I think this book was supposed to be funny, but I did not think so. A irreverent look at country music, with murder and mayhem thrown in. Read Fitzhugh's other books. ( )

This guy's books are good. I read a lot of this one on the airplane and in airports and people do look at you funny when you are reading a book and laughing out loud. Trust me. In this one, Eddie Long is set on becoming the next big country music singing star. He has songs and a voice and an ingenious marketing plan. When his wife becomes the victim of a serial killer, his dreams all start to come true. Seriously, Fitzhugh makes it funny. ( )

An effective entry into the humorous crime novel genre that takes place in and around the Nashville country music industry at the turn of the century. The story tends to drag occasionally when overtaken by the intricacies of music recording and publishing, and the book's main plot twist is easily guessed way before its gradual reveal, but Bill Fitzhugh introduces enough colorful characters and interesting side plots (even if some of them never go anywhere, including an inexplicable and obtuse running gag about attributing a quote to a musician) to keep the story engaging and entertaining until the end. ( )

I didn't really like any of the characters in this book, so it's hard to review ...... it wasnt bad, it was s good story with good flow for most of the book, but......this one just never really gripped me. ( )

Eddie Long knows that he can be the next country superstar and he just needs the right break to convince everyone else that he is just what Nashville needs. He has spent several years headlining at bars, casinos and frat parties while his wife Tammy stayed at home not being completely faithful to her country boy hubby. Tammy seemingly meets her maker at the hands of a poisoning serial killer and the distraught Eddie feels a song bubbling up from inside his soul. "It Wasn't Supposed to End this Way" is Eddie's anthem for his lost love and it puts him on the fast track on the country music scene. An ingeneous internet campaign, unscrupulous managers and a bossy girlfriend named Megan help Eddie achieve the stardom he knew he was destined for.

A freelance writer, and friend of Eddie's, named Jimmie Rogers has been following Eddie's career since the early days. The gold-digging Megan had been Jimmie's girl until she saw greener pastures and much more income with Eddie. Jimmie had been writing Eddie's biography and now sees a new and exciting angle could be added to the book. What if Eddie were the murderer? As Eddie's star rises in Nashville publishing houses clamor for Jimmie's manuscript and soon Jimmie has a national best-seller on his hands.

This is the second book I have read by Fitzhugh and although I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first ("Heart Seizure") this was still a fun ride through the music scene. The author writes with a great deal of humor and really fleshes out his characters very well. There were so many secondary characters in this story that it was difficult to keep them all straight although by the end of the book they had all played a part in Eddie's story. The mystery itself was not important but it made for a great "did he or didn't he" storyline.
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