Axeman's Jazz, The
Celestin, RayIn the sultry Big Easy, with the music soaring, and the body count rising, Detective Lieutenant Michael Talbot is struggling to identify a killer, the jazz-loving 'axeman'. But he is not alone in his pursuit of the suspect - disgraced former detective Luca d'Andrea and an ambitious secretary from the Pinkerton Detective Agency, Ida Davis, are also hot on the trail.
Based on true events from 1919, this is a riveting story of pre-prohibition New Orleans, complete with the mafia, a trumpet toting Louis Armstrong and more.
Pages
420
420
Year
2014
2014
Reviews
18-10-2023
Some group members loved the language and multiple points of view, while other felt there were too many characters. We all enjoyed the atmosphere of New Orleans being so well conveyed.
09-12-2022
A gripping crime story, all the more interesting for its unique setting of both time and place. Loved the connection to jazz and Louis Armstrong, the fascinating history of migration in and around New Orleans, the post-war vibe of 1919, and the evocative descriptions of the city, the bayou and the consequent cultural melange. It's a crime story and got a bit bloodthirsty for some in our group, but otherwise a really good read.
27-05-2020
Yes, well received and enjoyed by almost all of us. Good storyline, atmospheric and evocative of that age.
27-04-2018
Well written, engaging characters in a complex plot, set in a fascinating place and time. We found that 'newbies' to crime fiction enjoyed the book despite it not being their favourite genre. The writer covered lots of bases - relationships, racism, history and mystery. Very entertaining.
27-04-2018
The majority of the group enjoyed it - 6 out of 9, but 3 found it hard going and didn't enjoy the three lines of investigation. However, everyone got something from it - either historical facts, the origins of New Orleans or an insight into the life of Louis Armstrong. Generally would recommend.
27-04-2018
Not one of our 'best' books, although after our discussion some of us found more to appreciate in it. It did offer an interesting insight into New Orleans' history and culture, but we didn't all find that the characters were convincing.
27-04-2018
A wonderfully rich, dense and intelligent story with colourful characters (including New Orleans, the city) and plenty of plot forks that kept our group busy discussing it for hours. One of our favourites, and converted a few people to crime fiction too!
27-04-2018
An extremely well written thriller, especially so,as based on a true story. Enjoyably read from cover to cover to discover 'who done it'! Such an interesting insight into life in New Orleans in 1919.
27-04-2018
Everyone liked this book but to varying degrees. Cleverly constructed and well-written, it was engaging and intriguing, if gruesome. We liked what we learned was the "Rashomon effect" of investigation, and we felt all three detectives offered a credible line of thought and approach to solving the shocking murders. The characters were well-drawn, and we felt the author's linking of fact with fiction was very deft. One of the stars of the show was New Orleans itself, and another quirky "plus" was the inclusion of Louis Armstrong in the story.