"Rat a tat tat…rat a tat tat…Move over Mike Hammer. The dialog in this novel is as fast-paced and machine-gun rapid as any Mickey Spillane novel, and the plot just as complicated and intriguing. Let me warn you up front that Ms Anderson didn't write the formula novel. The reader plummets slapdash through one logical clue after another and ends up being totally foiled."—Jonathan Masters, Booktrees.com
"Highly Recommended! I really loved this book! What a great mystery from Beth Anderson, blending romance and humor into a highly enjoyable story. Night Sounds is full of twists and turns, lively characters, a dead body, and a gorgeous woman accused of murder. What else could anyone want? It's GREAT! I was laughing from beginning to end at Joe's dilemma, his relationships, and his insights...A great whodunit as well, adding to this intricately woven plot. A great read from start to finish…"—Aimee McLeod, All About Murder, WordWeaving, Under the Covers, and Midwest Book Review
"A vibrant, gritty novel evoking the sights and sounds of Chicago's music scene and the Gold Coast lifestyle of the rich. Joe's sarcastic, self-depreciating voice casually invites readers in, only to plunge them into a relentless maelstrom of music and mystery that forces us to keep turning pages straight through until the end. Ms Anderson writes with a savvy, compelling style reminiscent of Robert B. Parker that will have mystery fans clamoring for more."—Melissa Bradley, Rendezvous Magazine
" 5 Stars!...A fast-paced novel that keeps you guessing about the murder. Beth Anderson includes a secondary story line of Joe's band and their struggle to make it big. It becomes one of Joe's driving forces to find the killer fast so he won't miss out on the music opportunity of a lifetime. Both story lines fit together beautifully and create a novel that you will love."—Shari Brennan, Midnight Scribe
"...Engages the reader from the first passionate page to the last with vitality and energy. Beth Anderson's voice mesmerizes the reader, drawing one deeper into this dangerous world. The intensity of Anderson's novel is extraordinary, from the imagery of Chicago's music scene to the Gold Coast lifestyle of the rich...A hot, bluesy novel told with stark self-honesty, where the characters are both realistic and flawed, and the atmosphere rolls with the bitter wisdom gained by experience. If you love novels by F. Scott Fitzgerald, you'll love Beth Anderson."—Cindy Penn, WordWeaving
"...Gripping and exciting. The surprising twist at the end of the book is so startling that you'll catch your breath in surprise."--Stacey Bucholtz, AllAboutMurder
"Set amidst the stunning Chicago music scene, Night Sounds is a remarkable
mystery that will have the reader hooked from the first page. Quirky characters, gritty dialogue and a fast pace create a harrowing story of corruption and murder that takes the reader to the dark depths of the greedy and powerful."--Tracy Farnsworth, ebooknook.com and The Romance Readers Connection
"Anderson immerses the reader deep in the haunting rhythms of music, lust and greed with classic style. She creates memorable characters and explores the dark corridors of their psyches with deft strokes and smooth prose. You can almost hear a tenor saxophone moaning in the satiny folds of the night as you turn the pages. Night Sounds hits all the right notes."--Howard Hopkins, Allaboutmurder.com
"5 Stars!...This story was a page turner, well written, strong script, strong
characters, and will keep you guessing right up to the very end. A mix of happy and sad, this story was EXCELLENT!"--Beverly Bangemann, Huntress Reviews
"I enjoyed the witty dialogue and lush descriptions of Chicago and, as a musician, appreciated the rush of the recording session. This is a must-read for anyone who loves mysteries and jazz. I highly recommend this book."--Lyn Morgan, AllAboutMurder.com
"Beth Anderson strikes another suspenseful chord in the world of a jazz musician caught in the gap between money and big business, and his impoverished wish to succeed at his art while he protects his love. The passion and innocence of Joe will win every woman's heart."--Nancy B. Leake, Wicked Company
"...Surprising, poignant, fast-paced, and brilliant. It's a hard-driving mystery novel and a lovely romance. Anderson has a knack for lovable, quirky characters and machine-gun dialog. She also can tell a great story. Look forward to more from Beth Anderson."--Rickey R. Mallory, Painted Rock Reviews
"...A must read for its clear wonderful description and its larger than life characters: Beautiful rich Zoey, who believes her money will keep her out of jail, and has no idea of the danger she and Joe are in. And Joe, who loves his woman and his music, and believes they can solve the crime and live happily ever after. Night Sounds will capture your imagination and your heart."--Shadoe Simmons, AllAboutMurder Reviews
…I was twenty-eight years old, running keyboard at Ravinia with the group I'd formed after years of struggling on my own when I saw Zoey for the first time. This gig was only one night at the Summer Festival, and only one set, but it was finally, after all this time, Ravinia. It was also one of those clear Chicago summer nights that sprays music over the countryside like a ton of rampaging Fourth of July fireworks and seduces a guy into believing all his dreams will come true right now and from now on. For me, Joe Barbarello, this night had been a long time coming.
Halfway through the second number my eyes stopped working the crowd because I spotted her sitting alone in the front row and I couldn't look away. Yeah, fate has a way of running all over you sometimes no matter what you do to stop it, but who wanted to stop it? Not me. I was onstage having the best night of my life, and she was only thirty feet or so away, sitting in the audience. Lights embedded in the ceiling sparkled like a million stars overhead and a spotlight bounced over the front row, landing on her hair and turning it into more shades of gold than I'd ever seen before on anyone. I lost four beats while I was looking at that hair.
Could I, at that moment, have looked away and never glanced back? I don't think so. The pull between us was already too strong; it was making a boiling hot mess of my insides and we hadn't spoken a word. A tiny voice over my shoulder told me to look away and pay attention to what I was doing, but another voice, not much more than a seductive whisper, filtered through the music loud and clear in spite of its softness, telling me I'd been avoiding women long enough. You know which voice won. By the time we'd finished Dustrollers the crowd was in a frenzy and so was I. I kicked my stool away before anyone could stop me, grabbed my charts, and headed for the front row...