One night Bebe and Darlene are to meet Philip Royal, lead singer of Philip Royal and the Beefeaters, and band member Keith for a night on the town. Philip is found electrocuted in his tub at the Legends Hotel. Darlene becomes the police’s number one suspect and is grounded from flying, something she is afraid will put her job in jeopardy. Bebe is also concerned for her job because Philip Royal and the Beefeaters were set to release their first American album under the Rip-City label and now Bradley knows it will be very hard to promote a new band without a lead singer.

Bebe, who owes a lot to Darlene, and wants to be able to keep her job as Bradley’s secretary, decides she is the one who needs to investigate Philip’s murder since she has an in with the band. Unconcerned about her naïveté, Bebe plunges into the rock scene of the mid-sixties where she sees casual drug use and sex, previews a young Neil Diamond and, of course, falls head over heels for her dashing boss, a footloose bachelor.

Bebe is a refreshing young heroine, willing to admit her naïveté, but also eager to throw herself headlong into this new hip scene. Bebe’s innocence gives her the ability to put her into situations her more worldly friend Dolores would know to avoid. Bebe has a joie de vivre that is contagious and even the Brit band members find themselves caught up in it.

There are plenty of suspects with lots of motives, from jealous band members to the beautiful, ambitious Astrid to a possessive wife. Clues and red herrings abound, though the murderer and the motives are fairly obvious. Just in time, Bebe saves the day, captures a murderer and then finds a way to save the Beefeater’s album as well as Bradley’s job.

Full of all the things that are remembered fondly from the sixties, Cutex nail polish, mini mini-skirts, and pink sectionals with turquoise shag rugs, this Mod series is a splash of groovy with a dash of romance thrown in to make a welcome psychedelic trip down memory lane.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry