Poe -- The Musical
As T.K. Sheils
-- August 2006 --
Amber Quill
Available in electronic and print formats
Hunter Knox is an actor and amateur
detective whose distinguishing trait is that he doesn't have one. In fact, no one can
remember him once he leaves a room. In this adventure, he finds himself involved with a
Broadway musical based on the life of Edgar Allen Poe is in preparation until one of its
backers is found under the stage where the body from The Telltale Heart should be.
The characters, including an eyelash viper
named Arnold, a vamp called Myrna Wdnyzkoscdykyzny, and the producer's daughter, seductive
Sissy Pinkus, all seem out to either murder or seduce Hunter-or both. How he escapes some
of them - and solves the crime - is zany, sexy, and full of surprises.
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Reviews for POE THE MUSICAL
"...an innovative mystery that goes out
on a limb to entertain."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Filled with quirky, larger than life characters,
irreverent off-beat humor, and a tantalizing mystery Poe is a delightfully fast paced page
turner.
Playwright/director Alfie Rangoon and his partner,
musical director, Podrous Wolfman, are struggling to put together a cutting edge musical
production based on the life of none other than the writer of classic horror, Edgar Allen
Poe. There are only a few small problems standing between the cast and success: an
overzealous creative team that constantly rewriting play, a woeful lack of funding, and,
of course, a real corpse, hidden where a live actor is supposed to be. But the cast and
crew, from the director down to the chorus girls all prove the show must go on, valiantly
working around the difficulties caused by the sudden appearance of the unidentified body.
Fortunately, Alias Hunter Knox, part time actor and
detective, masquerading as a wealthy arts patron, is on hand. Hunter, a man who describes
himself as "almost instantly forgettable," blends easily with the cast and crew
as he doggedly seeks to unravel the ever deepening mysteries that surround the production.
As the successful murders and near misses pile up, the production seems doomed to failure,
or worse.
Poe - The Musical is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It
is peopled with wonderfully vibrant characters, each bursting with an individuality that
adds humor to the otherwise serious business of murder. The plot, with its intricate
twists, will keep you guessing, until you reach the very satisfying ending. I've
definitely become a fan of Hunter Knox and T. K. Sheils!
Kelle Riley - Scribes World ****
"If you like dark humor and twisted tales,
check out POE - THE MUSICAL. You don't have to be a POE aficionado to enjoy this clever
and imaginative mystery."
Sharpwriter *****
"The cast of characters of the musical is a
strange and colorful set of people, from the cloud-forest loving Sissy Pinkus (the snakes
slithering around Sissy give the reader goose-bumps) to the large Amazon-like Edna. The
cast is entertaining on stage as well as off. The twists and turns of the plot are
fascinating, and the mystery really keeps the reader in suspense."
Cynthia Arbuthnot - Running River Reader
*****
"Anyone who's ever seen a big musical--PHANTOM
OF THE OPERA for instance--will probably appreciate the snatches of Poe-inspired lyrics
sprinkled here and there through the story as much as I did. Or recognize someone in the
cast or crew of the show--it's obvious that the author is familiar with the world he's
written about. Mr. Sheils has created another wonderful detective, and given him a
terrific case to solve. Best of all, he kept me guessing about the murderer's identity
until all was revealed in the end. I'd recommend this book to any mystery buff."
Catherine Witmer - Just Views *****
"Poe - the Musical, is more comedy than
mystery. For those who enjoy Monty Python humor, there's enough zaniness and off-beat one
liners here to keep them well entertained. Sheils delights in the outrageous and the
unbelievable, with no holds barred."
John Broussard for Charlotte Austin
Reviews |