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The Blues Detective
Meet Otis King,...or that's the name on his office door. Maybe his original name sounded a little more Welsh, but didn't sit too well on a Blues guitarist in the city of Memphis. By day, Otis works as The Blues Detective. Pretty much every Blues related case in Memphis drifts his way sooner or later.
Enjoy Otis' adventures in bite sized chunks with your coffee, or better yet, a beer with a bourbon chaser.
Otis is a fun guy, who does his best to avoid trouble and attract blondes. Some days he succeeds more than others.
Join him as he deals with Hijacked Harmonicas, Missing Musicians, Wayward Wives and Precious Packages.
Enjoy Otis' adventures in bite sized chunks with your coffee, or better yet, a beer with a bourbon chaser.
Otis is a fun guy, who does his best to avoid trouble and attract blondes. Some days he succeeds more than others.
Join him as he deals with Hijacked Harmonicas, Missing Musicians, Wayward Wives and Precious Packages.
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2012
18 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Peters
13 books48 followersBorn in the swamps of Glamorgan, I have wandered the world, generally with a guitar in hand.
Here I am in a beautiful village in central Spain, where the sun shines, the lake is warm, the drink is cheap and the people and animals are friendly.
I share my place with two gorgeous local cats, more guitars than I can count and a fridge full of wine.
Oh, and I write stories. Many of them about Otis King, Memphis' Number One Welsh Blues detective. Others about Angels, murderers, failed Super-Villains and ingrowing toenails.
I'd be happy if some of my stories amused you for a while.
Here I am in a beautiful village in central Spain, where the sun shines, the lake is warm, the drink is cheap and the people and animals are friendly.
I share my place with two gorgeous local cats, more guitars than I can count and a fridge full of wine.
Oh, and I write stories. Many of them about Otis King, Memphis' Number One Welsh Blues detective. Others about Angels, murderers, failed Super-Villains and ingrowing toenails.
I'd be happy if some of my stories amused you for a while.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 21, 2012
Otis King a.k.a. The Blues Detective has switched the cold, wet weather of the Valleys for the expanding waist lines of Memphis, home of the King and heart attacks on a plate. Watch him solve cases, drink bourbon and eat Welshcakes whilst procuring some lovely female company.
The Missing Musician see's a woman with "curves that would keep a math professor calculating for years" walk in with a seemingly straight forward missing husbands case but little do they know that he's turned to the dark side!
Is that a cat? No it's The Disappointed Daughter. Caught up in a turf war Otis charges big bucks and put's himself in the line of fire. Not that he has much choice
A disillusioned husband is decieved in The Stolen Strat
The Cop's Kid's Cat isn't a simple case of one in a tree or handing out flyers in the neighbourhood as it seem's there's a pussy grabbing scheme afoot, but to what end?
A piece of history is stolen in The Hijacked Harmonica's. Their precious cargo with a delicate weekly beauty regime so time is of the essence.
The Wayward Wife is not all she seem's. The husband may well be worried with her change of habits but sometimes it's for your own good.
After having done such a bang up job in The Disappointed Daughter Otis's services are once again needed in The Precious Packages. San Francisco is the destination and unfortunately a train is the mode of transportation.
There's a reason why fueds start but Otis is given the cash so The Rancorous Reunion is on the books.
Why help The Foul-Tempered Foundling? Well a down payment is always a good start and possibly the satisfaction that she came to Otis for help.
The Senior Sportswoman is fit, dignified and being black mailed. But what could a woman of such high standing have hidden in the closet?
Otis has a fun sense of humour, quick wit and a kind heart. People may pay for the truth but how often do they want it all? Otis often takes the high road when he could easily make some of his more difficult clients suffer.
With more Welsh towns mentioned than i've ever gone to and a good sense of when to limit the detail you get a real sense of the main character and can't help but love him.
Great idea separating it into smaller cases rather than a full novel following one as I find mysteries can get a tad tedious when they go on too long following these ridiculous leads that pop out of thin air.
You get a real sense of the authors fun an quircky writing style with this collection
The Missing Musician see's a woman with "curves that would keep a math professor calculating for years" walk in with a seemingly straight forward missing husbands case but little do they know that he's turned to the dark side!
Is that a cat? No it's The Disappointed Daughter. Caught up in a turf war Otis charges big bucks and put's himself in the line of fire. Not that he has much choice
A disillusioned husband is decieved in The Stolen Strat
The Cop's Kid's Cat isn't a simple case of one in a tree or handing out flyers in the neighbourhood as it seem's there's a pussy grabbing scheme afoot, but to what end?
A piece of history is stolen in The Hijacked Harmonica's. Their precious cargo with a delicate weekly beauty regime so time is of the essence.
The Wayward Wife is not all she seem's. The husband may well be worried with her change of habits but sometimes it's for your own good.
After having done such a bang up job in The Disappointed Daughter Otis's services are once again needed in The Precious Packages. San Francisco is the destination and unfortunately a train is the mode of transportation.
There's a reason why fueds start but Otis is given the cash so The Rancorous Reunion is on the books.
Why help The Foul-Tempered Foundling? Well a down payment is always a good start and possibly the satisfaction that she came to Otis for help.
The Senior Sportswoman is fit, dignified and being black mailed. But what could a woman of such high standing have hidden in the closet?
Otis has a fun sense of humour, quick wit and a kind heart. People may pay for the truth but how often do they want it all? Otis often takes the high road when he could easily make some of his more difficult clients suffer.
With more Welsh towns mentioned than i've ever gone to and a good sense of when to limit the detail you get a real sense of the main character and can't help but love him.
Great idea separating it into smaller cases rather than a full novel following one as I find mysteries can get a tad tedious when they go on too long following these ridiculous leads that pop out of thin air.
You get a real sense of the authors fun an quircky writing style with this collection
April 3, 2013
This is the most entertaining collection of short stories I've ever read. Otis King is a blues detective, originally from Wales and now living in Memphis. In this book, he gets to dragged in to solve several different cases. Otis prefers women, bourbon, and nodding off in his office to real work, but needs to pay his bills, so he grudgingly accepts each case.
This is not a mystery novel and Otis is not your ordinary detective. He is a jaded, often sarcastic private detective, who does not hold back on the personal references he makes to the people he encounters in his life. He often gets his British v American English mixed up, providing a good supply of humor along the way. For someone who generally reads serious gritty thrillers, this was a delightful change.
I loved the blues references, reading about Otis' shenanigans when he was not working, and his self-deprecating manner. Some of his descriptions made me laugh out loud. Otis doesn't mind insulting anyone who does not share in his musical taste (namely Jazz), but does in such a hilarious way, you can't help but laugh.
This is a quick and easy read. I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed every page, which is the reason for the 5 stars.
This is not a mystery novel and Otis is not your ordinary detective. He is a jaded, often sarcastic private detective, who does not hold back on the personal references he makes to the people he encounters in his life. He often gets his British v American English mixed up, providing a good supply of humor along the way. For someone who generally reads serious gritty thrillers, this was a delightful change.
I loved the blues references, reading about Otis' shenanigans when he was not working, and his self-deprecating manner. Some of his descriptions made me laugh out loud. Otis doesn't mind insulting anyone who does not share in his musical taste (namely Jazz), but does in such a hilarious way, you can't help but laugh.
This is a quick and easy read. I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed every page, which is the reason for the 5 stars.
February 27, 2013
Full disclosure: I won a copy of "A Case For the Blues Detective" on FirstReads, and the author sent this one also because he liked the picture of me with my guitar.
I loved the title character, Otis. He's of Welsh ancestry, born with an innate love of blues music but stuck in a pasty-white body (much like this reviewer). I love his taste in music (and the quotes on the back cover are hilarious).
This is not a mystery novel; these are the entertaining exploits and good-natured gripes of a dude who's just trying to make ends meet by solving various cases during the day and playing music where and when he can. An enjoyable collection of short stories, which is great for a short-attention span like mine. I could settle in for some quick amusement in the time it takes to pop in "Two Bugs and a Roach" by Earl Hooker or perhaps something by the six-fingered genius Hound Dog Taylor and enjoy a yarn or two with a mixture of Welsh (which I had to use Google Translate to figure out) and great humor. A fun book for blues aficionados (but jazz musicians should be forewarned - Otis has no room in his world for you!).
I loved the title character, Otis. He's of Welsh ancestry, born with an innate love of blues music but stuck in a pasty-white body (much like this reviewer). I love his taste in music (and the quotes on the back cover are hilarious).
This is not a mystery novel; these are the entertaining exploits and good-natured gripes of a dude who's just trying to make ends meet by solving various cases during the day and playing music where and when he can. An enjoyable collection of short stories, which is great for a short-attention span like mine. I could settle in for some quick amusement in the time it takes to pop in "Two Bugs and a Roach" by Earl Hooker or perhaps something by the six-fingered genius Hound Dog Taylor and enjoy a yarn or two with a mixture of Welsh (which I had to use Google Translate to figure out) and great humor. A fun book for blues aficionados (but jazz musicians should be forewarned - Otis has no room in his world for you!).
September 2, 2012
If you're a jazz musician of a sensitive nature, look away now.
I loved the fusion of the deep south of Wales with the more traditionally recognised one of the USA. The style is very much one of 'Let me tell you a story' with loads of personality and the refreshing viewpoint of a man who selectively enjoys his favourite bits of the lifestyle he has adopted whilst seeming to go along with (most of)the rest. This all adds to the humour of these short stories as does the frequent translation of words and phrases from 'The Prince's English' for the benefit of the character's adoptive neighbours.
Why has Andrew Peters not been snapped up for the next series of Grumpy Old Men - he could certainly give Rick Wakeman a run for his money!
I thoroughly enjoyed these stories and would recommend them to anyone looking for something a bit out of the ordinary which will make them smile.
I loved the fusion of the deep south of Wales with the more traditionally recognised one of the USA. The style is very much one of 'Let me tell you a story' with loads of personality and the refreshing viewpoint of a man who selectively enjoys his favourite bits of the lifestyle he has adopted whilst seeming to go along with (most of)the rest. This all adds to the humour of these short stories as does the frequent translation of words and phrases from 'The Prince's English' for the benefit of the character's adoptive neighbours.
Why has Andrew Peters not been snapped up for the next series of Grumpy Old Men - he could certainly give Rick Wakeman a run for his money!
I thoroughly enjoyed these stories and would recommend them to anyone looking for something a bit out of the ordinary which will make them smile.
January 3, 2013
This book is hilarious. I think there is at least one laugh out loud moment on every page. It's a collection of short mysteries where a private detective, Otis King, tries to solve a few cases for random clients. Every client has a link to the Blues in some way. The stories are mostly set in Memphis. Otis is originally from Wales in the UK, and tries his best to fit in to the US lifestyle. His comments about the language differences are very funny. Unable to completely give up his Welsh roots, he still has traditional Welsh food packages sent to him by his mum and aunts. He has an interesting way of looking at life, has a love for blondes, alcohol, and of course the Blues, and an aversion to jazz musicians. You must read this book. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of Andrew Peter's books; he is a comedy genius.
September 26, 2012
Both Andrew Peters' books have sat on my TBR backlog on Kindle for a while. I started reading the first one this morning , and enjoyed it so much, then proceeded to the second one.. Two books read in one day.. They are wonderfully well crafted short stories, all with the same flavour of the Blues Detective hacking out a living in Memphis between paying gigs in the blues clubs to Private Detective work. Superbly witty writing, excellent bite sized episodes, and many turns of phrase that'll tickle the thinking man or woman's intellect. Wonderful offering, Andrew... may there be many more., Sir!
September 10, 2012
This is a collection of short stories featuring Otis King, a Welsh blues detective and musician living in Memphis. Each story mixes humor with a little mystery, and, of course, references to the blues. Otis has a bemused, slightly jaded way of looking at life. He enjoys alcohol and women, perhaps a little too much at times, and isn't the least bit shy about saying so. The observations he makes on the people he meets and life in general are both comical and insightful. I was thoroughly immersed in the world of Otis King, and enjoyed every moment.
November 7, 2012
A book of short stories about a welsh detective living in USA. As the names states he's a blues player at night and a detective by day. The way this is written is old style and gives the reader the insight into a typical detectives office... filled with smoke (although he doesn't smoke), a bottle of liquor in the draw, frosted glass on the door.... you get the picture.
The stories are written uniquely and brilliantly... with each story giving just enough information to be good,and not enough to be boring. Personally i love the style and stories as we dip into the lives of each client.
The stories are written uniquely and brilliantly... with each story giving just enough information to be good,and not enough to be boring. Personally i love the style and stories as we dip into the lives of each client.
October 5, 2012
Andrew Peter's The Blues Detective has been a really amusing book from the beginning. After reading the first affair, I already liked Otis King and his sense of humour, some of whose statements had me laughing aloud. The different cases or "affairs", as he himself calls them, are funny, disconcerting and a little absurd at times, but the result is an utterly readable and enjoyable book. I am looking forward to reading more of his crazy adventures
August 15, 2012
This collection of bite-size tales, centred on The Blues Detective, left me wanting more. The Bourbon-swilling, ever hopeful womaniser is quite endearing but the plots start to make you think about what motivates people. On the one hand, a light hearteded read, on another it invites us to think a little deeper. Would really recomend it!
October 10, 2012
I won this book on Goodreads.
It was a very fun read, but was missing something. The short story format made a quick read, and there was plenty of humor, but I believe there needed to be more "substance" to the stories. Hopefully he will wrie some more because the he definitely has talent, wit and humor.
It was a very fun read, but was missing something. The short story format made a quick read, and there was plenty of humor, but I believe there needed to be more "substance" to the stories. Hopefully he will wrie some more because the he definitely has talent, wit and humor.
October 12, 2012
i loved this novel read it as soon as i got it. would recomend it to anyone who enjoys a mystery with a bit of southern charm.
May 5, 2017
I rarely give a book 1 star. Unfortunately, "The Blues Detective" just happened to be an awful book. All in all, it is simply a book of what I consider short essays. The author is all over the place with the main character, Otis. Is he Welsh? Is he southern? Is he a manwhore? Is he a detective? What is he???? I wasn't sure if there were grammatical error or if the author was trying to include Welsh phrases or jumbled words. It was bad from start to finish.
June 26, 2014
This collection of short stories uses humor as a weapon to bludgeon the reader into submission. Call me masochistic, but I eagerly surrendered.
Our hero, Otis King, the eponymous Blues Detective, is snarky, supercilious about music, disparaging of Memphis, vocabularily confused due to his Welsh origin, an incorrigible womanizer, and a world class curmudgeon with a seriously hilarious alcohol problem (OK, so alcohol is not funny. It used to be. Call me nostalgic). It seems that Peters has invented a new genre: Kinky Sleuthing.
Otis King encounters and solves mysteries in a matter of a few pages, something Sherlock Holmes himself could not do. And, I might add, with time left over for humorous digressions. Otis King has given several new meanings to the term Private Dick.
Mr. Peters’ prose is bracing, his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, his febrile mind achurn with surpassing wit (that’s a triple mixed metaphor with a side order of invented word. You think that was easy? Call me lexically-challenged). And Otis King is one quirky and outrageous rapscallion.
