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gillellin03's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
sarahbook1's review against another edition
5.0
I stumbled across The Jazz Files while in my local library. I checked it out based on the description on the back of the book and was not disappointed.
The Jazz Files is the first book in the Poppy Denby series. Poppy is summoned to London to help take care of her wheelchair bound aunt. When she arrives, she finds that her aunt doesn’t need her help, but instead she has brought Poppy to London because she wants her to start a career. Poppy begins her career at a Fleet Street newspaper, but quickly finds herself in the midst of a criminal investigation that surrounds her aunt and her aunt’s friends from her days as a suffragette.
One element of this book I really appreciated was the map and cast of characters in the front of the book. This helped put a sense of place to where the events were taking place. The cast of characters helped identify any characters that I had lost track of. In addition in a couple places in the book, the author essentially created a summary of the facts as they existed at that point. This was helpful to make sure I was following the same line of thinking that the author intended.
I found this first book in the series to be very enjoyable. Readers of Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope books would find this enjoyable. It is also very akin to the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear, however the reading isn’t as strenuous.
I enjoyed this book and I look forward to the second book due out in November in the US.
The Jazz Files is the first book in the Poppy Denby series. Poppy is summoned to London to help take care of her wheelchair bound aunt. When she arrives, she finds that her aunt doesn’t need her help, but instead she has brought Poppy to London because she wants her to start a career. Poppy begins her career at a Fleet Street newspaper, but quickly finds herself in the midst of a criminal investigation that surrounds her aunt and her aunt’s friends from her days as a suffragette.
One element of this book I really appreciated was the map and cast of characters in the front of the book. This helped put a sense of place to where the events were taking place. The cast of characters helped identify any characters that I had lost track of. In addition in a couple places in the book, the author essentially created a summary of the facts as they existed at that point. This was helpful to make sure I was following the same line of thinking that the author intended.
I found this first book in the series to be very enjoyable. Readers of Susan Elia MacNeal’s Maggie Hope books would find this enjoyable. It is also very akin to the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear, however the reading isn’t as strenuous.
I enjoyed this book and I look forward to the second book due out in November in the US.
miloblue's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
chlorinne's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
rae_12's review against another edition
3.0
It started off strong but then it lost its way with intrusive religious posturing. If I read detective / historical fiction, I’d like events to unfold because of the actions or wits of the characters, not because they prayed for it to happen or because of “the mysterious workings of the lord.” I won’t be continuing with the series.
cholcombe's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
jazzylemon's review against another edition
5.0
Poppy Denby travels from Morpeth to London to live with her Aunt Dot and gets a job at a newspaper and then is involved in a murder investigation!
vivienneleefraser's review against another edition
5.0
When Poppy Denby arrives in London she has no idea she'll end up working for a newspaper in 1920's London, or that one of her first stories will be investigating a murder.
In this first Poppy Derby book Fiona Vetch Smith has used historic events and settings to set up a great cosy mystery series. Poppy is just the right mix of progressive and a woman of her time for a lead character. Suffragette Aunt Dot and editor Rollo Rollinson provide the larger than life characters, while photographer Daniel provides the love interest.
This is cosy mystery story telling at it's best, and I'm also loving reading the rest of this series.
In this first Poppy Derby book Fiona Vetch Smith has used historic events and settings to set up a great cosy mystery series. Poppy is just the right mix of progressive and a woman of her time for a lead character. Suffragette Aunt Dot and editor Rollo Rollinson provide the larger than life characters, while photographer Daniel provides the love interest.
This is cosy mystery story telling at it's best, and I'm also loving reading the rest of this series.
maureen72's review against another edition
5.0
I have only just been able to start on the Poppy Denby series although I have wanted to for some time. It was a most enjoyable read. I liked the time period - around 1920, with references to a few years earlier. The characters were fascinating too with Poppy starting in her first job, with that being still a bit unusual for the time. There was also a good mix of character personalities and this added to the interest of the story. Poppy certainly proves her ingenuity and resoursefulness. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.