Product Description

A story featuring the foul-mouthed Kinky Friedman, ace private eye, which first appeared in "More Kinky Friedman". Someone is killing the Texas Jewboys, a guerrilla country-music band, and Kinky stalks the killer, armed only with attitude and a cigar.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1280161 in Books
• Published on: 1999-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Who would want to kill the former Texas Jewboys? Apparently, any number of people. And that's what Kinky Friedman ( Frequent Flyer ), retired musician-turned-private eye, has to figure out. To protect his fellow ex-band members, three of whom have died mysteriously, Kinky brings the survivors of the group, which broke up 13 years ago, to New York City for a reunion tour. Kinky goes about solving the case in his typical manner--imbibing copious amounts of espresso and liquor and enjoying many cigars, while repeating the facts of the case over and over until they gel. Kinky fans will appreciate his style; others may be put off by the nonstop references to Texas Jewboy (and music) trivia, sexual (and sexist) cracks and snippets from past cases. In the end, of course, with a little help from his friends, Kinky solves the crime, with a nice twist. Author tour.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Kinky's latest Greenwich Village adventure begins with an unexpected visit (after 13 years) from, and the subsequent murder of Texas Jewboys' band cohort Tequila. Kinky shortly realizes that two more former band members have died in the past two weeks, so he ponders life, converses with his cat, garners clues from his dreams, enlists the help of journalist McGovern, and sets up a reunion of the band in order to trap the murderer. His love life, meanwhile, or lack thereof, centers on the lesbian upstairs and on a dancer whose boyfriend wishes her harm. Amidst his usual cigar smoke and scotch fumes, Kinky spouts cynical wit, stray lines of "musical" dialog, and quasi-historical tidbits. Offbeat subject matter and characters, told with some verve.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"His irreverent, bawdy and often outrageous adventures are like no others." -- San Diego Union-Tribune

"Kinky Friedman is the best whodunit writer to come along since Dashiell What's-his-name." -- Willie Nelson

Customer Reviews

Great entry in Kinky series
For those not familiar with Kinky Friedman's semi-autobiographical adventures as the country-singer-turned-detective with the skewed take on the world, this one has it all. This is probably the most outrageous book in the series (up to this point, anyway).

Kinky's at his best when he's interacting with the motley crew of musicians, journalists, and lesbian dance instructors who constantly threaten to topple his comfort and peace. In Musical Chairs, almost the entire cast of Jewboys (Kinky's real life band) are on hand and they're bringing some of Texas with them to the Big Apple. The only problem with the riotous reunion is that someone wants them dead and is picking them off one by one.

No matter how many bass players die the show must go on. There isn't a lot of seriousness to the Kinky series as it is, and the story is almost an afterthought in this one. Just sit back and (ignoring a few problems with the hastily crafted ending) watch the un-PC ramblings of the band and Kinky's own problems with cat vomit, the price of chicken fried steak, and dead musicians in the shower (or "rain room", as the man himself would put it). Hilarious and very worthwhile.

I admit to drinking it, but I did not swallow
"Musical Chairs" is Kinky's fifth novel and and was first published in 1991. As with his other books, Kinky has cast himself as the amateur-PI hero - though he doesn't take too many liberties. The book's Kinky (unsurprisingly) is a cigar-smoking, cat-loving, espresso-guzzling, whiskey-drinking, ex-country and western performer. Naturally, Kinky isn't the only 'real' person to appear in the book - Rambam, Ratso and McGovern - Kinky's 'Village Irregulars' - have all been based on actual friends while the Texas Jewboys - Kinky's old band - also turn up.

Unfortunately, it's the Texas Jewboys who appear to be in trouble. With New Year's Eve approaching, Kinky receives a phone call from one-time bandmate, Tequila. Freshly landed in New York, short on places to stay and in need of a world-class PI, Tequila somehow manages to persuade Kinky to help him. However, while Kinky calls at a nearby comvenience, a killer calls at the loft and leaves Tequila the Guitarist floating in the bath. Things go from bad to worse : Kinky then gets a phone call from Cleve, the former manager of both the band and the Lone Star Cafe. Cleve, who is spending a little time in the Pilgrim State Mental Hospital after having dispatched three country singers, wants to put the band back together. Kinky initially resists the idea...but when he discovers that two futher ex-Jewboys are also very recently deceased, he begins to get very suspicious....The only good thing in Kinky's life at this time is Kelli, a very sweet Texan dancer. Kelli, like Kinky, isn't without her troubles : she has recently parted from her deranged Texan boyfirend and compounded that by spurning Winnie Katz, noted Lesbian Dance Class instructor. (Poor girl : she escapes from two predators, only to be snared by a third).

"A Case of Lone Star" has much in common with the other books by Kinky I've read. While it's not an entirely serious 'whodunnit' it is a fast moving and very easily read book. It's also packed with superbly delivered one-liners and - while his quips won't be to everyone's tastes - it was a book I thoroughly enjoyed.