It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod Murder

Murder A-Go-Go #1

by Rosemary Martin, Rosemary Stevens

With a degree from secretarial school, Bebe Bennett has split Richmond, Virginia, for the whirlwind of Manhattan. Getting in on the British invasion, her boss at Rip City Records has signed up Philip Royal and the Beefeaters. But when Bebe and her stewardess roommate Darlene go to meet two members of the band for a fab night out, they find Philip dead, electrocuted with his own guitar. Even worse, the fuzz suspect Darlene. So, it's up to Bebe to abandon her Jackie Kennedy-inspired suits and venture into the smoky nightclubs of Greenwich Village, delving into the dark side of the swinging city to expose a killer.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Novels, Fiction, Historical Fiction

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

This author also writes as Rosemary Stevens.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun book! I loved the 1960's NYC setting. Bebe is a likable heroine and I love her innocence. I was happy at who the culprit turned out to be.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy amateur sleuth isn't my usual thing, but the 60's vibes were too groovy to resist

[Bobbie Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of That Girl. Really fun read

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is set in the era of MadMen when ladies wore girdles, gloves and hats and men drank whiskey at the office. Bebe (Elizabeth) Bennet - mom loved P&P is a secretary to a handsome record company exec and her roommate Darlene is a Stewardess back when there were weigh ins, and forced retirement at 27. Both of these girls are only looking to acquire a MRS. tag, there's no consciousness-raising or bra burning going on here. Kennedy is barely buried.

When the lead singer of a British rock group meant to challenge the Beatles is found dead in his hotel room by our intrepid gals they need to solve the crime lest they be accused

Truly the cops in this story are MORONS and if it wasn't for Bebe and Darlene the crime would never be solved.

There's lots of Poor Bebe lusting after her boss and her WW2 vet dad proclaiming he is going to save his Magnolia blossom from the big bad city.

[Steph (loves water) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute! Agreed, That Girl meets Nancy Drew is the perfect description!

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. Just what I wanted.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod Murder, the first installment in the Murder a-Go-Go Mystery Series, is a breezy introduction to Bebe Bennett, a naive newcomer to New York City in 1964. Bebe, a graduate of Charlotte Marie's Secretarial School for Young Ladies and worldly-wise Darlene are unlikely roommates in the Big Apple. When the novel begins, Darlene has just arrived home after a transatlantic flight from London where she met Keith Royal, lead singer of the Beefeaters Royal, a Beatles wannabe band. Serious about her stewardess duties, Darlene happily obliged when Keith took her up on her offer of "coffee, tea or me.” When Darlene and Bebe find Keith dead in his hotel room bathtub and Darlene becomes the prime suspect Bebe, loyal friend that she is, comes to her rescue. Adding to the commotion, Bebe’s dreamy boss, Bradley (I’m going to marry that man) Williams, the vice-president of Rip-Tide Records may lose his job because Keith's murder has thwarted Bradley's plans to sign the Beefeaters.

The novel follows lightweight sleuth Bebe as she frolics with rock stars, moons over her boss, and flirts with danger, all the while conducting a haphazard investigation of the case. Besides the fun-loving Darlene, other suspects include the Beefeater's manager who may have learned he was being replaced, a jealous band mate, and a self-serving ex-girlfriend.

When Bebe’s not “on the case,” she’s drinking Mateus wine, gobbling down Sugar Daddies, giggling at the antics of those "identical" cousins on "The Patty Duke Show," or twisting the night away at the Peppermint lounge wearing her hot pink angora sweater. If you're in the mood for nonstop and none too subtle 60’s references, this groovy treatment of a murder mystery probably will do. Dippity-do, that is.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth 'Bebe' Bennett, secretary to Mr. Bradley Williams, vice president of talent for Rip City Records, begins investigating a murder when her roommate Darlene, an airline stewardess, discovers the body of Philip Royal, lead singer of the British pop sensation Philip Royal and the Beefeaters, becomes a suspect, and is grounded from flying. While trying to clear Darlene's name, Bebe finds out that Philip’s fellow band members - Keith who wants to lead the band in a different direction, Reggie who has a jealous wife and a kid, and Peter who has a fondness for tie tacks - each had motive in Philip’s murder, as did the band's manager Nigel and Philip's ex-girlfriend Astrid Loveday. Bebe had to find out who killed Philip royal, not only for her friend Darlene's sake, but for Bradley's, whose great-uncle, Herman Shires, owns a whole bunch of companies, including Rip City Records, but with no son to leave it all to, one of his three nephews, Bradley, Drew, and Alfred, will win controlling interest in all the companies. The death of Philip Royal is a major drawback for Rip City Records and makes Bradley look bad. Vince Walsh, talent scout for Rip City Records, has proven to have a lack of talent for spotting talent. Will Bebe figure out who killed Philip Royal? Set in 1964, I got a kick out of the 60's dialogue, but quickly became annoyed by Bebe's constant pining over Bradley, although I am rooting for Bebe and Bradley to get together. I liked this book, a fun -groovy- whodunit, looking forward to reading the next Murder A-Go-Go Mystery by Rosemary Martin.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I used to be in a Lilian Jackson Braun fan group on yahoogroups with the author, and she was very nice. I'm glad I did. There are some sentences that do not ring true, especially in the first few chapters, but once the book hits its stride it is a lot of fun and a better mystery than I expected. Though the heroine's obsession with her boss drives me crazy (I keep wanting to holler, "You can do sooooo much better than this! Pretty is as pretty does," etc), I still found her likable and mostly believable. Her father is a bit too much of a caricature, in my opinion, and some of the other characters could have used a little more development. But this isn't intended to be Madame Bovary, and it succeeds at what it is intended to be: a lighthearted, genuinely funny 60s-themed murder mystery. You love the 60s? This has Tang, false eyelashes, Dippity-Do, a very young Neil Diamond, and so much more! It really was a lot of fun. I hope I can find the next one.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember liking it okay. I got it mainly since the "Murder a-go go" thing amused me. She's kinda funny and I kind of like the kitschy/campy feel to it. However, I have some problems with it. I liked the Paige Turner ones slightly more. It is cute and has some moments. But it also has moments where I role my eyes. Oh Bebe, grow up. Bradley's not that dreamy.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun cozy mystery. Bebe is very naive but not stupid, and gets herself into a pack of trouble trying to clear her roommates name.
This book was a good antidote to some of the dark books I've been reading lately concerning child abuse and grinding poverty. If you are looking for something fun and cheery and yes, quite campy, this might do the trick.

[Taylor Siwek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this for the second time, and I tell ya, it NEVER gets old! I love it and it suits me perfectly. I can totally relate to Bebe in many ways and acknowledge her innocence. I wish more mysteries were written like this!

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This murder mystery is delightfully kitschy and camp. Very easy reading. Think Gidget meets Nancy Drew.

[Ruby · Rating 1 out of 5]

mod mod mod mod mod mod mod. this book is terrible. so terrible it's good. no wait.. it's just bad

[Gabi Eagon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love reading about the sixties, what fun.

[Diane Vallere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute! Makes me want to bust out my white patent leather boots. Can't wait to dive into book 2--with a Pucci scarf as a murder weapon!

[Cathy Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a used bookstore, in the mood for something light, and I got exactly what I was looking for. The characters & setting were fun and the mystery was a nice cozy-style.

[Julie]

The writing style is just not working for me. Lots of awkward info dumps and explanation through dialogue.