Listen to a sample
The King of Ragtime
The Ragtime Mysteries (Book 2)
- Author
- Larry Karp
- Narrator
- Mirron Willis
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 10 October 2008
- Run Time
- 11 hours 17 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
It’s 1916, and time’s running out for Scott Joplin. Before he dies, he wants to provide for his wife and secure his place in musical history.
Joplin has written a musical drama, and his young piano student, Martin Niederhoffer, convinces him to try to get Irving Berlin to publish and produce the work. The next day, Niederhoffer walks into his office and finds Joplin crouched over the blood-soaked body of a young man. He hustles his teacher away, but the two are seen leaving the building.
When Berlin flatly denies ever having received Joplin’s play, young Niederhoffer engages the services of hit man Footsie Vinny, who gives Berlin a five-day deadline to come up with the manuscript.
Then, just when things couldn’t get worse, Niederhoffer’s girlfriend is kidnapped. Can the ailing musician be exonerated before it is too late?
Critics Review
-
“Mirron Willis gives a virtuoso performance…[and] never strikes a false note in Karp’s well-researched period mystery. He fashions living human beings of all colors, textures, and dispositions with only his smooth, sultry voice. A rich listen. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
AudioFile
-
“The rich and immensely expressive voice and narration of actor Mirron Willis place the listener fully in the world of Joplin and Berlin. His ease with dialects and gender render all characters real and immediate. The tragedy of Joplin’s quest to express his great gifts, and Willis’ skill with prose and personalities, will stay with the listener.”
SoundCommentary.com
-
“An impressive account of [Scott Joplin’s] final months, the murder mystery made all the more real by the recognizable names associated with it.”
Mysterious Reviews
-
“An extensively researched and eminently readable historical mystery, this is a must for ragtime fans.”
Booklist
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
“Well-crafted…Karp’s meticulous research helps create a vivid picture of the time and locale. Memorable, authentic characters are another plus.”
Publishers Weekly
-
“Impressively researched, with a substantial bibliography, Karp’s second Joplin mystery paints a full-bodied portrait of Harlem back in the day.”
Kirkus Reviews
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Larry Karp
- Narrator
- Mirron Willis
- Duration
- 11 hours 17 minutes
- Release Date
- 10 October 2008
- ISBN
- 9781483051574
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Historical crime and mysteries, Crime and mystery fiction, Music
Synopsis
It’s 1916, and time’s running out for Scott Joplin. Before he dies, he wants to provide for his wife and secure his place in musical history. He’s written a musical drama, and his young piano student, Martin Niederhoffer, convinces him to try to get Irving Berlin to publish and produce the work. The next day, Niederhoffer walks into his office and finds Joplin crouched over the blood-soaked body of a young man. He hustles his teacher away, but the two are seen leaving the building.When Berlin flatly denies ever having received Joplin’s play, young Niederhoffer engages the services of hit man Footsie Vinny, who gives Berlin a five-day deadline to come up with the manuscript. Then, just when things couldn’t get worse, Niederhoffer’s girlfriend is kidnapped. Can the ailing musician be exonerated before it is too late?
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.