Free (DRM-free) Mesopotamia by Arthur Nersesian [Tennessee Literary Satire Mystery]

[ATDrake]

Mesopotamia by Armenian-American author Arthur Nersesian (SYKM, Wikipedia), a recipient of the Anahid Literary Prize for Armenian literature, is his standalone satirical literary murder mystery/thriller which skewers celebrity news media, starring a journalist who takes a freelance assignment near her childhood small town in Tennessee, which in a roundabout way ends up with her amateur-sleuthing an impromptu investigation into the murders of Elvis impersonators at a local festival, and winding up uncovering a story she can never reveal, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Akashic Books, who are generously running a holiday advent calendar promotion (their books are couponable at Kobo, BTW, and they do the excellent Akashic Noir mystery anthology series).

Currently free until midnight December 15th directly @ the publisher's promotional blogpost (DRM-free ePub & Mobi available worldwide), and you can read more about the book on its regular catalogue page.

There's also an unrelated freebie online read mystery/suspense short by the author available on the Akashic blog, if you're interested: Shard

Description
Things have not been going well for journalist Sandy Bloomgarten. Her job went down the drain and her marriage quickly followed. After a lengthy bender, she awakens one morning to the stark realization that she is flat broke. Nonetheless, she’s still a crack reporter and when a tabloid offers her a freelance assignment in Memphis, just a stone’s throw from her childhood home in Mesopotamia, Tennessee, she takes it.

Though sent there for one story, she winds up tracking down another: someone is killing Elvis impersonators who perform at the annual Sing-the-King festival. The few clues lead her to several unlikely characters: a cheating local minister constantly on the make; a strange band of misfits who only cover Elvis tunes; a small-town private eye who blew himself up along with his crystal meth lab. As Sandy’s investigation closes, she realizes that she is sitting on what could be the story of the century. The only problem is she can never reveal what she has found.

Nersesian’s latest novel, set largely in Tennessee, is a satiric thriller that takes an amusing view of America’s predilection with the superficial over the relevant, and celebrity excitement over real news.

[rxmom03]

You had me at Elvis impersonators! Thank you. Thank you very much!