by Joe Cosentino
Interview with Freddy Birtwistle and Andre Beaufort, the leading characters in The Player, Player Piano Mysteries Book 1, by Joe Cosentino
Andre and Freddy, congratulations on the release of the audio book of The Player, an MM mystery/romance/paranormal novel by Joe Cosentino, published by Dreamspinner Press, and performed by Brian Cheney.
Andre: Thank you.
Freddy: You’re the bee’s knees for giving us this beat session.
Andre: He means this interview.
Andre, tell us about Freddy.
Andre: Freddy is tall and lean with slicked-back jet-black hair, violet eyes, high cheekbones, a thin nose, and rosy cheeks. As every man of wealth in the Roaring Twenties, he wears a pinstriped black suit and vest, white silk shirt, and gray suspenders with matching bowtie and silk pocket handkerchief. His shoes are shiny black patent leather with white spats. Most importantly, Freddy has an alluring and joyous bon vivant personality. Oh, and he’s a ghost!
Freddy: Andre, you are a lalapazaza!
Andre: Right back at you, Freddy.
Freddy, tell us about Andre.
Andre: That means a real sweetheart.
Freddy: And Andre is a grade school music teacher and a real Oliver Twist!
Andre: That’s means a good dancer.
Freddy: Andre found the player piano in the basement of his apartment building—my family’s city mansion. By pedaling the Pianola and playing famous songs of the Roaring Twenties, Andre can summon me. However, only Andre can see me and talk to me, which is fine with me. Actually, we do a lot more than talk (smile).
Freddy, who were some of your friends when you were alive?
Freddy: Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Jack LaLane, Cary Grant, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Florenz Ziegfeld, and J. Edgar Hoover who was a real drag (smile). But I didn’t fall in love until I met Andre.
What did you do for a living (no pun intended)?
Freddy: Anything but work! I was a dewdropper.
Andre: Meaning Freddy accepted the kindness of his wealthy family members and friends.
Freddy: My family made their fortune in the railroad business, which was dreadfully boring to me. Bronx cheer.
Andre: Meaning raspberry.
Freddy: After my wonderful parents and dear younger sister died from the influenza, I inherited the city mansion and country estate.
How and when did you die?
Andre: In 1935 Freddy was shot at thirty years old by a jealous lover.
Freddy: But not mine!
How does it feel to be a ghost?
Freddy: I am definitely light in the loafers.
Did you two fall instantly in love?
Andre: We got off to a rocky start, but while solving mysteries we fell in love.
Freddy: And we shared some wonderful barneymugging in bed.
Andre: You can probably figure out what that means (smile).
How did you two become a ghostly Holmes and earthbound Watson?
Freddy: I learned my family’s city mansion in Hoboken, New Jersey had been converted into small apartments.
Andre: My neighbor, a beautiful woman of mystery, was murdered, and I needed to protect my aunt, my best pal, and myself. So, I investigated and ultimately caught the murderer.
Freddy: Under my tutelage. The next year, Andre traveled to my country manse in Cold Spring, New York. To my chagrin, it had become a bed and breakfast inn.
Andre: I discovered a player piano there as well, which thankfully brought Freddy to me there. When the owner of the inn was murdered, the game was afoot again, and Freddy and I solved our second murder mystery.
Freddy: As hotsy-totsy Andre and I continued to fall deeper in love.
What’s special about this book?
Freddy: Andre and me of course! Also, the two stories include sexy characters, cozy settings from my Art Deco period, my unique sense of humor, surprising plot twists and turns, fun red herrings, a touch of drama, a shocking yet justifiable ending, and of course a great deal of sweet romance.
Andre: And the reader gets two books for the price of one!
This isn’t Joe Cosentino’s first mystery series.
Andre: Joe wrote the 18 Nicky and Noah Mysteries and 5 Jana Lane Mysteries.
Freddy: The Player was Joe’s first paranormal mystery.
Who are the supporting characters in The Player?
