Customer Reviews

Murder in Four Part Harmony

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a bookseller, I read many, many books by new authors, most of them mysteries. The quality ranges from truly awful to sublime and this one falls very near the top. Ms. Ham follows one of the cardinal tenets for any writer---write what you know about---and her experiences as a gospel singer shine through. Plot and character development are both strong and "Murder in Four Part Harmony" is a real pleasure to read. Most fascinating is the peek the author gives us into that part of the gospel music world that most of us would not suspect exists and, yet, this still qualifies as a "traditional" mystery. This is one I can easily recommend to a reader looking for a new mystery author and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Lori Ham's Murder in Four Part Harmony is a chatty little first novel with a strong plot. The narrator, Alexandra Walters, is a divorced single parent and a traveling Gospel Music Soloist. She returns home from an engagement expecting to spend time with her four-year-old daughter Jennifer and finds that her first love has been charged with murder.

From then on Murder in Four Part Harmony rocks along, sprinkled liberally with glimpses into the Gospel Music Scene including a unique look at life on a touring bus. Alex was raised on the road with a family group, but her protective bubble of delusion was broken when at the age of fifteen she fell in love with a married singer Jerry. Away from his wife and family, lonely and adored by Alex, Jerry broke her heart. He kissed her, but it was only an accident; happened in a moment of weakness. Disgusted with the moral decay and hypocrisy abounding in the group, Alex quit.

After her marriage failed Alex trained to become a reserve police officer, but quit to go back on the road as a solo act. She bought an old house and at the time of this story has several rooms rented out to other people as poor as herself; in some cases they trade babysitting for rent.

Alex arranges for Jerry to be released from jail and invites him to move into the apartment over the garage with one of her borders. She gets her attorney cousin to represent Jerry and her PI friend Stephen to help her prove Jerry's innocence. The proximity of this old unresolved romance between Alex and Jerry with the emerging relationship between Alex and Stephen charges the atmosphere with jealousy and distrust. Stephen, the son of a Mafia Don uses his considerable resources to find the truth and get Jerry out of Alex's life as quickly as possible exposing philandering, murder, deception and blackmail in the Gospel Music Industry.

Murder in Four Part Harmony is generously laced with Alexandra's maternal duties and opinions on a multitude of things including certain California cities, the architecture and decoration of several churches and the sincerity and integrity of the most prominent Gospel Music groups. All the while the incredibly complex plot of this story keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I give it a four star rating.

Lorie Ham's debut novel, MURDER IN FOUR PART HARMONY, is a definite winner. Set in the world of gospel music, this mystery involves the efforts of Alex Walters to solve a murder in which a former lover is implicated. As the fast-paced story unfolds, Ms. Ham creates utterly believable characters and a heroine we can root for. The importance of Alex's faith to the story's complexity and the colorful backdrop of the gospel music world give this mystery fresh twists. MURDER IN FOUR PART HARMONY is an enjoyable read that I wholeheartedly recommend.

Alexandra Walters returns from a singing tour to find her small town in an uproar. Fellow Gospel music singer Jerry Webb has been accused of his cousin Tony's murder. Alex can't believe that Jerry would do such a thing, so she talks her friend Stephen into helping her investigate the case. There is no shortage of suspects, but Jerry really does seem to have the best opportunity. Meanwhile, Alex's old crush on Jerry resurfaces, further complicating matters. Can she figure out who the killer is and maintain her testimony? Or is she blinding herself to the truth about Jerry?

Lorie Ham took the old adage "Write what you know" seriously. A Gospel singer herself, she's able to provide an insider look at the good and bad of the industry. The plot is very well developed. Every time I thought I had something figured out, she added a twist that confused me again. Yet everything comes together logically in the end. The characters are interesting, and I look forward to getting to know them better as the series progresses. My only real complaint was the writing style. It was a little choppy at times, but smoothed out as the book progressed.

Lorie Ham is off to a fine start on her writing career. I look forward to seeing where she takes Alex next.

I enjoyed the mystery and the peek inside the gospel music industry. In fact, I'm looking forward to the next book to learn more. The characters were definitely more "real" than some others I've encountered and I'm ready to follow more of the heroine's adventures.

This is a good mystery for someone who doesn't like dark or gruesome.

Lori Ham has broken out of the gatge with a certified winner! "Murder in Four Part Harmony" is a wonderful read and will have you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of the climactic ending! As a heroine, Alex is wonderful and inspiring! Don't miss out on this one!

Lorie Ham has written a definite winner of a book with MURDER IN FOUR PART HARMONY, the first in her Alexandra Walters series. Ham gives us all a view of the gospel music world that we may not have been aware of before. The mystery was well-crafted and I enjoyed it immensely. The religious overtones of the book were handled well without being preachy, which made the book even more enjoyable for me. I'm really looking forward to reading more of Ham's writing in the future and getting to know more about her character Alexandra Walters as well. Bravo!

This book features gospel singer Alexandra Walters. The author is also a gospel singer and you could tell she knew what she was talking about. I like the main characters in this cozy.

It is an enjoyable first book by this author. I am hoping there will be many more in this series. A quartet singer from Alexandra's past is murdered and she is one of the many suspects. She and her boyfriend (a PI) do a lot of investigating and she finally uncovers the murderer and of course the police arrive just in time.

If you get the chance, read this book. WONDERFUL!

This is a very entertaining book to read. I live in "Donlyn" and found the setting fascinating. I recognized many of the restaurants, parks, etc that were a part of this book. The story line is very interesting, and the real killer isn't given away until the end. I never suspected who it turned out to be. I can't wait to read Lorie's next book! (Which is sitting on my desk right now, I may have a late night tonight reading!)

The book is well written and insightful!!! Take the time to read it, and you definitely won't be disappointed!!!