The Drummer

Merle Johnson's past is catching up with him in this enjoyable, if unremarkable, novel from Smith (Psychosomatic). A drummer for the 1980's heavy metal band Savage Night, Cal Christopher quits the music scene in 1990, burns down his mansion and fakes his own death, leaving his band-mates mid-tour and facing bankruptcy. Fourteen years later, living as ""Merle"" in New Orleans, he's tracked down by ex-lead singer Todd Delacroix, who tries to blackmail him into a band reunion. When he finds Todd laid out in his hotel room, surrounded by bottles of booze and a suicide note exposing Merle's true identity Merle grabs the note and goes on the run from the cops, the press, the IRS and a couple of mystery men. Faces from the past resurface, including former bandmate Doug, who is dying of AIDS, and his sister Alison, Merle's old flame. It all leads up to a messy surprise ending that defies rational explanation, winding down much too fast much too easily. Nevertheless, it's a fun read about drugs, rock and roll, brawls and banging (drums, groupies and otherwise). A portion of the book's proceeds go to Katrina charities.