Description

Music City, sometimes known as Nashville, has a 200-year history indelibly intertwined with music. Folk, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, bluegrass, jazz, C&W, disco, classical, the sounds of Nashville are woven into the heart and soul of the city. Every city has its dark side and Nashville is no exception. Music may soothe the savage beast, but when the piper falls the beast emerges from the shadows to murder the not-so-innocent and sow mayhem on the unsuspecting.

Indulge in twenty-four mesmerizing tales crafted by talented Bouchercon writers of mystery. These stories share a melody of music, murder, and mayhem: A gift given with strings attached, even to a cello, can backfire. Would you kill for that lucky break—kill to be the One? Do you recognize the murderous details hidden in that ballad’s lyrics? When music and murder mix, will the past remain the past? Are the voices of the dead harmonizing in that hauntingly beautiful song? And more: stories of tailor-made revenge, the price of heckling, and the perils of being in a boy band.

Music lives forever, but while you’re still here, enjoy these tales of revenge and retribution, murder and obsession, robbery and rock ‘n’ roll, stolen dreams and thwarted desires, the blues and a comeback at any cost, all inspired by Nashville’s legacy of music.

With stories by the exceptional and amazing: Eric Beckstrom, Eric Beetner, Valerie (V.M.) Burns, Emily Carpenter, HC Chan, Michael Amos Cody, Tina deBellegarde, Mary Dutta, Michael Ferreter, Barry Fulton, Heather Graham, Rachel Howzell Hall and M.G. Hall, Sarah Zachrich Jeng, D.P. Lyle, Jenny Ramaley, Merrilee Robson, Peggy Rothschild, H.K. Slade, Clay Stafford, Kelli Stanley, JD Trafford, Mark Troy, Gabriel Valjan, and Erica Wright.

Critical Acclaim for Tales of Music, Murder, and Mayhem:

“An anthology that gives an entirely new meaning to the phrase ‘killer beat.’ An exceptional work, and a grand homage to Music City, USA.” —Joel W. Barrows, author of the Deep Cover thrillers

“You may know Nashville as the land of Rhinestone Cowboys and Hee Haw Honeys, but Music City has a darker side and it is on full display in these twenty-four tales of Music, Murder, and Mayhem featuring some of the top names in contemporary crime writing, is more entertaining than a rowdy Outlaw Country Cruise. I took to these stories like a cold hog to warm mud and I reckon you will too.” —Chris Orlet, author of So Many Things to Bury

“Stories so rich in detail that it’s like getting twenty-four novels for the price of one.” —Stephen D. Rogers, crime fiction author

“Tales of Music, Murder, and Mayhem is a thoroughly enjoyable volume certain to top the charts with a platinum collection of 25 original crime fiction stories written by some of today’s finest maestros of mystery.” —Andrew McAleer, co-editor of Edgar & Shamus Go Golden, and author of the Henry von Stray mysteries

“Tales of Music, Murder and Mayhem captures the essence of the south, so enjoy these fresh picks from the new American literary frontier. Down & Out Books has long been known as the home of the best mystery and crime talent in the land. This year’s anthology is no exception.” —Elaine Ash, Bestseller Metrics, Editor, Author & Book Marketer

“Music is the throbbing heart of the stories in this collection—the obsession that drives characters up to, and over, the edge. From lonely pop stars to juke joint owners to the least reliable narrator ever, these stories shake, rattle, and roll.” —Mysti Berry, writer and Anthony-nominated editor

“If music be the food of murder, read on with this masterful collection of mayhem.” —Gray Basnight, author of Madness of the Q

“Talent doesn’t guarantee success in Nashville. Killer instinct helps…plus a good alibi. 24 unique and varied stories that hit the mark! An absolutely stunning collection of powerful have-to-read-the-next-one stories.” —G. Miki Hayden, author of Dry Bones

“The music and the passion flows through these terrific crime stories. Music from Bach to rock to bagpipes and more. Stories from the swamp to the dance floor to the juke joint and everywhere in between. Get set for a platinum performance!” —Kaye George, national bestselling author

“Just as the ‘Nashville sound’ covers the range of human emotion, so do these stories—amusing, thrilling and heartbreaking. Like good country songs, you’ll want to revisit them again and again.” —R.J. Koreto, author of the Historic Homes series

“Music has a dark side. Yet it binds everything together. Nowhere is that truer than the country music capital of the world. And nowhere is that better illustrated than the stories of Tales of Music, Murder, and Mayhem.” —Jim Winter, author of the Holland Bay series

“Good ol’ Nashville, aka Music City, music capital of the world. Now, with the publication of Tales of Music, Murder and Mayhem, we learn that Nashville and its environs have also given birth to some of the most ingenious murders and acts of mayhem that this writer has ever encountered.” —Patrick H. Moore, author of 27 Days and Rogues & Patriots

“A brilliant array of tales; all killer, no filler, and with a glorious thread of musicality running throughout.” —Tom Mead, author of Death and the Conjuror and The Murder Wheel

“These stories of cheating hearts, hard times and heartache, all the country music classics, make this a killer anthology.” —Elaine Viets, author of A Scarlet Death, an Angela Richman, Death Investigator mystery

“Tales of Music, Murder and Mayhem, the 2024 Bouchercon anthology, lives up to the promise of its title. The varied stories, all having a tie to Nashville, reflect the good and bad tales that provide the twang of country music.” —Debra H. Goldstein, award-winning author