The detective, Jason Duffy, who is young and working his first murder case, was a counselor at a mental health center prior to becoming a detective.
His two employees are both former patients, and he hires a third, as a temp, later in the book. While the two regular employees are both very good at their jobs, the way they relate to the world is frequently hilarious. The temp, a security guard with Delusions of Grandeur, is completely over the top.

The case involves an ambitious rock star who was killed in an explosion while recording a CD. The widow, who is the chief suspect, hires Jason to help prove her innocence.
The other aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was the relationship between Jason and his ex-police detective father. It's not unusual for teenage boys to run into problems with their fathers while establishing their own identities. Jason's dilemma was magnified by the fact that he played in a rock band from high school until he became a private investigator. As a cop, his father knew all too well the downside to a rock & roll musician's lifestyle.

Throughout the book we watch them take tentative steps toward reestablishing their relationship.
Finally, as a rock fan since the `60s, I enjoyed the information about the impact of how file sharing on the Internet, download sales, and demographic profiling affected the victim's record company contract negotiations. In fact, there was quite a bit of backstage information that I found fascinating. My only criticism is that I wish the author would have developed this area in greater depth.
You don't have to be a rock fan to enjoy this book. The well-crafted plot and humor alone make it an excellent read.

Murder, music and the mob make a marvelous mix in RJ McDonnell's first novel "Rock and Roll Homicide," a delightfully witty and superbly crafted tale of novice detective Jason Duffy's investigation into the murder of a rising rock star.

The story revolves around the death of Terry Tucker, the hard-driving head of San Diego-based rock band Doberman's Stub, who was killed when his earphones exploded just as he was wrapping up work on the band's third CD - a promising release that was to shoot the group to superstardom.

The list of suspects in Tucker's death is enough to make even the most hard-nosed detective cringe. There's the rocker's wife, who stands to inherit a $5 million insurance payoff, record label executives with sinister ties to the Russian Mafia and his beleaguered band mates, including a hard-partying drummer and a singer/songwriter living well-beyond his means.

Toss in a cast of dysfunctional characters like Duffy's obsessive compulsive assistant, his retired police detective father and a photographer afflicted with Tourrette's Syndrome and you have all the makings for a fast-paced and funny look at life in the music business.

McDonnell takes the reader on a wild ride through the murder investigation, which has enough twists and turns to keep even the most hardened mystery lover intrigued. It's his insider's knowledge of the music industry, strong attention to detail and witty insights into the characters, however, that really makes this novel stand out.

Fast moving and at times laugh-out-loud hilarious, "Rock and Roll Homicide" has all the makings of a sure-fire winner. Anyone who loves murder, mysteries or music should pick it up.
As an avid reader, I've found McDonnell to be one of the most engaging, enjoyable, and funniest writers I've come across in a long, long time. With his smart style and well-crafted characters, "Rock and Roll Homicide" can easily break out to make McDonnell one of the most sought after new writers of his generation.

I, for one, am hoping McDonnell revives Duffy and his dysfunctional cast of characters in a second novel - or perhaps an entire series. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if some astute movie executive signs up for the film rights to the Duffy franchise.

Here's hoping we see more of this novice detective - and more of McDonnell's sharp wit and clever writing in the future.