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Page Modified: February 13, 2008

 

 

Perfect Sax by Jerrilyn Farmer

Perfect Sax

Number one Los Angeles Times bestselling author, multiple-award nominee and winner, and peerless purveyor of the most scrumptiously delicious mysteries ever to please a discriminating palate, the incomparable Jerrilyn Farmer returns with another Mad Bean event -- where murder, mayhem, and madcap doings simmer together in a tempting ragout.

The dazzling Jazz Ball for the prestigious Woodburn School of Music promises to be event planner Madeline Bean's greatest triumph to date -- both professionally and personally. All the rich and mighty of L.A. society's fund-raising crowd seem to be seriously enjoying the festivities, not to mention the black-and-white-themed menu Mad and company have whipped up in their kitchen. And there may even be a replacement here for her ex-beau LAPD Detective Chuck Honnett -- who turned out to be not as completely divorced as he'd implied -- although charming trust-fund hunk Dexter Delano Wyatt's past may be a bit too shady for Ms. Bean's good.

Of course, then everything goes straight to hell. Having to contend with a heap of celebrity trash, a ranting vocal coach, his rabid bitch of a girlfriend, and dueling preteen music prodigies is bad enough. But when the furious bidding war for the prize item to be auctioned off—a one-of-a-kind, sterling silver Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone -- almost results in bloodshed, and the perfect sax subsequently vanishes, Madeline can't help but wonder what else could possibly go wrong.

Well ... she could arrive home to discover a dead body in her bedroom. Detective Honnett could start making insistent "take me back" noises. The man Mad is considering as a candidate to fill the void in her sex life could have been involved in a multimillion-dollar art theft and insurance fraud and maybe much worse. And then there's the red-haired stranger who seems to be stalking her.

All in all, the lethal looniness surrounding the theft of a priceless instrument is threatening to drive Mad quite mad. With the jazz cool, the sax "hot," and the martinis smoking, it may drive her quite dead.

· Review Quotes/Appeal Factors:

Julia Child meets Janet Evanovich!
“Madeline Bean is smart and funny” – The Wall Street Journal
“ Will delight fans of lighter crime capers” – Publishers Weekly
“A lively pace, sympathetic characters, a glimpse into the lives of the very rich, and some tempting descriptions of food add to the story line in this sixth in a series.” -Sue O'Brien, Booklist

· What is it about this book that would appeal to a reader?

This is a fast paced mystery where both character and plot get a lot of attention, and the woman sleuth, Madeline Bean, shares her wry take on life as she juggles men, clues, and party planning details. Readers of culinary mysteries should enjoy it—but this book also has some depth.

· What other books are like it?

Humorous mysteries, like Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series and Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series. Culinary mysteries like the series by Diane Mott Davidson and Joanne Fluke.

· What does this work have in common with other works in the same genre?

Perfect Sax is the sixth in the Madeline Bean series, which have won the Macavity Award and two Lefty Awards, and been nominated for four Agathas and two Anthonies. It is a page-turner which should keep the reader guessing, and chuckling, until the final paragraph.

· How is this work different from other works in the same genre?

The Madeline Bean series is not as sappy sweet as some culinary mysteries, and has a fine urban edginess, while delving into the fascinating history of Los Angeles.

· What would you like readers to know about you/your work?

This mystery series is intended to be entertaining and witty, while at the same time bringing some realistic details to the amateur sleuth genre.

· What’s next, what can readers look forward to in the future?

Book 7 (Bride-a-Cide) is coming out in March, 2005, and there are more Mad Bean books under contract with Morrow/Avon, as well.

· Suggested reading (viewing, listening) - what have you liked, disliked recently?

I am a big fan of Alexander McCall Smith, Jasper Fforde, and Tony Hillerman. And, of course, Agatha Christie, which I can never reread too often.

· Links – author or publisher website, etc.

www.JerrilynFarmer.com http://www.harpercollins.com/catalog/author_xml.asp?authorID=16427

· Anything you’d like to ask readers?

All comments and questions from fans are warmly appreciated! Write to me at jerrilyn@earthlink.net

 

 

Bibliographic citation:

· Author: Jerrilyn Farmer
· Title: Perfect Sax
· Publisher: Morrow
· Publication Date: 1/04
· ISBN: 0380978903
· $ 22.95
· # pages: 304
· Genre: Mystery

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