Murder at a Pricey Club in 1930s Boston

Hamish tries to control his anxiety, but it bursts out at inappropriate times, like his first trial case as a new lawyer. Needing to get away to cope with his problem, he flees to Boston where his cousin, Luca, is opening a jazz club, the Flamingo, in the pricey area of Scollay Square. It’s the 1930s and while the bright young things are looking for a place to escape and spend money, the rest of Boston is not doing so well.

Reggie is tired of her pampered life. She wants to be a career girl like the ones in the movies she sees and the books she reads. When Vaughn, her childhood friend, announces that he and Reggie are engaged, she knows she’s had enough. She escapes through her bedroom window, travels to Boston, and lands a job as Luca’s secretary

Hamish and Reggie are instantly attracted to each other, but think it’s as friends. Drawn together to help Luca with the opening of the Flamingo, they wonder if Luca’s business is all it seems. When a woman is found murdered at the club opening, they become amateur detectives to try to keep Luca out of trouble.

The book paints a picture of Depressions Era Boston with the haves and have-nots living in close proximity, with warm ethnic neighborhoods surrounded by the dark side of the city. Hamish and Reggie are characters you want to get to know. They’re naive, but also smart and loyal.

My problem with the book is that it starts very slowly. Since the author is planning to make this the first book in a series, it makes some sense to spend time on Reggie’s and Hamish’s backgrounds. However, that keeps the action from starting until almost a third of the way through the book. If you can keep going through the slow start, it’s a good read.

I received this book from Booklook Bloggers for this review.