St. Barts Breakdown
A Mick Sever Mystery by Don Bruns
Review: Music journalist Mick Sever's latest assignment is to interview legendary producer Danny Murtz at his Caribbean hideaway on Saint Barthélemy in St. Barts Breakdown, the fourth mystery in this series by Don Bruns.
Danny Murtz hasn't been interviewed in 15 years, but has agreed to participate in an A&E special on his life and music to be filmed on St. Barts. The Chicago Tribune in Murtz' home town is also doing a profile and the producer has agreed to be interviewed by Sever at the same time. This isn't to say that Murtz hasn't been newsworthy; firearm charges, abuse, resisting arrest, DWI, drunk and disorderly, and assorted other pleasantries have kept Murtz on the cover of tabloids for years. When Sever arrives on the tiny island, he quickly finds himself immersed in a tangled network of the producer's associates, friends, and enemies, at least one of whom seems to want Sever dead. And he hasn't even been introduced to Murtz yet.
St. Barts Breakdown is far more intrigue than mystery and is based in part on the premise that there have never been any murders on Saint Barthélemy. The multiple points of view keep the reader fully informed as to what's happening at all times and for the most part why. There's the mysterious, unnamed woman who seems to be stalking Murtz, but even her activities don't really generate much suspense.
Bruns takes a light, almost relaxed, approach to his narrative which suits the characters and the setting in particular very well. There are glimpses of humor. At one point Sever is in a nightclub and doesn't know if the sofa bed is for sitting, reclining, or some other position and is then referred to as an older man by the woman he's with - it's really quite comical. And despite the rather large number of dead bodies that remain on the island when Sever leaves, none are classified as a murder, keeping St. Barts' record intact. Finally, there's a nice ironic twist in the concluding paragraph that brings closure to a certain plot point.
St. Barts Breakdown is an entertaining, if somewhat predictable, addition to this series and is possibly the best entry to date.
Acknowledgment: Maryglenn McCombs Book Publicity provided a copy of St. Barts Breakdown for this review.
Review Copyright © 2008 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
Selected reviews of other mysteries by this author …
South Beach Shakedown
Oceanview Publishing (Hardcover), September 2006
ISBN-13: 9781933515021; ISBN-10: 1933515023
Stuff To Die For
Oceanview Publishing (Hardcover), September 2007
ISBN-13: 9781933515106; ISBN-10: 1933515104
Location(s) referenced in St. Barts Breakdown:
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St. Barts Breakdown by Don Bruns
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-10: 1-933515-12-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-933515-12-0
Publication Date: March 2008
List Price: $24.95
Synopsis (from the publisher): Rock and roll journalist Mick Sever is back with a new assignment: interview music legend Danny Murtz.
Murtz's walls are lined with platinum records, but his closet is full of skeletons.
Known for producing an unbelievable string of hits, Murtz is also tied to a string of disappearances. Seems a number of Murtz's romantic conquests have vanished into thin air. After his latest incident, Murtz conveniently retreats to his secluded St. Barts villa.
Before Mick can hop a plane to the island, he's nearly run down by a speeding car. Coincidence? Maybe, but hitmaker Danny Murtz and near misses go hand in hand.
After receiving anonymous threats, Murtz is convinced: someone wants to bring him down. Even his longtime secretary Nancy, and attorney/manager/cleaner-upper Harvey Schwartz are suspect. And that meddlesome Mick Sever is digging too deep.
If Danny Murtz has his way, Mick will only need a one-way ticket to paradise. Because if Mick isn't careful, his next column will be an obituary - his obituary.
Sun, sand and a psychopath: it's a deadly mix.