A Front-Page Murder

Poppy Denby Investigates #1

by Fiona Veitch Smith

London, 1920. Starry-eyed aspiring reporter Poppy Denby emerges from the steam of the Edinburgh-London train onto the platform at King's Cross with nothing but a trunk of old notebooks and a heart full of dreams. She swaps her quiet northern hometown for the Big Smoke to act as companion for her ailing (but ever-sharp) Aunt Dot, a pioneering Suffragette and former West End leading lady.

She may only be twenty-two, but Miss Denby knows what she wants and quickly lands a job at the Daily Globe. She expects she's going to have to pull up her stockings and work twice as hard as her male colleagues, but what she is not ready to deal with is murder.

It's only Poppy's first day on Fleet Street when one of the Globe's senior reporters falls to his death from the highest staircase - just moments after receiving a mysterious note. Poppy is tasked with finishing his article involving the mysterious death of a suffragette seven years earlier, about which some powerful people would prefer nothing to be said. Did old Bert Isaacs get too close to a scoop?

As Poppy investigates, she is thrown into a world of hard-drinking newspapermen, flappers and jazz clubs, and learns she must tread very carefully indeed. Luckily, she has her new-found friendship with the terribly dashing Globe photographer Daniel Rokeby who seems terribly eager to lend a helping hand...

But first of all, she's got a murder to solve and this might just make the front page.

Previously published as The Jazz Files; shortlisted (as The Jazz Files) for the CWA Historical Dagger.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2015

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Front-Page Murder by Fiona Veitch Smith

Synopsis /

London, 1920. Starry-eyed aspiring reporter Poppy Denby emerges from the steam of the Edinburgh-London train onto the platform at King's Cross with nothing but a trunk of old notebooks and a heart full of dreams. She swaps her quiet northern hometown for the Big Smoke to act as companion for her ailing (but ever-sharp) Aunt Dot, a pioneering Suffragette and former West End leading lady.

She may only be twenty-two, but Miss Denby knows what she wants and quickly lands a job at the Daily Globe. She expects she's going to have to pull up her stockings and work twice as hard as her male colleagues, but what she is not ready to deal with is murder.

It's only Poppy's first day on Fleet Street when one of the Globe's senior reporters falls to his death from the highest staircase - just moments after receiving a mysterious note. Poppy is tasked with finishing his article involving the mysterious death of a suffragette seven years earlier, about which some powerful people would prefer nothing to be said. Did old Bert Isaacs get too close to a scoop?

As Poppy investigates, she is thrown into a world of hard-drinking newspapermen, flappers and jazz clubs, and learns she must tread very carefully indeed. Luckily, she has her new-found friendship with the terribly dashing Globe photographer Daniel Rokeby who seems terribly eager to lend a helping hand...

But first of all, she's got a murder to solve and this might just make the front page


My Thoughts /

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK and Embla Books, and author Fiona Veitch Smith, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for September 24, 2024.

For those of you who follow along, you would know that I enjoy a good cosy mystery and have read 1 or 2 in my time (full disclosure: yeah, a slight underestimate - so you can hit me with your best guess and I’ll let you know if you’re close).

A Front-Page Murder is the first book in the series titled “Poppy Denby Investigates” written by Fiona Veitch Smith and was first published back in 2015 under the previous title, The Jazz Files. And I have to say, I’m loving the rebranding Embla Books!

Departing Northumbria by train, Poppy Denby is headed to her aunt’s home in Morpeth. The daughter of a Methodist minister, Poppy has led a somewhat sheltered existence but is excited to be coming to Morpeth to act as a companion to her invalid aunt. Up until a tragic accident left her wheelchair bound, Poppy’s aunt Dot was a former West End leading actress and an active member of the WSPU. The Women's Social and Political Union was a women-only political movement and leading militant organisation campaigning for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom.

However, when Poppy finally arrives at Morpeth, Aunt Dot admits it was all a ruse - a distraction to get her out from under her parents watchful eye and give her a chance at making a better life for herself; a chance to experience life as it’s meant to be lived.

Taking advantage of her new found ‘freedom’, Poppy tries her luck at securing a post as a cub reporter with the local paper, The Daily Globe; and to her great excitement is hired as an assistant to the man running the show, the paper’s editor, Rollo Rolandson.

Poppy’s excitement quickly turned to terror when, on her first day in the job, Bert Isaacs (a senior reporter) falls to his death at the Globe’s offices. According to Rollo, Bert was working on a story that, when finished, had the potential to implicate several influential people in something sinister. Flashback to 1913, and Miss Elizabeth Dorchester, daughter of wealthy and influential politician Lord Melvyn Dorchester, was one of a group of women that had been arrested at a protest rally and charged. Her father decreed her mentally unstable and had his young daughter committed to a healthcare facility, stating that she was of fragile mental disposition; and she still remains seven years later. Bert, apparently, never believed Lord Dorchester’s claim about his daughter.

Poppy is left to wonder if Bert’s death was an accident or something more sinister. Was his demise a direct result of the article he was writing and researching? As Poppy begins to look into Bert’s death she quickly realises there are dangerous people near who do not want the truth coming out.

Bookish Yays:

🌟Location - London 1920 - a classic era for historical mystery fiction.
🌟Characters - Our female protagonist is strong, yet feminine and easy to like and I’m sure she will continue to grow with the series. There is a strong thread of female camaraderie throughout the story, pushing a positive note that women are not easily dissuaded. The unlikeable and corrupt - it will come as no surprise that the old saying ‘money talks’ is apt here. But lookout, because money just might not save you in the end!
🌟Plot - The timeline of the mystery travels from present day 1920 back to 1913 and the author does a good job threading the two together.

Bookish Maybes:

🌟Pace - Throughout the story the pacing was on point, however, the ending was a huge info dump and was rushed and because of this the ending was slightly spoiled for me.

All in, this was a fun and entertaining read and the hope is that this will be another very good series. Looking forward to reading more of Miss Poppy Denby’s adventures in the future.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bonnier Books UK and Embla Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5-stars**

I really enjoyed A Front-Page Murder, which is the first installment of the Poppy Denby Investigates series.

I felt like in comparison to other Cozy Mysteries I've read lately, it's quite simplistic, but there's nothing wrong with keeping it simple and I mean that.



I had mistakenly believed this was the start to a new series, but it's actually an older series being rereleased. Luckily, since it takes place in a historical time period, it didn't feel dated, as it may have with a more modern backdrop.

This is set in 1920s-London and follows an aspiring female reporter, Poppy Denby. At the start, Poppy is moving to London from her quiet Northern town to live with her Aunt Dot, a once successful former stage actress.



At 22-years old, this is the first time Poppy has forged out on her own, away from her parents. She's excited, but also a little nervous about starting her new life.

Poppy isn't afraid to go after what she wants though, and the ambitious young woman quickly lands a job with the Daily Globe as an Editorial Assistant.

On her first day, one of the Globe's veteran reporter, Bert Isaacs, falls from a balcony within their office building, plunging to his death. This occurs moments after he's received a mysterious note related to his current project.



Isaacs was looking into the death of a local suffragette some 7-years earlier. Due to her Aunt's ties to that movement, Poppy is assigned to help complete the article.

As Poppy begins to investigate, she is thrust headfirst into a dangerous world she never expected to end up in. The more she learns, the deeper she wants to dig. There's a lot to uncover, involving a lot of powerful people, who grow wise quickly to Poppy's lurking about.

The public, and the innocent people involved, have the right to know the truth, and Poppy is determined to get to the bottom of it; to expose the bad actors involved. Justice has just gained a new ally.



As mentioned above, I did enjoy this one quite a bit. Though simple, I did find it compelling enough and I really enjoyed Poppy as a main character.

I liked that this was her first time out on her own. She had a lot to learn, but grew so much more over the course of the story. Though she started out a bit unsure and self-conscious, by the conclusion she's a confident young lady with the world as her oyster.

I would be interested in continuing on with this series. I feel like this has the potential to make me quite attached to these characters. Poppy does have a love interest and I would like to see how that turns out as well.



Thank you to the publisher, Embla Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I hope the rest of the series is rereleased with this style of cover. It's perfectly-fitting for this story and I can't wait to pick the rest up!

[Paul Alkazraji · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the summer of 1920. Charlie Chaplin is in London promoting ‘The Kid’. The Jazz Age is just picking up the tempo of its swing. So, put on your shift dress and get ready to do the ‘swirly-armed’ dance: technically not, as the author explains with a satisfying knowledge of historical detail, the Charleston.

It was the year that Agatha Christie’s first published novel ‘The Mysterious Affair at Styles’ introduced readers to Poirot, Japp and Hastings. Read by the character Poppy in ‘The Jazz Files’, it is an important reference point for period and genre, and we are similarly introduced to some of the cast of this series, which continues with the recently published ‘The Kill Fee’.

Poppy Denby arrives from the lesser-known location of Morpeth to England’s capital to stay with her aunt Dot and companion Grace, in some ways the ‘Hinge and Bracket’ of the era’s feminist movement and apparently friends of Dot’s namesake. Having a journalist protagonist was a winner for me, and we begin to see how this Methodist lass works out the ethical challenges of her profession in the grey zones of investigative reporting.

There follows a classic puzzle of working out just who did what to whom and why, and it unfolds intriguingly (as in any Poirot TV episode my wife is guessing correctly fifteen minutes in whilst I am still floundering half an hour after the closing credits). Only in Paris, for personal reasons, did I feel I wanted more of a sense of place, nevertheless, the enjoyment for me was a tour through the social history of the period that was stodge-free and fun. What emerges is a heart-felt homage to pioneers of women’s liberation.

It is a work written, amongst other reasons, to till the soil in the mainstream, where the use of the occasional ‘b’ word will be of less concern to the average MM (Murder Mystery) reader than the average MU (Mothers' Union) member, though indeed there may be considerable overlap. Tight writing, dialogue that drives the plot forward, and some ‘delicious’ writerly phrases take me back to the larger-than-life aunt Dot. She is described as looking like ‘marshmallows on layers of meringue, clothed in voluminous peach silk… squeezed into a wicker basket chair on wheels’. Very entertaining.



By this reviewer:

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series and it left me wanting to read the next as soon as possible. It is 1920 and Poppy Denby is leaving Nortumbria for London, where she is planning to act as companion to her invalided aunt – former actress and militant suffragette – Dot Denby. However, when she arrives, Dot informs her that her friend, Grace, is all she needs and that it was, in fact, a ruse. She intends Poppy to have a career and so, with great excitement, Poppy decides to take advantage of the new age for women and try her luck in employment.

Before long, Poppy has secured a post at The Daily Globe, where she is hired as an assistant to Rollo Rolandson and meets attractive photographer, Daniel Rokeby. As if becoming employed was not exciting enough, a tragedy occurs when journalist Bert Isaacs falls to his death. Soon Poppy is embroiled in an exciting case, which links up to her aunt’s former life as a suffragette.

