Customer Reviews

California Screamin'

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The second book in Patricia Morrison's Rennie Stride series is completely as wonderful a read as the first. We learn more about Rennie's background and are introduced to more secondary characters, and the mystery itself is great. I really don't understand why no publisher wants these books and they have to be self-published. These are first rate and I would recommend them to anyone who loves mysteries and/or is interested in sixties lore.

I would like to question why Love Him Madly is not available here as well. It is, if anything, better than the previous two, and they are the best.

Come on, Amazon and the publishing world, wake up!

As a college professor, I'm grateful that Patricia Morrison's "California Screamin'" was a summer release. Morrison's mix of intriguing plot and interesting characters would have cost me sleep during the school year. And it would have been worth it.

"Screamin'" brings back Rennie Stride, a woman intent on building her own life at a time when women's choices were not supposed to include Rennie's passion, journalism. But Rennie has become a rock reporter and, as this story opens, an increasingly-respected one. (Her path to that career is part of the story in Morrison's "Ungrateful Dead," which I'd also recommend.)

Rennie's had the good fortune to land in an organization that recognizes her talent, with an editor willing to accept only the best she can give him. And that best is very good -- Rennie is a keen observer of the world around her and willing to dig hard to get the story right and get it first. Trouble is, Rennie is also far too good at finding herself in the middle of murder, even, as here, at the Monterey Pop Festival.

As the story starts, Rennie and friends arrive in the region early to attend Big Magic, created by people who find Monterey too commercial. Rennie's stalker, Murder, arrives about the same time, striking once at Big Magic and three more times at Monterey.

Morrison weaves the music and murder together adeptly. Rennie's rock insider status allows her to observe the collision of idealistic musicians with music business folks, both good and greedy. She sees the changing of the guard from one wave of '60s musicians, people like the Mamas and the Papas, to the harder-edged music of people like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. And by story's end, she -- and we -- see the truth of who killed each of the four victims and how their stories blend together.

Morrison, a former journalist, gives Rennie reactions that ring true to anyone who's worked in the field. For one example, forced to deal with the death of a long-time friend, Rennie forces herself into "reporter mode ... I must remember how this is, I must see everything, it's my JOB, it's the only way I can help him now..." An honest look at priorities -- get the story right and get it written, then fall apart.

You can start the series with "California Screamin';" Morrison provides enough backstory to keep things clear for you. Just be prepared -- you're likely to like Rennie and her friends very much and find yourself wanting to spend more time with them.

Patricia Morrison makes you wish you were there. Her characters and stories are wonderfully written. Using her knowledge of music and musicians of the time period she gives you a world completely fleshed out and keeps you wanting more. Rennie Stride is an intelligent and worthy heroine. The plot of this book keeps you guessing and wanting to know what is around every turn. The Monterey Pop festival is a wonderful backdrop and her descriptions of the music that was played makes you long for a time machine so you could be there yourself. I highly recommend this and any of her books!

Patricia Morrison's new Rennie Stride novel opens out the series. Ungrateful Dead intro'd the main characters and now they get to live in the amazing world of the Sixties. Partway through California Screamin' I realized that the Stride books do parallel the best fantasy writing in that we get to follow an individualized, interesting band of friends and comrades on their adventures in a strange strange land, one weirder and closer than Middle Earth or Oz. Rennie's world has become larger (up and down the California coast, with New York City and further distant promised) and deeper (as the characters grow, interact and multiply).
This is not to slight the mystery aspect, which if anything is even smarter and twistier than Ungrateful Dead. There's a wonderful reveal of whodunnit (one of the "it"s) and how at the end that probably has been available since the dawn of storytelling, but that I don't know of ever being used before. The specific Wonderland of rock `n' roll in the 60s, and the exotic creatures, styles, substances and musics that populate it are evoked with care and art. Very enjoyable, and very promising for the books to come.

This book made me wish I was at Monterey, which is one the best compliments I can give a book.

This book is a great follow-up to her first novel in the Rennie Stride series, Ungrateful Dead. The 60's are back in living color as Rennie heads off into another adventure. I love this series and can't wait until the next one comes out!

In a total change from her Keltaid, Patricia Morrison takes the reader back to the birth of rock, bringing the 60's to life so vividly you can smell it. With a great plot, gutsy heroine and a backdrop that glitters this is a page turner not just for whodunnit, but also for any fan of the 1960's American rock scene. Clearly she was there, on the barricades, and her intimate knowledge of her subject makes this a fun read. You get the distinct feeling she had a ball writing it - which flows over to the reader. Perfect read anytime, anywhere - but best in one great wallow of enjoyment.

The second book in a series, this is a perfect follow up to the first Rennie Stride mystery from Patricia Morrison. (Though you don't have to read the first one to enjoy this book, I'd recommend you do as you will be entertained.) This is a wonderfully entertaining mystery with well-sketched characters, delicious details and the magical setting of the 60's rock and roll world. A fast, fun and satisfying read.

This is a great second book for The Rennie series.
Every little detail is put in. The People, Clothes,the era and more. You can see much hard work and feelings have gone into these Rennie series.
I can't wait for book three.
Mrs Morrison has a great grasp on how to keep her readers hooked.
If you have lived in the 60's or wanted to these are the books for you.
You begin to feel like Family and by the end of the second book you are.
These books bring back memories and will make new ones for the Folks that were not there.
I hope Book Three comes out soon. PERFECT for a Winters Night Read or anytime.
Hail Mrs Morrison and The Rennie Series.
We all need a bit of Mystery and fun in our lives and these are the books to do it.
Go out and buy Book one and two.You will love them.
Bring on Book three.