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by James D. Starkey (Author)
What starts as a simple school assignment turns into something much bigger.
When Jake Merced, a high school sophomore and the new kid at Green View High is assigned to investigate a long-forgotten blues club turned music store called The Blue Guitar, he sees a chance to prove himself as a reporter-and maybe earn the respect of his journalism teacher, Charley Sanger, who has been threatening retirement for years. What Jake doesn't expect is a mystery that will blur the line between curiosity and consequence.
With the help of Kristen Weathers, a musically gifted, fiercely independent classmate he can't help but admire, and friends Trudi and Sammi, Jake navigates the familiar challenges of adolescence-first crushes, fitting in, and finding his voice-while uncovering truths that complicate his understanding of the adults around him. Set against the backdrop of the suburban foothills of Denver, Colorado, the story unfolds in a world that feels safe on the surface but hides unresolved tensions underneath.
Monday Night at the Blue Guitar is a young adult coming-of-age novel with elements of mystery, humor, and literary reflection. It explores the uneasy moment when teenagers realize that authority figures are flawed, ideals are tested, and courage often means stepping into uncertainty.
Featuring a foreword by historian and author Kathleen Belew, this debut novel captures the emotional intensity of adolescence and the quiet reckonings of adulthood. Thoughtful, character-driven, and quietly suspenseful, Monday Night at the Blue Guitar will resonate with readers who enjoy literary young adult fiction, high school mysteries, and stories about identity, justice, and the search for meaning.
Monday Night at The Blue Guitar is a mysterious comedy of manners; a coming-of-age story of a young kid and an aging man, both of whom must summon the courage to face the unknown.