This story ties in to Elizabeth Dorchester, who was one of a group of women that protested along with Dot Denby and who is being held, against her will, in a healthcare facility for people of a ‘fragile mental disposition,’ Was Bert trying to help her and are Elizabeth’s father and brother involved in his death? The novel returns to events in 1913 and weaves a fascinating tale and a great mystery, with excellent characters. I look forward to reading more of Polly’s adventures and think this promises to be a very good series. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppy Denby is an aspiring journalist. She arrives in London supposedly to care for her Aunt Dot, a once famous actress and suffragette who has been for some years in a wheelchair. But her aunt already has a carer in Grace. Instead Aunt Dot has other ideas for Poppy. She sends Poppy out looking for a job. Poppy scores a job on The Daily Globe as an editorial assistant, which is something of an office assistant and tidy upper, to Rollo Rolandson. But when on her first day in the job, Bert Isaacs, a senior reporter dies unexpectedly, Poppy is given the task of finishing the story he was working on, a story that involves the death of a suffragette seven years earlier. But there are influential people who do not want this story to come to light. Poppy begins to wonder if Bert’s death was an accident or something more sinister. Poppy, a minister’s daughter is introduced to Delilah Marconi, an actress and they quickly become friends. Delilah introduces Poppy to London of the Roaring Twenties with its flappers and jazz clubs. As Poppy delves further into Bert’s case she is embroiled in a mystery that covers incidents from years ago that may not be quite as they seemed. It also involves a young woman who has been held prisoner in a mental asylum. Can Poppy uncover the links between all these events before more people die?
Initially, not knowing it was art of a series, I had read book 4, The Cairo Brief which I enjoyed. So it was a no brainer to go back to the beginning of the series and follow the journey through with Poppy. I really like her as a main character. She is easy to relate to. I also liked the editor Rollo, who is interesting, as is the very spirited and unconventional Delilah. Of course there is also a romantic interest working at the daily Globe called Daniel. But will that romance go anywhere or are there reasons against that happening?
The story contains a number of real historical people including Marie Curie Lilian Baylis, Robert Atkins, and Charlie Chapin. To make it all clear the real people and their jobs are listed along with fictional chracters at the front of the book.
There is a lot going on in this entertaining mystery, a great deal of conspiracy and people with secrets they do not want uncovered. I found it an excellent read that kept my interest throughout. I will look forward now to some of the other books that feature Poppy. Although a little naïve at times, she is thoughtful, clever, determined, and a delight. A highly recommended cosy mystery that kept me turning the pages.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppy Denby arrives in London in 1920 with a dream of making her own way in life. She's been invited by her former suffragette, wheelchair-bound Aunt Dot to be Dot's companion. But, Aunt Dot disabuses her of the idea, saying this was a ploy to get the smart young woman away from her home and traditional parents so she could forge a bright, interesting path in London, rather than tend to Dot. Aunt Dot lives with Grace Wilson, also a former suffragette and now accountant. They're both supportive of Poppy, who decides she wants to be a reporter.

After a short interview with the unconventional editor at the Daily Globe, Rollo Rolandson, she's hired on as his editorial assistant, which at first means cleaning up his office. But, with the sudden death of political editor Bert Isaacs, Poppy is put on to the story he was investigating, which entailed determining what had happened to Elizabeth Dorchester, also a former suffragette and colleague of her Aunt Dot and Grace. Bert's story had the potential to implicate people outspoken against the suffragettes in the past, and who now hold influential positions, so there's some question whether Bert's death was due to natural causes.

We find out Elizabeth has been confined for years at an asylum, and neither her industrialist-politician father, Lord Melvyn Dorchester, nor her arrogant brother, Viscount Alfie Dorchester, are eager to see her release. Melvyn is looking to invest in Marie Curie's work, and word of Elizabeth's situation, and his actions against suffragettes could quickly sour the deal with the scientist, who is keen on the rights of women.

Poppy also makes the acquaintance of the captivating actor Delilah Marconi, whose mother was also a suffragette, and colleague of Elizabeth, Dot and Grace, but whose death in 1910 was deemed a suicide.

Poppy is a naïve, earnest and forthright woman. She quickly realizes that though Dot brought her to London under false pretenses, she has a tremendous opportunity, which she grabs with both hands.

Rollo sees that Poppy has potential, and soon finds she also has good instincts. One of the newspaper photographers, Daniel Rokeby, sees the same, but also is attracted to the young woman, as she is to him. Interestingly, Rokeby also served with Alfie Dorchester during the recent war, and has no respect for the bullying, privileged and cowardly man.

Poppy investigates, and soon begins building a case of domestic abuse, political and police interference, wrongful incarceration, and a secret about a particular wartime action.

Though the pacing is a little slow, I loved all the historical details of this post-war period, as well as the differing political views of the characters. Poppy, though quite sheltered at the beginning, gains an education over the course of her investigation, and a more realistic assessment about the people she's met in London.

I liked this first Poppy Denby mystery, and look forward to reading more of her adventures.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Bonnier Books UK for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Carole Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at The Power of Words: http://bit.ly/1pRjMPv

The Jazz Files, a delightful historical mystery set in London during the early 1920s, simply sparkles. Fiona Veitch Smith has done a wonderful job blending characters, setting, and plot together in a way that pulls you into the story. The mystery is well-crafted and I enjoyed the historical element as well – politics, dress styles, and what the world was like for women at the time. I haven’t read a lot of fiction set during the Roaring Twenties and wasn’t even sure I would even like this era, but I was hooked from the first page. I do want to point out, however, that this is Christian fiction published in England, which is not as conservative as what American readers are used to.

