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One Helluva Gig
Rob Jeffers has it all: fame, money, and the life of a rock and roll star. Frank Peters is a regular guy, a newspaper reporter who just happens to have a passing acquaintance with the Great Jeffers. As Jeffers's career shoots up, Peters's fortunes follow in his wake.
And when Jeffers passes away at the height of his fame, Peters’s life begins a steady unravelling. Until a chance encounter on a minor story gives him a new outlook on the celebrity lifestyle, and new hope for his own future.
And when Jeffers passes away at the height of his fame, Peters’s life begins a steady unravelling. Until a chance encounter on a minor story gives him a new outlook on the celebrity lifestyle, and new hope for his own future.
65 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2012
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71 people want to read
About the author
Kevin R. Doyle
14 books227 followers A retired high-school teacher and former college instructor, Kevin R. Doyle is the author of numerous short horror stories. He’s also written four crime thrillers including The Group and The Anchor, and one horror novel, The Litter. In the last few years, he’s begun working on the Sam Quinton private eye series, published by Camel Press. The first Quinton book, Squatter’s Rights, was nominated for the 2021 Shamus award for Best First PI Novel. The fourth Sam Quinton book, Clean Win, was released in March of 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 25, 2022
A man commiserates over the death of a legendary rock star—“one of the biggest deaths in the world”
At the beginning, Jeffers started out in a garage band, playing for student unions, and our main character was the journalism student covering the story for the school paper. He reminisces on his life, taking on the grunge work, as it correlates to the singer’s rising stardom.
“While he had all that going on, here I stood in a run-down office with actual, honest-to-goodness fly specks on the wall, watching my work get shredded.”
The diary style narrative is clever and witty. I enjoyed the candid and snarky humor.
“Big time rock star begins to feel maudlin and, rather than bore any of his hangers on with his problems, reaches out to a nobody.”
In time, the inquisitive reporter sees something: an unhappy star. And this marked the star’s downfall. Towards the end of his career, he was a celebrity joke,
After his death, “public interest in the man began to wane, and once the fervor tamped down, he assumed a more sedate, if constant, place in a popular culture.”
Well-versed and engaging! Story chronicles the rise and fall of a rock star with “a certain parallel between the trajectory of his career and [the reporter.]”
An interesting, short read with a shocking conclusion!
At the beginning, Jeffers started out in a garage band, playing for student unions, and our main character was the journalism student covering the story for the school paper. He reminisces on his life, taking on the grunge work, as it correlates to the singer’s rising stardom.
“While he had all that going on, here I stood in a run-down office with actual, honest-to-goodness fly specks on the wall, watching my work get shredded.”
The diary style narrative is clever and witty. I enjoyed the candid and snarky humor.
“Big time rock star begins to feel maudlin and, rather than bore any of his hangers on with his problems, reaches out to a nobody.”
In time, the inquisitive reporter sees something: an unhappy star. And this marked the star’s downfall. Towards the end of his career, he was a celebrity joke,
After his death, “public interest in the man began to wane, and once the fervor tamped down, he assumed a more sedate, if constant, place in a popular culture.”
Well-versed and engaging! Story chronicles the rise and fall of a rock star with “a certain parallel between the trajectory of his career and [the reporter.]”
An interesting, short read with a shocking conclusion!
October 26, 2015
It's not the most earth shattering of stories but it was moving nonetheless. The takeaway for me included several messages, such as....
...be careful what you wish for - you never know that the rainbow you see is going to end in a pot of gold. The point is, no wish is perfect nor life without strife. Rob Jeffers certainly didn't see that one coming when he started on his path to musical fame.
...the grass is not always greener on the other side - Peters saw this for himself. He saw ups and downs in his own career and that of his "friend". That third meeting with the man of the hour was rather emotional though not a tear was shed. You could feel the precipice that Jeffers was standing on and despite the millions surrounding him, how much of an island he truly was...not the easiest pill to swallow. I'm not sure what would be worse though, recognizing the loneliness or walking around oblivious to the truth?
...make the most of every moment - Peters didn't really execute this philosophy in his younger days but then again I respect him all the more for it. Later in life he once again makes a judgment call that could change his career and while not the life altering decision you might anticipate, it showed his true character. In the moment, those closing scenes, we see that "making the most" doesn't have to create chaos and scrambling; sometimes it's just realigning what we thought we knew into a more appealing light.
...and it is possible to be alone in a room full of people. - Jeffers had it all and yet he didn't; Peters could have tasted the same fame but chose not to. Was either man better off for their decisions? Maybe yes, maybe no. One small change could have affected the whole outcome for them both but then again, if they never found peace within themselves, what would it have mattered?
In the end, while not a read for all, it's certainly a read for some. It shows the power that music has to transform all of us. It reminds us that every meeting, every moment can be monumental in its own right. It tells us to never stop trying to be all that we seek to be even if it means upsetting the whole apple cart and starting again. Recommended read for adult readers not for any questionable content but simply for the mindset of the story.
