense.””
September 26, 2020
This is the start of another fun mystery series by Joe Cosentino, who is a master at quirky humor, lovable characters, and intriguing mystery plots. This book contains two stories -- "The City House" and "The Country House." Andre finds a player piano in his apartment building basement. After conning his friend into helping him bring it upstairs, he unwittingly conjures up the ghost of Freddy Birtwistle, a young, dapper, witty playboy from the roaring twenties. They fall in love and end up solving two murder mysteries. I loved Freddy's 1920's jargon and his zany stories about his personal relationships with practically every famous person from that era. I fell in love with this adorable couple and enjoyed the mystery stories. I didn't guess either story, even though the clues fit perfectly. They were perfectly disguised in classic Agatha Christie style. I look forward to more stories with these two!
September 25, 2020
Thoughts: This book contains two short novellas. One takes place at a mansion converted to apartments in Hoboken, NJ. The other in a mansion converted to a B & B in Cold Springs, NY. Both stories are about young music teacher Andre and the ghost—Freddy—he discovers living in his player piano. Both buildings used to belong to Freddy’s family. As did the player pianos in both places, which allows Freddy’s ghost to appear when played. Freddy is a stereotypical 1920s playboy. But, as unlikely as it seems, the two fall in love with each other. Freddy can manifest himself enough to have a physical relationship with Andre and move things around, but nobody else can see or here him, which makes for some interesting conversations. The mysteries are well done with good clues and both stories have satisfying endings.
What I liked: Though the 1920s vernacular was a tad confusing at times, the author did a really good job of explaining it without overpowering the reader with definitions. It was done through conversations between Andre and Freddy, which led to some funny times in the story. I liked Freddy – he was so very over-the-top. Maybe a little too over-the-top as some of his boasting seemed too…boastful. I liked the way the author made it possible for Freddy to be at both homes through the multiple player pianos. And the murder mysteries just added to the stories. The secondary characters were…characters. So out there.
What I didn’t like: sometimes the descriptions were a little too much, but not bad. And I was a little confused as to why Freddy couldn’t leave the rooms where the pianos were. It was said that he was there because those were the rooms where he lived, but…being the family homes wouldn’t he have lived throughout the house. If he could have moved around, he could have helped more with the investigations. But it all worked out in the end.
Recommendation: Cute stories with paranormal twists that have satisfying endings. If you want quick reads, gay characters, and an unapologetic ghost, pick up this two-for-one fun read.
What I liked: Though the 1920s vernacular was a tad confusing at times, the author did a really good job of explaining it without overpowering the reader with definitions. It was done through conversations between Andre and Freddy, which led to some funny times in the story. I liked Freddy – he was so very over-the-top. Maybe a little too over-the-top as some of his boasting seemed too…boastful. I liked the way the author made it possible for Freddy to be at both homes through the multiple player pianos. And the murder mysteries just added to the stories. The secondary characters were…characters. So out there.
What I didn’t like: sometimes the descriptions were a little too much, but not bad. And I was a little confused as to why Freddy couldn’t leave the rooms where the pianos were. It was said that he was there because those were the rooms where he lived, but…being the family homes wouldn’t he have lived throughout the house. If he could have moved around, he could have helped more with the investigations. But it all worked out in the end.
Recommendation: Cute stories with paranormal twists that have satisfying endings. If you want quick reads, gay characters, and an unapologetic ghost, pick up this two-for-one fun read.
February 12, 2021
What I Liked…
This is my FIRST Joe Cosentino book (surprising since he has 26 of them out!) This book actually has two stories, it is two separate cozy mysteries. One of the main characters is a ghost, adding a paranormal flare to the story.
I enjoyed the characters. It was an odd mixture of contemporary and historical. Andre is a teacher in the here and now. Freddie is a gay (“cake eater”) socialite from the Roaring 20s, bringing in the historical effect to the story…not to mention the lingo! Together they had to figure out if and how a blooming romance would even work, even if it is the modern world. PS: I loved the reference to how the Republician party has changed since the 1920s!