Poppy, daughter of a Methodist minister in Northumbria, is an engaging and refreshing new character in the world of amateur detectives, and her job at The Daily Globe in London gives credence to her investigating. The title alone hints at an intriguing story, for in the newspaper world, jazz file is a descriptive term applied to “any story that has a whiff of high society scandal but can’t yet be proven.” Powerful men in the House of Lords, police corruption, a vigilante group within the suffragette movement, and unexplained events going back seven years are woven together in this fascinating story.

Supporting characters are unusual and likeable, making me want to spend more time in Poppy’s world. She is a woman of faith and I found it interesting how the question of ethics came into play in the same way that it does today. Whenever the need for deceit and untruth arose in her investigations, Poppy wrestled with how far to go in order to achieve the greater good – and there are no easy answers, then or now.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Jazz Files and look forward to Poppy’s next case.

Recommended.

Thank you to Kregel for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy Denby has travelled to London to make a new life for herself staying with her Aunt Dot - and her friend, Grace. They were both Suffragettes and Poppy, in spite of her conventional upbringing, wants a career.

Poppy worries that she has deceived her parents - with her Aunt's help - as they think she is going to be a companion to Dot. Poppy responds to an advertisement for an assistant to the editor of the Globe newspaper and gets the job. She is actually being employed to sort out all the editor's files but she quickly finds herself writing her first story.

What follows is a fast paced story with plenty of period detail and some marvellous characters. The year is 1920 and the country is still reeling from the effects of World War I. This is an era when women don't have the vote and just aren't wanted in most jobs. It is acceptable for husbands to beat their wives and children and women can find themselves in asylums for just daring to question the status quo. Elizabeth Dorchester finds herself in this situation and Poppy finds herself involved with Elizabeth and her plight.

I really enjoyed this well written historical crime mystery and I loved Poppy and I'm looking forward to reading more books featuring her and the various characters at the Globe - especially Daniel the photographer and Rollo the editor. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poppy Denby Investigates series, Book #1

Poppy Denby is a new journalist at The Daily Globe newspaper. Her aunt, Dorothy Denby, is a famous actress and a suffragette. The setting is London in the 1920's. Poppy has taken over the research and the writing of the political article journalist Bert Isaacs started. Isaacs has fallen to his death from the balcony staircase of The Daily Globe. Poppy's research will take her to the past when a member of the Chelsea Six, a militant WSPU (Women's Social and Political Union), dies by falling in front of a train. The question is did she commit suicide or was she pushed? Poppy's search will lead her to Elizabeth Dorchester, the daughter of Lord Melvyn Dorchester. Elizabeth is in an asylum and is believed to be the last person to see Goria Marconi alive. But someone is trying to keep the truth from being known. It is Poppy's job to lay all the facts before her editor, Rollo Rolandson. With the help of Delilah Marconi, Gloria's daughter, and Elizabeth, Poppy obtains the evidence she needs to discover the forces against the WSPU and the death of Gloria Marconi. But can she get the evidence to Rollo before she becomes the next victim?

This was a good book. I'm rating it four stars because I detected the filler in the middle of the book, which caused the plot to drag a bit. This is s well-written novel with catchy dialog, an intricate plot and snappy setting. The author portrays the 1920's as an age where young people wanted to create a bright new world. Ms. Fiona Veitch Smith provides a nice Historical Notes and a website -- www.poppydenby.com -- to further the readers interest in this Era. She also provides a list of books for further study.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received a free copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review**

Poppy Denby travels from her home in the North of England to live with her Aunt Dot in London, who has requested her help due to her now being disabled. However on arrival it becomes clear that this was all a ruse to get Poppy from under her parents’ feet, where Dot believes she would never flourish, and out into the big, wide world to follow her dream of being a journalist.

It’s not until a senior reporter at ‘The Globe’ newspaper is killed though, that Poppy is given a shot at proving that a woman can be just as good a reporter as a man.

