Thomas quickly realizes that the music box belongs to follow collector Harry Hardwick. Since Hardwick was murdered after a party he gave the night before, and Thomas bought the music box in good faith, he figures he has every right to keep it. When another friend, Shackie sees the box, he thinks it doesn’t sound quite right and offers to keep it overnight to take a look at it. Thomas reluctantly agrees and when he returns to Shackie’s the next day, he is clobbered over the head.

When he comes to, he finds Shackie dead. The police assume Shackie killed himself out of guilt from killing Harry and stealing the music box. Thomas feels he knows Shackie better and disagrees strongly. So strongly, he decides to do some investigating on his own. His investigation will take him across the Atlantic and back before he is finally able to make all the pieces fit.

The Music Box Murders is an entertaining murder mystery full of many elements from various mystery genres, almost too many at times. With not only the NYPD and Thomas investigating the murders, but an inspector from Scotland Yard as well, the murders will most certainly be solved with due haste. The book, which starts off at a brisk pace, lags a bit through the middle, before picking up the pace at the end.

Thomas Purdue is a character that some readers may not like. He is, and freely admits to being, self-centered and self-serving many times. He has a very odd relationship with his wife - a woman who lives a few blocks away, yet dates, but doesn’t sleep with (not from a lack of trying).

The mystery in this book is certain to stump many readers. It makes many twists and turns and turns back on itself, becoming confusing at times, and yet somehow all making sense in the end. Some music box jargon is thrown in, thoroughly explained, adding to the authenticity of the setting. The Music Box Murders is an interesting first outing with a hero that will definitely be worth a second look.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry