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Rage Begets Murder
""Marshall Stein has pulled off an author's tour-de-force in his debut novel. Set in and around Philadelphia, the city native son David Goodis turned into a jungle of noir, RAGE BEGETS MURDER follows the strangely intertwined destinies of two extended families-one Jewish, the other Italian-during the early years of dance-party television. Race relations clash with under-aged girls searching for any career path leading them out of their stifling neighborhoods and suffocating parents. The dialogue is crisp, clear, and dead-on for the period, making RAGE BEGETS MURDER a strong contender in the Best First-Novel sweepstakes.""
Jeremiah Healy, author of RIGHT TO DIE and SHALLOW GRAVES
Naomi was all too aware of 'Varsity Dance', the 1950s TV dance show that was a gold mine for everyone. Her father owned part of it; her husband David was the lawyer for the show, and her husband's cousin, Eddie Greene, was the host. She also knew its dark side: Morris Chumsky, the gangster businessman; Sophia, who danced on the show and bewitched Eddie, and Sophia's uncle, who was head of the Vice Squad and wanted Eddie dead.
It was just a matter of time until there were murders, investigations, and great personal loss for Naomi.
Enter the world of "Rage Begets Murder" where business, politics and crime intersect.
Jeremiah Healy, author of RIGHT TO DIE and SHALLOW GRAVES
Naomi was all too aware of 'Varsity Dance', the 1950s TV dance show that was a gold mine for everyone. Her father owned part of it; her husband David was the lawyer for the show, and her husband's cousin, Eddie Greene, was the host. She also knew its dark side: Morris Chumsky, the gangster businessman; Sophia, who danced on the show and bewitched Eddie, and Sophia's uncle, who was head of the Vice Squad and wanted Eddie dead.
It was just a matter of time until there were murders, investigations, and great personal loss for Naomi.
Enter the world of "Rage Begets Murder" where business, politics and crime intersect.
242 pages, ebook
First published March 6, 2013
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 20, 2013
Rage Begets Murder takes you back to a time of dance-craze television. What many people didn’t see was the politics, racism and overall controversy that mixing the new dance music with teenagers dancing. We see this world through the eyes of both a Jewish family and an Italian family in Philadelphia. Eddie Greene is the “Dick Clark” character who hosts the show Varsity Dance, Sophia is the teenage girl who is making questionable choices and in a relationship with the much older Eddie. Julie Rabelli is the Vice Cop who is both Sophia’s Uncle and a cop who wants to take down Greene and Varsity Dance. With these three on a collision course that will involve a network, a gangster, lawyers and investors of Varsity Dance. But, in the end who will win, lose or die.
This was a fantastic murder suspense book. I found that I was drawn in by the history, characters and story all wrapped up in a package I couldn’t get enough of. I thought Blueberry Hill was a wonderful idea placed in this book. I think it really gets the reader thinking of what teenage life must have been like in the 50′s and what a shock to the system the new music and dance would have been. It would have allowed teenagers to ponder doing things that maybe at one time they wouldn’t have. This also allowed adults to take advantage of these vulnerable girls. This was the perfect setting and set up for this book. I loved how each character was so well-developed yet could still progress through the story. It was this infusion of humanity that made the story so believable. Rage Begets Murder will have you going to Wikipedia to read up on the dance craze and any scandals that may have been associated with it. But, it isn’t just the history that I fell for it was the suspense that kept me coming back for more. I almost felt like I was watching an episode of a modern-day crime drama. I loved this. Overall, if you like a little history, suspense and murder wrapped up in an addicting story you will love Rage Begets Murder.
This was a fantastic murder suspense book. I found that I was drawn in by the history, characters and story all wrapped up in a package I couldn’t get enough of. I thought Blueberry Hill was a wonderful idea placed in this book. I think it really gets the reader thinking of what teenage life must have been like in the 50′s and what a shock to the system the new music and dance would have been. It would have allowed teenagers to ponder doing things that maybe at one time they wouldn’t have. This also allowed adults to take advantage of these vulnerable girls. This was the perfect setting and set up for this book. I loved how each character was so well-developed yet could still progress through the story. It was this infusion of humanity that made the story so believable. Rage Begets Murder will have you going to Wikipedia to read up on the dance craze and any scandals that may have been associated with it. But, it isn’t just the history that I fell for it was the suspense that kept me coming back for more. I almost felt like I was watching an episode of a modern-day crime drama. I loved this. Overall, if you like a little history, suspense and murder wrapped up in an addicting story you will love Rage Begets Murder.
December 5, 2013
Thank you to NetGalley and Mr. Stein for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have to give praise to Mr. Stein for writing an extremely interesting story situated in a different era that describes race relations and twists a murder mystery into it. It's rich with details and descriptions of people, places and situations.
My brain spun a great deal with all the changes in narration. While well done, it still made me put the book down every few pages because I had to rest my thoughts and get back to understanding the story.
I appreciated learning more about 1950s Philadelphia and what life was like in different circles. It was certainly a very different life than what we live today.
I have to give praise to Mr. Stein for writing an extremely interesting story situated in a different era that describes race relations and twists a murder mystery into it. It's rich with details and descriptions of people, places and situations.
My brain spun a great deal with all the changes in narration. While well done, it still made me put the book down every few pages because I had to rest my thoughts and get back to understanding the story.
I appreciated learning more about 1950s Philadelphia and what life was like in different circles. It was certainly a very different life than what we live today.
April 25, 2013
Rage Begets Murder vividly recreates the time of early rock and roll in 1950's Philadelphia. It's a compelling story line with well drawn characters, both male and female. It's a "page turner" with wit, intelligence and suspense. You won't be disappointed!
September 18, 2015
I thought I had reviewed this already but I guess I missed doing that. I enjoyed the book. It held my attention and that is hard to do. All in all a good read. Totally recommended.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews