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1920s Murder Mystery #2
The Soho Jazz Murders
Jazz, dancing, nightclubs and drug gangs...
It’s January 1923 and London feels dreary. So Marjorie and Mrs Jameson are keen to meet the American Ambassador’s niece, a genuine 1920s flapper with a love of jazz, dancing and fun.
But a night out at Soho’s famous Harlequin Club comes to a fatal finish. Soon Marjorie is working undercover as a dance hostess to unmask the drugs gangs that threaten the West End. It’s a perilous occupation - and the deaths are not over yet. The Soho Jazz Murders is the second in the 1920s murder mystery series, featuring the irresistible apprentice detective Marjorie Swallow. It will be published in January 2024.
It’s January 1923 and London feels dreary. So Marjorie and Mrs Jameson are keen to meet the American Ambassador’s niece, a genuine 1920s flapper with a love of jazz, dancing and fun.
But a night out at Soho’s famous Harlequin Club comes to a fatal finish. Soon Marjorie is working undercover as a dance hostess to unmask the drugs gangs that threaten the West End. It’s a perilous occupation - and the deaths are not over yet. The Soho Jazz Murders is the second in the 1920s murder mystery series, featuring the irresistible apprentice detective Marjorie Swallow. It will be published in January 2024.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2025
92 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 15, 2025
The Soho Jazz Murders was another top tier cozy mystery for me. The story was well paced, the investigation and the action were perfectly timed.
We meet up again with Marjorie and Ms Jameson... who are asked by an old friend of Ms Jameson to meet and lightly investigate his niece. Then murder happens. Majorie goes undercover in a Jazz Club as part of the investigation and becomes embroiled in the grittier aspects of London.
For a cozy mystery, I would say this hits all my buttons on being a little darker, a little more "real life" and thereby, I loved it.
The mystery was well done and while I narrowed down my suspect list, I wasn't prepared for a late horse to enter the race which was glorious and fun.
LGBT representation again with a prominent character. Little hints of romance for Marjorie.
Overall, I am a solid fan of this series and definitely recommend if you like the cozy genre with a little bit of grit. The audio was top notch.
We meet up again with Marjorie and Ms Jameson... who are asked by an old friend of Ms Jameson to meet and lightly investigate his niece. Then murder happens. Majorie goes undercover in a Jazz Club as part of the investigation and becomes embroiled in the grittier aspects of London.
For a cozy mystery, I would say this hits all my buttons on being a little darker, a little more "real life" and thereby, I loved it.
The mystery was well done and while I narrowed down my suspect list, I wasn't prepared for a late horse to enter the race which was glorious and fun.
LGBT representation again with a prominent character. Little hints of romance for Marjorie.
Overall, I am a solid fan of this series and definitely recommend if you like the cozy genre with a little bit of grit. The audio was top notch.
September 2, 2024
I love this series!
August 4, 2025
The writing was light and held my attention from the beginning right through to the end. The chapters were generally short and snappy so you moved through the story well. There was a good flow to the book so I was quite happy to read it for long periods of time. There was a fair amount of information that was given to you, but it was done in a controlled way which meant that you never felt like it was too much.
There was a good pace to the story, so whilst there were a couple of theories that we were exploring, you still moved forward well. There were a few surprises along the way, which helped to keep my interest.
The characters were good. I love the Mrs Jameson and Marjorie Swallow team. Whilst Mrs Jameson works in the background, it is she who gets Marjorie mixed up in high end escapades. I like how Marjorie is gradually getting used to the grandeur that Mrs Jameson surrounds herself, yet she is still reminds herself of where she came from and brings herself back down to earth. I like how the characters opinions are of their time and keep us in the 1920s (as you would expect). It is sometimes good to be reminded of what it was like back then so that we can learn from it and move on.
Lastly the settings. I love this era. What I enjoyed about this book was the mix of social class. You got to experience both ends of the scale in this story. The details of the settings were light, but still managed to drag you in.
Overall an excellent read.
There was a good pace to the story, so whilst there were a couple of theories that we were exploring, you still moved forward well. There were a few surprises along the way, which helped to keep my interest.
The characters were good. I love the Mrs Jameson and Marjorie Swallow team. Whilst Mrs Jameson works in the background, it is she who gets Marjorie mixed up in high end escapades. I like how Marjorie is gradually getting used to the grandeur that Mrs Jameson surrounds herself, yet she is still reminds herself of where she came from and brings herself back down to earth. I like how the characters opinions are of their time and keep us in the 1920s (as you would expect). It is sometimes good to be reminded of what it was like back then so that we can learn from it and move on.
Lastly the settings. I love this era. What I enjoyed about this book was the mix of social class. You got to experience both ends of the scale in this story. The details of the settings were light, but still managed to drag you in.
Overall an excellent read.
January 28, 2024
The Soho Jazz Murders by Anna Sayburn Lane is the second book in the 1920 Murder Mystery series. It is a delightful and humorous mystery set in the Jazz Age, AKA the Roaring Twenties. This second book of the series has all the sparkle of the Jazz Age colliding with the darkness of drug trafficking, cocaine and opium dens.
Mrs. Jameson, an American Private Investigator, and her secretary/apprentice investigator, Marjorie Swallow are invited to dine at the residence of the American Ambassador to England. They are joined by the ambassador’s daughter, Felicity, along with his niece, Daisy, visiting from the States and the ambassador’s Secretary, John Franklin. The niece is a fun-loving flapper, but young, just 19. Mr. Franklin escorts Marjorie, Daisy and Felicity to Harlequin Jazz Club in Soho for a night of jazz music and dancing. The next day Daisy is found dead in her bedroom.
The ambassador, who is a great friend of Mrs. Jameson, asks her to investigate the death. Marjorie masquerades as a dance hostess at the Harlequin to find clues to Daisy’s death. Mrs. Jameson and Marjorie do, of course, solve the mystery. I encourage you to read the book to find out who killed Daisy.
The Soho Jazz Murders was a fun and thrilling read. I look forward to the next 1920 Murder Mystery. I was honored to receive an advance copy of The Soho Jazz Murders. This is my voluntary honest review.
Mrs. Jameson, an American Private Investigator, and her secretary/apprentice investigator, Marjorie Swallow are invited to dine at the residence of the American Ambassador to England. They are joined by the ambassador’s daughter, Felicity, along with his niece, Daisy, visiting from the States and the ambassador’s Secretary, John Franklin. The niece is a fun-loving flapper, but young, just 19. Mr. Franklin escorts Marjorie, Daisy and Felicity to Harlequin Jazz Club in Soho for a night of jazz music and dancing. The next day Daisy is found dead in her bedroom.
The ambassador, who is a great friend of Mrs. Jameson, asks her to investigate the death. Marjorie masquerades as a dance hostess at the Harlequin to find clues to Daisy’s death. Mrs. Jameson and Marjorie do, of course, solve the mystery. I encourage you to read the book to find out who killed Daisy.
The Soho Jazz Murders was a fun and thrilling read. I look forward to the next 1920 Murder Mystery. I was honored to receive an advance copy of The Soho Jazz Murders. This is my voluntary honest review.
October 14, 2024
"The Soho Jazz Murders" is book #2 in the "1920s Murder Mystery" series by Anna Sayburn Lane.
My thoughts:
A thoroughly entertaining 1920s mystery with engaging core characters. The murder was shocking, but the investigation into it, proved to have many twists before the stunning resolution. Along the way there were also a couple of places that found Marjorie Swallow and others in great danger! Vivid descriptions of the era add to the fun and intrigue of this engaging story.
"Jazz, dancing, nightclubs and drug gangs...
It’s January 1923 and London feels dreary. So Marjorie and Mrs Jameson are keen to meet the American Ambassador’s niece, a genuine 1920s flapper with a love of jazz, dancing and fun.
But a night out at Soho’s famous Harlequin Club comes to a fatal finish. Soon Marjorie is working undercover as a dance hostess to unmask the drugs gangs that threaten the West End. It’s a perilous occupation - and the deaths are not over yet."
My thoughts:
A thoroughly entertaining 1920s mystery with engaging core characters. The murder was shocking, but the investigation into it, proved to have many twists before the stunning resolution. Along the way there were also a couple of places that found Marjorie Swallow and others in great danger! Vivid descriptions of the era add to the fun and intrigue of this engaging story.
"Jazz, dancing, nightclubs and drug gangs...
It’s January 1923 and London feels dreary. So Marjorie and Mrs Jameson are keen to meet the American Ambassador’s niece, a genuine 1920s flapper with a love of jazz, dancing and fun.
But a night out at Soho’s famous Harlequin Club comes to a fatal finish. Soon Marjorie is working undercover as a dance hostess to unmask the drugs gangs that threaten the West End. It’s a perilous occupation - and the deaths are not over yet."
January 19, 2024
Series is excellent!
