South Florida Sun-Sentinel Review
November 5, 2006
by Oline H. Cogdill
A Merry Band of Murderers has got to be one of the most original ideas for a short-story collection. Basing the collection on the idea that many songs are, in essence, short stories, editors Claudia Bishop and Don Bruns assembled an impressive array of mystery authors who at one time or another have also been paid musicians. Maybe in a rock band, maybe as a wedding singer, maybe as an award-winning composer and playwright. Not only did the authors agree to write a short story that somehow revolves around music, but they also had to write a song to accompany it AND record the song.
The stories are sturdy enough to stand on their own and, likewise, the songs are entertaining enough in their own right and are worth listening to regularly. Together, the songs and stories bring new meaning to each other. This is an intriguing collection that shows a different side of each author and works as a cohesive compilation.
Rupert Holmes' song "A Time To Kill" and story "Shuffle Off this Mortal Coil" are outstanding. Two-time Tony and two-time Edgar winner Holmes (Escape, the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood, the play Say Goodnight, Gracie) cleverly delves into the mind of a man convinced his iPod is talking to him.
Scottish author Val McDermid and British author Peter Robinson run a close second to Holmes. McDermid gives a different view of a love triangle in her story and song, both named "The Long Black Veil," a variation of the classic tune. Robinson's look at the '60s, a remote island and perception shine in "The Ferryman's Beautiful Daughter," the title of his song and story.
Like many songs, several of the stories are about love, admittedly love that warps the mind more than a little. Jeffery Deaver's lovely song "Another Day Without You" takes on a new meaning when paired with his appropriately creepy "The Fan." John Lescroart's story and song "Something Out There" follows a young woman who just may find love at last, if she makes it through a dark and stormy night.
Bishop and Bruns, each of who have a mystery series, also weigh in with their own work. Bishop wittily takes on Hamlet in "The Melancholy Danish" while Bruns gives a poignant memory of a father in the story "Courage."
A Merry Band of Murderers is a gimmick, but it's a gimmick that succeeds.
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