by Joe Cosentino

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the first book in this series, and a link to purchase the new one from Amazon.

It’s always a gamble writing something new since fans become accustomed to their favorite writers’ series. My fans adore and cherish my Nicky and Noah mystery series, Jana Lane mystery series, Cozzi Cove series, Bobby and Paolo Holiday stories, In My Heart series, Found At Last series, and Tales from Fairyland anthology. So I was nervous about playing with their emotions by not only starting a new series but also entering into a new world for me: the Roaring Twenties period and the paranormal.

The Player was the story of Andre Beaufort, a grade school music teacher living in Hoboken, New Jersey, who, having found a player piano in the basement of his apartment building, brought back to life the spirit of dapper Roaring Twenties playboy Freddy Birtwistle, the original owner of the house. The two men got off to a rocky start but eventually fell madly in love and solved two murder mysteries—in Freddy’s old city house and country house. Since Freddy was a product of the 1920s and 1930s, it included pinstriped suits and beaded dresses, Art Deco houses and furnishings, catchy tunes from Gershwin and Porter, wealthy bon vivant personalities, the Charleston, catchy expressions like “the bee’s knees,” and the player piano. It also included my first ever ghost character, since at thirty-years-old Freddy was shot by a misinformed husband in 1935.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief when my fans not only loved The Player, but they begged for another novel in the series! So, The Player’s Encore, The Player Piano Mysteries Book 2, was born. I decided that Andre and Freddy would next solve murder mysteries in Freddy’s old house in Key West and at his family’s past villa in Tuscany. Of course, Freddy and Andre’s relationship would continue to flourish.

Again, my fans get two cozy murder mysteries for the price of one! In part I of the novel, The Beach House, Freddy yearns to visit his family’s old beach house in Florida, so Andre and Freddy embark on a vacation to the stunning home which has become a bed and breakfast. Before Freddy can say “zotched,” a young, mysterious houseboy is murdered, the second hunky houseboy to meet the same fate. As it turns out, the suspects are all related to the latest victim: his desk clerk boyfriend, his incredibly handsome cousin the doctor, and his feuding parents. Also in the mix are the accountant with slippery books, a studdly new houseboy who can’t keep his feather duster in his pants, and a little girl with a secret that changes Andre and Freddy’s lives. Since the detective obsessed with the case has come up with an empty seashell, it’s once again up to lovers Andre and Freddy to find the murderer and save the inn—and themselves!

In part II, The Villa, Andre and Freddy venture off on a vacation with Andre’s uncle, an ex-priest, to Tuscany, where they stay at an inn that was once Freddy’s old family villa. Before the sun sets golden on the hills, a young, handsome, wealthy guest is murdered. The suspects are the victim’s distant father who is his son’s competitor in business, a sexy Italian guide with a secret, two hunky gay travelers connected via a travel app, and a straight married couple who appear ready to embark on new sexual conquests. At the same time, Freddy finds his deceased sister’s diary and makes a surprising discovery that changes his life. When the sexy Italian detective investigating the murder seems lost in his spaghetti, it’s yet again up to lovers Andre and Freddy to solve the mystery and save the day!

The two mysteries include sexy characters, cozy settings, humor, surprising plot twists and turns, fun red herrings, a touch of drama, a shocking yet justifiable ending, and of course lots of sweet romance.

I hope everyone will give The Player’s Encore a play. I’m sure, like Andre and me, you will fall in love with Freddy and have a great deal of fun trying to solve the mysteries. And I love to hear from readers, so drop me a line at JoeCosentino.weebly.com.

The Player’s Encore
Player Piano Mysteries Book 2
A mystery/romance/paranormal novel by JOE COSENTINO

Can a man and a ghost be soulmates? When young music teacher Andre Beaufort unleashed the ghost of dapper Roaring Twenties playboy Freddy Birtwistle from his antique player piano, he never imagined they would fall in love and solve two murder mysteries. Now Freddy yearns to visit his family’s beach house in Florida. So, Andre and Freddy embark on a vacation to the stunning home which has become a bed and breakfast. Before Freddy can say “zotched,” a young, mysterious houseboy is murdered, the second hunky houseboy to meet the same fate. Will Andre and Freddy find the murderer to save the inn—and themselves?

A year later, Andre and Freddy venture off on a vacation with Andre’s uncle, an ex-priest, to Tuscany, staying at an inn which happens to have once been Freddy’s old family villa. Before the sun sets golden on the hills, a handsome young guest is murdered. Will Andre and Freddy uncover the secrets of Freddy’s ancestral home, solve the mystery, and find eternal love?

The Player’s Encore, the second installment in the popular Player Piano Mysteries series by Joe Cosentino, includes two cozy mysteries: The Beach House and The Villa.

Giveaway: Post a comment on what you love about player pianos, gay romance, Key West, Tuscany, or whodunits. The one that tickles our ivories the most will win a complimentary e-book of The Player, Player Piano Mysteries Book 1, by Joe Cosentino.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors. A new episode just went up.

You can use this link to order this book from Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Joe Cosentino was voted Favorite MM Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine for Drama Queen, the first Nicky and Noah mystery novel. He is also the author of the remaining Nicky and Noah mysteries. His books have won numerous Book of the Month awards and Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions. As an actor, Joe appeared in principal roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Jason Robards, and Holland Taylor. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Goddard College, Master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz, and is currently a happily married college theatre professor/department chair residing in New York State. You can learn more on his website.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.