Music and Mystery Combine in 'Hotel California'

Bruns first had the idea for the anthology when writing his own contribution for a collection of stories based on Jimmy Buffet songs. After sharing the idea with his agent, Bruns began to contact other writer friends. The opportunity to reconnect with fellow writers was one of his favorite parts of editing the book. “Like everyone everywhere, we have been somewhat isolated for two, three years,” Bruns said. “I called friends and basically said...‘Let’s write a book together.’” 

Bruns certainly has talented friends! Hotel California features stories from several New York Times-bestselling mystery authors, including Heather Graham, Reed Farrel Coleman, and John Gilstrap as well as emerging voices like Rick Bleiweiss, Jennifer Graeser Dornbush, Amanda Flower, and Bruns himself! The collection also features a brand new Jack Reacher story from Andrew Child, who recently took up writing the series from his brother, Lee. “He’s doing a bang up job by the way,” Bruns added. 

Each story in Hotel California is titled after a song from the album, which the authors used as their jumping-off point for inspiration. Bruns credited the anthology’s uniqueness to the freedom the writers were given. “There were no limits, no restrictions,” he said. “Being the creative professionals they are, they turned in some magnificent stories.” 

So if exciting new mysteries with a classic rock twist seem appealing to you, then pick up a copy of Hotel California! And keep your eye out next year for another musical mystery anthology from Bruns, this time centered around Michael Jackson’s Thriller. We guarantee you won’t want to miss either! 

Related: It Takes a Community: Writing Crime at the Midnight Hour