The Music Box Murders: A Mystery

by Larry Karp and Laurence E. Karp

Book Overview

The Music Box Murders by Larry Karp released on Oct 25, 2000 is available now for purchase. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 188517358X
• ISBN13: 9781885173584
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Write Way Publishing
• Length: 344 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

This Music Box is sweet music to mystery lovers

A wise cracking medical doctor who's enchanted, enamored and nearly obsessed with music boxes find himself involved in the middle of a murder mystery he can't possibly resist. What a delightful way for author Karp to introduce us to a cast of colorful characters and introduce readers to an appreciation of antique music boxes.There's three Thomas Purdue mysteries out now with more on the way and Karp starts his series out in fine form. This one reads fast, is packed with wit, dry humor, delightful twists, some risque' developments and delivers a delightfully choreographed Agatha Christie kind of ending.There's a self confidence to Larry Karp's prose and his dialogue crackles with a brightness that's refreshing, funny and clear.If you like who-done-it mysteries you'll want to get a copy of this delightful book right away.Christopher J. Jarmick is the co-Author of the mystery-thriller, The Glass Cocoon (with Serena F. Holder).

realistic characters, intriguing, informative clever puzzle

Throuroughly enjoyable mystery with lively characters, written in a clever, breezy style,hard to put down. I came away from this novel with great respect and appreciation for the makers and restorers of music boxes. I look forward to more of Dr. Thomas Purdue.

Complex story,clearly written;horrifying at times yet funny.

Karp's characters are the children of Damon Runyon's, except that most of them have money and have moved to lower Manhattan or the upper East Side. Thomas Purdue is a quirky hero, not always likable and sometimes morally dubious, but he is admirable in his perseverance. The author draws us briskly through this often funny murder mystery and is especially successful at blending his extensive knowledge of music boxes into the plot and action. The ending is worth waiting for.

A thoroughly "obsessive" read!

Who would think that a male writer could be sensitive in creating female characters and still provide us with a rich, intellectual murder mystery! Even if you don't collect anything except overdue notices at the library, you'll be intrigued with this book. Karp has you turning page after page, periodically stopping to commiserate with his relationship problems. At the end of the book, you'll have had laughs, the satisfaction of seeing a plot that sent the accidental sleuth across the pond and back--and you'll never again picture a music box with a ballerina twirling on top of it to the tune of "Tara's Theme."

I wound up being obsessed by this mystery!

I prefer mysteries in which the characters are real -- not just two-dimensional figures pasted together to support the plot. Although I don't collect antique music boxes, The Music Box Murders meets and exceeds my criteria for a mystery eminently worth reading. The first-person protagonist, Thomas Purdue, is multi-dimensional and outstandingly real; I felt that I knew him within the first few pages. The other characters, even the quirky ones, are equally interesting and believable. I couldn't put the book down, literally; I devoured it rapidly. Now I can't wait for the next offering from this new author. Anyone who likes intelligent, well-written mysteries will love this book.