The King of Ragtime
The Ragtime Mysteries (Book 2)
- Author Larry Karp
- Narrator Mirron Willis
- Publisher Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date 10 October 2008
- Run Time 11 hours and 17 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Crime and mystery fiction, Historical crime and mysteries, Music.
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What to expect
It’s 1916, and time’s running out for Scott Joplin. Before he dies, he wants to provide for his wife and secure his place in musical history.
Joplin has written a musical drama, and his young piano student, Martin Niederhoffer, convinces him to try to get Irving Berlin to publish and produce the work. The next day, Niederhoffer walks into his office and finds Joplin crouched over the blood-soaked body of a young man. He hustles his teacher away, but the two are seen leaving the building.
When Berlin flatly denies ever having received Joplin’s play, young Niederhoffer engages the services of hit man Footsie Vinny, who gives Berlin a five-day deadline to come up with the manuscript.
Then, just when things couldn’t get worse, Niederhoffer’s girlfriend is kidnapped. Can the ailing musician be exonerated before it is too late?
Critics Review
“Mirron Willis gives a virtuoso performance…[and] never strikes a false note in Karp’s well-researched period mystery. He fashions living human beings of all colors, textures, and dispositions with only his smooth, sultry voice. A rich listen. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
“The rich and immensely expressive voice and narration of actor Mirron Willis place the listener fully in the world of Joplin and Berlin. His ease with dialects and gender render all characters real and immediate. The tragedy of Joplin’s quest to express his great gifts, and Willis’ skill with prose and personalities, will stay with the listener.”
“An impressive account of [Scott Joplin’s] final months, the murder mystery made all the more real by the recognizable names associated with it.”
“An extensively researched and eminently readable historical mystery, this is a must for ragtime fans.”
“Well-crafted…Karp’s meticulous research helps create a vivid picture of the time and locale. Memorable, authentic characters are another plus.”
“Impressively researched, with a substantial bibliography, Karp’s second Joplin mystery paints a full-bodied portrait of Harlem back in the day.”
| Author | Larry Karp |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Mirron Willis |
| Series | The Ragtime Mysteries |
| Duration | 11 hours and 17 minutes |
| Release Date | |
| ISBN | 9781483051574 |
| Format | Audiobook |
| Publisher | Blackstone Publishing |
| Genre | Crime and mystery fiction, Historical crime and mysteries, Music |
| Availability | AU, GB, IE, US |
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