Taking on the case that the now deceased reporter was working on, Poppy is thrust into a world of secrets, corruption and betrayal spanning many years. It would seem however that someone doesn’t want the truth to be outed, which ends up putting Poppy’s life in danger, more than once.

Can she uncover the truth, and get it reported before she is stopped in her tracks?

Every now and then there comes a book which you really connect with. It contains characters that you can fall in love with, and a period of time in history that makes you want to have experienced it first hand. This for me, was one of those books.

Poppy Denby is a remarkable woman, living in a period of time that was a “man’s” world. A time, when not many years before, women were doing the unthinkable, and breaking the law to obtain the same rights for women as men have.

I loved Poppy right from the start. She oozes confidence and wants to prove to the world that although she may be a woman, she is no push over. With her Aunt Dot and her Aunt’s friend Grace, both former suffragettes, Poppy has all the encouragement and backing that any woman could want.

Taking on a case from a senior news reporter who has been killed, especially when the suspicions were that he was murdered to stop him uncovering the truth, was daunting for Poppy, but she was determined to find out the truth, even in the face of adversity.

Fiona Veitch Smith has done a wonderful job in researching and showcasing her knowledge of the 1920s. I felt like I had travelled back in time and was standing in the middle of London, taking in the world around me. It was energising to see how people coped without today’s mod-cons.

Rollo, the editor in charge of ‘The Globe’ was a fascinating character who brought the humour into the story. He had no qualms with going up against the big dogs and taking on their lawyers, and the police if it got the story out to the people of London and beyond.

The relationship between Poppy and photographer Daniel was heart warming. It ebbed and flowed throughout, and I was routing for the two of them to finally be a couple, as they seemed perfectly fitting together.

The Jazz Files is a fabulous book that I devoured exceptional quickly. I am now eager to read book two when it is released, as I can’t wait to see what else is install for young Poppy Denby.

Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

“It’s what we call any story that has a whiff of high society scandal but can’t yet be proven … you never know when a skeleton in the closet might prove useful to a story we’re working on now.”

The Jazz Files is a British historical mystery with a unique setting and a unique cast of characters. Poppy Denby is a very likable heroine, a young woman from a sheltered background navigating her way through London at the height of the Roaring 20s. You can almost hear jazz playing as a soundtrack of sorts to her adventures, so vivid is the setting and mood.

The other characters are just as vibrant. Rollo – her boss at The Daily Globe, a small American with a large personality. Poppy’s Aunt Dot – still a bit of a diva in her own right. Delilah – Poppy’s best friend, an actress, modern and feisty but still vulnerable. And a hodgepodge of other colorful people we meet along the way.

As far as mysteries go, this one was full of suffragette history which added another layer of intrigue if you’re a history geek like I am. The pacing lagged a bit at times but overall this was well-plotted and well-played. Reading about the struggles that Aunt Dot and her suffragette friends faced in the past … and the battles any woman trying to break out of the traditional mold still faced … made me proud to be female and grateful for those who paved the way for the freedoms I take for granted today.

Bottom Line: Poppy Denby is a refreshing face in the historical mystery genre. She’s strong but feminine and she’s easy for any one to relate to, no matter your background or walk of life. Her newspaper job, her forays into the jazz scene, her aunt’s suffragette friends – all of these add further dimension to Poppy’s character and make the read that much more layered. Some of the history overpowers the plot in some instances, but overall it adds to it. The mystery, including the occasional switch to Elizabeth’s perspective, is typically British and while slow in parts it remains intriguing throughout.

Reviewer’s Note: As this book is written by a British author, it contains some words and themes which American readers may not be used to seeing in Christian fiction.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Mazzou B · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent mystery capturing the feeling of the time period. Only thing I didn't like about it was all the feministic stuff which unfortunately formed the basis for the story. However, the main characters were good for the most part. This book left me wishing to read the sequel!

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poppy Denby travels from Morpeth to London to live with her Aunt Dot and gets a job at a newspaper and then is involved in a murder investigation!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars

This was entertaining and informative. This is the second time this year that I've read a book set in the 1920s that has a realistic feel and is not just partying all the time.

I look forward to see where this is going as the series progresses.

