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lynguy1's review against another edition
3.0
The Deadly Mystery of the Missing Diamonds by T. E. Kinsey brings to life 1925 London. The country is recovering from the war and escapism from the devastation comes with jazz music, dancing, and excellent company. This is the first book in the Dizzy Heights Mystery series and is a spin-off series from the Lady Hardcastle Mystery series.
Dizzy Heights is a jazz band featuring Ivor ‘Dizzy’ Maloney (drummer) and Bartholomew ‘Barty’ Dunn (double bass) along with the brass section, banjo player, and speaking trumpet. It is believed that a deserter stole a fortune in diamonds while in France during the war. He is now believed to be a member of the Aristippus Club where the band plays. When Superintendent Sunderland of Scotland Yard asks for their help, Dizzy and Barty agree. They also enlist the help of Dizzy’s wife Ellie and the other band members. Will it really be that easy for amateurs to find the deserter and prevent more crimes? Who is the cunning criminal?
The main characters of Dizzy, Barty, and Ellie were likeable and unusual. Their repartee elevated the level of the book and gave this reader a fun laugh-out-loud moments, but there were a few too many puns. This supporting cast had varying degrees of depth, but provided balance and contrast to the main characters. Additionally, protagonists from this author’s other series, Lady Hardcastle and Flo Armstrong, make a short cameo appearance.
The author brings a strong sense of time and place and easily transported this reader to post-war London. Adding to that, the cultural aspects made reading this book an immersive experience and felt authentic. I easily pictured the club, the band, and saw the Charleston being danced. Friendship is at the heart of this novel and Kinsey brings it to life. Besides the diamond theft, other themes included murder, desertion, conscientious objection, how women were treated and what was starting to change. My one quibble is that the pace was a little slow in places.
Overall, this was a light, fun, and entertaining historical cozy mystery. Jazz band members as amateur sleuths was a unique and enjoyable approach. Reading this novel made me want to read the Lady Hardcastle mystery series as well as the next novel featuring the Dizzy Heights. The author’s note has several interesting tidbits of information that are worth reading. Those that like historical cozy mysteries will likely enjoy this spin-off series.
This is my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Dizzy Heights is a jazz band featuring Ivor ‘Dizzy’ Maloney (drummer) and Bartholomew ‘Barty’ Dunn (double bass) along with the brass section, banjo player, and speaking trumpet. It is believed that a deserter stole a fortune in diamonds while in France during the war. He is now believed to be a member of the Aristippus Club where the band plays. When Superintendent Sunderland of Scotland Yard asks for their help, Dizzy and Barty agree. They also enlist the help of Dizzy’s wife Ellie and the other band members. Will it really be that easy for amateurs to find the deserter and prevent more crimes? Who is the cunning criminal?
The main characters of Dizzy, Barty, and Ellie were likeable and unusual. Their repartee elevated the level of the book and gave this reader a fun laugh-out-loud moments, but there were a few too many puns. This supporting cast had varying degrees of depth, but provided balance and contrast to the main characters. Additionally, protagonists from this author’s other series, Lady Hardcastle and Flo Armstrong, make a short cameo appearance.
The author brings a strong sense of time and place and easily transported this reader to post-war London. Adding to that, the cultural aspects made reading this book an immersive experience and felt authentic. I easily pictured the club, the band, and saw the Charleston being danced. Friendship is at the heart of this novel and Kinsey brings it to life. Besides the diamond theft, other themes included murder, desertion, conscientious objection, how women were treated and what was starting to change. My one quibble is that the pace was a little slow in places.
Overall, this was a light, fun, and entertaining historical cozy mystery. Jazz band members as amateur sleuths was a unique and enjoyable approach. Reading this novel made me want to read the Lady Hardcastle mystery series as well as the next novel featuring the Dizzy Heights. The author’s note has several interesting tidbits of information that are worth reading. Those that like historical cozy mysteries will likely enjoy this spin-off series.
This is my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
enticingtitles's review against another edition
3.0
Now, I haven't read any of T.E. Kinsey's other series with Lady Hardcastle, but his new mystery series following the Dizzy Heights Band includes some crossover characters that will make the transition to a new series even easier for his return readers.
Set in the Jazzy age of the 1920's, the Dizzy Heights musicians get pulled into a mystery that spans decades and centuries... a member of the Aristippus Members only club is thought to be a war deserter who stole a cache of diamonds and is trying to add to his pot by finding the rumored lost treasure hidden in some secret vault at the club. The band has been recruited to play during dance lessons for a new group of club recruits that call themselves the Alphabet Gang, and whose ranks include this deserter/diamond thief who has been on the lam since his disappearance.
I thought this was a great beginning to a series and was well written. Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
Set in the Jazzy age of the 1920's, the Dizzy Heights musicians get pulled into a mystery that spans decades and centuries... a member of the Aristippus Members only club is thought to be a war deserter who stole a cache of diamonds and is trying to add to his pot by finding the rumored lost treasure hidden in some secret vault at the club. The band has been recruited to play during dance lessons for a new group of club recruits that call themselves the Alphabet Gang, and whose ranks include this deserter/diamond thief who has been on the lam since his disappearance.
I thought this was a great beginning to a series and was well written. Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
courtneys_reading's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Took a while to get through this one because life got in the way.
Still, this was a cute mystery! I liked all the characters and the vibes. Will have to see about checking out the sequel soon!
Still, this was a cute mystery! I liked all the characters and the vibes. Will have to see about checking out the sequel soon!
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
txa1265's review against another edition
4.0
Fun story but not too much mystery
Overall a solid and enjoyable read - interesting and well formed characters with growth, well done setting and story. As for the mystery, it was more of a plot device than a full intrigue to sort out. Didn't stop me from enjoying the story, and will check out others in this series.
Overall a solid and enjoyable read - interesting and well formed characters with growth, well done setting and story. As for the mystery, it was more of a plot device than a full intrigue to sort out. Didn't stop me from enjoying the story, and will check out others in this series.
thebi_brarian's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
littletaiko's review against another edition
4.0
Two of my favorite side characters from the first in the Lady Hardcastle series are the leads here. This book jumps forward 15 years and find these two musicians settled in a successful band. Superintendent Sunderland has asked for their assistance in observing some suspicious characters who frequent the club they play at. I really enjoyed this - lots of humor, good plotting, and strong characters. I'm hoping for more book in the series.
ruth's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
bridt's review against another edition
4.0
A musical mystery
I downloaded this book from Amazon First Reads and was delighted I did. I always love mystery stories and this didn't disappoint.
A jazz band is enlisted to identify a WW1 deserter who stole a fortune in diamonds and is hiding out at a gentleman's club in London. The search becomes personal when a murder occurs during a dance lesson.
I downloaded this book from Amazon First Reads and was delighted I did. I always love mystery stories and this didn't disappoint.
A jazz band is enlisted to identify a WW1 deserter who stole a fortune in diamonds and is hiding out at a gentleman's club in London. The search becomes personal when a murder occurs during a dance lesson.
kirstendumo's review against another edition
5.0
I love the Lady Hardcastle series so wanted to try this one but didn’t think I’d love it as much but really did. Biggest surprise was Ellie and Skins. Totally adorable! Loved the setting, banter of the band and the mystery.