Spotlight on Vice and Virtue
This year we say hello to a new kind of hero. Layla Virtue's career as a cop hit rock bottom in one incendiary moment that will forever live in Potomac County Police infamy. Now she finds herself living in the Lake Pinecrest Mobile Home Park trying to launch her backup career as a rock star about twenty years too late.
She's competing against high school kids with garage bands who still live in their parent's basements and will work for tacos, while she's trying to pay the lot fees on her run down single wide.
At least she's alone and that's how she likes it. Far away from whispers of judgment and looks of pity. Until three women from her AA group decide to make her their fourth. She tries to shake them, but they are hanging on like Layla is bound to be their new bestie. Then there's this guy who keeps showing up on her front porch out of the blue.
Layla's dead broke so she can't afford to say no to any gig. That's how she gets stuck playing guitar for an eight-year old's birthday party surrounded by screaming kids who only want to hear Baby Shark.
When the birthday party clown dies on stage, Layla knows she has to get out of there fast. This is her old precinct. She knows what's coming next.
Layla's broken, but strong. Fragile, but fierce. She'll need a lot of help to make it in this life. If only she'd stop shutting everyone out.
Vice and Virtue is full of humor and my love of Classic Rock, pulling from my life growing up with a musician for a father.
My Life is Murder meets Mom meets Gilmore Girls meets Spinal Tap.
Don't just take my word for it. Here are some reviews by people you might just recognize.
Read along to the Vice and Virtue playlist on Spotify.
Giveaway
I'll give a copy of Vice and Virtue to a lucky reader who can tell me their favorite classic rock song in the comments below.
Layla Virtue, a blue-haired, 30-something recovering alcoholic and former cop is trying to reinvent herself as a musician—between AA meetings, dodging eccentric neighbors at her trailer park, and reconnecting with her mysterious dad—in this unforgettable new mystery brimming with hilarity and heart.
Layla is taking her new life one day at a time from the Lake Pinecrest Trailer Park she now calls home. Being alone is how she likes it. Simple. Uncomplicated. Though try telling that to the group of local ladies who are in relentless pursuit of Layla as their new BFF, determined to make her join them for coffee and donuts.
After her first career ended in a literal explosion, Layla’s trying to eke out a living as a rock musician. It’s not easy competing against garage bands who work for tacos and create their music on a computer, while all she has is an electric guitar and leather-ish pants. But Layla isn’t in a position to turn down any gig. Which is why she’s at an 8-year-old’s birthday party, watching as Chuckles the Clown takes a bow under the balloon animals. No one expects it will be his last . . .
Who would want to kill a clown—and why? Layla and her unshakable posse are suddenly embroiled in the seedy underbelly of the upper-class world of second wives and trust fund kids, determined to uncover what magnetic hold a pudgy, balding clown had over women who seem to have everything they could ever want. Then again, Layla knows full well that people are rarely quite what they seem—herself included . . .
Libby Klein writes ridiculously funny murder mysteries from her Northern Virginia office with a very naughty calico Persian named Miss Eliza Doolittle, and a sweet black Lab named Vader. She can name that tune for 70s and 80s rock in the first few notes, and she's translated her love of classic rock into her Layla Virtue Mysteries. Libby was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that prevents her from eating gluten without exploding. Because bread is one of her love languages, she includes the recipes for gluten free goodies in her Cape May based Poppy McAllister series. Most of her hobbies revolve around travel, and eating, and eating while traveling. She insists she can find her way to any coffee shop anywhere in the world, even while blindfolded. Follow all of her nonsense on her website www.LibbyKleinBooks.com/Newsletter/
My Sweet Lord. Thank you for the chance to win, this would be a new series for me. madamhawk at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting concept for a new series! Can't wait to read this one Libby!
ReplyDeleteStairway to Heaven is an oldie but goodie. Deborah deborahortega229@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteStairway to Heaven. I cannot wait to read this book! I am almost finished your Poppy McCallister series.
ReplyDeleteI just adored Vice and Virtue! Congrats on your new series... I'm anxiously awaiting the next book!
ReplyDeletePat Dupuy: that’s my music! One of my favorites is Light My Fire by the Doors. patdupuy@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteDon’t Stop Believin’. Love the cover. Can’t wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteI love Zombie and Black Hole Sun . Can't wait to read this book. What a great idea for a new series. Angelagillooley@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteVice and Virtue sounds like a fun read. I like American Pie.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Crying by Roy Orbison. Vice and Virtue is unique and special. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDelete“Come Sail Away” by styx!!! Love the book, the characters, could not put it down!!! Can’t wait for the next one!!!
ReplyDeleteLed Zeppelin, Kashmir. Vice and Virtue sounds like a great book! Thank you for the chance!
ReplyDeletejarjm1980(at)hotmail(dot)com
Libby, this sounds like so much fun. Congrats on the new series.
ReplyDeleteVice and Virtue is a stellar read, Libby. You made me laugh and melted my heart. I just loved it, and I can't wait to see what's next for Layla. As for classic rock, I have more favorites than I can count, but a few that I'll never turn off when they come up on the radio: "Won't Get Fooled Again" by the Who; "Jump" & "Love Walks In" by Van Halen; "American Pie" by Don McLean; "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd; "We are the Champions" & "Somebody to Love" by Queen; "She's Leaving Home" & "The Long and Winding Road" & "Let it Be" by the Beatles. Okay, I'll stop now. xoxo
ReplyDeleteLibby, this sounds fantastic and is sure to be a big hit! I read the playlist on Spotify and found myself humming the songs as I read the titles. A trip down memory lane!
ReplyDeleteOh my, Layla Virtue is destined to be a classic much like Eric Clapton's Layla. Oh and let me not forget the great Bohemian Rhapsody. Congrats on the new series!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such an interesting read! I love "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins. I will always remember sitting in the car with my Dad as he played the song over a cassette tape. He would play air drums with the hard beat of the drum solo! To this day, as the song builds to the drum solo, I really crank it up!
ReplyDeleteToo many to name, but here are a few of my favs: "Please Please Me" (Beatles); "All Along the Watchtower" (Hendrix); "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" (C,S&N); "You Really Got Me" (Kinks); "Born to Run" (Springsteen); "Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes" (Elvis Costello); "Space Oddity" (Bowie).
ReplyDeleteI loved "Vice and Virtue," Libby! Looking forward to reading more about Layla in book two!
Anything from Fleetwood Mac & Elton John...would love to start a new series with yours !
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ReplyDeleteVice and Virtue sounds like a fabulous story. It is already on my TBR list and can't wait to dive into it. Thank you for the fabulous chance to win a copy!
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's Kiss You All Over by Exile. Loved the song then and still love it!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC
ReplyDeleteAlmost anything by Pat Benatar.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net