**review copy received in exchange for my honest review, full post can be seen on my site**
...be careful what you wish for - you never know that the rainbow you see is going to end in a pot of gold. The point is, no wish is perfect nor life without strife. Rob Jeffers certainly didn't see that one coming when he started on his path to musical fame.
...the grass is not always greener on the other side - Peters saw this for himself. He saw ups and downs in his own career and that of his "friend". That third meeting with the man of the hour was rather emotional though not a tear was shed. You could feel the precipice that Jeffers was standing on and despite the millions surrounding him, how much of an island he truly was...not the easiest pill to swallow. I'm not sure what would be worse though, recognizing the loneliness or walking around oblivious to the truth?
...make the most of every moment - Peters didn't really execute this philosophy in his younger days but then again I respect him all the more for it. Later in life he once again makes a judgment call that could change his career and while not the life altering decision you might anticipate, it showed his true character. In the moment, those closing scenes, we see that "making the most" doesn't have to create chaos and scrambling; sometimes it's just realigning what we thought we knew into a more appealing light.
...and it is possible to be alone in a room full of people. - Jeffers had it all and yet he didn't; Peters could have tasted the same fame but chose not to. Was either man better off for their decisions? Maybe yes, maybe no. One small change could have affected the whole outcome for them both but then again, if they never found peace within themselves, what would it have mattered?
In the end, while not a read for all, it's certainly a read for some. It shows the power that music has to transform all of us. It reminds us that every meeting, every moment can be monumental in its own right. It tells us to never stop trying to be all that we seek to be even if it means upsetting the whole apple cart and starting again. Recommended read for adult readers not for any questionable content but simply for the mindset of the story.
**review copy received in exchange for my honest review, full post can be seen on my site**
January 18, 2014
It seems fitting that One Helluva Gig bubbled to the top of my to-be-read stack near the end of a short trip to Memphis which included the allegedly obligatory trip to Graceland. Elvis was fresh in my thoughts as I finished reading about the same time I hit cruising altitude on the flight home.
The parallels between Rob Jeffers and Elvis (no, Presley, not Costello) were obvious and obviously intended. The same with the questions, the big one being can you have too much of a good thing (assuming you see fame as a positive) or is it possible for the price you pay for that good thing, whatever it is, to be too high? Rob Jeffers’ story had an interesting twist at the end that brought the overall story to a nice end, but what lifted One Helluva Gig beyond an episode of VH1 Behind the Music (why was an Elvis episode never made?) was the story of the protagonist, Frank Peters. His story also paralleled Jeffers and Elvis, but at a much lower level of accomplishment and notoriety. As Peters shows, you don’t have to be famous to face hard decisions.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
The parallels between Rob Jeffers and Elvis (no, Presley, not Costello) were obvious and obviously intended. The same with the questions, the big one being can you have too much of a good thing (assuming you see fame as a positive) or is it possible for the price you pay for that good thing, whatever it is, to be too high? Rob Jeffers’ story had an interesting twist at the end that brought the overall story to a nice end, but what lifted One Helluva Gig beyond an episode of VH1 Behind the Music (why was an Elvis episode never made?) was the story of the protagonist, Frank Peters. His story also paralleled Jeffers and Elvis, but at a much lower level of accomplishment and notoriety. As Peters shows, you don’t have to be famous to face hard decisions.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
January 21, 2015
One Helluva Gig by Kevin R. Doyle
Frank Peters is a newspaper journalist. He is assigned to write a story about Rob Jeffers a famous musician who recently died. There have been rumors of Jeffers spotting across the country. As frank chases down these "spottings" he comes to terms with his life, and faces some self discoveries.
Frank is a likable person, he has reached rock bottom in his career. WE see him reflect on his life and rediscover himself. The references to music and rock bands from years ago was enlightening, and added spark to the story. Learning about Rob Jeffers was interesting and fun. The story is well written and an enjoyable read. I recommend One Helluva Gig to all.
Frank Peters is a newspaper journalist. He is assigned to write a story about Rob Jeffers a famous musician who recently died. There have been rumors of Jeffers spotting across the country. As frank chases down these "spottings" he comes to terms with his life, and faces some self discoveries.
Frank is a likable person, he has reached rock bottom in his career. WE see him reflect on his life and rediscover himself. The references to music and rock bands from years ago was enlightening, and added spark to the story. Learning about Rob Jeffers was interesting and fun. The story is well written and an enjoyable read. I recommend One Helluva Gig to all.
September 18, 2014
This was actually a very good book and easy to get through. I liked the plot a great deal, and the entire story flowed seamlessly. This was a story in which I was able to play the scenes in my head as if they were coming directly from a movie script. I enjoyed reading about the parallels as well as the differences between the two main characters, who were just as much strangers as they were kindred spirits. I can't wait to read more!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews