Barbados Heat [Hardcover]

Don Bruns (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2003

Congressman Shapply, a former music insider who now leads the crusade against offensive lyrics in rap songs, is attacked and murdered in from of his Washington D.C. home. His son Nick is arrested and charged with murder. For veteran music journalist Mick Sever, covering this case is personal. Sever, best friend of the accused killer, believes his friend's claims of innocence. With the help of an old flame, Mick must penetrate the bizarre Shapply family - the icy matriarch Alicia, the disturbed daughter Amber and the religious brother-in-law - to find the truth. The investigation will take Mick from the halls of the Capital to the beaches of Barbados. Threatened by unknown assailants and dangers at every turn, Mick becomes the hunted as killer turns the tables in a stunning climax.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As in Bruns's mystery debut, Jamaica Blue (2002), music journalist Mick Sever doesn't so much detect as just survive in this unconvincing tale of sex and murder with a Caribbean flavor. Robert Shapply, a born-again congressman, has turned over a new leaf and now wants to clean up the record industry by holding hearings designed to put some rappers and theirs labels out of business for good. Shortly before the hearings, someone brutally murders Shapply on the steps of his D.C. townhouse. Once friendly with Shapply and best friends with Shapply's stepson, Nick Brand, Mick soured on the duo when they left him almost bankrupt in a failed joint enterprise. Soon Nick is in jail on suspicion of murder, and an up-and-coming rapper is fingered as the hit man. Nick's imperious mother, Alicia Shapply; Alicia's brother, evangelist Joseph Evans; and Mick's ex-wife, Ginny, help liven up the proceedings, lending advice or assistance as Mick tracks the story from Washington to Florida and Barbados into the distant past. Unfortunately, the author's staccato style seems merely disjointed and the plot wanders so off key, readers will be unable to carry the tune.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Congressman Robert Shapply, who made his fortune in the entertainment business, is leading a congressional inquiry into rap lyrics that could severely restrict artistic expression. Prior to the start of the hearings, he is murdered on the steps of his D.C. town home. Quickly placed under arrest for the murder are his stepson, Nick Brand, himself a music impresario, and one of Brand's rapper clients. Mick Sever, the reigning king of investigative rock journalism and onetime best friend of Nick Brand, reluctantly accepts an assignment to cover the case. Sever knows something is awry when an attempt is made on his life to scare him off the story. Sever moves forward, focused on Shapply's widow, a powerful televangelist who may be appointed to fill her husband's vacant seat. The second Sever novel is an angst-filled journey through politics and the music business, a twin vortex of the rich, the talented, and those who will stop at nothing to realize their dreams of fame and influence. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312304927
• ISBN-13: 978-0312304928
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,783,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Don Bruns is a novelist, advertising executive, musician, songwriter, cook and painter who has no idea what he wants to do when he grows up. He's the author of nine books and was editor of the mystery/music anthology A Merry Band Of Murderers.

Don's published novels cover two series. One, a Caribbean thriller collection and two, the Stuff series, a humorous look at two twenty-four year old guys in South Florida who start their own detective agency and end up neck - deep in trouble. Skip and James from the Stuff series have often been compared to grown up versions of the Hardy Boys.

Jamaica Blue, Barbados Heat, South Beach Shakedown, St. Barts Breakdown and Bahama Burnout make up the Caribbean books. The Stuff series consists of Stuff To Die For, Stuff Dreams Are Made Of, Stuff To Spy For, and Don't Sweat The Small Stuff- which came out in December 2010. Bruns is currently working on the fifth Stuff book, Too Much Stuff.

His two series have won numerous awards, and the latest "Stuff" series has won a starred review in Booklist.

"Will remind the reader of Tim Dorsey's cast of whacked-out characters but with the narrative voice and feel of Mark Twain's Huck Finn."

Traveling the Caribbean for his Mick Sever series, or hovering around Miami for his "Stuff" series, Bruns enjoys the writing life. You can find him at http://www.donbrunsbooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mick Sever Rocks Again, October 22, 2003

By 

Sarasota Sam (Sarasota, Fl) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Barbados Heat (Hardcover)

Barbados Heat, the second offering from the pen of Don Bruns, continues to follow the fortunes of rock journalist and unrepentant ladies man Mick Sever. Along with his ex-wife Ginny, Mick is off to Barbados to track down the murderer of a U.S. Senator. As in Jamaica Blue, the well received debut of the Sever series, the cops think they have the killer, but Severisn't so sure. Since the alleged mastermind is the Senator's son and Mick's former best friend, Sever has an even greater stake in discovering the truth.

The list of characters, from the Barry White-like producer who assists Sever, to the various rap stars who appear to be involved in the murder to the Senator's family that takes the fun out of dysfunctional, help speed the book along at a rapid pace.. Particularly poignant and real is the Senator's daughter who has rejected all the "advantages" of her father's power to live in poverty with an abusive spouse.

Again, Bruns provides a fascinating look at the inner workings of the music industry, but here the passions and prejudices that lead to murder could happen to anyone. And you may find yourself on the last few pages with your own list of suspects still in double figures. A great followup to Jamaica Blue!

4.0 out of 5 stars Rock, rap & Murder, May 5, 2010

By 

Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Barbados Heat (Rock Reporter Mike Sever, 2) (Hardcover)

This 2nd Mick Sever novel hits the spot. You do get two murderers for the price of one, but unfortunately neither one is like to be a great surprise to the seasoned mystery reader. The trip to the final destination is however quite entertaining, and the many references to pop, rock, and rap personalities are an enhancement for the music fan.

5.0 out of 5 stars barbados heat great for the winter blues, February 8, 2004

By 

J. Jordan "Editor of Crimespree Magazine" (milwaukee, wi United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Barbados Heat (Hardcover)

When sitting down to a great meal logic would say to eat slowly, savor every bite, make the enjoyment last. Unfortunately I tend to be more like a little kid with dessert and eat quickly, and then sit wanting more. I mention this because this is similar to reading the latest Don Bruns book. Barbados Heat is wonderful and I wanted to make it last. I wanted to savor it. But I just couldn't. I read fast, like a reader starved for adventure through words. Bruns writes with an inviting style that makes you want to come in and stay a while. His characters are quickly old friends.

In this, his second book, the main character, Mick Sever is heading off on vacation to relax after his latest book tour. Mick is a writer who knows the music world well and first hand. And he writes about it like a true visionary. His vacation is quickly interrupted, in truth before it begins. His childhood friend Nick Shapply has been arrested for murdering his step-father. Senator Robert Sahppley had a lot of people who would like him dead
but Mick is pretty sure Nick wasn't the one to do it. So with a deal for a story of the case, Mick sets to finding out what is going on and who did what. His ex wife meets him in DC to help with the writing. Full of intrigue, strange family matters and
music insights.

This is a wonderful book and full of some very great moments. It reads smooth and easy, almost like good music playing on a summer afternoon. I would recommend to any fan of the mystery genre.

Jon
Author of Interrogations, a book of mystery author interviews