[Cleopatra Pullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being interested in women’s rights throughout history, this book which harks back to the 1920s and features Poppy Denby who works for The Daily Globe, initially as an office assistant, this book caught my eye. Unsurprisingly as it has a beautiful cover!

Poppy Denby moves from the north of England to stay with her aunt in London, a militant suffragette, and gets a job working at The Daily Globe. She has only just started when one of the other reporters dies in mysterious circumstances. With the other reporters following their own stories Poppy starts to investigate the story he was working on and to the archives to unearth the treasures in the jazz files

“It’s what we call any story that has a whiff of high society scandal but can’t yet be proven… you never know when a skeleton in the closet might prove useful.”

The leads see Poppy visiting an asylum, meeting a despicable Lord and his son and a information about her aunt and her fellow militant suffragettes back when the campaigning done was at its fiercest.

There is lots to love about this book, despite it being crime fiction and detailing what the suffragettes went through in order to get the vote, it also has quite a light feel to it – Poppy following the leads to write her first piece of journalism felt like a romp mirroring the mood of the day in 1920s London. There is also a small bit of a frothy romance to ensure that the storyline doesn’t get too morose.

It is great to read a book where the majority of the major characters are women who for the most part are supportive of each other, devoid of jealousy or malice. As well as her aunt, Poppy makes friends with an actress, Delilah who introduces Poppy to the jazz clubs and the latest fashions. As well as a bunch of great characters this book is also solidly based on research although the author does point out at the end where she has taken a rare liberty with time-lines or real people and why she has done so. I certainly got the feeling that I had been transported back in time where horses still featured on the roads more often than cars and where men dismissed women’s abilities to work, make decisions or in fact much at all! At the same time we have Poppy who although not political, realises that there is more to life than working at the Methodist mission, as she did while living with her parents. Although of course that work didn’t put her life in danger the way her investigation does.

I’d like to thank the publishers Lion Hudson PLC for allowing me to read a copy of this book. When Poppy Denby takes on her next investigation, I will be there.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brings us to a time just after the first World War, and people, or rather woman fighting for some rights, and the men who a really oppose and want women put in there place, at any cost. The main character is Poppy Denby, who has come to stay with her Aunt Dot in London, having led a sheltered life up to now as the daughter of a Methodist minister, what a new life she is about to have.
We follow Poppy, and it seems like there is never a dull moment from the time she arrives until the end of the book. We think we know most of the answers, but in reality we do not. We find that there is a lot of evil out there, and Aunt Dot is in a wheelchair because of it. Another friend was murdered, and when an employee of the Globe, where Poppy has just secured her first job, falls to his death, because of her connections through Aunt Dot she is give a special assignment.
We get to travel to Paris, and danger follows Poppy, but she does secure more facts, but really wants answers, and to find a way to get Aunt Dot’s friend Elizabeth out of the insane asylum where her dear father has committed her because of her views.
With this read we get it all, we tour London, we revisit history, and we travel with a fast pace mystery. We even get to lay in a window washers wagon, along with trains and ships, and a shadow seems to follow, be careful, you never know when you heart will move into your throat. Enjoy!

I received this book through Kregel Publishing Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library about a month ago attracted by the cover, but not really knowing anything about it, save for the back cover synopsis. Well, I’m so glad I brought this home as I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t recommend it highly enough!

I don’t normally read cosy mysteries as I find them a bit lacking in drama but maybe I’m reading them wrong, as there was lots of drama in this. I loved the 1920s setting, and Poppy Denby is a wonderful character I was rooting for right from the beginning. Her character development from naive Methodist minister’s daughter, to London journalist is so good and something I totally believed in.

The historical context was brilliant with stories of the suffragettes, the new X-Ray machines being developed by Marie Curie, Charlie Chaplin visiting London, a new woman mystery writer called Agatha Christie and of course the Jazz in the title. I loved it all and got wonderfully lost in it’s pages for a just over 24 hours.

