Book Review: Bird Lives

Reviewed By: Webspinner - RAM

Bird Lives     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Bill Moody
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Evan Horne # 4
Walker; 2000; 252pp [PB]

Jazz pianist Evan Horne has finally recovered and is back to playing his beloved music. So much so that he and his group are offered a recording deal. This may be the chance he has been dreaming of, and nothing can get in the way. At least that's the way he feels. The FBI thinks otherwise when "smooth jazz" sax star Ty Rodman is murdered after a concert. All Evan was supposed to do was to help his friend, homicide detective Lt. Danny Cooper, at the murder scene, but instead of being a stand-alone murder, this is the third in a string that all have one thing in common - feathers and a note saying "Bird Lives!"

Evan resists getting involved. He has jazz to play. His girlfriend walks out. The piano is calling him. But a beautiful FBI agent keeps pulling him back into the investigation and then the killer wants him, too.

This is the first Bill Moody book for me. It won't be my last. Bird Lives! is a classical mystery with a jazz theme. Well written and well plotted, it doesn't concentrate on gore or sex - it concentrates on the characters and the puzzle, which is a plus for me. If you need a really good "comfort" read, by all means, try this series - I'm going to look for more!

Webspinner - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Webspinner - RAM