Mark Bego's book, "Murder At Motor City Records"
With 59 prior best selling musical biographies to his credit, author Mark Bego delivers his first full length novel, and what a fun filled romp through a parallel world of Motor City Records it is indeed! Right off the bat, Bego acknowledges his love of murder mysteries by Agatha Christie, James M. Cain and Dashiell Hammet. Long time pal, Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Bego were pitched the idea of collaborating on a novel loosely based on a record company, but eventually it fell upon Bego to forge ahead on his own.
To set the story line in motion, Harry Stone, manages to gather together the former stars of his iconic label, Motor City Records, to celebrate the 35th Anniversary reunion show. During the ensuing backstage drama building up to the final reunion of this musical family, old rivalries resurface, threatening to take some of the luster away from the historic event.
Aside from old wounds being reopened concerning being shortchanged on royalties, missed opportunities and plain bad luck, it becomes apparent to the performers who did come back for the purported charity event, that the individual who will be benefiting most is the greedy label owner. Found shot dead in his luxurious office the evening after the reunion, the murder of Harry Stone is investigated by Detroit Detective Marcus Rusk. A life long fan of Motor City Recording artists, Rusk is thrust into the glittering world of his musical icons. Numerous characters are thrown at the reader, but thankfully Rusk aids the reader in keeping tabs of who's who and what their motives are in seeing Harry Stone dead.
Strong cocktails flow liberally throughout this story, and it is a credit to Detective Harry Stone that his sipping cocktails while interviewing potential murder suspects, that he doesn't get sidelined and lose the trail of the culprit. Adding another dimension to this cat and mouse chase, it becomes apparent that Harry Stone has his own skeletons in the closet that he has to reckon with.
A reader doesn't have to be a Motown music fan to draw parallels to the characters introduced in this musical yarn. Diehard fans of Diana Ross and The Supremes and other Tamla/Motown vocal groups, may take offense at this free wheeling, fun romp. However, any specific reference to actual real life performers are due strictly to what an imaginative reader conjures up in their mind. Author Elaine Jesmer who wrote Number One With A Bullet in 1972, depicting a syndicate-orientated record industry, also drew the ire of readers who read parallels to Motown Records, and faced death threats. Hopefully cooler attitudes will prevail this time around.
To further help set the mood, Bego has conjured up very distinct word pictures providing the reader with sweeping mental images of the elaborate costumes of the characters, luxurious surroundings and venues. To add to the colorful characters, Bego has also written a number of song lyrics that help set the tone of the individual groups.
This reader found the climax to be quite satisfying and recommends a second reading to take in the action that subtly transpires while under that cocktail stupor! Whether you like your liquid poison stirred, shaken or dirty, it's all here, so pour yourself a stiff one and enjoy!
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