Customer Reviews

Rock & Roll Homicide

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
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I never thought anyone would combine an intriguing detective story with humor, the way Nelson DeMille does in his John Corey series - until now.
Rock & Roll Homicide leads the reader through a diverse maze of suspects, ranging from a drugged-out drummer to the Russian Mafia. But, for me, the centerpiece to this intriguing whodunit is the laugh-out-loud humor that happens in between the action scenes and serious sleuthing.
The detective, Jason Duffy, who is young and working his first murder case, was a counselor at a mental health center prior to becoming a detective.
His two employees are both former patients, and he hires a third, as a temp, later in the book. While the two regular employees are both very good at their jobs, the way they relate to the world is frequently hilarious. The temp, a security guard with Delusions of Grandeur, is completely over the top.
The case involves an ambitious rock star who was killed in an explosion while recording a CD. The widow, who is the chief suspect, hires Jason to help prove her innocence.
The other aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the relationship between Jason and his ex-police detective father. It's not unusual for teenage boys to run into problems with their fathers while establishing their own identities. Jason's dilemma was magnified by the fact that he played in a rock band from high school until he became a private investigator. As a cop, his father knew all too well the downside to a rock & roll musician's lifestyle.
Throughout the book we watch them take tentative steps toward reestablishing their relationship.
Finally, as a rock fan since the `60s, I enjoyed the information about the impact of how file sharing on the Internet, download sales, and demographic profiling affected the victim's record company contract negotiations. In fact, there was quite a bit of backstage information that I found fascinating. My only criticism is that I wish the author would have developed this area in greater depth.
You don't have to be a rock fan to enjoy this book. The well-crafted plot and humor alone make it an excellent read.

Murder, music and the mob make a marvelous mix in RJ McDonnell's first novel "Rock and Roll Homicide," a delightfully witty and superbly crafted tale of novice detective Jason Duffy's investigation into the murder of a rising rock star.

The story revolves around the death of Terry Tucker, the hard-driving head of San Diego-based rock band Doberman's Stub, who was killed when his earphones exploded just as he was wrapping up work on the band's third CD - a promising release that was to shoot the group to superstardom.

The list of suspects in Tucker's death is enough to make even the most hard-nosed detective cringe. There's the rocker's wife, who stands to inherit a $5 million insurance payoff, record label executives with sinister ties to the Russian Mafia and his beleaguered band mates, including a hard-partying drummer and a singer/songwriter living well-beyond his means.

Toss in a cast of dysfunctional characters like Duffy's obsessive compulsive assistant, his retired police detective father and a photographer afflicted with Tourrette's Syndrome and you have all the makings for a fast-paced and funny look at life in the music business.

McDonnell takes the reader on a wild ride through the murder investigation, which has enough twists and turns to keep even the most hardened mystery lover intrigued. It's his insider's knowledge of the music industry, strong attention to detail and witty insights into the characters, however, that really makes this novel stand out.

Fast moving and at times laugh-out-loud hilarious, "Rock and Roll Homicide" has all the makings of a sure-fire winner. Anyone who loves murder, mysteries or music should pick it up.
As an avid reader, I've found McDonnell to be one of the most engaging, enjoyable, and funniest writers I've come across in a long, long time. With his smart style and well-crafted characters, "Rock and Roll Homicide" can easily break out to make McDonnell one of the most sought after new writers of his generation.

I, for one, am hoping McDonnell revives Duffy and his dysfunctional cast of characters in a second novel - or perhaps an entire series. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if some astute movie executive signs up for the film rights to the Duffy franchise.

Here's hoping we see more of this novice detective - and more of McDonnell's sharp wit and clever writing in the future.

(Official Apex Reviews Rating: 4.5 Stars)

Jason Duffy, rocker turned private investigator, has just scored the job that could launch his career. The lead singer of the band Doberman's Stub was killed in an accident that involved his head phones exploding during a recording session, his widow is set to inherit $5 million dollars, and she is also the San Diego Police Department's lead suspect. So, she hires Jason to find the real killer before the SDPD pushes the blame onto her.

While investigating, Jason learns that the victim was in the middle of a hostile renegotiation with his record company and that the record company has ties to the Russian Mafia. Because Jason is only in his first year of private practice, he's inexperienced and does not have the contacts within the PD to gather information, so he turns to his estranged father, an ex-SPDP detective, to help him out.

During the investigation, the reader gets to take a look into the lives of the band mates and learns that the drummer is an alcoholic/drug addict, the bass player lives in an ordinary neighborhood in order to conceal his rock star status, and the lead guitarist and song writer lives well beyond his means. As Jason comes closer to solving the crime, his girlfriend, staff, and family are all pulled unwillingly into danger.

Rock & Roll Homicide is a fast-paced, deeply twisted, and hilarious story that will have readers salivating for more as they dive further into the plot. McDonnell has a great knowledge of the music industry, and his characters are dysfunctional, yet well-crafted. Rock & Roll Homicide has a well thought out mystery that leaves you on the edge of your seat. This cast of characters is perfect for a series, and hopefully we'll see just that in the future.


Brooke Carleton
Apex Reviews

I really enjoyed Rock & Roll Homicide. I found myself lost in the story, and read almost all of it in one day.

Specifically; I LOVED the characters that the author chose. I enjoyed the variety and the uniqueness of each of Jason's employees. I also appreciate the message behind Jason's treating them with dignity and respect. RJ McDonnell did a good job of working mental illnesses/variations in to the story without poking fun of anybody.

On a comedic level, I think he could have gotten alot of great humour mileage from Cory - but doing so may have alienated some of his reader base so I can see that as one reason why he may not have done that.

I also liked that I never knew 'whodunnit' until it was revealed to me. There were plenty of red herrings and none of them was more or less obvious than the others which is good.

One thing I wish I knew is why Jason has such an eclectic professional history. Perhaps there are more details revealed in further novels. I will have to read and find out!

I definitely plan on reading the next two books in the series, and recommend Rock & Roll Homicide for a well-written, fun and interesting read.

This was a great read...I absolutely loved the Irish overtones (my own heritage) and the page-turning suspense. I thought I had it figured out a couple of times, but no dice..lots of unexpected twists and turns, which I love. I never got bored or had a "hurry up and tell me who did it" moment. for a first novel, this was up there with the hundreds of established authors i have read over the years. I see wonderful things in his future..keep up the good work..cannot wait to read your next novel...should be in the mail today...

I love mysteries, but I don't tend to prefer the ones with themes. Even so, Rock & Roll Homicide hit the spot. Our detective is likable, and the author lets us really get to know him without overdoing it. Yes, the book could have used some editing, but I'm not that picky as long as the characters and the story have me involved. My only real complaint is that the main character's girlfriend didn't feel like a fully fleshed person - she showed up to move the plot along and then disappeared till needed again.

All that being said, the mystery itself was a good one, the characters were interesting and worth getting to know, and there was just the right mix of violence, witty repartee, crime and rock and roll. Not to mention some very interesting and unusual sidekicks. Can't wait to read the next installment, and hope more are on the way!

Rock & Roll Homicide is a fun, fast-paced mystery/suspense. Jason Duffy, musician-turned-P.I., is hired to find the killer of the lead singer in a popular rock band. He leads us through the world of rock & roll, while also sidestepping the Russian mafia and a few others who might want him dead.

The plot is original and kept me guessing. The characters popped off the pages and pulled me right into their world. Duffy is one of those instantly likable characters, with flaws that make him human and personality that shines through the pages.

This is the first book in what will be a series starring Jason Duffy. I'm looking forward to reading McDonnell's next one, called Rock & Roll Rip Off.

Rock & Roll Homicide is a fast paced murder mystery.
Jason Duffy is a new Private Investigator, a previous mental health worker and ex member of a rock and roll band. He is hired by the widow (Chelsea) of a popular rock band, to investigate the murder of her husband (Terry), and to clear her name.

Along the way Jason encounters some obsticals. Learning the victim had some ties to the Russian mafia, finding his secretary (Jeannine) bound and gagged in his upturned office, and leaving his photographer assulted in the parking lot. Jason reluctantly asks his father (a retired SDPD cop) for help in solving this crime. Everyone is suspect, including the band members.

Rock and Roll homicide was a fantastic read, with the inside look of the music industry, showing what can go wrong when one person strives to achive the ultimate in fame and fortune. A must read for mystery lovers!

There is a lot of interesting and entertaining fiction out there that needs to be discovered. This novel is representative: it is a good, light summer (now fall) read. You won't find the solution to the nation's healthcare or immigration problems, but you can sit down with your drink, relax, and have an entertaining, imaginative ride in the Southern California sun.
McDonnell uses the USA Network's definition of character, not the literary one. His main character, Jason Duffy, is a young and inexperienced PI (sound like Psychic?), the son of an Irish cop in San Diego (not Boston, New York, Philly, or Chicago?). There are enough dyed-in-the-wool Irish cops on the SD force to call them the Irish Mafia, along with a Polish cop, who begrudgingly helps our young PI in spite of not being a member of the Irish Mafia.
That's just the start of a long list of USA Network-like "characters." Duffy employs a cameraman with Tourette's syndrome and an obsessive-compulsive secretary (a nod to Monk?). A stereotypical mix of Russians is also in the cast. They are so paranoid about protecting themselves that we can't tell who's really in the Russian Mafia (again: San Diego?).
The San Diego I know is not McDonnell's San Diego, but it definitely could be a haven for local rock stars (isn't every city?). Meet the rock group Doberman's Stub: Terry Tucker, leader, guitarist and vocalist; Nigel Choate, lead guitarist; Jack Pascal, bass player; and Ian Davis, drummer. The first one is the homicide victim. Your job is to figure out who's the real killer among Nigel, Jack, Ian, Terry's wife, Chelsea, who hires Duffy, and many other suspects.
The story moves along; I didn't have a boring moment. Told in the first person, we are young Duffy, following the clues as they come along and as he makes things happen or they happen to him. There is a subplot here about Duffy's relationship with his father and his desire to get past the Irish Mafia. He's also a wannabe rocker that can't write a song.
McDonnell seems to have taken liberties with the historical record in his linking of Nigel's hooligan friends to the Order of Orange. The whole Irish Protestant versus Irish Catholic subtheme is too much of a stretch for me, especially in San Diego! It's heavy stuff for a book that otherwise is fun to read. And it seems one-sided.
I had no sympathies for either side during the Troubles--there were too many innocent victims of fanatics from both sides. Of course, the British continued their inept colonial careers of creating chaos, especially with the Special Powers Act. While this favored the Protestant marchers in Portadown, allowing them to parade to Drumcree Church through the nationalist area, this poke at Irish Catholics' sensibilities was largely a 1990's phenomenon--the march has since been banned. I suppose it's possible that the Portadown picture Duffy sees on Nigel's office wall is fifteen years old or so and not as recent as I assumed. If so, Nigel is either a lot older than I thought or he was marching at a very young age.
The Greenmen and the Orangemen may not drink Jameson's together yet, but I believe things have quieted down enough that industry started moving back into Northern Ireland. Protestants and Catholics alike were able to get in on the tail end of the Celtic Tiger's economic boom, which, like the rest of Europe, has been dealt a blow by the current recession. Ireland's current economic woes may start up the violence again--let's hope not. Again, heavy stuff.
R. J. McDonnell's enjoyable style is somewhere between Carl Hiassen's in Basket Case and Michael Connelly's in Chasing the Dime. Rock & Roll Homicide is not as light as the first, while having a similar story line, and not as heavy as the second. Rock & Roll Homicide is both interesting and entertaining. Enjoy.
Steven M. Moore
Reviewer for Book Pleasures

Rock & Roll Homicide I ordered this book online, and was very excited when it came much earlier than expected. The book itself is a fun detective story set in the San Diego, CA music industry. There are enough unexpected plot twists to keep you guessing, even suspects to make you wonder but not so much that you give up or get bored. The characters are very well rounded and the conversations are pretty much like you would hear them in reality. The added benefit of this book to me is that I totally enjoyed it, and I passed it on to several older teens and twentys and each of them liked it too! Personally I would recommend this book to anyone 16 or older who enjoys a good detective!