2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Frozen Elvis, April 4, 2006
This review is from: Five Star First Edition Mystery - Freeze Me, Tender (Hardcover)
This book is destined to be the sleeper hit of the year.
If you haven't heard of Michael A. Black before, then pick up FREEZE ME, TENDER (think: Frozen Elvis) and see what the buzz is all about.
From the opening page as two key characters head for Vegas, we know we're in for the ride of our lives. Although Elvis is never mentioned by name, the dead King of Rock and Roll in FREEZE ME, TENDER -- Colton Purcell -- is as close to the original as they come. And his entourage -- a wily manager, a headstrong ex-wife and a misguided young daughter who's engaged to the effeminate Prince of Pop --- well, you get the picture.
Add in a powerhouse Las Vegas mobster, a down-on-his luck Chicago-based reporter seeking redemption in his own life, a couple of murders, and you'll begin to see why FREEZE ME, TENDER should be on everyone's must-read list.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Suspense AND Laugh-out-Loud Funny..., May 13, 2006
This review is from: Five Star First Edition Mystery - Freeze Me, Tender (Hardcover)
Mike Black's often hilarious tale of murder, intrigue and `frozen Elvis,' and mass demonstrations across the country- this weekend's edition of MONEY & MORE serves up a veritable jambalaya for listeners around the United States!
Did I say "frozen Elvis?" I think not-if only because the name and likeness of the late Elvis is protected by a copyright held by his estate, which employs a corps of well-paid lawyers ready to swoop down on any interlopers.
Hence the term "roman a clef," a literary device that substitutes fictional characters for real-life personages... and which is used to devilishly effective impact by author Black in his just-released comedic thriller, FREEZE ME, TENDER.
"I've always been a big fan of Elvis' music," winks Michael, "and since I'm familiar with his life story, some elements of it ... uh, may have somehow found its way into FREEZE ME, TENDER. But my book is made up-it's a `what-if' story, entirely fiction."
Uh-huh. Really. Cross my heart.
But for certain, it's a heck of a good read-suspenseful, yet punctuated with moments to laugh-out-loud humor. And that's no accident, given the bonafides of the author.
For more than two decades, Michael A. Black has been a street-savvy police sergeant who has worked for law enforcement in the Chicagoland area in a variety of hands-on -and not infrequently, hazardous-- roles. He's drawn from those experiences in his second occupation, that of journeyman writer and author.
Mike Black is kind of a legendary figure among crime writers and novelists- for many of them, he's the go-to guy when they need factual information on a particularly sticky point of police procedure or insight to the criminal mind.
Sometimes they get even more: for instance, Mike is famous as the guy who took Sara Paretsky, the bestselling author of the V.I. Warshinsky novels, to a pistol range and taught her how to shoot.
In addition to his writing and law-enforcement duties, Michael is also on the case when it comes to standing watch over the community of writers. He's taken pains to identify the many scams that target the hopes of those who put pen to paper.
Noted co-host David Latko, "Mike, recently there was a flurry of news inside the writing community about a so-called publishing company which called itself L'Abeille Publishing."
"That's among the latest examples," Michael nods. "As it turns out, this L'Abeille operation was being run by a woman who had been convicted of real estate fraud: Alexandrea Stewart, also known as Andrea Delauren among several other aliases. She was a con artist who was going after would-be writers who want desperately to get published. They'd be charged for all kinds of services, with the promise they would become published authors."
"The point is, this kind of scam is all over the place, isn't it?" David asks. "People pose as `real' publishers and `real' literary agents, and they take money from hopeful people and destroy their dreams. How can a writer tell the different between these crooks and legimitate agents and publishers?"
"The rule of thumb is that `money should flow to the writer," Michael says. "Real agents only get their money when they actually sell an author's book to a publisher. And legitimate publishers pay authors, not the other way around."
FREEZE ME, TENDER is a heck of a good read-you don't miss it!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
fine journalist investigative thriller, March 13, 2006
This review is from: Five Star First Edition Mystery - Freeze Me, Tender (Hardcover)
The tenth anniversary of the death of the king of hillbilly rock and roll Colton Purcell is coming soon. In Vegas where Colton frequently performed just before his death, there are several galas planned including a sound alike contest. As many of his fans plan to attend the events, Colton's manager "Big Daddy" Babcock is murdered with the King's scarf from his farewell show. Regency magazine CEO Bishop sends his reporter Harry Bauer to follow up on the homicide since he interviewed Big Daddy just last week; Harry assumes Bishop wants him out of town when he marries the reporter's ex-wife.
At the same time, Colton's only daughter Melissa is to marry Latino superstar Pablo while her mother Ladonna known by all as "Ladzilla" objects. Harry meets Gabriel Freeman in the Vegas airport; he claims to be an offspring of Colton at the same time rumors fly of a related nursing home abduction in Memphis by Nurse Marjorie Versette whose home is a shrine to the King. When his journalist pal is murdered, Harry investigates the dark secrets of the King and his retinue ten years after the performer died.
Obviously everyone knows who the King is, but Michael A. Black provides an intriguing refreshing spin filled with twists that take some getting used to (just ask Harry) as the story line moves forward on several flanks. Harry's inquiries, like the plot, follow several directions including the deaths of Big Daddy and a reporter friend (that left Harry All Shook Up) as well as Freeman's claim; all converge in Memphis. A delight for the Elvis crowd, fans of a journalist investigative thriller will also appreciate this fine Love Me Tender not homage to the King of Rock and Roll.
Harriet Klausner
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