Andre: In Part I, my protective Aunt Nia who raised me also manages the apartment building. My best chum, Victor Martinez, is an actor who gets excited about a commercial audition to play a hemorrhoid. Victor enters into a love affair with cross-dressing lawyer Alexander Popov, the murder victim’s twin brother. The victim’s husband, sexy mystery author Denis Sokolov, just happens to write a novel that mirrors the murder.
Freddy: I am jealous of muscular college film professor Leander Bryce who enjoys exercising in his undies at the window while Andre watches.
(Andre blushes.)
Freddy: Milo Archer, a college student with a crush on Andre, wants to start a revolution.
Andre: Personal trainer Hunter Buck and gorgeous grade school vice principal with a secret Preston Steele complete the list of suspects, all of whom share a secret past with the victim, including the police detective, Takoda Shawnee.
Freddy: By the by, when Preston and Andre embark on a date, I have great fun turning it into a flat tire.
Andre: Which means a bad date—and it was!
And in the second story?
Andre: Evangelical ex-judge Cynthia Butler Russell, the owner of the bed and breakfast, is murdered in her office. The suspects include Cynthia’s straying husband Jim, her envious and comically alcoholic sister Sherry, Cynthia’s gorgeous gay son Nelson, Nelson’s muscular lover Sergio, and Sergio’s PFLAG mother Renata.
Freddy: While staying at the inn, Andre befriends Gabriel, an adorable sleepwalking architect. Andre also meets Zian, a cute painter who desires Gabriel, and Dustin Kelly, the tall detective hiding an interesting secret. Thankfully, Andre prefers me!
Who is your favorite character?
Freddy: Andre is the love of my life and the cat’s meow.
Andre: It’s no mystery (pun intended) that Freddy is my world.
Which character do you like the least?
Freddy: Preston Steele, because Andre’s Aunt Nia arranges for Andre and Preston to have a blind date. Andre acquiesces in an effort to obtain information from Preston, who leaves the date in midair with my hands on his belt.
Andre: Ditto.
How are the stories cozy?
Freddy: They take place in my Art Deco environments with fireplaces, turrets, window seats, balconies, and comfy chaises and armchairs opposite gorgeous murals, wallpaper, and statues. The windows sport views of the glistening Hudson River and sun-kissed mountains. Welcome to my world!
Andre: Also, Freddy and I get very cozy together (smile).
How did readers respond to The Player when it was published as an e-book and paperback four years ago?Freddy: I was thrilled when Dreamspinner Press wanted to publish it. I was ecstatic when the readers fell in love with Andre and me, calling The Player their favorite mystery of the year!
Andre: This led to a sequel double-story novel, The Player’s Encore.
And it also led to the new audio book version. Why did it take four years to release the audio book?
Andre: Joe was waiting for the perfect audio book performer, and he found him in Brian Cheney. Brian is that rare audio book performer with strong acting chops, perfect coming timing, and the ability to realistically create multiple character voices, all the while possessing a smooth sexy voice that suits Freddy Birtwistle to a whistle.
I’m sure you’ve been told that the book would make a terrific TV pilot and first episode. How would you cast it?
Andre: Here’s my wish list to name a few: Matt Bomer as Freddy
Freddy: Blake Young Fountain as Andre,
Andre: Wanda Sykes as my Aunt Nia, Cheyenne Jackson as Detective Takoda Shawnee, Matt Dallas as Preston Steele, Luke McFarlane as Jim Russell, Michael J. Willett as Nelson Russell, Sarah Paulson as Cynthia Butler Russell
Freddy: And Joe (a bit of nepotism) playing the cameo role of Chester the antique store owner.
Andre: Come on, TV producers, make Joe an offer!
How can listeners get their hands on the audio book of The Player?
Andre: The purchase links are below.
When can we expect the audio book of The Player’s Encore, The Player Piano Mysteries Book 2?
Freddy: Stay tuned!
Thank you, Andre and Freddy, for interviewing today.
Freddy: It was our pleasure.