The stories bring together a colorful cast of ancillary characters that you learn more and more about as the stories. The mystery is fast-paced enough that you will not get bored with it, but not too complex that you are head-scratching or suspending belief.
The romance….yes it is a cute developing relationship. I found myself rooting for Freddie in the first story. The sexual parts of the novel are “fade to black”, so it is not really graphic in that department.
A Forewarning…
I truly enjoyed the books. I will call out a possible trigger to some. In the second story, Country House, one of the ancillary characters was physically abused as a child by his adopted brother. The story does not go into graphic detail but is part of the storyline. Personally, I think it was well written and handled with grace.
The Bottomline…
This was one that I am glad to have had the chance to read! Two fairly quick stories that kept my attention between the characters and the mystery. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!
Disclaimer: I did receive a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review.
Please check out the FULL review as well as about the author, coffee talks, and more at BookGemz.com
This is my FIRST Joe Cosentino book (surprising since he has 26 of them out!) This book actually has two stories, it is two separate cozy mysteries. One of the main characters is a ghost, adding a paranormal flare to the story.
I enjoyed the characters. It was an odd mixture of contemporary and historical. Andre is a teacher in the here and now. Freddie is a gay (“cake eater”) socialite from the Roaring 20s, bringing in the historical effect to the story…not to mention the lingo! Together they had to figure out if and how a blooming romance would even work, even if it is the modern world. PS: I loved the reference to how the Republician party has changed since the 1920s!
The stories bring together a colorful cast of ancillary characters that you learn more and more about as the stories. The mystery is fast-paced enough that you will not get bored with it, but not too complex that you are head-scratching or suspending belief.
The romance….yes it is a cute developing relationship. I found myself rooting for Freddie in the first story. The sexual parts of the novel are “fade to black”, so it is not really graphic in that department.
A Forewarning…
I truly enjoyed the books. I will call out a possible trigger to some. In the second story, Country House, one of the ancillary characters was physically abused as a child by his adopted brother. The story does not go into graphic detail but is part of the storyline. Personally, I think it was well written and handled with grace.
The Bottomline…
This was one that I am glad to have had the chance to read! Two fairly quick stories that kept my attention between the characters and the mystery. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!
Disclaimer: I did receive a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review.
Please check out the FULL review as well as about the author, coffee talks, and more at BookGemz.com
September 6, 2020
This is another fun cozy mystery series by Joe Cosentino. Actually, we get two treats in one book. The first story City House sets up the story, introduces Andre and Freddy plus Andre’s aunt not to mention the other tenants and suspects. The actual mystery is fun with one dead body and Andre and Freddy trying to solve the case. With Freddy not being able to leave his room though the story gets a tiny bit repetitive since Andre does the snooping then goes back and relates it to Freddy.
I was very surprised at the murderer in this one and had no clue.
Country House Andre goes on a trip to see Freddy’s house in the country and gets the music room to his delight has a player piano and he is able to bring Freddy into his room. Once again there is a murder and Freddy and Andre go about solving it.
The characters are all interesting and fun, the story is fast-paced and fun and the mystery just enough to keep you guessing. My only issue with this series is that Freddy rambles on and on about all the past musicians and famous people and it gets a bit over the top. A little is cute but in my opinion, there was just a touch more than necessary to add the humor to the story.
If you like ghosts, cozy mystery, and a sweet romance this is for you!
I was very surprised at the murderer in this one and had no clue.
Country House Andre goes on a trip to see Freddy’s house in the country and gets the music room to his delight has a player piano and he is able to bring Freddy into his room. Once again there is a murder and Freddy and Andre go about solving it.
The characters are all interesting and fun, the story is fast-paced and fun and the mystery just enough to keep you guessing. My only issue with this series is that Freddy rambles on and on about all the past musicians and famous people and it gets a bit over the top. A little is cute but in my opinion, there was just a touch more than necessary to add the humor to the story.
If you like ghosts, cozy mystery, and a sweet romance this is for you!
September 15, 2020
👻This book has a two part mystery stories, the first one being Andre and Freddie in The City House.
A mystery of a pionola player and the residents of an old apartment building. This includes multiple characters written in first person with 1 POV. A good mystery romance for a ghost and Andre which continues into the next story.
The Country House is the second story with Andre and Freddie a year later. Having a Bed a Breakfast now welcoming their guest. Includes humor and mystery and a friendly ghost to enjoy.
Both good stories of mystery and mayhem for them to solve or two. I love ghost stories but this one didn't quite get there for me.
Andre was a music teacher living with his aunt when he sees an old pionola player in the basement. The story fast begins for Andre.
A mystery of a pionola player and the residents of an old apartment building. This includes multiple characters written in first person with 1 POV. A good mystery romance for a ghost and Andre which continues into the next story.
The Country House is the second story with Andre and Freddie a year later. Having a Bed a Breakfast now welcoming their guest. Includes humor and mystery and a friendly ghost to enjoy.
Both good stories of mystery and mayhem for them to solve or two. I love ghost stories but this one didn't quite get there for me.
Andre was a music teacher living with his aunt when he sees an old pionola player in the basement. The story fast begins for Andre.
October 24, 2020
This book of two stories was a very jolly affair, despite the murder which occurs in each one of them. The two central characters, Andre (who is alive) and Freddy (who isn’t) are a sweet, almost believable couple who try to solve the crimes, each of which has occurred in Freddy’s former houses. One is in New York City, the other in the countryside outside, enabling Freddy to assist Andre in his enquiries.
To read the whole review, please go to https://jaynelockwood.wordpress.com/2...
To read the whole review, please go to https://jaynelockwood.wordpress.com/2...
October 1, 2020
** 4.5 Stars **
I found this book to be an absolute delight to read. More, please!
I found this book to be an absolute delight to read. More, please!
November 12, 2020
It started well. But Freddy was so annoying that I didn't even want to continue reading. And I also didn't believe him in his sudden and undying love for Andre after his first appearance.
When I realized who the killer was, I lost the last incentive to read.
When I realized who the killer was, I lost the last incentive to read.
Read
January 1, 2021review to follow
September 20, 2020
I love stories featuring ghosts — especially romances — so I couldn't wait to delve into this novel. The Player is actually two gay cozy mystery stories in one book. The first novella is entitled "The Country House," which opens with Andre discovering an old player piano in his apartment building's basement. His Aunt, who is the landlord, agrees to let Andre haul up the piano to his apartment. What Andre doesn't know is that there's a handsome ghost named Freddy Birtwistle attached to the piano whom Andre inadvertently releases when he begins to play the pianola.
As we soon learn, Freddy, a wealthy meticulously-dressed socialite from the roaring 20s, was shot at the age of 30 by a jealous husband in 1935. Freddy was quite the gay "player" in his day, and if any of his numerous stories about his exploits can be believed, he left a trail of broken hearts in his wake. According to Freddy, he broke the heart of every eligible male Hollywood celebrity, and even his presence would often send spouses/partners into a jealous rage. This part of the book was a lot of fun, though I did find that Freddy's rambling anecdotes got to be a tad repetitive by the second book.
The novel then takes a compelling turn when one of the tenants in Andre's building is murdered, and once Andre becomes a suspect, the duo takes it upon themselves to investigate the crime in the style of Holmes and Watson. Through their investigation, we meet all the other quirky tenants of the building as we try to guess whodunit.
Given that Freddy was bound to the piano and couldn't physically leave the apartment, Andre did all the legwork and then reported his findings back to Freddy. The two men then put their heads together to try to figure out the case. And of course, while working together, they fall deeply in love.
This story was a lot of fun and incorporated several surprising plot twists that I didn't see coming. I also loved Freddy's continuous stream of 1920s lingo and expressions, many causing me to laugh out loud.
The second book, The Country House, takes place at Freddy's former country house, now converted into a B & B. At first, we think that Andre is on his own, but another of Freddy's original player piano's is in Andre's rented room, and a couple of pumps of the pedal bring Andre's ghostly lover to him.
Once again, a murder occurs, and this time, it's the surly proprietor of the B & B. Like The City House, this second book is also populated with a plethora of compelling and outlandish characters. I found the second book to be as delightful as the first one. It was fast-paced, delightfully twisty (more so even than the first) with a shocking ending.
Now it's worth mentioning that given that these two novellas are cozy mysteries, meaning there is no on-page sex, swearing, or violence. What we do get, however, is a sweet romance between a young man and a saucy charismatic ghost from the 1920s, as well as a couple of captivating murder mysteries to solve. I hope the author writes more in this world as I'd love to revisit these two enchanting characters.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
As we soon learn, Freddy, a wealthy meticulously-dressed socialite from the roaring 20s, was shot at the age of 30 by a jealous husband in 1935. Freddy was quite the gay "player" in his day, and if any of his numerous stories about his exploits can be believed, he left a trail of broken hearts in his wake. According to Freddy, he broke the heart of every eligible male Hollywood celebrity, and even his presence would often send spouses/partners into a jealous rage. This part of the book was a lot of fun, though I did find that Freddy's rambling anecdotes got to be a tad repetitive by the second book.
The novel then takes a compelling turn when one of the tenants in Andre's building is murdered, and once Andre becomes a suspect, the duo takes it upon themselves to investigate the crime in the style of Holmes and Watson. Through their investigation, we meet all the other quirky tenants of the building as we try to guess whodunit.
Given that Freddy was bound to the piano and couldn't physically leave the apartment, Andre did all the legwork and then reported his findings back to Freddy. The two men then put their heads together to try to figure out the case. And of course, while working together, they fall deeply in love.
This story was a lot of fun and incorporated several surprising plot twists that I didn't see coming. I also loved Freddy's continuous stream of 1920s lingo and expressions, many causing me to laugh out loud.
The second book, The Country House, takes place at Freddy's former country house, now converted into a B & B. At first, we think that Andre is on his own, but another of Freddy's original player piano's is in Andre's rented room, and a couple of pumps of the pedal bring Andre's ghostly lover to him.
Once again, a murder occurs, and this time, it's the surly proprietor of the B & B. Like The City House, this second book is also populated with a plethora of compelling and outlandish characters. I found the second book to be as delightful as the first one. It was fast-paced, delightfully twisty (more so even than the first) with a shocking ending.
Now it's worth mentioning that given that these two novellas are cozy mysteries, meaning there is no on-page sex, swearing, or violence. What we do get, however, is a sweet romance between a young man and a saucy charismatic ghost from the 1920s, as well as a couple of captivating murder mysteries to solve. I hope the author writes more in this world as I'd love to revisit these two enchanting characters.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
September 21, 2020
Love comes when you least expect it. It also comes in many forms. Both of those oft-repeated statements certainly hold true for Andre Beaufort and Frederick "Freddy" Birtwistle, the two lead characters who decide to take a chance on a different kind of romance in "The Player," the delightful first entry in the new "Player Piano Mysteries" series from Joe Cosentino.
"The Player" features two cozy mysteries, "The City House" and "The Country House." In "The City House," the author introduces Andre, a music teacher from Hoboken, New Jersey, raised by his Aunt Mia after he was orphaned at a young age. One day Andre discovers a player piano in the basement of his apartment building and wastes no time moving it to his unit with the help of his best friend and neighbor, Victor, an aspiring actor.
Little does Andre know that as soon as he begins to play the antique instrument, he awakens the spirit of the building's former occupant, Freddy, a wealthy, champagne-scented playboy from the roaring twenties who rubbed elbows with the likes of Cole Porter, Mae West, and Irving Berlin, before he was shot and killed by a jilted lover at the young age of thirty.
Once Andre realizes that Freddy, despite being a ghost, is not a figment of his imagination, he cannot deny their chemistry or resist their mutual attraction — until a fellow tenant, Broadway producer Alexandria Popov, ends up dead on his doorstep. Andre and Freddy decide to play Holmes and Watson, compiling a list of suspects while shirking the dutiful efforts of the assigned detective, Takoda Shawnee, who has his eyes on Mia. Andre uses his charm to befriend those with a motive for murder and reports back what he learns to Freddy, who combines their investigative prowess to narrow down the list of potential culprits.
In "The Country House," Andre and Freddy are celebrating the first anniversary of their unconventional courtship, when Andre pays a leisurely visit to Freddy's country house in Cold Spring, New York, that has since been converted to the Welcome Bed & Breakfast Inn. Sure enough, shortly after Andre checks in, the co-owner and manager, Cynthia Russell, meets her demise, calling the amateur detective and his supernatural sleuth into action. While Andre becomes better acquainted with the other guests, Freddy researches his own past and discovers a shocking family secret.
Both mysteries are equally intriguing and amusing, each with a curious, eccentric cast of characters that would make Agatha Christie proud (or Aggie, as Freddy knew her). The affectionate banter between Andre and Freddy is adorably witty, peppered with lingo from a century ago that provides laugh-out-loud moments aplenty. To coin another arguably overused phrase, their relationship is proof that love conquers all. As usual, the author leaves us breathlessly anticipating further adventures with this truly dynamic duo.
"The Player" features two cozy mysteries, "The City House" and "The Country House." In "The City House," the author introduces Andre, a music teacher from Hoboken, New Jersey, raised by his Aunt Mia after he was orphaned at a young age. One day Andre discovers a player piano in the basement of his apartment building and wastes no time moving it to his unit with the help of his best friend and neighbor, Victor, an aspiring actor.
Little does Andre know that as soon as he begins to play the antique instrument, he awakens the spirit of the building's former occupant, Freddy, a wealthy, champagne-scented playboy from the roaring twenties who rubbed elbows with the likes of Cole Porter, Mae West, and Irving Berlin, before he was shot and killed by a jilted lover at the young age of thirty.
Once Andre realizes that Freddy, despite being a ghost, is not a figment of his imagination, he cannot deny their chemistry or resist their mutual attraction — until a fellow tenant, Broadway producer Alexandria Popov, ends up dead on his doorstep. Andre and Freddy decide to play Holmes and Watson, compiling a list of suspects while shirking the dutiful efforts of the assigned detective, Takoda Shawnee, who has his eyes on Mia. Andre uses his charm to befriend those with a motive for murder and reports back what he learns to Freddy, who combines their investigative prowess to narrow down the list of potential culprits.
In "The Country House," Andre and Freddy are celebrating the first anniversary of their unconventional courtship, when Andre pays a leisurely visit to Freddy's country house in Cold Spring, New York, that has since been converted to the Welcome Bed & Breakfast Inn. Sure enough, shortly after Andre checks in, the co-owner and manager, Cynthia Russell, meets her demise, calling the amateur detective and his supernatural sleuth into action. While Andre becomes better acquainted with the other guests, Freddy researches his own past and discovers a shocking family secret.
Both mysteries are equally intriguing and amusing, each with a curious, eccentric cast of characters that would make Agatha Christie proud (or Aggie, as Freddy knew her). The affectionate banter between Andre and Freddy is adorably witty, peppered with lingo from a century ago that provides laugh-out-loud moments aplenty. To coin another arguably overused phrase, their relationship is proof that love conquers all. As usual, the author leaves us breathlessly anticipating further adventures with this truly dynamic duo.
October 4, 2020
Mr. Cosentino has become a favorite author and has created an interesting new mystery series. The premise of the supernatural has added a fun and intriguing aspect into the mix. I try not to provide spoilers, but suffice to say having a ghost that lived in the 1920-30's and a living man falling in love, while solving mysteries, and the comic potential of the lover being the only one who sees or feels him is a hoot. Every turn is well plotted, and you get two mysteries for the price of one; not too shabby! With high hopes, I look forward to seeing more adventures. What I wouldn't do to see this turned into a television series; the potential is there.
April 10, 2021
I adored this book. It was very cleverly done. The use of old slang added a lot to the story as did the dropping of names. Some of the scenes had me laughing out loud. Andre did not want to embark on a relationship with a ghost but found Freddy irresistible. You will find yourself falling in love with both of them. There is another set of stories out and I plan on getting them today.
October 21, 2020
Jaunty, but the mystery was obvious from the first, and even the humor began to wear. Still, not a bad effort.
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