St. Barts Breakdown
by Don Bruns
Published by Oceanview Publishing (March release)
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Reviewed by Connie Anderson
This is not best-selling author Don Bruns’ first novel—and I hope it isn’t his last. This guy can tell a story, filling it with characters—some you love, others you despise. He writes “good and evil” with the best of them.
Set on St. Barts island, the main bad guy is a smarmy, disgusting but oh so successful music producer/song writer, Danny Murtz. Danny likes to steal songs from others, and he likes to hit women while in a drug or alcohol-induced stupor. He is NOT a nice guy.
Mick Sever, entertainment writer for the Chicago Tribune, has been sent to St. Barts to interview Danny Murtz about his successful career—and if he can get some information about Murtz’s role in several missing girls, so much the better.
Sever soon learns to look out, look behind you, check under your car, duck when you hear gunfire, listen to all the stories, but believe and trust no one.
Many people are out to get Murtz, including is own staff with whom he has a mutual hate relationship, including his fix-it-all-and-make-it-go-away attorney Harvey, and his long-time assistant Nancy.
In the book, St. Barts police looks the other way. Accidents happen, but there are NO murders on this tourist-dependent island.
Just when you figure out who is doing what, you are wrong. Sever’s life is threatened once, twice and more, but he doesn’t leave the island because he has to know. The bonus his publisher promised is secondary to the truth.
If you are used to reading mysteries that are as much thrillers/suspense, you may be used to reading about men hurting women. If not, be aware because on St. Bart and elsewhere, Murtz does it, and graphically. Celebrity Murtz does not have to follow rules. Sound familiar?
The author received several honors, including the 2007 Indie Excellence Award for South Beach Shakedown, another book in this mystery series that also contains Jamaica Blue, and Barbados Heat. He also wrote Stuff to Die For. He is a former musician who worked with major acts—so he knows the biz.
Armchair Interviews says: If you are looking for a book that you read in one sitting, this is it. It is a 5-star “wow” read!
Author’s Web site: http://www.DonBrunsBooks.com