Customer Reviews

Bahama Burnout

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Don Bruns is a master storyteller and "Bahama Burnout" is the latest evidence of his gift for originality with this, his latest mystery novel. Mick Sever is back again, this time becoming involved in a recording studio fire that reveals a charred body and another mystery to solve. When his friends Jonah and Rita Britt rebuild the studio, there's a distinct possible that more murders are to come -- if Mick can't get to the 'who, what, and why' of that first lethal fire. A riveting read from first page to last, "Bahama Burnout" is a complete 'stand alone' mystery novel that will be sought after by Bruns' growing number of fans, and will serve those new to his work to seek out his previous (and highly recommended) titles including "St. Barts Breakdown"; "Stuff Dreams Are Made Of"; "Stuff To Die For"; "South Beach Shakedown"; "Barbados Heat"; and "Jamaica Blue".

This is the fifth time that entertainment journalist Mike Sever has been featured in a Bruns novel. In this one, Sever finds himself in the Bahamas covering the hopeful rebirth of the stardom of Johnny Run, a once hot band looking for lightning to strike again at Highland Recording Studio located in the slums of Nassau. The rock and roll band previously had a monster hit recorded there, but things have changed. The studio has been rebuilt following a deadly fire, the cause of which was never determined. Was it a ghost? Voodoo? Or an accident? Now murdered bodies are being tallied again, all with connections to the studio. One of the stiffs is found behind the wheel of a Cadillac parked at the rear of the building. It was supposedly owned by the King, Elvis himself. The current owner, a widow with two teenage boys - one challenged, the other a runaway - is looking for a buyer. It's a rocking fast read that rolls to a conclusion that is plausible, but it comes out of nowhere. It would have made a better book if, instead of nothing but red herrings, hints of the true cause and been dropped from time to time. That said, I would add that I will start looking for the other Bruns/Sever tales.

Entertainment writer Mick Sever lands in Nassau, Bahamas for the grand reopening of the legendary Highland Studios after a devastating fire more than a year ago. His friends Jonah and Rita Britt rebuilt the studio with the hope they can return it to its former glory. Because of the fire and a few failed albums, it is important that the Britt's next few ventures are successful.

That said, the group Johnny Run is back in the studio hoping their latest album will revive their career. Unfortunately, a smashed Sheryl Crow guitar and erased recording, plus the mysterious death of the groups manager, doesn't bode well for a comeback. Other mysterious happenings in and around the studio suggest there are deeper problems than just trying to finish an album.

In his fifth Mick Sever mystery, Don Bruns has created a quirky cast of characters including the intriguing Etta Mae who lives near the studio and who is trying to sell a rusty sixties Cadillac she swears was once owned by Elvis; Eric, the short portly policeman who is a special friend of Etta Mae's and who is involved in the various investigations surrounding the studio; and at least one very creepy character who slithers around the studio unbeknownst to the owners.

With more than one life on the line including his own, Mick must find out who the mysterious culprit is before more tragedy occurs.

Bruns has written a spooky thriller that holds the reader's attention from incident to mysterious incident. The reader has inside information that Jonah and Rita Britt and Sever do not have, but that does not take away from the overall mystery or the surprise ending.

Bahama Burnout

This book was captivating from the start. I have been to the Bahamas and the references to places in the book brought back wonderful memories. I thought the end could have been a little less abrupt. Jamaica Blue was a bit better.

Internationally famous and highly regarded rock critic and music journalist Mick Sever travels to the Bahamas where he will cover the story of the return of renowned Highland Studio in Nassau. The studio, known for mega-hits, burned down last year with an unknown corpse found amid the ashes. Although the arson and potential homicide remain unsolved, owners Jonah and Rita Britt have rebuilt it and are ready to launch their label again.

However, the renaissance is not going smooth as someone is sabotaging the effort. Rita believes the ghost of the victim who died in the fire is the current troublemaking culprit as a Sheryl Crow guitar has been smashed for who knows why and tracks are being erased. Following a murder of a band manager, Mick believes the saboteur-killer is human and begins to investigate before Highland Studio is sent to rock and roll heaven forever.

The fifth Bruns' Caribbean music mystery (see JAMAICA BLUE, BARBADOS HEAT and ST. BART'S BREAKDOWN ) is an entertaining whodunit filled with more spins than a 45 contains (no comment on age please). The story line is fast-paced from the moment Mick arrives on the Bahamas and never slows down as he seeks a motive for last year's incident and the current events in the past of the studio and its owners. Fans will enjoy sleuthing with Sever as he tours the Bahamas.

Harriet Klausner

Don Bruns is back with the fifth book in his Caribbean mystery series featuring music journalist Mick Sever in Bahama Burnout. This time Sever is on assignment for Newsweek in Nassau, Bahamas. He is there to tell the story of the resurrection of a music studio that once produced legendary music. After the changes in the music industry when anyone with a laptop and the right software can engineer their own CD, the studio fell on hard times. Then there was the fire with an unidentified body.

Sever is friends with the new owners of Highland Studios, Jonah and Rita Britt. So, when he learns of the urban legend concerning a ghost and other strange happenings, this becomes more than just a news story for Sever.

At first the question is who burned down the studio a year ago, and is there really a ghost, possibly the spirit of the charred unidentified body causing all the recent mayhem. Is it simply teenagers seeking drug money or fun that busted one guitar and stole another - from a locked room? Or is it as the islanders and Rita believes the work of the ghost?

Bruns has created a story that entertains on many levels. You have an island paradise setting, and enough music references from Elvis to Robert Palmer and Sheryl Crow to light up your iPod and a solid whodunit with many twists and turns. Old fans and first timers will enjoy Bahama Burnout from fiery start to the surprising ending.