Title: Girl Can’t Help It
Author: Max Allan Collins
Series: Krista Larson, #2
Narrator: Dan John Miller
Published: March 2020, Brilliance Audio
Length: 7 hours 21 minutes
Source: Author/Publisher
Summary:
A rock band’s reunion is looking more like a farewell tour in a captivating mystery by New York Times bestselling and award-winning crime master Max Allan Collins.
No
sooner do Hot Rod and the Pistons reunite for their induction into the
Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, than two band members take a final bow.
Both alleged suicides. A tragic way to go out. A bum way for one-hit
wonders to be remembered. But it’s Labor Day weekend. The show must go
on.
With replacements at the ready, the Pistons are back on home
turf to headline the first ever Rock and Country Music Fest. Police
Chief Krista Larson and her father, Keith, are there listening. And
watching. Because they suspect there may be more to the band members’
untimely deaths than anyone else can see.
As Krista and Keith
navigate the investigation, a dark picture of the band’s rocky history
begins to take center stage. As betrayal, revenge, and blackmail start
playing out in the present, the father-daughter team fear that this
encore may be the band’s finale.
My thoughts: This
is the second book in Max Allan Collins’ Krista Larson series and it was just as enjoyable as the first one. It’s a lighter thriller which is perfect for breaking up those
heavier, darker reads that I tend to gravitate towards.
I think what I really enjoy the most about this series is the relationship between Krista and her father. In this particular installment, they are working out their own dating relationships and how that works now that they are living in the same house. It was equal parts comical and sweet. But on top of that, they are a good working team, despite the fact that Keith is technically retired. He once again gets permission to help out on this case. He truly lives up to that old adage – once a detective, always a detective.
While I am not a big music fan, I did like the way Max Allan Collins used the rock band’s reunion tour as his story line. Just as the previous book was all about a high school reunion, this one was all about the band and how they were getting together. It seems someone has a major grudge to settle with some of the band members and is not going to be happy until they are all underground.
I love that we get some chapters from the murderer – I love getting into this person’s mind and understanding a little bit of their motivations, but I never once put two and two together to figure out who this person was. What a surprise when it was finally revealed!
This is turning out to be a fun series. Each book is quick and fast-paced, I am really enjoy the characters. I am looking forward to seeing what comes next!
Audio thoughts: This
was a fun audio to listen to. I was so glad to see that Dan John Miller was once again narrating. His consistency made it feel as if I had just listened to the previous book and then jumped right into this book. He
brought the characters to life and gave each one a unique voice and
personality. I hope he continues to narrate this series for as long as it goes on.
Books in this series:
- Girl Most Likely
- Girl Can’t Help It
