Hal Glatzer is a writer, with three prior books to his credit: Kamehameha County, The Trapdoor, and Massively Parallel Murder. His diverse vocations include directing the Art Deco Society, playing swing guitar, and an interest in the arts and culture of the 1930's and 1940's.

In Too Dead To Swing, Glatzer asserts that he has reproduced a manuscript written by a Hannah Dobryn, ghostwriter of girl-detective stories. Mr. Glatzer met Ms. Dobryn in the 1970's in Honolulu, and was gifted with her Katy Green manuscripts. Thus the reader is primed for the view of the 1930's and 1940's swing era straight from the horse's mouth.

Katy Green, daughter of a doctor who possesses an uncanny sense of people and events, is a working musician on the sax and violin. She meets up with a former beau just about the time when she desperately needs a gig and a paycheck, in the form of Ted Nywatt, band leader, writer, and ladies' man. Katy agrees to go "on the road" with Ted's all-girl band, the "Ultra Belles", after their violinist Lois meets with a bizarre accident. Katy signs on, but doesn't realize that the travelling band is a hotbed of conflict, bickering, and murder:

"The blonde in the compoartment opened her door, tiptoed into range, and squinted up the aisle to see what the fuss was about. But as soon as she saw, she screeched and ran back inside, throwing her door shut with a bang. From right across the aisle and high up, I had the best view. Suzanne lay on her back. Her eyes were wide open. Half of her face was covered with blood that had seeped out of her nose and mouth in a long, dark red stain that extended down past her ear and her cheek, along the pillow and onto the sheets."

Katy Green is a clever and resourceful amateur sleuth, who also is well developed as the mouthpiece for Glatzer's racy and entertaining tale. Immediately the reader is drawn into Katy's world, and the antics of the Ultra Belles add spice and mirth to a fairly complicated murder plot.

The reader is so drawn into their escapades that Glatzer's murderer is nicely hidden. Great story!

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

Katy Green an accomplished violinist and sax player joins the Ultra Belles, an all girl swing band touring California in 1940, and they start dropping dead around her. The multi voice audio play narration comes across more like a soap opera. The retro to 1940 is interesting, and I enjoyed Manny the Brit talent agent who can spin a story with the best of them. But the lame whodunit murders and too little music for a musical killed my interest.

It gets worse! Wait 'til you find out who the murder is. Better yet, don't bother. Take a pass on this one.

As a mystery buff, I found the identity of the murderer in TOO DEAD TO SWING way too easy to figure out, but boy, did I have fun listening to this audiobook anyway! This is a real "audio play," performed by a full cast and including sound effects and even original musical numbers. Broadway actress Susan Egan, the voice of heroine/narrator Katy Green, is a delight, and the '40s setting is nicely evoked. While I enjoy regular audiobooks read by one person, I wish there were more full-cast productions like this one -- the only similar mystery audio plays I've been able to find are a couple of Ross MacDonald's books (SLEEPING BEAUTY and THE ZEBRA-STRIPED HEARSE). Books on tape have become a huge market and it would be nice to see publishers try something different than the usual one-reader approach. Bravo to Hal Glatzer and Audio Playwrights for daring to break the mold with this excellent production.

This audio play features original swing music and a talented cast. The pruduction quality is quite high and the listener really gets a feel of what was life like in the 1940's. It was a pleasure to listen to and I am looking forward to listening to it again. the story is a murder mystery which takes place while a female band tours the west coast. the actors used really brought each character to life and gave that character depth and a unique personality. There are also three original songs performed throughout the play and I have to confess are quite nice and romantic. If you like audiobooks and especially theatre of the mind this is a must to add to your collection.
This audiobook contains 4 cassettes and is about six hours long. The packaging also contains large print and braile labeling so this makes a perfect gift for someone who is visually impaired. It is the first time I have seen such thoughtfulness go into a comercially produced audiobook. Highly recommended