Andre: I hope everyone will give The Player audio book a listen. I’m sure, like me, you will fall in love with Freddy and have a great deal of fun trying to solve these two cozy mysteries.
Freddy: And we love to hear from listeners. So drop us a line via Joe’s web site!
The Player, Player Piano Mysteries Book 1, by Joe Cosentino, published by Dreamspinner Press now also available as an audio book performed by Brian Cheney
tinyurl.com/8yf8sxzy
Andre has never seen a ghost and Freddy has never been one, so they get off to a rocky start. But when Andre finds his neighbor murdered on his doorstep, he and Freddy join forces to narrow the pool of suspects.
Soon Andre and Freddy discover that opposites attract, even if one’s alive and the other dead. Together these amateur detectives make an enticing team, and it’s a good thing too, because the first murder they solve together won’t be their last. But the real mystery isn’t just whodunit—it’s how a romance between a man and a ghost can have a happily ever after ending.
The Player contains two stand-alone cozy murder mysteries, The City House and The Country House.
Praise for The Player:
“Both mysteries are equally intriguing and amusing, each with a curious, eccentric cast of characters that would make Agatha Christie proud (or Aggie, as Freddy knew her). The affectionate banter between Andre and Freddy is adorably witty, peppered with lingo from a century ago that provides laugh-out-loud moments aplenty…the author leaves us breathlessly anticipating further adventures with this truly dynamic duo.” --Edge Media Network
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors!
Joe Cosentino was voted Favorite MM Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year and Second Place Favorite MM Romance Author of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine. His Dreamspinner Press titles are the In My Heart Anthology: An Infatuation & A Shooting Star, the Tales from Fairyland Anthology: The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland & Holiday Tales from Fairyland, the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Anthology: A Home for the Holidays & The Perfect Gift & The First Noel, the Found At Last Anthology: Finding Giorgio & Finding Armando, and the two Player Piano mysteries. He is also the author of the 18 Nicky and Noah mysteries, 5 Jana Lane mysteries (The Wild Rose Press), and 5 Cozzi Cove novels (Ninestar Press). 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 a happily married emeritus theatre professor residing in New York State.
Website: joecosentino.weebly.com
Facebook: facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino
Amazon: Author.to/JoeCosentino
Instagram: instagram.com/joecosentinoauthor
Brian Cheney, hailed by KUSC Los Angeles as the “next great tenor”, protégé of legendary tenor Jerry Hadley, has gained international acclaim for his portrayal of characters such as Radamés in Aida, Don José in Carmen, Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca, Rodolfo in La bohème, the Duke in Rigoletto, and Canio in Pagliacci. “It is tenor Brian Cheney as the brave painter Cavaradossi who really blew me away. Cheney has that terrific tenor sound: the power, richness, and vocal color of a high baritone combined with ringing, awe-inspiring high notes” (Stage and Cinema.) Highlights from last season include Mr. Cheney’s creation of the role of Victor Frankenstein in the world premiere performance of Gregg Kallor’s Frankenstein in New York to critical acclaim and his National Philharmonic debut as the tenor soloist in Leonard Bernstein’s Mass and West Side Story. “Cheney’s ringing tenor voice carried well in the stone catacombs, conveying the fear that the deep bass sound of the monster summoned. And as the section of the sketches went on, Cheney’s voice bloomed to match the action and threats of the creature.” (Operawire) Recent engagements include Radamés in Aida with Virginia Opera, Antonin Scalia in Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg with Toledo Opera, and Salute to Vienna performances in Miami, West Palm Beach, Nashville, and New York City (Lincoln Center). In audio books, Mr. Cheney performed eight of Joe Cosentino’s Nicky and Noah Mystery novels, many of Joe Cosentino’s books published by Dreamspinner Press, All the King’s Men by Scott Leddy, Swarm by Guy Morris, The Last Ark by Guy Morris, and Pressure by Barry Napier. www.briancheneytenor.com
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.
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