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The RagTime Traveler: A RagTime Mystery    by Larry Karp & Casey Karp Amazon.com order for
RagTime Traveler
by Larry Karp
Order:  USA  Can
Poisoned Pen, 2017 (2017)
Softcover, e-Book
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

In this fourth and last of the RagTime mysteries by Larry and Casey Karp, protagonist Alan Chandler manages to time travel from his hotel room in Sedalia, Missouri to share space with the King of Ragtime, Scott Joplin in the famous Maple Leaf Club in the year 1899! How did he get here? And why? He's afraid he's dreaming. Or is it really time travel?

Alan and his grandson Tom have come to Sedalia to authenticate and evaluate a duffel bag, thought to contain unpublished music hand written by the King himself. Alan had been contacted by an old friend, Mickey Potash, to use his expertise on these many sheets of music. Before any work can be done, Mickey is murdered and the duffel bag is stolen.

The RagTime Traveler is delightful in recreating the Maple Leaf Club atmosphere. The mystery of Mickey's death keeps the reader guessing. I enjoyed the time travel and do so wish it were achievable. Is it possible that a murder occurring in one time period can be solved a hundred and more years prior to it happening? And where is the duffel bag? Who has it and what are their plans for the contents, that will be worth many thousands of dollars if it can be proven that Scott Joplin himself wrote the music.

Solving the mystery is hampered by the necessity for Alan to care for the cancer that is slowly ending his life. I am sorry to see the end of this series.

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