Book Review: Murder Off Mike

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Murder Off Mike     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Joyce Krieg
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Shauna J. Bogart # 1
St. Martin’s, Apr 2003, $23.95, 288 pp.

In Sacramento, California, Shauna J. Bogart hosts one of the top rated radio talk shows in the area. She receives a call from Rudy, who claims brown suits killed a man at the address where Shauna’s mentor and fellow radio emcee Dr. Hipster lives. Not long afterward, the police substantiate that Dr. Hipster committed suicide, something that Shauna refuses to accept as no one lived life fuller than her friend. Adding to her disbelief is an apparent note of unrequited love addressed to her, but she knows otherwise, as they were buddies.

Unable to accept police Lieutenant Gunderson’s unofficial position, Shauna begins her own inquiries. She starts by seeking a missing logger tape that contains a warning code from the Hipster to her. Her investigation leads to a strange pact that place her in danger from a source that she would never have anticipated anything but hugs and kisses from.

Readers will quickly comprehend why MURDER OFF MIKE won the St. Martin’s first novel contest, as the delightful amateur sleuth tale is fast-paced and insightful into talk radio. The story line provides the audience an intriguing look at talk radio including the warning that the media’s dwindling independents are rapidly being replaced by national syndication. The characters especially Shauna and her call in loonies are a delight to follow. All of this resides inside a strong investigative who-done-it and why. Perhaps the only complaint is this reviewer wants Hipster’s collection.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner