Murder Music
If you know little about Jazz, Classical Music, or the metaphysical ideas explored in the novel.
Book Description:
Join Missy McKean, beautiful teen music virtuoso who plays a haunted violin; Missy’s genius jazz mentor, Tiger Blakely; a devious drug kingpin who wants Tiger very dead; Tiger’s dog, Bix, a canine Einstein; a mysterious red-haired Indian from outer space; and a bevy of craven killers on a crazy cross country jazz road trip that can only end in death and disaster. You’ll find Murder Music an exciting and stimulating read even if you know little about Jazz, Classical Music, or the metaphysical ideas explored in the novel. There’s lots of action, romance, and interesting characters. If you like Katniss, you’ll love Missy.
Reviews for the Book
Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite In Murder Music: A Mystery-Thriller for Music Lovers, by Michael Baldwin, Missy McKean is a teen violin virtuoso and high-school rebel who will soon debut as soloist in the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. She also plays street-corner jazz with Tiger Blakely. During one such duet, someone stabs Blakely but Missy saves his life by shoving her violin case between him and the attacker. Missy takes Mr. Blakely to Mrs. Rendon's house to attend to his wounds. Missy's violin was damaged so Mrs. Rendon gives her a famous violin, The Arc Angel. There is something mysterious and supernatural about the violin - it is haunted by the spirit of another young girl violinist from the past. An extended jazz journey, more attempts on Blakely's life, and budding romance ensues until the mystery is finally solved. The plot in Murder Music is interesting and unique. I was intrigued from the beginning. It was easy to read and kept my attention. I could not put it down. There were so many twists and turns that I never knew what to expect next. The story was fast-paced but never felt rushed. There was enough action to keep it interesting. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat and I kept turning the pages to find out what was going to happen. The characters were well developed and interesting. Each had their background, and they were described in a way so that I felt I knew them. They were realistic, and I could relate to them. The story is well written and exceeded my expectations.
About the Author: Michael Baldwin
Michael Baldwin was born and reared in Fort Worth, Texas. Although he originally wanted to be an astronaut, the eyes weren’t quite 20 twice. He might have been a tennis pro, but poetry proved more lucrative. He is also a professional jazz clarinetist manqué. However, he’s pretty sure his great grandfather was the Lakota mystic warrior, Crazy Horse, and will be glad to tell you why over a couple of beers.
Mike holds a BA in Political Science, a Masters in Library Science, and a Masters in Public Administration. He was director of the Montgomery County and the Benbrook Public Libraries. He has also taught American Government and was a regional supervisor of the 2000 census.
Mike’s publications include:
A Slam Poetry Manual, published by the American Library Association in 2003.
Scapes (landscapes, mindscapes, heartscapes, soulscapes), winner of the Edwin Eakin Poetry Book Award in 2011.
Counting Backward From Infinity, science-based poetry, winner of the Morris Memorial Chapbook Award 2012.
Murder Music, a mystery thriller, published in 2014, and a 2nd edition in 2018.
Passing Strange, science-fiction and weird short stories, 2015.
Surpassing Strange, science-fiction and weird short stories, 2016.
Beyond Passing Strange, 3rd volume in the Passing Strange series, 2018.
More Than Passing Strange, 4th volume in the Passing Strange series, 2019.
Chronicles of Frank, some “short tall tales of Texas ranch life,” published in 2016.
Lone Star Heart, a book of Texas poetry, 2016 by Lamar University Literary Press, nominated for Poetry Book of the Year from Texas Institute of Letters.
Space Cat, a children’s space science adventure chapter book, 2017.
Birds, Beasts, & Blossoms, 50 short poems and the Asian art images that inspired them, 2018, & 2nd larger edition, 2021.
The Quantum Uncertainty of Love: Poetry of the Entanglement of Science, Philosophy, and Spirit (Shanti Arts Press, 2019).
A Few Bricks Shy of a Chevrolet: A book of weird flash plays (Inner Eye Books, 2019).
The Sublime Landscape and Beyond, Mike’s poetry with paintings by Johnny Bowen (Shanti Arts Press, 2021).
Neanderthal Gita, an exotic, high adventure, action thriller (Atmosphere Press, 2022).
Mike resides in Benbrook, Texas, where he writes, coaches youth tennis, and provides seminars on the neuroscience of poetry, creativity, and self-publishing.
Connect with the author on: