Fender Benders: A Novel - Softcover

Fitzhugh, Bill

3.69

517 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0380806355 ISBN 13: 9780380806355

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2003

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

In his first three novels, Bill Fitzhugh created new strains of homicidal insects, sliced open the illegal transplant business, and sinfully skewered the Church and Madison Avenue with the same spear. Now he turns his attention to the hitmaking machinery of Music City, U.S.A.

Depending on your point of view, Fender Benders is either a skewed look at the country music industry or a clear-eyed view of a damn screwy business. It's a Grand Old Opera complete with murder, treachery, greed, drugs, twangy music, a love triangle, and the best fried swimps you'll ever put in your mouth.

First off, some folks down South have taken to dropping like flies. One minute they have a headache, the next they have a date at the funeral home. Seems some lunatic is tampering with boxes of headache powder, lacing them with sodium fluoroacetate. It's a nasty death, but at least it's quick, and it makes you forget you had a headache.

Second off, Eddie Long wants to move to Nashville and become a country music star, but right now he's stuck in Hinchcliff, Mississippi. Eddie's big break comes with a contract to tour the Mississippi casino circuit. While he's on the road, his wife dies, the victim of an apparent serial killer. The emotional turmoil of his wife's death causes Eddie to write the best song of his life. He takes it to Nashville, hooks up with a hoary management company, and launches his career.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Rogers is a freelance writer covering the Mississippi music scene. He loves writing and a girl named Megan. Jimmy decides early on that he is going to write Eddie's biography. But as he's researching Eddie's wife's murder, Jimmy comes to a surprising conclusion. He can't prove it, but publishing it might make his own career.

Megan is a smart, talented, and popular radio personality in a tiny market. But she wants a faster way to Easy Street. So she turns to Eddie. In Nashville.

Before it's all over, everybody's planning to make a killing one way or another -- including the kind that has nothing to do with money. But, as frequently happens on Music Row, things don't always turn out as planned.

Rip-roaring with the author's trademark blend of withering insight, divine absurdity, and an outrageous cast of players, Fender Benders is a hilarious, action-packed, no-punches-pulled look at the music makers and fakers who would do literally anything for a hit record. Here is the irrepressible Bill Fitzhugh at his wildest and funniest. Betcha dolla!

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author:

Bill Fitzhugh is the award-winning author of ten novels. He has worked in radio, TV, and film. He loves the sound of mandolins and steel guitars. He's fond of BBQ and fried catfish. He's been to the Grand Ole Opry and likes all kinds of country music. His biggest regret is that he's never owned a proper pickup truck. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, a couple of dogs, and some chickens, all of whom like to sing along.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.