Rock & Roll Homicide
About this ebook
status, its leader was brutally murdered when his headphones exploded
during a recording session. The widow, who inherits $5 million, is the
San Diego Police Department’s number one suspect. She hires Jason Duffy,
a 27-year-old PI in his first year of private practice, in spite of his
background as a former musician.
Jason learns that the victim
was also a very skilled contract negotiator, who was in the middle of an
acrimonious renegotiation with the record company at the time of his
death. He also finds that the record company has a very unhealthy tie to
the Russian Mafia.
As an inexperienced detective, Jason does not
yet have the contacts within the police department to gather vital
information. He is forced to mend fences with his estranged father, an
opinionated ex-SDPD detective.
While Jason investigates the
record company, he also takes a close look at the three surviving
members of the victim’s band. One is an alcoholic/drug addict drummer,
on the verge of being kicked out of the group. The second is a bass
player who camouflages his rock star status by living in an ordinary
house in a lower middle-class neighborhood. Third is a lead guitarist
and writer of half of the band’s songs, who lives well beyond his means.
Jason
has not yet become hardened to the very real dangers of his new
profession. We experience his inner conflict as his girlfriend, staff,
and family are drawn into the danger zone.
After Jason’s
part-time employee is severely beaten during a stakeout, he sells the
story of the Russian Mafia’s involvement in the record business to a
tabloid journalism TV show in a misguided effort to protect his employer
and coworker. This serves to drive the case to new heights of danger
and suspense.
Jason goes behind the industry veneer of sex &
drugs & hedonistic lifestyles. He shows us how the 21st Century
world of downloads, file sharing, and image demographics need to be
considered in a case of Rock & Roll Homicide.
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About the author
RJ McDonnell is the son of a Pennsylvania State Police Detective, who received several decorations for solving complex and high-profile crimes. In addition to a traditional education, RJ also had the benefit of seeing every police detective drama on television and in the movies. His father would frequently critique these stories for believability of characters and police procedures.
He earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Penn State University and a Masters at Marywood University. During his college years RJ was a rhythm guitarist and vocalist in two bands. Shortly thereafter, he moved to San Diego where he went to work for a professional writing service. In addition, he wrote a monthly column for the Military Press, and another for a San Diego publication, providing advice to job seekers.
In the 90s, RJ got into comedy writing. He wrote for a local San Diego cable television show that had a Saturday Night Live-type format. Over its two seasons on the air, 34 of his skits were produced.
Rock & Roll Homicide was the first novel in his Rock & Roll Mystery Series. The second novel, Rock & Roll Rip-Off, was selected 2010 Mystery/Thriller of the Year by Premier Book Awards. The Concert Killer was released on 9/1/11. RJ wrote and performed on the book’s trailer song, which also served as a prequel to the novel. The 4th novel, The Classic Rockers Reunion with Death, unlike the rest of the series which takes place in San Diego, is based in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where McDonnell was raised. Diamonds, Clubs, and Rock & Roll is slated for a 2014 release.
