In Grabien's diverting second mystery to feature witty Brit rock musician JP Kincaid (after 2008's Rock and Roll Never Forgets
), someone bashes in the head of vocalist Vinny Fabiano with Vinny's own guitar in a San Francisco rehearsal hall. While no one's shedding a lot of tears for the loutish Vinny, who'd recently insulted Bree Godwin, JP's old lady, JP and Bree still want to know what idiot would use a guitar custom-made by luthier Bruno Baines as a murder weapon. Missing from Vinny's stash after the murder is his fabulous pearl-top Zemaitis guitar, similar to one stolen from the Rolling Stones' Ron Wood. After another murder—a blunt instrument breaks the neck of Vinny's guitar tech, Rocco Galliano—JP and mates pool their detecting skills. Readers may learn more about guitars as well as JP's ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis and Bree's cancer scare than they care to know, but JP's perky narration and his love for Bree keep the pages turning. (Sept.)
