Caribbean Mystery

Series · 5 books · 2002-2009

By Don Bruns

Books in series

Jamaica Blue

2002

Under an intense, blue Jamaica sky, music journalist Mick Sever lands a front row seat to the Next Big Thing - a reggae/rap band known as Derek and The Laments. Derek Lyman, the band's charismatic Rastafarian singer has an unmistakable hold on the audience, and his provocative lyrics work the crowd into a frenzy. But lurking beneath the new stars' promise is a deadly secret-two female fans have been savagely killed after attending Laments' concerts. And everyone begins to wonder if the band is connected to the murders? The journalist in Sever follows the group to Miami as he hunts for the truth on a trail that will lead him down Florida's coastal highway to Key West and back again. And when another young concertgoer loses her life, Sever finds himself the target of someone who is desperate to keep the Laments' past buried-and...desperate enough to kill again and again.

Barbados Heat

2003

Congressman Shapply, a former music insider who now leads the crusade against offensive lyrics in rap songs, is attacked and murdered in from of his Washington D.C. home. His son Nick is arrested and charged with murder. For veteran music journalist Mick Sever, covering this case is personal. Sever, best friend of the accused killer, believes his friend's claims of innocence. With the help of an old flame, Mick must penetrate the bizarre Shapply family - the icy matriarch Alicia, the disturbed daughter Amber and the religious brother-in-law - to find the truth. The investigation will take Mick from the halls of the Capital to the beaches of Barbados. Threatened by unknown assailants and dangers at every turn, Mick becomes the hunted as killer turns the tables in a stunning climax.

South Beach Shakedown

The Diary of Gideon Pike

2006

Someone is about to make a killing in the music industry. Why would songwriting legend Gideon Pike mysteriously disappear just when he is about to turn his 30-year career into a multi-million dollar profit? Music columnist Mick Sever is back in Don Bruns' third suspense masterpiece. This time he's looking for answers and his missing friend in the gritty backrooms of South Beach's biggest nightclubs, dodging suicide speedboats and running from sniper fire. What surfaces is how the major players in the music industry are not making the headlines, they're just pulling the strings that create them. Hit it right and the royalties, even someone else's, can rake in millions for the rest of your life. The key is finding Gideon before Korean mobster Jimmy Shinn does. Jimmy is ready to cash in on the one secret that will bring Gideon to his knees and strip away what's left of his career, his fortune, and his life. Whoever gets to Gideon first will either save him or pull the trigger. The deadly race is on.

St. Barts Breakdown

2008

USA Today best-selling author Rock and roll journalist Mick Sever is back with a new interview music legend Danny Murtz. Murtz's walls are lined with platinum records, but his closet is full of skeletons. Known for producing an unbelievable string of hits, Murtz is also tied to a string of disappearances. Seems a number of Murtz's romantic conquests have vanished into thin air. After his latest incident, Murtz conveniently retreats to his secluded St. Bart villa.Before Mick can hop a plane to the island, he's nearly run down by a speeding car. Coincidence? Maybe, but hitmaker Danny Murtz and near misses go hand in hand.After receiving anonymous threats, Murtz is someone wants to bring him down. Even his longtime secretary Nancy, and attorney/manager/cleaner-upper Harvey Schwartz are suspect. And that meddlesome Mick Sever is digging too deep. If Danny Murtz has his way, Mick will only need a one-way ticket to paradise. Because if Mick isn't careful, his next column will be an obituary―his obituary.Sun, sand and a it's a deadly mix.

Bahama Burnout

A Mick Sever Mystery

2009

For rock and roll writer Mick Sever, another story, another deadly island paradise is all in a day’ s work. This time, Mick heads to Nassau, Bahamas, home of the legendary Highland Studio. Known for pumping out hits that burn up the charts, Highland is where the magic happens—or rather, where the magic happened until a devastating fire destroyed the entire studio. No one knows how the fire started, who started it—or whose body was found among the charred remains. Sent to get the inside story on the opening of the new Highland Studio, Mick finds this is hardly the Phoenix-rising-out-of-the-ashes story he expected. Some say the studio’ s haunted; some say it’ s cursed, but one thing is for someone—or something—wants to stop the music. A smashed guitar and erased tracks send a subtle warning, but murder? That’ s an entirely different tune. If Mick doesn’ t act fast, Highland Studio, along with everything and everyone in its path, could go up in smoke. It’ s not always better to burn out than to fade away.

Author

Don Bruns

Author · 17 books

Don Bruns is a writer, novelist, musician, songwriter, painter, cook, advertising executive and stand up comic who has no idea what he wants to be when he grows up. He's the author of nine books and was editor of the mystery/music anthology A Merry Band Of Murderers. Don's published novels cover two series. One, a Caribbean thriller collection and two, the Stuff series, a humorous look at two twenty-four year old guys in South Florida who start their own detective agency and end up neck - deep in trouble. Jamaica Blue, Barbados Heat, South Beach Shakedown, St. Barts Breakdown and Bahama Burnout make up the Caribbean books. The Stuff series consists of Stuff To Die For, Stuff Dreams Are Made Of, Stuff To Spy For, and Don't Sweat The Small Stuff. Bruns is currently working on the fifth Stuff book, Too Much Stuff. He currently resides on Florida's West coast. Bahama Burnout/ Finalist, National Best Books Award - Mystery/Suspense 2009 South Beach Shakedown/ Winner National Best Books Award -Fiction/Suspense 2006 South Beach Shakedown/ Winner, Indie Excellence, 2006 Award - Mystery/Suspense South Beach Shakedown/ Winner USA Book Award, 2006 - Mystery Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/ Winner Indie Excellence Award 2009 - Mystery/Suspense Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/IndieBound Notable, October 2008 Stuff Dreams Are Made Of/Winner Florida Writer's Association - Stuff To Die For/ Starred review Booklist