Review of Calypso Blue
- jodiwebb9
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
Today is a sneak peek review of Brian Silverman's Calypso Blue which will be released on June 30. But you can pre-order now. Check last week's posts for his interview and giveaway HERE. I also reviewed the first book in the series HERE.
More About Calypso Blue
In Calypso Blue, Brian Silverman crafts a gripping tale of mystery, revenge, and redemption set against the backdrop of New York and the Caribbean. The novel follows John Saint John, a man torn between his faith, past, and responsibilities as a father, as he grapples with a life-altering decision driven by a desire for justice. As his story unfolds in the shadow of a significant historical event, another narrative emerges—one centered on Leonard Buonfiglio, an American expatriate running a bar on the island of St. Pierre. When a legendary calypso singer, Lord Ram, dies under suspicious circumstances, Leonard is reluctantly pulled into an investigation at the behest of the island’s police superintendent.
Blending elements of crime, culture, and personal reckoning, Calypso Blue explores themes of loss, second chances, and the ghosts of the past that refuse to be forgotten. With vivid storytelling and rich atmospheric detail, Silverman transports readers into a world where music, memory, and mystery intertwine.
More About Brian Silverman
Brian Silverman’s writing career has spanned over 30 years. He has written about travel,
food, and sports for publications including the New York Times, Saveur, Caribbean Travel and Life, Islands, the New Yorker, New York, and others. From 2004 through 2013, he was the author of the annual Frommer’s New York City guidebook series. He co-authored the acclaimed Twentieth Century Treasury of Sports with his father, Al Silverman.
His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including Mystery Tribune, Down and Out Magazine, and Mystery Weekly. His stories have been selected to appear in The Best American Mystery Stories in 2018 and 2019, and The Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories 2021. His other short fiction has appeared in publications such as Down and Out Magazine, Mystery Magazine, Dark Waters, and Vautrin. Freedom Drop is his first published novel. He lives in Harlem, New York, with his wife, Heather, and his sons, Louis and Russell.
Catch Up With Brian Silverman:
Thoughts about Calypso Blue
Leonard B. is once again reluctantly drawn into events on his adopted island. Most mysteries are all about the whodunit. Can you figure out who is guilty before it is revealed? Silverman has turned the genre on the head, less invested in solving the mystery than with using the investigation to reveal more about Leonard B. and the people of the island of St. Pierre.
I look forward to the continuing development of the people of St. Pierre and Len's tortured past. If you like a story that is not defined in black and white but instead has plenty of gray areas that have you questioning "What would I have done?" this series may be a perfect match for you. The breathtaking descriptions of an island paradise are also a plus!
Ready to Read
Thanks so much for sharing. Sounds like a great read.