Jamaica Blue

September 9, 2002
Set in Jamaica and Florida and steeped in the lore of rock and roll, pot, Rastafarianism and reggae rap, Bruns's first novel, alas, provides only moderate mystery entertainment. Mick Sever, a renowned rock critic and author of a bestselling book about a rock star's murder, agrees to do a piece on a new reggae group headed by the charismatic Derrick Layman (hailed as "the second coming of Bob Marley"), whose misogynistic lyrics advocate violence against women. Two young women have already been murdered after Derrick and the Laments concerts. When a third victim is stabbed to death, the alleged killer, Roland Jamison, one of Layman's security guards, is found standing over the body with a bloody knife. The police, understandably, arrest Jamison, but Sever, like Inspector Clouseau under similar obvious circumstances in A Shot in the Dark, doubts the man's guilt based on his bewildered expression. Bruns makes much of this and the authorities' unwillingness to accept it as evidence. There are few suspects but their complex relationships generate most of the narrative interest. There are two attempts to drive Sever off the road, a bashing or two and a fistfight, but otherwise little action and no suspense. Sever may not be a terribly compelling sleuth, but his extensive knowledge of the rock world helps redeem the story, as does a clever and logical solution to the crimes. (Oct. 21)Forecast:Blurbs from Sue Grafton, Lee Child and Steve Hamilton should assure more than usual attention to this debut mystery.

October 1, 2002
When Mick Sever, an influential music critic and best-selling writer, first hears a hot, new Jamaican band called Derrick and the Laments, he's hooked despite the front man's violent political and racial rants. More than that, though, he's intrigued by the fact that three murders of young women have followed Derrick's recent concerts. The last killing occurred on a yacht in Miami during a post-concert party. Mick senses another best seller and begins investigating. Well-paced prose, unnerving, high-speed action, and lively subject matter merit this attention, especially from readers interested in music. A solid debut.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2002
Bruns explores what would happen if the record industry's next hot prospects actually believed in their violent lyrics. Jaded music journalist Mick Sever, veteran of " Spin" and MTV, skips promoting his latest best-seller to catch a Jamaican band that combines reggae and hip-hop (something real-life acts such as Shaggy already do). The only problem with Derrick and the Laments is that their lyrics often promote violence against women, and women keep turning up dead wherever they play. The industry types want to milk the publicity and wish away the consequences, but pragmatic Sever knows solving the homicides will land him another fat book contract. None of the characters are admirable, but they're all believable. In this compelling, fast-paced story, Bruns nails the world of celebrity journalism. If only his descriptive passages--"the splashes of bodies breaking the smooth surface of the placid, chlorinated water were crystal clear"--didn't so often land with a clank and a cliche, he'd have a solid-gold hit on his hands.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)