A “Rock and Roll Retrospective” tour goes wrong
“Rock of Ages” is part of the continuing “Junior Bender Mystery” series, but it is not necessary to have read previous books to be captivated by this one. Events unfold in Junior’s first-person usually laid-back, somewhat fatalistic, and definitely sarcastic narrative. Readers find Junior and his daughter at a rock concert, the Los Angeles stop on a “Grand Farewell” tour by “Rock of Ages,” a group of classic, (almost “over-the-hill” but not quite faded away and still projecting some fame and skill) musicians. This road trip was intended to be a return to rock life a few decades ago when the world and its rockers were young.
The rock and roll experience continues with the all the expected and unexpected drama and trauma inherent at those events. While at the concert, things take a turn for the worse for Junior and his daughter when the hastily constructed backdrop suddenly collapses and chaos ensues. How could this happen? Well Junior knows, and shares the events that led up to the “Rock and Roll Reunion” success tour becoming a “rock catastrophe” that required his special skill. Road trips are always difficult for musicians, but the monetary rewards are great, -- unless there are problems. This tour definitely has problems, and it is up to Junior to find and fix them. Junior discovers that the tour is not a retrospective “good old rock and roll happening" but rather a low budget debacle filled with criminals, scam artists, crooked accountants, and past-their-prime musicians who are “phoning it in” music-wise.
Music lovers and readers alike will appreciate the rich music trivia that is an important component of the narrative. After all, Rock and Roll never fades away. I received a review copy of “Rock of Ages” from Timothy Hallinan and Soho Crime. “Rock of Ages” is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, and anywhere you get your books. ( )

As a fan of cat burglars from Cary Grant's To Catch a Thief to Robert Wagner's It Takes a Thief, I've been a fan of the irreverent, irrepressible Junior Bender from book one (Crashed). In this latest installment, Rock of Ages puts readers right in the middle of a nostalgia rock and roll tour, complete with falling props, Super Trooper lighting, old groupies, and a very inquisitive teenage girl. The names of the bands are almost worth the price of admission alone, and this behind-the-scenes look at rock and roll is equal parts illuminating and hilarious. "The bands hated each other, some of them were rusty, some needed cue cards for their lyrics, and three guys had shown up in wheelchairs." Junior must navigate all this as well as slashed tires, threatening notes, inflated egos, and people willing to kill for a money-and-power grab.

I really enjoyed the time spent with Junior's daughter, Rina. She's one sharp cookie who has a mind (and a mouth) very similar to her father's. Junior's going to be sweating bullets over Rina in a year or two, mark my words. But Rock of Ages isn't just the Junior and Rina Show. Other characters shine as only Hallinan can make them. Lavender the old groupie. Cappy the manager who keeps everything running. Debbie, whom Junior calls when he needs backup. Irwin Dressler, the LA mobster of legend. I always love Hallinan's casts of characters.

As I said before, I've enjoyed this series from the very first book. I will follow Junior Bender wherever he leads me because I know I'm going to enjoy myself with a first-rate plot and an excellent cast of characters, and guess what? I always learn something, too. The history of Los Angeles, the movie industry, rock and roll... it's all up for grabs when Tim Hallinan shares an adventure with my favorite burglar. I'm already looking forward to the next one. Hurry up, Junior!

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley) ( )