Killer Diller (1991) by Clyde Edgerton
An ex-con convinces a university to let him start a gospel band as an outreach ministry.
“Wonderful…Clyde Edgerton tells us another of his lovely tall tales.” — Los Angeles Times Book Review
“I read “Killer Diller” years ago and had forgotten how great it was until I saw it on eBay recently. Loved it.” — blogger ZaZa in a comment on Faster Than Kudzu
A Slipping-Down Life (1970) by Anne Tyler
A teenager becomes obsessed with a rock musician and decides to get his attention at all costs.
“Tyler’s characters have character: quirks, odd angles of vision, colorful mean streaks and harmonic longings.” — Time Magazine
“While set in the unique surrounds of small town America of the 1960s, Tyler’s characters are both universal and timeless.” — blogger Marg
The Exes (1998) by Pagan Kennedy
A songwriter and guitarist form a band a week after they break up.
“[The Exes] offers a basic 4/4 beat, something you can groove to, but underneath is a lovely swirl of countermelodies and sounds that are unfamiliar, but engaging.” — Salon Magazine
“Kennedy combines the skill of an accomplished and trained writer with the knowledge and credibility of someone who has actually participated in underground culture.” — blogger Anna
Fuel-Injected Dreams (1986) by James Robert Baker
This chronicle of the music business in the 1960s is based on the life of Phil Spector.
“Defines the raw impulses of a generation!” — New York Daily News
“[A]bsolutely brilliant” — blogger drew in a comment on Pretending Life Is Like A Song
Crossroad Blues (1998) by Ace Atkins
Blues historian Nick Travers investigates the mysterious death of a colleague in this first book of the Nick Travers mystery series.
“CROSSROAD BLUES is like a classic song–the right feeling, the right note, at the right time.” —B.B. King, Blues Legend and author of BLUES ALL AROUND ME
The Little Country (1991) by Charles De Lint
A fantasy novel involving Celtic fiddler Janey Little who gets transported across the ocean by a magical book.
“An intricately structured novel, full of a wealth of detail about music, Cornwall, and things magical and arcane.” — Patricia McKillip
“ In this story, music – and folk music in particular – is a link to our deep past, a half remembered awareness of loss, and a bridge to a different world.” — blogger Masha
And My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You (2002) by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
The journey of a country music singer from the Bay Area trying to jumpstart her career.
“The combination of Goldmark’s playful humor, her smooth prose style and her knowledge of the music business carry the day.” — Publisher’s Weekly
Radio Activity (2004) by Bill Fitzhugh
A rock station DJ becomes a sleuth in this murder mystery.
“…[W]hat really gives the book its vitality is the obvious love that Shannon (and presumably Fitzhugh) have for classic rock music of virtually every persuasion.” — Publisher’s Weekly
“Radio Activity is highly recommended as a smart, quick read which, though it goes down fast and easy will leave you full and satisfied.” — blogger RJG at The Book Frog
The Song Reader (2003) by Lisa Tucker
A young woman has the unusual gift to diagnose people’s problems based on the music that they listen to and then prescribe a playlist.
“Tucker’s assured debut novel is an achingly tender narrative about grief, love, madness and crippling family secrets.” — Publisher’s Weekly
“It doesn’t matter what type of books you previously liked; you’ll love this one.” — blogger Nora
Swing (2005) by Rupert Holmes
A murder mystery sat in the 1940s California jazz scene.
“Holmes’s narrative is saturated in the atmosphere of noir and swing, and he has even recorded an accompanying CD of jazzy numbers containing musical clues.” — The New Yorker
“The second mystery from Rupert Holmes is peppy and twisty, and a nice read for a plane.” — blogger j.tallman
Been Here and Gone: A Memoir of the Blues (2000) by David Dalton
A one-hundred-year-old musician shares his memories of a life in the blues.
“[S]uch shrewd storytelling and strong voices will have blues lovers ‘hooked, lined and sinkered.’” — Publisher’s Weekly
“I enjoyed the southern voice and feel of this book as well as the history and the music. The music is sad, electrifying, artful, and can never be repeated. Thanks to David Dalton for giving us the blues!” — blogger LibraryManiac
“[F]ull of cool references to Kansas City and Missouri back in the day – really engrossing and awesome read.” — blogger Darla at Darla Designs
Boy Island (2000) by Camden Joy
A drummer tours the U.S. as a member of a rock band and uses his experiences to try to better understand the Persian Gulf War.
“Joy’s rants exhibit a romantic streak wider than Alanis Morisette’s leer.” — Spin Magazine
“Joy ably combines the adamant style of Hunter S. Thompson with the enthusiasm of Jack Kerouac.” — blogger Carol
Come and Go, Molly Snow (1995) by Mary Anne Taylor-Hall
A bluegrass fiddler uses her music as therapy to recover from her daughter’s death.
“[This book has] a writing style as melodic and haunting as a good bluegrass song…” — Library Journal
Mary Ann Taylor-Hall’s page on National Endowment for the Arts
Honky Tonk Kat (1996) by Karen Kijewski
A murder mystery set in the world of country music; part of the P.I. Kat Colorado series.
“Ms. Kijewski captures the sweaty thrills of life on the road.”
– New York Times Book Review
The Best of Jackson Payne (2000) by Jack Fuller
A musicologist’s research into a jazz musician’s death draws him into a mystery that becomes an obsession.
“Fuller’s latest novel [is] itself a kind of jazz improvisation, with multiple voices playing within a structured plot line, trying to define a life that defies explanation.” — Library Journal
“A mystery wrapped in jazz history…I have to wonder why this book hasn’t been translated on screen yet…” — blogger Carlos
Lost Highway (1997) by Richard Currey
A banjo player in West Virginia tries to make it in a bluegrass band and struggles with personal tragedies related to the Vietnam War.
“… as eloquently piercing and deeply American as a classic folk ballad…told in haunting prose that allows Lost Highway to emerge on the page like music itself.” — Publisher’s Weekly
“A nuanced and poetic first-person narrative…” — blogger Meredith Sue Willis
VISIT: Richard Currey’s site
Bluestown (1996) by Geoffrey Becker
The son of a rock legend makes his stab at a musical profession by working for a company that produces musical sound effects.
“[A] first novel that enhances Becker’s promise as a major voice in American fiction… full of bittersweet truths and appealing characters.” — Publisher’s Weekly
“[A] funny, sad portrait of rock’n’roll dreams that never get farther than the opening chords.” — blogger Michael at The Greatest Show
VISIT: Geoffrey Becker’s site
Out of the Blue (2004) by JoAnn Ross
A folk singer touring in New Orleans becomes the target of a serial killer
“Adventurous, exhilarating story. Danger and intrigue are a constant presence.
Highly passionate . . .outstanding; I could not put this book down.”
— RomanceJunkies.com
“I’m looking forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy about Lark’s sisters, Lily and Laurel.” — blogger Jill
VISIT: JoAnn Ross’s site
Coral Press is the premier site for Musical Fiction.
The Charts, compiled by Kellie D. Brown, is our list of the Top 40 Rock and Pop musical novels. Enjoy!
Kellie D. Brown is the author of the Annotated Bibliography And Reference List Of Musical Fiction
She is an Associate Professor of Music at Milligan College.