A review by richard_morrow
The Axeman's Jazz by Ray Celestin

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Music, mayhem and murder are in the wake of the deadly Axeman. A noir narrative set just at the end of WWI filled with a great wealth of characters. The three protagonists are each eager to solve the mystery but stumble upon very different revelations. The descriptions are musical which changes with the action, it feels like jazz is somehow playing through the words and to me this is reinforced with the different approaches to solving the crimes. Pace increases as the sense of threat looms over the city of New Orleans. In the pursuit of truth and justice, the protagonists are brought to the brink of darkness but will the curse of the Axeman leave its mark? A solid detective story that has a truly cinematic quality in its writing.