Dead Man's Downbeat

A rising young singer is found dead in the harbour, and Santa Palma is ready with an easy answer.

Frankie Martino, a mechanic with a sharp eye for detail and a deeper understanding of people than he likes to admit, knows better than to trust a simple story. Johnny Vale was talented, reckless, charming, and widely disliked-the kind of man who left behind admirers, enemies, and unpaid debts in equal measure. When Frankie starts asking questions, he uncovers a tangle of stolen songs, hidden ledgers, gambling debts, private grudges, and a music scene built on ambition and lies.

Set in a sun-struck California coastal town humming with jukebox records, marina gossip, and post war noir atmosphere, this mystery follows Frankie through dance halls, back offices, used-car lots, and shadowed docks as he pieces together the truth behind Johnny's final night. What begins as a suspicious drowning becomes something far more deliberate-and far more dangerous.

Moody, elegant, and rich with mid-century detail, this novel blends classic detective fiction with a vivid small-town setting and a cast of complicated, unforgettable characters. Perfect for readers who love atmospheric noir, slow-burning investigations, and mysteries where the secrets run as deep as the tide.