The Blues Detective is highly addictive. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Our hero, Otis King, the eponymous Blues Detective, is snarky, supercilious about music, disparaging of Memphis, vocabularily confused due to his Welsh origin, an incorrigible womanizer, and a world class curmudgeon with a seriously hilarious alcohol problem (OK, so alcohol is not funny. It used to be. Call me nostalgic). It seems that Peters has invented a new genre: Kinky Sleuthing.
Otis King encounters and solves mysteries in a matter of a few pages, something Sherlock Holmes himself could not do. And, I might add, with time left over for humorous digressions. Otis King has given several new meanings to the term Private Dick.
Mr. Peters’ prose is bracing, his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, his febrile mind achurn with surpassing wit (that’s a triple mixed metaphor with a side order of invented word. You think that was easy? Call me lexically-challenged). And Otis King is one quirky and outrageous rapscallion.
The Blues Detective is highly addictive. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
April 6, 2013
"The Wire" was one of my all time favorite police dramas on television. It opened with the blues theme song, "Way Down in the Hole." Tom Waits performed the song in the first season, and my immediate reaction was that I found the song disturbing. Waits has a gruff, unique voice that fell substantially outside of my comfort zone. In the week between the first two episodes, I found myself reflecting on the song as frequently as I thought of that amazing show. Before long, my perception of the show and the song blended perfectly.
The Blues Detective hit me in much the same manner. The voice that author Andrew Peters gave to the novel fell outside of my comfort zone. But the unique quality of the voice, even more than the plot lines of this short story collection, served to expand my comfort zone and enrich my life. A few formatting and editing issues did little to detract from my overall enjoyment of this fine collection. I'm looking forward to the encore.
The Blues Detective hit me in much the same manner. The voice that author Andrew Peters gave to the novel fell outside of my comfort zone. But the unique quality of the voice, even more than the plot lines of this short story collection, served to expand my comfort zone and enrich my life. A few formatting and editing issues did little to detract from my overall enjoyment of this fine collection. I'm looking forward to the encore.
March 24, 2013
"The Blues Detective" by Andrew Peters is a fun filled selection of short stories about a Welsh born detective in Memphis. To me, a European who lives with a Welsh significant other near Wales, this was quite a treat. The idea of having those two cultures clash and complement each other was very original in my view and worked well. The stories were short and to the point, well told and all had me smile at the end.
Peters has a great sense of humour, some of his ideas are hilarious, other more low key but for me they all worked. I will pass this round my circle of friends.
Peters has a great sense of humour, some of his ideas are hilarious, other more low key but for me they all worked. I will pass this round my circle of friends.
July 30, 2016
Looking for an interesting and unique perspective in your P.I. stories? I suggest that you immediately download or go to your local book store to purchase and consume this extremely entertaining group of loosely connected short stories featuring the life and activities of Otis King the Blues Detective. I am sure that you will find that they represent an easy way to boost your component of good humor.
A 5 star award is warranted.
A 5 star award is warranted.
May 9, 2014
I've read this book by Andrew Peters twice and that says a lot about how much I liked it. Many years ago I enjoyed reading Mickey Spillane books and The Blues Detective has that pace but with lots of humour that kept me wanting to turn the page. Brilliant. Let's hope there's more Otis King to follow...Stay Cheeky.
May 20, 2013
Very easy read. I wonder what Americans would make of ironic Welsh humour, it took me a long time to figure out whether my Mum (b. Monmouth) was joking or not.. each story is a bit short but gems none the less. Highly recommended.
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August 2, 2012One of the best 2 books I have ever written!
August 12, 2013
A good light read and a captivating style. Not in the mold of the usual detective thrillers. It was different and I liked that. I'd like to see more from this author and in the same style.
August 18, 2013
predictable...
January 22, 2015
My god this was a hilarious collection. Well worth putting up with the first person present tense.
January 27, 2015
Enjoyable little book, the author did a good job of inserting humor at the right times. Lots of short stories and couldn't put it down.
April 7, 2013
pretty good light read.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews