I have just finished my third mystery, Greyhound Blues. I’ll be receiving the print galley soon and it should go on sale in just a few weeks. I have thoroughly enjoyed researching the history of the Starr Piano factories and the Gennett recording studio both of which were once located in the gorge in Richmond, Indiana. All my Rachel Chance mysteries include some local history and Greyhounds. For Greyhound Blues, I wondered what might happen if a local musician returns to town, determined to help establish a jazz museum on the location of an old recording studio. What if there was some jealousy mixed in? What if there were some shady activities and some greed involved? Then, what if some suspicion hits close to home? Rachel would have to get involved, wouldn’t she?
The biggest surprise for me was how the life of Jelly Roll Morton became more a part of the book after I did my research. What a fascinating character! He was instrumental (no pun intended) in the evolution of jazz in the United States.
It was fun creating characters that might (or might not) be suspects in the murder. A musician, a business partner, a spouse, an eccentric neighbor, a wealthy philanthropist, and more. This book includes some family drama, some jealousy and some greed – all active ingredients in this third Rachel Chance and Will Keller mystery.
Naturally, there will be more scenes with retired racing Greyhounds. Now that Rachel and Will are married, they have two Greyhounds. When I was writing the end of the book, I was thinking about how the Greyhounds might be involved in the capture of the killer. I think you’ll like how I worked the Greyhounds into the scene where the killer is captured.
Randall Wisehart 