Book Review: AND ALL THAT MADNESS - A Casie McKie Mystery by Joan Merill

About the Book 

When the New York Jazz Society acquires a fifty-year old letter from Georgia Valentine, questions arise over the legendary vocalist’s death. Did she give herself a fatal dose of heroin, as the original investigators ruled, or did someone kill her? And if it was murder, what was the motive? 

Casey moves her operation from San Francisco to New York to investigate the cold case, questioning Georgia’s musician friends, her widower, a drug dealer, a Broadway actress, a mafia boss and the authorities who declared the death a suicide. 

This quest takes Casey to New York’s most venerable jazz clubs, a Harlem nursing home, a mob-owned Italian restaurant, a lesbian bar and One Police Plaza, home of the NYPD. She joins forces with an attractive detective from the Organized Crime unit, and, as the case progresses, so does their relationship. 

With no shortage of suspects, Casey ultimately uncovers evidence revealing a surprising killer. 

Review 

San Francisco Detective and jazz enthusiast, Casey McKie, goes to New York to investigate a cold case - the murder of Georgia Valentine. Her quest includes a range of interesting characters and settings, with another twist around every corner. Add in a possible romance with the attractive detective to round out Casey's whirlwind experience as she finds the killer.

The story is well-written and the characters well-developed, though some are not likable. The jazz scene adds a unique and entertaining flavor to the story. Although this is part of a series featuring Casey McKie, it can be read as a stand alone mystery. This is my first in this series and won't be my last. If you like jazz and mystery, you'll enjoy this one.

Amazon 

The Casey McKie mystery series 

And All That Motive (2014

And All That Madness (2012)

 And All That Stalking (2011) 

And All That Sea (2010) 

And All That Murder (2009)

Blog Tour: AND ALL THAT MADNESS (A Casey McKie Mystery) by Joan Merrill

Synopsis:

AND ALL THAT MADNESS is a Casey McKie mystery. When the New York Jazz Society acquires a fifty-year old letter from Georgia Valentine, questions arise over the legendary vocalist’s death. Did she give herself a fatal dose of heroin, as the original investigators ruled, or did someone kill her? And if it was murder, what was the motive?

Casey moves her operation from San Francisco to New York to investigate the cold case, questioning Georgia’s musician friends, her widower, a drug dealer, a Broadway actress, a mafia boss and the authorities who declared the death a suicide. This quest takes Casey to New York’s most venerable jazz clubs, a Harlem nursing home, a mob-owned Italian restaurant, a lesbian bar and One Police Plaza, home of the NYPD.

She joins forces with an attractive detective from the Organized Crime unit, and, as the case progresses, so does their relationship. With no shortage of suspects, Casey ultimately uncovers evidence revealing a surprising killer. Author Joan Merrill has produced yet another captivating mystery as part of her on-going detective series featuring SF detective Casey McKie.   

Review:

A cold case - 50 years cold with a plausible explanation that all but Dee are willing to accept.  Is it, as Dee believes, a convenient explanation that supports the beliefs of those times around musicians and blacks?Was Georgia Valentine murdered?  

Casey isn't sure to begin with, but decides to look into it and finds at least a few others who, like Dee, aren't all that sure. To find the answers Casey travels to the New York, and ventures into the seamier side while also sampling the contemporary jazz scene.

Casey is a likable protagonist, a smart and independent woman.  Getting to the bottom of Georgia Valentine's death has a number of twists and turns.  If you like a good mystery, this is a good read.  If you like jazz, this is a book for you.

This is the fourth in the Casey McKie Mystery series, but it is easily read as a stand alone. Others include ALL THAT MURDER, ALL THAT STALKING, and ALL THAT SEA.  I'll be adding them to my TBR list.

About the Author:

Joan Merrill has written five Casey McKie mysteries, all taking place in the world of jazz:And All That Murder (2009), And All That Sea (2010), And All That Stalking(2011). And All That Madness (2012),And All That Motive (2014).

All books (except Motive, which will be published in early fall), are available at amazon.com and Kindle. And All That Madness is available as an audio book, narrated by long-time KCSM radio host, Alisa Clancy. To download, go to audible.com oriTunes.com or for the CD version, go to joanmerrill.com. An audio book of And All That Stalking is under production.

Joan Merrill has worked in the jazz field for over twenty years, producing fourteen shows for NPR’s Jazz Profiles and four shows for the Smithsonian/PRI series Jazz Singers. She’s represented various jazz singers; produced the video documentary “Saying It with Jazz” featuring Carmen McRae and others; and produced three CDs under her own label. She also created and curates the website: carmenmcrae.com.  

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