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Hang Time
Touring in a band is murder. Or is it suicide? After narrowly surviving a hellish season with a murderous drug kingpin, Greg Salem and his sidekick/drummer are back at home in The Bay Cities. A tour looms for their infamous punk band, Bad Citizen Corporation, but first Salem & Associates must wrap up a jealous husband case tied to a cheating hip-hop bombshell. BCC plays a warm up show when a dead body turns up in their dressing room―the first of many during this ill-fated reunion.
The final book in the Greg Salem trilogy, Hang Time, brings together the colorful cast of characters from Bad Citizen CorporationGrizzly Season in a thrilling and atmospheric series finale fueled by sex, drugs, backstabbing band mates, cheating spouses and vicious cops. The non-stop action will keep readers dangling until the very end.
The final book in the Greg Salem trilogy, Hang Time, brings together the colorful cast of characters from Bad Citizen CorporationGrizzly Season in a thrilling and atmospheric series finale fueled by sex, drugs, backstabbing band mates, cheating spouses and vicious cops. The non-stop action will keep readers dangling until the very end.
288 pages, Paperback
Published January 16, 2018
157 people want to read
About the author
S.W. Lauden
25 books47 followersS.W. Lauden’s debut novel, BAD CITIZEN CORPORATION, is available from Rare Bird Books. The second Greg Salem novel, GRIZZLY SEASON, was published on October 11, 2016. His standalone novella, CROSSWISE, is available from Down & Out Books.
His short story, “Itchy Feet,” was recently published in UNLOADED: CRIME WRITERS WRITING WITHOUT GUNS (Down & Out Books). His short story, “Big Shots,” is included in the anthology FAST WOMEN AND NEON LIGHTS: EIGHTIES-INSPIRED NEON NOIR (Short Stack Books). His short story, “Customer,” is featured in the upcoming anthology, WAITING TO BE FORGOTTEN: STORIES OF CRIME AND HEARTBREAK INSPIRED BY THE REPLACEMENTS (Gutter Books).
His short fiction has been accepted for publication by Out of the Gutter, Criminal Element, Dark Corners, Dead Guns Magazine, Akashic Books, WeirdBook, Spelk Fiction, Shotgun Honey and Crimespree Magazine.
His short story, “Itchy Feet,” was recently published in UNLOADED: CRIME WRITERS WRITING WITHOUT GUNS (Down & Out Books). His short story, “Big Shots,” is included in the anthology FAST WOMEN AND NEON LIGHTS: EIGHTIES-INSPIRED NEON NOIR (Short Stack Books). His short story, “Customer,” is featured in the upcoming anthology, WAITING TO BE FORGOTTEN: STORIES OF CRIME AND HEARTBREAK INSPIRED BY THE REPLACEMENTS (Gutter Books).
His short fiction has been accepted for publication by Out of the Gutter, Criminal Element, Dark Corners, Dead Guns Magazine, Akashic Books, WeirdBook, Spelk Fiction, Shotgun Honey and Crimespree Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 16, 2018
“Hang Time” by S. W. Lauden is book three in the Greg Salem series, but those who have not read the previous books can jump right in without any problem.
Greg Salem is a complicated character. He is former cop, now turned PI. He has a family and an on again off again career as a rock musician. Mostly he has trouble juggling all this. Oh yes, he is haunted by the death of his younger brother, also a member of the band. To make matters worse, he gets a PI job right before the band’s big concert tour, and someone ends up dead in the dressing room. If it seems complicated, it is.
The book has the usual components: sex, drugs, rock and roll as well as backstabbing band members, cheating spouses, classic cars, self-centered rock stars money hungry promoters, and unscrupulous police. There is a lot going on each of these complicated plots.
I received a copy of “Hang Time” from S. W. Lauden, Rare Bird Books, and NetGalley. This is an intense story and the action is non-stop. It was a quick, fun, easy read. I recommend it to both music fans and those who just like a good mystery.
Greg Salem is a complicated character. He is former cop, now turned PI. He has a family and an on again off again career as a rock musician. Mostly he has trouble juggling all this. Oh yes, he is haunted by the death of his younger brother, also a member of the band. To make matters worse, he gets a PI job right before the band’s big concert tour, and someone ends up dead in the dressing room. If it seems complicated, it is.
The book has the usual components: sex, drugs, rock and roll as well as backstabbing band members, cheating spouses, classic cars, self-centered rock stars money hungry promoters, and unscrupulous police. There is a lot going on each of these complicated plots.
I received a copy of “Hang Time” from S. W. Lauden, Rare Bird Books, and NetGalley. This is an intense story and the action is non-stop. It was a quick, fun, easy read. I recommend it to both music fans and those who just like a good mystery.
October 18, 2017
Maybe Hang Time refers to Greg’s surfing hobby or maybe it refers to the bodies found hanging in record shops and backstage at concerts. Hang Time is a mystery thriller with the lead character being a punk rock playing, surfing ex-cop haunted by a past of alcoholism and self-blame for his brother’s demise. Oh, and on the side, he runs a private eye business. Between the concert tours and the twisted relationships, this book is filled with headturning beauties that dazzle, rock star promoters, classic cars, and more. A smooth reading thriller that almost captures too many assorted storylines in its web.
There are actually two earlier selections in this series, but I really didn’t feel I lacked the context to read this one. Thanks to Rare Bird Books for providing a copy for review.
There are actually two earlier selections in this series, but I really didn’t feel I lacked the context to read this one. Thanks to Rare Bird Books for providing a copy for review.
January 15, 2018
There was a lot of good (and a lot of bad) about the ending of the Greg Salem trilogy, although I was a little underwhelmed with it.
THE GOOD:
- It's, by far, the most intimate novel of the trilogy, dealing with Greg's inner demons rather than just, some crime he stumbles upon.
- In theory, the premise (a wave of suicides resembling the death of Greg's brother Tim) is a great idea.
- I love that he's in the band touring and exploring several locations (California novels are a guilty pleasure of mine).
- There's a subplot about fame that's a lot of fun.
THE BAD:
- The premise is great, but the execution is a little Mary Higgins Clarke-ish.
- Marco had more breathing room this time around, but he came off like a hackneyed comedic relief.
- The antagonist is solid, but comes off as way over the top and theatrical for such a dark and intimate novel.
I still have a lot to make my mind up on, but this closes the loop adequately on Greg Salem's arc. He doesn't go out with the bang I would'd thought he deserved, but it ties up every loose ends. I would not suggest to start with this one, but if you read Bad Citizens Corporation and Grizzly Season, you sure are going to want to get this one.
THE GOOD:
- It's, by far, the most intimate novel of the trilogy, dealing with Greg's inner demons rather than just, some crime he stumbles upon.
- In theory, the premise (a wave of suicides resembling the death of Greg's brother Tim) is a great idea.
- I love that he's in the band touring and exploring several locations (California novels are a guilty pleasure of mine).
- There's a subplot about fame that's a lot of fun.
THE BAD:
- The premise is great, but the execution is a little Mary Higgins Clarke-ish.
- Marco had more breathing room this time around, but he came off like a hackneyed comedic relief.
- The antagonist is solid, but comes off as way over the top and theatrical for such a dark and intimate novel.
I still have a lot to make my mind up on, but this closes the loop adequately on Greg Salem's arc. He doesn't go out with the bang I would'd thought he deserved, but it ties up every loose ends. I would not suggest to start with this one, but if you read Bad Citizens Corporation and Grizzly Season, you sure are going to want to get this one.
January 20, 2018
A fantastic end to the Greg Salem trilogy. Combining a number of my favorite things - grizzly crime fiction, punk rock, and gratuitous violence. Ends on a bit of a down note if this is the last book, but it is fully in accordance with the character. Looking forward to whatever else Lauden will write in the future.
June 25, 2019
I liked this for its depiction of the punk/hardcore "scene" and record albums, but that was an enjoyable extra to go with the fundamentally solid mystery story. And I did not see the ending coming *at all*.
I read "Hang Time" before the first two entries in the series, but I don't feel like that was a mistake.
I read "Hang Time" before the first two entries in the series, but I don't feel like that was a mistake.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews