The THIRD book in the Edgar Award-winning Skip Langdon mystery series“A genuinely moving mystery … a no-nonsense, level-headed heroine.” –The Baltimore Sun”A super protagonist, well-defined characters, and musical highlights make this essential.” -Library Journal NEW ORLEANS JAZZFEST PRODUCER STABBED! TEENAGE SISTER MISSING!Everybody loved easygoing Ham Brocato, producer of the famed New … MISSING!
Everybody loved easygoing Ham Brocato, producer of the famed New Orleans JazzFest. So how did he end up stabbed to death on his kitchen floor?
New Orleans Homicide Detective Skip Langdon just happens to be on hand when Ham’s body is discovered in the middle of his own party the evening before the Fest. To complicate the already murky case, the victim’s sixteen-year-old blues musician sister has disappeared, and Skip suspects that if the young woman isn’t the murderer, she’s in mortal danger from the person who is. So Task One is finding Melody, ambitious, unhappy at home, and determined to break from her family.
As she probes the victim’s tangled relationships, Skip finds a Southern family to rival any in Tennessee Williams, including Ham’s live-in lover, feisty and swiftly rising star Ti-Belle Thiebaud; his father George, enmeshed with family members in a bitter disagreement over the family’s lucrative Po’ Boy chain; and Patty, his distraught stepmother.
In this tale of southern kinships gone awry, she’s assisted by her long-distance love, Steve Steinman, and her gay landlord, Jimmy Dee. Meanwhile, Melody’s dangerous yet exhilarating journey tugs at the heart and raises the pulse rate.
“Smith’s Big Easy setting is a lively blend of big city and gossipy small town.” –Publishers Weekly
Fans of Laura Lippman, Ace Atkins, James Lee Burke, and the HBO series TREME will adore this satisfying and complex cop whodunit. And fans of YA fiction will fall in love with Melody!
Excerpt:
“At $250 a pop,” fumed a red-faced man, “you’d think we’d at least get a drink.”
The shrill, uncertain buzz they’d noticed was developing a hysterical note. This was a party that wasn’t fun. Bemused, Skip and Steve worked their way back around to the front.
“Ham I could see,” said Skip. “He could have had to work late—it’s his busiest time. But where’s Ti-Belle?”
“Oh, ‘bout two houses away, I’d say. Approaching at a dead run, having just parked a Thunderbird with a squeal of wheels.”
Skip had heard the squeal, but had paid it no mind. Now she saw a very thin woman coming towards them, hair flying, long legs shining brown, sticking out from a white silk shorts suit. Over one shoulder she carried a lightweight flight bag. Golden-throated Ti-Belle Thiebaud, the fastest-rising star on the New Orleans music scene.
Steve said, “I’d know those legs anywhere.”
She never performed in any garment that wasn’t short, split, slit, or halfway missing. Some said the whole country would know those legs soon. They said she was going to be bigger than large, larger than huge.
Thiebaud was approaching at a dead trot, fast giving way to a gallop. She was wearing huge hoop earrings. She had giant black eyes and shining olive skin, flyaway blond hair that looked utterly smashing with her dark complexion. Her skin clung to her bones, hanging gently, as naturally as hide on a horse.
“How’d Ham get her?” she blurted.
A black man waved at the singer, tried to slow her progress, pretend it was a party: “Hey, Ti-Belle.”
Thiebaud paid him no mind but cast a look at the crowd in general. Skip saw twin wrinkles at the sides of her nose—one day they’d be there permanently if she worried a lot in the meantime.
“Hi, y’all.” She was trying to smile, but it wasn’t working. “Excuse me a minute.” She let herself in and closed the door behind her.
Almost immediately, a scream that could have come from anyone—the hottest Cajun R&B singer in America or any terrified woman—ripped through the nervous buzz.
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I look forward to reading Julie Smith’s books – interesting characters, very funny, in a “loving New Orleans” kind of way. Makes me want to visit NO.
Julie Smith’s series on New Orleans is simply fabulous. She captures the spirit and people of this amazing and unique city perfectly yet her books are an easy read. I’m only sorry I’ve read all the books in the Skip Langdon series and am not sure there are more to come.
Read this one first, then got the whole set of 9 and binged. This may be the best one, but all are smart and surprising.
I’ve read the whole series (9), and if you enjoy watching someone grow and attain goals both personally and professionally, you’ll love these books. Plus some scenes are hilarious.
IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS EVEN IN FICTION. THE CHARACTERS FEEL AS IF OLD FRIENDS.
Love this series. There is action packed suspense and the relationships between Skip and other characters in the series is great.
Police procedural within the ambiance of New Orleans and it’s music. Really enjoyable.
What a good read. Did not know who killed Ham until the very end when it was revealed. Skip Langdon is a feisty police detective. Well written and keep my interest through the entire book. Looking forward to reading more books in the series.
Did not interest me after reading part.
Always an enjoyable read
I love Julie Smith’s “Skip Langdon” series – all of them, and I think I’ve read them all. Best to read in order. The character grows on you – as do the ancillary characters, leading to another little series. I also love the New Orleans setting – and felt I got quite a bit of New Orleans, different districts, the ‘feel’ of the city from various …
Anything Julie writes is great!
Such a wonderful addition to the Skip Langdon series. When Smith brings back a character from an earlier book, she lays him bare and no more secrets will prevail. The readers discover a myriad of clue possibilities, because the newly-made character is so connected to many of the existing characters. Jazz Funeral will become a memorable …
This is one of several series that Julie Smith writes and my favorite of her series. Skip is a police officer in New Orleans and has an eclectic group of friends and a (usually) out of town lover. Although she frequently finds herself frustrated by friends, family, lover, and her job, she also seems to thrive on the mysteries they bring into her …
Quit reading midway. Not interested in story. Maybe just me, not the author.
Needed a trip to New Orleans! This book took me there.
Easy summer reading
I love Julie Smith’s Skip Langdon series! Ms. Smith’s depth of character is amazing…I feel very involved with Skip as she continues to grow, learning who she is, her extended family and their close bonds as well as those of her co-workers. I love the sultry feel to New Orleans given Ms. Smith descriptive nature, the positive as well as the …
Love the characters & the WhoDoneIt intrigue. I read everything by Julie Smith and have never been disappointed.
I love all of Julie Smith’s books. Funny and literate.