CountryChatter's Book Review
Book Review: Blood Country, A Nashville
Sideman Mystery
by Dan Jewell
Since I started writing Country’s Chatter, more than 3-1/2 years ago, you have all seen
me review concerts, and albums, and even the artists themselves, and a movie or two.
But something I have not yet done is review a book. Now, I’m going to.
me review concerts, and albums, and even the artists themselves, and a movie or two.
But something I have not yet done is review a book. Now, I’m going to.
The book is called Blood Country: A Nashville Sideman Mystery. The author is Dan
Jewell. It’s a fiction novel, obviously about a murder in Nashville – a 20 year old murder
that needs solved. Whenever I’m deciding on a book to read, I open the cover and read
the inside leaf, to find out a little about the story – this one has it on the back of the
book. And, I’m going to get you interested by letting you read the back of the book:
Jewell. It’s a fiction novel, obviously about a murder in Nashville – a 20 year old murder
that needs solved. Whenever I’m deciding on a book to read, I open the cover and read
the inside leaf, to find out a little about the story – this one has it on the back of the
book. And, I’m going to get you interested by letting you read the back of the book:
In Nashville, it’s conventional wisdomthat if you’re looking for work in the
music business, you’d better have a
steady day job. Guitarist Joe Rose
has a day job–he’s a private detective.
Rose is hired by strung out country
music superstar Vern Hamlin,owner
of Great Axe Music, to look into his
father’s two decades old murder.
Hamlin has received an anonymous letter
father’s two decades old murder.
Hamlin has received an anonymous letter
suggesting that the man convicted of the
crime, who was killed in an escape attempt,
was not the real murderer. Because of
Hamlin’s drug and alcohol problems,
his uncle Claude, CEO of Hamlin Enterprises,
doesn’t approve of his nephew’s plan
to reopen the old murder case; he thinks it
crime, who was killed in an escape attempt,
was not the real murderer. Because of
Hamlin’s drug and alcohol problems,
his uncle Claude, CEO of Hamlin Enterprises,
doesn’t approve of his nephew’s plan
to reopen the old murder case; he thinks it
will jeopardize Hamlin’s present sobriety and
interfere with his work at Great Axe. But Hamlin’s personal assistant, Jessica Apple, thinks
his father’s death is actually the cause of his substance abuse and that pursuing the
investigation will help him get closure. After Rose interviews a Desert Storm Vet with PTSD,
the man is found dead. Is it suicide or murder? Along the way, Rose
interfere with his work at Great Axe. But Hamlin’s personal assistant, Jessica Apple, thinks
his father’s death is actually the cause of his substance abuse and that pursuing the
investigation will help him get closure. After Rose interviews a Desert Storm Vet with PTSD,
the man is found dead. Is it suicide or murder? Along the way, Rose
encounters a rogue P.I., Hamlin’s sexy ex-wife (Country’s answer to Lady Gaga),
a Professor who writes mystery novels, Hamlin’s promiscuous stepmother–now married
to the pastor of a Nashville megachurch, and a songwriter with a big gun. Rose’s
investigation takes him deep into blood country, a place not found on Music City tour maps.
to the pastor of a Nashville megachurch, and a songwriter with a big gun. Rose’s
investigation takes him deep into blood country, a place not found on Music City tour maps.
The book is well-written, the story is good, and it definitely keeps you interested from the first
page to the last. While it is not one of those books you just can’t put down once you pick it up –
it is the kind of book you are anxious to get back to every opportunity you have to sit and read.
And, for me, it is one of those books I’ll be reading again.
page to the last. While it is not one of those books you just can’t put down once you pick it up –
it is the kind of book you are anxious to get back to every opportunity you have to sit and read.
And, for me, it is one of those books I’ll be reading again.
The book is available on Amazon, so if you are shopping for Father’s day, or have any
readers on your Christmas gift list, you might want to jump over and order a few of these
books. Especially if your avid reader friends are also country music/Nashville fans.
They definitely won’t be disappointed.
readers on your Christmas gift list, you might want to jump over and order a few of these
books. Especially if your avid reader friends are also country music/Nashville fans.
They definitely won’t be disappointed.
Hope you are having a good Memorial Day Weekend. I’ll talk to you tomorrow!
Country
Country
