Booklist recommends The Show Won’t Go On: "Laced with intrigue and respectful at the same time, this is a wonderful read!"

The reviews are starting to come in for The Show Won’t Go On: The Most Shocking, Bizarre, and Historic Deaths of Performers Onstage by our pals Jeff Abraham and Burt Kearns.

The latest is from BOOKLIST, the publication and website in which trusted experts from the American Library Association offer book reviews for librarians in public and school libraries:

"This is the perfect book for the morbidly curious, the gawkers, and anyone fascinated by peculiar deaths. It chronicles those who gave their last performances in all types of entertainment: theater, comedy, magic, television, radio, and several genres of music. 

"Abraham and Kearns use a journalistic style to inform the reader of the events surrounding each performer's demise, and this pays off in the interviews with some of the decedent's friends and relatives. In some cases, we learn their last words before the performance, which is moving and oddly satisfying. While some deaths were completely preventable, the authors are careful not to pass judgment and instead simply report the events as they happened. 

"The format is not a strict narrative, allowing the reader to skip around, if desired, and read whatever bits and pieces immediately jump out. The pictures are a touching tribute, showing each performer in his or her prime. 

"Laced with intrigue and respectful at the same time, this is a wonderful read for those looking for a unique twist on true crime. Adults aren't the only ones obsessed with true crime, and this sensitive portrayal of sensational deaths will appeal to teen Murderinos."

— Carrie Rasak

Official publication date for the book from Chicago Review Press is September 3rd. You can order by clicking here.

Michael Butler Murray narrates the audiobook of The Show Won’t Go On!

Michael Butler Murraty takes a break from narrating The Show Won't Go On

One of the biggest names in audiobooks has added his voice to the buzz surrounding The Show Won’t Go On.

With official publication of the much-anticipated show business book by our pals Jeff Abraham and Burt Kearns only four weeks away, it's been announced that the audiobook version has been narrated by Michael Butler Murray.

Michael is one of the most sought-after audiobook narrators in the business.  He's narrated approximately seventy top titles in all sorts of genres, and is currently riding high on praise for his work on Mantle: The Best There Ever Was, the Mickey Mantle bio by Tony Castro.  This summer, Michael worked closely with Burt and Jeff before settling in behind the mic to make this “engaging” and "wonderful" "must-read" even more spectacular.

Michael Butler Murray is a man of many talents: a writer himself, he's also an actor who's performed in musicals, drams and improvs shows across the country and appeared in films including Jersey Boys, and a musician who's one-half of the acclaimed guitar comedy duo Schoolcraft & Murray (above), who've been described as a cross between between The Smothers Brothers and Tenacious D!

"Jeff and I are really excited about the launch of our book, and even more thrilled that Michael is such an important part of it," Burt told us this morning.  “He’s very cool to work with and we can't wait to start going over foreign name pronunciations for the sequel!"

The official publication date for the book (in trade paper, e-book and audiobook forms) from  Chicago Review Press is September 3 -- the day after Labor Day.  For folks buying through Amazon.com, the book and audiobook will arrive that very day.

The Show Won't Go On: The Most Shocking, Bizarre, and Historic Deaths of Performers Onstage is the first comprehensive study of the subject.  Adance praise has been “through the roof," most recently from Booklist the guide fromthe American Library Association, which this week calls  The Show Won't Go On “the perfect book for the morbidly curious, the gawkers, and anyone fascinated by peculiar deaths!  Laced with intrigue and respectful at the same time, this sensitive portrayal of sensational deaths is a wonderful read for those looking for a unique twist on true crime.”

Jeff and Burt are already lining up appearances... first up at the legendary Book Soup on the Sunset Strip on Sunday, September 15.   Watch this space for updates!

Michael Butler Murray can’t believe what he’s reading in The Show Won’t Go On!