The Broken Promise Land (Bookcassette(r) Edition) [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Marcia Muller (Author), Jean Reed Bahle (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1996 | Series: Sharon McCone (Book 17)

Ricky Savage is Sharon McCone's brother-in-law, and the hottest country singer in the business. He's on top professionally, but hitting rock bottom in his personal life. His longtime marriage to Sharon's sister Charlene is breaking up, forcing him to question if it was all worth it: the struggle, hard times, and hopes of stardom that finally came true. Even worse, Ricky has been getting anonymous letters threatening not only himself, but also his children.

It's a tough case for McCone because her own family is at risk. She can bring in the security firm in which her lover Hy Ripinsky holds an interest to protect Ricky as he begins a promotional tour for his forthcoming album. But unless Ricky lets her into his past and the secrets hidden there, she doesn't have a chance at uncovering the roots of the sick obsession behind the threats.

Despite McCone's precautions, she soon discovers the stalker is very close at hand, upping the ante of terror with clear warnings that he or she can strike anytime - and plans to. Ricky isn't helping either as his marriage crumbles and he turns to another lover, who will complicate his emotional state and McCone's investigation. Now dirty tricks are putting Ricky's career, as well as his life, in jeopardy...and his next Grammy-winning song about shattered hearts and broken promises may be his last.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The 17th novel in Muller's series featuring San Francisco private eye Sharon McCone, The Broken Promised Land finds McCone assigned to provide security for Ricky Savage, a country-and-western superstar who happens to be McCone's brother-in-law. Savage has been the target of hate notes that are terrorizing the singer, his wife, and six kids. McCone's job is to turn up the culprit before Savage's tour to promote his new album collapses under the weight of his fear and paranoia. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Muller surpasses herself with this vigorous and trenchant mystery thriller, exploring stardom and family life, ambition and revenge, loneliness and conflicting loyalties. In her 17th appearance (after A Wild and Lonely Place and Wolf in the Shadows), the continuously evolving San Francisco PI Sharon McCone, now the head of her own small firm, learns from her brother-in-law, country music megastar Ricky Savage, of increasingly incoherent anonymous notes being sent to his unlisted address, all asking the same question: "Whatever happened to my song?" Agreeing to investigate, Sharon is propelled into both the twisted, oversized world of celebrity and the more intimate devastation occurring within her sister Charlene's family. At the Savage mansion in San Diego hills, Sharon and her lover, security specialist Hy Ripinsky, find the family in turmoil, with Ricky and Charlene, who has found someone new, on the verge of divorce. As the threats escalate to include the six Savage children, safeguards are breached and Ricky's manager is injured in a shooting. With Ricky's major tour approaching, Sharon links the notes to an aspiring singer with whom Ricky had a one-night stand in Texas years before, a woman who pursued him so relentlessly he sent two of his band members, now deceased, to rough her up. While Sharon's associate and friend Rae Kelleher is increasingly involved in tracking down the Texas singer-and with Ricky-Sharon wonders if she and Hy might also be drifting apart. Leading Sharon into the rocky psychological terrain of families, Muller gives her meticulously plotted story, with its absorbing picture of the music industry, a commanding emotional authenticity. Mystery Guild selection.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Bookcassette; Unabridged edition (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561007188
• ISBN-13: 978-1561007189
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,219,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

MARCIA MULLER has written many novels and short stories. Her novel "Wolf in the Shadows" won the Anthony Boucher Award. The recipient of the Private Eye Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award and the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award - their highest accolade - she lives in northern California with her husband, mystery writer Bill Pronzini.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A welcome return to form for Muller, May 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Broken Promise Land (Mass Market Paperback)

It took me almost a month to get through the previous book in the McCone series, "A Wild and Lonely Place." The characters were so dull, the plot so mechanical and the writing so cliched, I feared that Muller had run out of gas.

Not to worry! I read "Broken Promise Land" in less than 24 hours because the characters and situations were interesting and the writing was just fine. This is the Muller I've come to expect. One of the best in this very fine series.

P.S. If you're new to Muller, I URGE you to read her books in order. She's very careful about not giving away previous mysteries, but the characters really do grow and develop over time in these books. Additionally, there are plot developments that I would not want to have spoiled for me. Unlike authors who take a few books until they hit their stride, Muller was good from the very first Sharon McCone book, "Edwin of the Iron Shoes". Even though the series began in the 1970's, the older ones are suprisingly fresh. If you like character-driven mysteries with strong women at the center, you'll like this series.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real winner!, August 28, 2002

By 

Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Broken Promise Land (Mass Market Paperback)

Private Investigator Sharon McCone's brother-in-law, Ricky Savage, is a famous and successful Country Western singer. He calls on Sharon to help him uncover the source of threatening notes which he has been receiving. When Sharon begins to investigate, she finds that Ricky's marriage to her sister is in danger, as well as his life. As she digs into Ricky's past, she discovers some sordid things he has done, and finds people who might have a motive to harm him. This is a fast-paced mystery, full of interesting characters and enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. There have been many changes in Sharon's life during the course of this series, and this book is full of them. Marriages and partnerships are made and broken, and the reader gets a fascinating look at part of Sharon's family and at the backstage life of a music star. This is a very entertaining book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it alot!, June 1, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Broken Promise Land (Mass Market Paperback)

I really enjoy this series; I have read them all. In all the books, I have found the characters to be very true-to-life. These are real people with real problems. The only thing that drives me nuts is the fact that both Sharon McCone and Hy Ripinsky call each other by their last name