Perfect Sax: A Madeline Bean Novel

By Jerrilyn Farmer

Jerrilyn Farmer′s #1 LA Times bestselling Madeline Bean Culinary mysteries continue to prove to be scrumptiously hip, savoury, and irresistible. In this mass market reprint of her second hardcover, Mad Bean is at it again as a search for the perfect sax becomes deadly.

The dazzling Jazz Ball for the prestigious Woodburn School of Music promises to be event planner Madeline Bean′s greatest triumph to date. All the rich and mighty of L.A. society′s fund-raising crowd seem to be seriously enjoying the festivities. Of course, then everything goes straight to hell. Having to contend with a heap of celebrity trash, a ranting vocal coach, his rabid bitch of a girlfriend, and duelling preteen music prodigies is bad enough. But when the furious bidding war for the prize item to be auctioned off -- a one-of-a-kind, sterling silver Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone -- almost results in bloodshed, and the perfect sax subsequently vanishes, Madeline can′t help but wonder what else could possibly go wrong.

Well he could arrive home to discover a dead body in her bedroom. Her ex-beau LAPD Detective Chuck Honnett could start making insistent "take me back" noises. And then there′s the red-haired stranger who seems to be stalking her. All in all, the lethal looniness surrounding the theft of a priceless instrument is threatening to drive Mad quite mad. With the jazz cool, the sax "hot," and the martinis smoking, it may drive her quite dead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jun 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9780062014023

Jerrilyn Farmer

Jerrilyn Farmer, the author of seven acclaimed, award-winning Madeline Bean novels, is a TV writer who has written for game shows such as Jeopardy! and Supermarket Sweep, and sketch comedy specials for Dana Carvey, Jon Lovitz, Timothy Stack, Cheri Oteri, Tim Meadows, and others. Farmer also teaches mystery writing at the UCLA Extension's Writers Program. She lives in Southern California.

Reviews for Perfect Sax

[auntie0nanuuq · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I know I've read this book before.... but I reread it, as I obviously didn't remember too much about it.Madeline Bean has just finished catering a huge charity in L.A. for a private music school.... One of her employees' car broke down, so she borrows Maddie's car to get home and Maddie hitches a ride w/ one of the event chairs.During the event, Maddie comes across her neighbor, whose personal papers she found scattered across her yard... she approaches him in order to return them, he & his girlfriend fly into a rage, accusing her of stealing and trying to blackmail him.The grand auction prize, a Selmer Mark VI in pristine condition being auctioned off, disappears after the auction... The winner (event chair's husband) goes into a rage and chases down his competitor bidder (w/ Madeline in tow).Maddie convinces the driver to drop her off downtown.... as she is walking home, the driver's brother-in-law shows up to give her a ride home w/ apologies from his sister the event chair... They hit it off and go to eat at the pantry....When they finally arrive at Maddie's home they find the police, ambulance, crime scene and the employee who borrowed Maddie's car murdered in Maddie's bed....Romance, the soap of being a rich man's trophy wife, jealousy, murder, food/catering, house renovation, & insurance fraud play for a pretty interesting story.... Not by any means a "cozy", this book held my interest and I'll even read another.....

[delphimo_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I had thought I would not read anymore of Farmer's books, but a friend convinced me to continue with the series. This mystery series is not the graphic gore of James Patterson. The series combines beach fluff with a little mystery. The series is set in Los Angeles, and expounds on that superficial existence. Money and power is God. The clothing emphasis reminds me of Susan Kandel's series with detective Cece Caruso. The series centers on the lavish parties given by Madeline Bean and her partner, Wesley. The actual murder is not the center stage in this series that does not feature graphic autopsies. This is a gentle mystery and full of fun and partying.