Marjorie and Mrs Jameson are characters I'd like to know and have over for tea! This mystery gives glimpses into their lives as they're being developed into the complex beings they are! We see a vivacious Marjorie with a good grasp on her new independent life. Hidden aspects of Mrs. Jameson are revealed. I enjoyed seeing two minor characters from the first book becoming part of the investigative team and having a larger role in this mystery. This particular mystery of course is solved ~ however, the reader is left with a chilling thought .....is the murderer finished? A relatively new series in which you should definitely invest your time!
Marjorie and Mrs Jameson are characters I'd like to know and have over for tea! This mystery gives glimpses into their lives as they're being developed into the complex beings they are! We see a vivacious Marjorie with a good grasp on her new independent life. Hidden aspects of Mrs. Jameson are revealed. I enjoyed seeing two minor characters from the first book becoming part of the investigative team and having a larger role in this mystery. This particular mystery of course is solved ~ however, the reader is left with a chilling thought .....is the murderer finished? A relatively new series in which you should definitely invest your time!
September 26, 2024
I like Margery and all her friends. This is a cosy mystery set in post-World War I England. They take their crime fughting seriously; look for evidence, follow procedures. They did have to deal with some of the criminal underground in this one. I thought that turned out to be much easier then it probably should have been. The whole solution was a little too pat. I prefer my cosy mysteries without vicious thugs which is why this has 4 stars. That said, the writing is good. The characters are believable and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
January 1, 2024
This was an engaging read that took you through night life in London in the 1920’s. Jazz in nightclubs that were on the shady side of the law, opium dens and East End protection rackets were all to the fore. Yet the denouement was a world away from there, and involved people who would disapprove thoroughly of that energetic, creative, dangerous nightlife. The detective duo are great, one sophisticated, one spirited and game to try anything. All in all an enjoyable novel
January 11, 2024
I enjoyed this, the latest 1920's murder mystery. Marjorie's character is developing well and she is getting bolder and more experienced although, sometimes still a little reckless. Clever plotting and good background description, enabling the reader to experience the jazz age and the hoodlums in East London. Looking forward to reading more from this author
March 22, 2024
Love this Era!
I started this series being not sure if I would like it. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised! I read the first one, and immediately got the second. The characters are fresh, the settings were real, and the story grabs you and pulls up into it. I have already recommended it to one of my friends who also loves mysteries and this time period. Now on to the third!
I started this series being not sure if I would like it. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised! I read the first one, and immediately got the second. The characters are fresh, the settings were real, and the story grabs you and pulls up into it. I have already recommended it to one of my friends who also loves mysteries and this time period. Now on to the third!
February 5, 2024
Wonderful series
I so happy to have discovered Anna Sayburn Lane’s series. Incredibly well written, it evokes the atmosphere of the 1920s beautifully. These mysteries are masterfully crafted, and I look forward to reading the next one.
I so happy to have discovered Anna Sayburn Lane’s series. Incredibly well written, it evokes the atmosphere of the 1920s beautifully. These mysteries are masterfully crafted, and I look forward to reading the next one.
February 29, 2024
Great series!
I just started this series this week. I already can't wait for the next one.
What I like about the most is that you truly don't know who the culprit is until the end. There are lots of suspects with good cause to suspect them.
I just started this series this week. I already can't wait for the next one.
What I like about the most is that you truly don't know who the culprit is until the end. There are lots of suspects with good cause to suspect them.
April 28, 2024
Even better than book 1. So nice to read about a middle-aged woman detective who is smart, thinks before acting, doesn't trip and fall and show her underwear as seems the trend with other writers of the genre. And Marjorie, as sleuth in training, is quick-witted, takes chances but survives. Good series!
August 24, 2025
Better than the first book
Some scary scenes, but our two lady detectives come out on top in the end. A good story with interesting characters, this is better than the usual Kindle unlimited mystery. Recommended
Some scary scenes, but our two lady detectives come out on top in the end. A good story with interesting characters, this is better than the usual Kindle unlimited mystery. Recommended
January 3, 2024
This series just keeps getting better. A fun read.
June 6, 2024
Who killed Daisy Caldwell and Franklin and why??? When you cross the line once it is very easy to cross it again, isn't it??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
November 6, 2024
Note to self--not sure you want to continue this series.
March 10, 2025
I was a little bummed about who the victim was but it was still a good read.
August 22, 2025
This book, the second in the series, disappointed a bit with the story of the Armstrong brothers. There are too many unnecessary minor characters.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews