Mariachi Murder
Mariachi Murder has to do with a dangerous woman, a guilty conscience, and a mariachi band in jeopardy.
When Andy’s boss has to go out of town for a baptism, Andy is put in charge of the mariachi restaurant against his will. Not only does he have to lead the band, but he’s supposed to keep an eye on the boss’s much younger wife. After Andy sees Yiolanda fleeing the murder scene of a fellow musician, he’s not sure what to do.
The more Andy finds out, the more trouble he gets himself into. He's a sleuth only by accident. He would much rather spend afternoons working on new songs; instead the only way he can hope to restore equilibrium is by taking walks at three a.m., breaking and entering, impersonating his brother, and lying to everyone, including himself.
Worse still, Andy's normally tranquil Squid Bay has been trapped in heat, and not even dips in the Pacific can do enough to cool the violinist off.
What is the appeal of a good mystery novel for you?
I particularly enjoy reading about setting. I like to be transported to some other place and get to stay there for a few hours. I'm also intrigued by foreign languages, so if that's included in setting, even better. I tend to prefer "I" narration. And I like things that are current day. I don't go in for the serial killer mysteries so much or even the police procedurals. I'm fond of people who stumble into a mystery by accident and get stuck there.
You have been complimented for your ability to describe places very accurately, so how have you fine-tuned this over the years?
I think the trick is to include enough details that readers can create a picture in their minds--without offering paragraph after paragraph of description. Of course.... it also helps to use settings that you know particularly well, which is what happened in MARIACHI MURDER. The restaurant is particularly vivid in my mind, and that's where a lot of the scenes take place.
Why did you decide to make the protagonist a guy even though it is based on your time in a mariachi band?
I've played in a mariachi since 1987. For almost all of that time, I've played in groups where I've been outnumbered--usually 4 guys to one of me, or maybe two of us against five of them. Almost all my fellow musicians were male, so I got used to hearing how my friends reacted to the world around them. It was fascinating!
Who are your favourite reads?
In terms of mysteries I'm quite fond of Robert Crais. The latest mystery I read was Hank Phillippi Ryan's THE OTHER WOMAN.
Which authors do you feel have had the most effect on your work?
I grew up in terms of mystery in terms of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, and then I graduated to Ross Macdonald. Even though I've read a lot of other mysteries, by female authors as well, those first books were very influential.
I've also been inspired time and time again by Tolkien and Lawrence Durrell (Alexandria Quartet). I wish I could say that any good aspect in my work resembled something in Tolkien's--probably not! But I will say that the second Andy book was influenced by the second book in the Alexandria Quartet (Balthazar).
What is your writing process?
I write almost every day, very fast. I try to do at least 1000 words. Usually I do more, but not always. While it's great to get things down quickly, unfortunately, then I have to go back and change almost everything!
What is next for you?
Poor Andy! He's still in trouble after the first book because he thinks about all the things he did wrong. But he stumbled into a mystery in MARIACHI MURDER. And now, trying to forget everything that happened in that book.... you guessed it. He's going to stumble again.