Death of a Tenor Man
Moody's second Evan Horne mystery brings back jazz piano player and amateur sleuth Horne and sets him the daunting task of solving the 30-year-old murder of saxophonist Wardell Gray, who died in Las Vegas in 1955, the apparent victim of a heroin overdose. Horne is called to Las Vegas by his friend and fellow jazz buff Ace Buffington, who hopes to write an article on Gray's death and its relation to the abrupt closing of Moulin Rouge, the site of Gray's last gig and the first integrated nightclub in the city. Horne's task is twofold: help Ace research the death of a tenor man and try out his injured hand with a comeback gig on the piano. Trouble ensues quickly and rather predictably as Mob types attempt to stop Horne's investigation. This is formulaic mystery fare, but the Vegas setting is nicely realized, and the use of the real-life Gray case proves fascinating, especially to jazz fans, who will also appreciate the author's musings on the jazz player's art. Great music, mediocre story.Bill Ott--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.