Bill Fitzhugh Highway 61 Resurfaced

Highway 61 Resurfaced

Bill Fitzhugh

DJ Rick Shannon has a night music show on a Vicksburg, Mississippi radio station. Though he still believes his mission in life is to save FM radio by reclaiming its southern blues roots, Rick feels emboldened by his recent success in solving multiple homicides. Thus he believes he earned his private investigative license and opens up Rockin' Vestigations.

Lollie Woolfolk swivels her way into Rick's office to hire him to locate her missing grandfather, blues record producer Tucker Woolfolk. The DJ PI figures this case is perfect for him as he knows the blues. Rick learns that Tucker was murdered and his client is missing. He searches for the lost Lollie until a different female sashays her way into his office asserting she is the real Woolfolk. As he ponders will the real Lollie please stand up, Rick meets an assortment of eccentrics, some dangerous in search of revenge and some purring seeking a hand out; none seem helpful. If the DJ sleuth is not careful his fans will sing the eulogy blues for him.

The latest Shannon tale is a solid regional investigative novel that is more detective than musically inclined (RADIO ACTIVITY was more balanced). Still Rick provides a deep insite into musical history especially in the Mississippi Delta. The sleuthing is fun to follow as the DJ fumbles his way through the investigation more like a stumbling amateur than a professional (he is being paid so he is a pro) except when musicology is involved. Bill Fitzhugh provides a fine who-done-it that his fans will want to sing along with as he travels HIGHWAY 61 RESURFACED.

Morrow, Apr 2005, $23.95, 353 pp.

ISBN: 0060597615

Harriet Klausner