Соло

Evan Horne #1

by Bill Moody, Николай Киров (Translator)

Близо до пристанището на Санта Моника е открит труп. Жертвата Елвин Кейс, бивш мениджър в „Пасифик Рекърдс”, бил застрелян с два куршума в главата. Кейс напуснал преди две години след потулен скандал... Скандалният Лони Коул е арестуван в дома си точно преди церемонията по връчването на наградите. От полицията отказват да съобщят в какво е обвинен...

Genres: Mystery, Jazz, Crime, Music

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 1997

About the author

Bill Moody is a mystery author and professional jazz drummer. He is the author of Shades of Blue, Looking for Chet Baker, Bird Lives! and three other Evan Horne novels.

Reviews

[David Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan Horne, a promising jazz pianist, has his career cut short in a car accident that severs tendons in his right hand, his "solo hand." He's trying to eke out a living as a free-lance jazz music journalist when his old partner, singer Lonnie Cole, asks him to be the bag man in a blackmail scheme. But more seems to involved than simple blackmail as a former music industry producer winds up murdered and Evan finds his own life in danger. This is an impressive mystery novel debut from Bill Moody, a jazz drummer and jazz writer (author of The Jazz Exiles: American Musicians Abroad). Moody knows his stuff, not only about jazz music, but also about the workings of the music industry and the dirty deals that so often rob aspiring artists of their livelihoods, while everyone but them profits from their creativity. This is well-paced and absorbing and packed with interesting characters, ranging from an ex-NFL-player turned bodyguard to a country singer whose hides behind his good-old-boy persona the reality that he was a Rhodes scholar and aspiring poet. Though not without its flaws, this was a solid enough first effort that I am looking forward to reading the rest of the Evan Horne series (I'm already deep into the second novel, Death of a Tenor Man).

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable first book in a series featuring Evan Horne a jazz pianist who cannot play anymore due to a car accident. The plotting was good and Evan was an appealing hero. The only downside was that it was written in first person present tense but it was done so well that after the first few pages it did not bother me.

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solo Hand is the first in a series that features Evan Horne, ex-jazz pianist turned amateur detective, who investigates crimes related to the music business. In this outing, Horne is drawn into what at first seems like a straightforward case of blackmail against his former employer, jazz singer Lonnie Cole, which turns to violence and murder. The strength of the tale is Moody’s insider knowledge of the music industry, its dark underbelly and how it works as business to generate profits at the musicians expense. There's also a good sense of place and music scene relating to Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Evan Horne is an interesting enough character, uncertain about his future after a car accident that has damaged his right hand, but with enough wits to play detective, albeit with the help of his cop buddy, and he’s trying to navigate a colourful set of characters working in the industry. The plot unfolds at a nice pace and there’s a few twists and turns, though the tale lacks a little heft, the characters feel a little thin, and there’s no major surprises as to the perpetrator or outcome. Overall, a solid amateur PI tale with an authentic take on the dirty side of the music industry.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about a former jazz pianist Evan Horne involved in a blackmail/extortion scheme with a former colleague, his ex-wife, and a record company. The plot drew me in, but the details behind the scheme were clouded in industry-talk, and it was challenging to understand what the actual crime was that was being committed. There wasn’t much of a twist to the story, as my suspicions over who was involved were proven as the story developed.

I found this book in the “free” section on Apple Books, and discovered after finishing it the author, a jazz musician (drummer) in his own right, had passed away in early 2018. I may look up his other books in this Evan Horne series

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Solo Hand”, first in the 'Evan Horne' series, seems at first like a simple case of blackmail and all Evan has to do is deliver the payoff.
Ah, if only it were that simple.
Evan, a professional jazz pianist until recently, is trying to come to terms with the likelihood that he will never play again after a car accident badly damaged his right hand.
Piano wasn't just his profession, it was his life … now what?
The Author, Bill Moody, was a jazz musician himself, and it shows.
It's a leisurely book, I reckon it could be shortened by nearly half but whether that would improve it is open to question.
3.5 Stars, brought back to 3 Stars.

[Nick Schieben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series I've wanted to start reading for a while and I found the first book was a very enjoyable and well-paced mystery. I'm a fan of jazz and the author, who is also a jazz musician, gives some good insights into the music world, and works them nicely into the story.

[Polly Gillette · Rating 5 out of 5]

He has become one of my favorite authors because of the way he writes about jazz

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dig that this mystery novel was written by a jazz musician, but it is also a solid mystery, populated by great characters and a story that kept me guessing. Worth seeking out.