Murder Off Mike: A Talk Radio Mystery

I sat up half the night to finish MURDER OFF MIKE, the series debut of Joyce Krieg's Talk Radio mysteries. The story moves at an amiable pace, but when it began the windup for a lulu of a finish, I couldn't put it down. Krieg sets her series in Sacramento, and her protagonist, Shauna J. Bogart, is a talk show host. Krieg writes from experience, having worked in Sacramento radio for many years. Shauna J. reminds me of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone. Like Kinsey, Shauna J. keeps her wits about her, and can survive anything as long as she has clean underwear. Her method of detection is to pick at something until she finally unravels the mystery. In this case, it's the death of a colleague, an elusive caller who may have witnessed the dirty deed, and how it all ties in with the radio station's survival and a popular politician's run for the state senate. The action takes place in the lead-up to Sacramento's annual Jazz Jubilee. Along the way, we get a little tour of California history and politics. We get to know Shauna J., and the baggage she drags as the daughter of a politician and a blues singer, both long dead. Shauna J's coming to terms with that baggage is one of the reasons I liked the book. Another is her love-hate relationship with California's great San Joaquin Valley. I gave her an imaginary high-five when I read this: "I seated myself gingerly on a metal folding chair, scorching in the ninety-degree heat. People keep telling me about Sacramento, 'But it's a dry heat.' To which I reply, 'Yeah, but it's still hot.'" Joyce Krieg makes my short list of writers who know our Valley landscape well enough to set a good mystery novel here. She's had an interesting life, and talks about that-among many other things-on her Web site. Check it out at: http://www.joycek.com/ Pat Browning, author of FULL CIRCLE. http://www.patbrowning.com

It's a typical afternoon on the Shauna J. Bogart show until Rudy from West Sacramento calls in. He claims to have seen someone carrying out the body of fellow talk show host Dr. Hipster. Since he is Shauna's best friend and mentor, Shauna doesn't find the call at all funny. Just in case, she sends Glory Lou, the station news force, to check it out. She's devastated to learn that it is indeed true. Even more disturbing is the fact that the police are calling it a suicide, and the suicide note makes it seem that Shauna is to blame. Knowing that can't be the case, she starts to investigate, starting with the show that Dr. Hipster had planned for that night. It seems to be a standard show with information about the current governor's race in California. What had Dr. Hipster learned that lead to his death? With constant clues coming in that don't make any sense, Shauna may be facing more then she bargained for.When I learned that this book was a St. Martin's Press winner, I had to give it a try. And I wasn't disappointed. The clues come fast and furious, but just lead me around in circles. I was so hooked I stayed up way too late two nights in a row to get "just a little further." Shauna and her friends are fun characters. I enjoyed getting to know them and hope the entire gang is around for the sequel. And the setting, a local talk radio station, is interesting. The author's many years in the business are evident as facts are put in smoothly to bring the story more vividly to life. I will add that the first couple of chapters seem a little rough, but once I got past those, everything smoothed out and I never looked back.I do have two serious complaints about this book. First, I didn't read it sooner. Second, I don't see how the author will ever top this fun, intriguing first effort. I won't be too surprised if this wins the Agatha award this year and will be shocked if it's not at least nominated for best first novel. It certainly deserves it.

California eco-politics, the changing world of corporate Radio and one of the world's largest music festivals are the backdrops for this tightly wound thriller from Joyce Krieg. The story's voice is Shauna J. Bogart, a top rated host on Sacramento's leading Talk Radio station. We follow Bogart on her quest to find the truth behind the suspicious death of a long time friend, and radio mentor, Dr. Hipster. Krieg's knowledge of the inner workings of radio made the readng particular fun for me. I also liked the way Krieg weaved tidbits of Sacramento history and subtle detail into the story. Very skillful storytelling from a writer with enormous potential. When's the next one coming out?

In the world of radio, one lives by the airwaves, but in Murder Off Mike, one dies by them, too. Sacramento, California talk show host Shauna J. Bogart takes on a case to prove what really happened to her fellow talk radio star, Dr. Hipster, and keep herself from becoming the next obituary. From the first few pages the story gets going and remains engrossing throughout. A truly fun tale, with a few inside looks at the world of radio today. A fine work from author Krieg.

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