Praise for
Descending Memphis “… a captivating detective story with … accurate cultural references, period detail, and deft handling of daily life and relationships. ... a satisfying read, well-written and entertaining.”
– Craig Morrison, author of Go Cat Go! Rockabilly Music and Its Makers
"Descending Memphis is a first-rate detective novel that will appeal to fans of Raymond Chandler, Ross Macdonald, and other masters of the genre. ... (The) prose is crisp and the plot is both plausible and compelling. What makes Descending Memphis even more remarkable is that it’s set in the early days of rock’n’roll,... portraying segregation-era Memphis in a way that is simultaneously fascinating and off-putting and, above all, eminently believable."
– J. Hunter Bennett, author of The Prodigal Rogerson: The Tragic, Hilarious, and Possibly Apocryphal Story of Circle Jerks Bassist Roger Rogerson in the Golden Age of LA Punk, 1979-1996
“Descending Memphis speeds along like a bullet blasting from the barrel of a gun. Five Stars!”
– Tony Shea, Editor-in-Chief, Shea Magazine
“Observant and exciting page-turner that bridges genres with ease — a joy to read. … an impressive stab at something more literary in nature. … Descending Memphis covers a lot of ground with a mix of economy and style.”
– Glenn Griffith, A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed
Rock ’n’ Roll is easy
Finding your way is not
Descending Memphis is a detective story/coming-of-age story written by Robert R. Moss, a former member of several prominent bands that were part of the Washington D.C. music scene of the early 1980s.
Memphis, 1956. Rock ’n’ Roll explodes onto the scene. And Tommy Rhodeen just wants a part of it. But for now, Tommy’s a small-time private eye recovering stolen merchandise and trying to keep the law from shutting him down.
That is until Tommy gets a call from the wealthy wife of a prominent local businessman. And goes from searching for hot cars to one hot chick—in the form of a missing seventeen-year-old girl—who’s wild about Rock ’n’ Roll.
From there Tommy encounters murder, uncovers rackets and rubs shoulders with corrupt politicians. He gets shaken down by crooked cops, confronts racial tensions and winds up in more trouble than he could ever imagine. But when he least expects it, Tommy gets the chance he always dreamed of. Because just like the detective business, Rock ’n’ Roll is never what it seems to be.
Packed with historical references that capture the place and period, Descending Memphis blends the twists and action of the detective and thriller genres with some soul searching questions found in a coming-of-age story.
Robert R. Moss was part of the Washington, D.C. music scene in the early 1980s. He played bass in several bands, most notably Artificial Peace and Government Issue. His music was released on Dischord Records and other labels, and, as in the early days of Sun Records, it was a time when new things were happening in rock ’n’ roll.
During those few exciting years, Robert played on the bill with numerous bands including the Bad Brains, Minor Threat, S.O.A., Black Flag and Channel 3. Venues where he performed include CBGBs, the Peppermint Lounge, A7, the Wilson Center, Oscar’s Eye, the Mabuhay Gardens and many more across the United States.
Now, more than 30 years later and with the benefit of hindsight, Robert draws on his experiences—along with the accounts of others and his imagination—and places them into a work of fiction set years before he was born. In what is his first novel, Robert tells a detective/coming-of-age-story that goes beyond music and crime and speaks to issues of race, as well as to universal ideas of becoming an adult in a world that centers on youth.
Robert has worked in the film, television and advertising industries and currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife and son.
http://www.descendingmemphis.com
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Read an interview with the author in Shea Magazine.