I thoroughly recommend this if you enjoy historical fiction and cosy mysteries, or like me you’re looking for a new series to read.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

London, 1920 & Poppy Denby travels from Morpeth to go to live with her disabled Aunt Dot a former actress & suffragette. Poppy’s parents think their daughter is going to be a companion but Dot & Poppy have other thoughts. Poppy may only be twenty-two, but she’d love to be a reporter is thrilled when she lands the job of the editor’s assistant at the Daily Globe. She expects she's going to have to work twice as hard as her male colleagues. On Poppy's first day one of the Globe's senior reporters falls to his death from the highest staircase - just moments after receiving a mysterious note. Poppy is tasked with finishing his article involving the mysterious death of a suffragette seven years earlier, about which some powerful people would prefer nothing to be said. As Poppy investigates, she is thrown into a world of hard-drinking newspapermen, flappers and jazz clubs, and learns she must tread very carefully indeed.
This book was first published in 2015 as The Jazz Files. The first in the series & I quickly grew to love Poppy who’s an endearing mix of innocence & intelligence. She’s certainly thrown into the deep end & is aided by photographer Daniel Rokeby, her Aunt & Delilah. There are a few mysteries was Bert pushed off the staircase? why is Elizabeth kept incarcerated? how did Easling rise through the ranks so quickly? I thoroughly enjoyed how Poppy gradually unravelled the mysteries, there are plenty of secrets & corruption as well as an insight into the beginning of the Roaring Twenties. I look forward to the rest of the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Danail Dobrev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Лондон, 1920 г. - град на шум, джаз, цигарен дим и промяна. 🎺 В този свят на ново начало пристига Попи Денби - млада жена с мечта и сърце, което не познава страх. Още с първите страници историята те въвлича в онова очарователно усещане на епоха, в която жените започват да се изправят срещу правилата на мъжкия свят.

Сюжетът се развива бавно, но стабилно - като стара грамофонна плоча, която скърца, но звучи приятно. 🕰️ Смъртта на журналист във „Дейли Глоуб“ отприщва верига от разкрития, в които има всичко - политически интриги, суфражетки, тайни от миналото и една младa репортерка, която отказва да се откаже.

Признавам, очаквах малко повече напрежение и изненади - мистерията е добре изградена, но предвидима, а темпото на места ми се стори прекалено спокойно. 🤔 Все пак авторката успява да компенсира с невероятна атмосфера: джаз клубове, трамваи, репортери с шапки и дами с червило в тъмночервено - усещането за 20-те е просто магнетично. 💃

Попи е симпатична героиня - умна, упорита и с онзи тип чар, който те кара да ѝ симпатизираш, дори когато действията ѝ не са особено логични. Връзката ѝ с леля Дот добавя топлина и хумор, а страничните персонажи придават цвят, макар и да не се запомнят силно.

📚 Като цяло, „Джаз досиета“ е уютна историческа мистерия – не толкова трилър, колкото интелигентен пъзел с лека нотка чар. Идеална за моментите, когато ти се чете нещо класическо, спокойно и стилно.

Ако обичаш „Имението Даунтън“, но търсиш женски глас с журналисти��ески нюанс - Попи Денби може да ти хареса. А аз? Аз ще ѝ дам своите 3.5 звезди - за атмосферата, духа на епохата и едно приятно джазово приключение. 🎩✨

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jazz Files by Fiona Veitch Smith is a marvellous historical novel and the first book in the Poppy Denby Investigates series. It is set in 1920 as Britain is recovering from WWI and then a flu epidemic. The 1920’s promises to be a glorious new decade but for some there are old crimes to solve.
With her heart set on being a reporter, Poppy Denby seems to just fall into amateur sleuthing. Her reporter’s nose spots when things are not quite right. She sets her sights on righting the wrongs of the past. The Jazz Files is very reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple.
The theme of the story surrounds the suffragettes. They were treated abominably and still seem to be being pursued. Historical details merge with fiction to produce a cracking story.
There are some difficult to read scenes set inside an asylum. Once committed it was nigh on impossible to get out. It was also a place to ‘lose’ unwanted female family members who were seen as a nuisance.
A female camaraderie runs throughout the novel. These women are strong characters and not easily put down as they have a will to survive.
Money seems to talk and to corrupt as characters try to change how history will view them.
The Jazz Files was a perfect afternoon’s reading. It would translate beautifully into television viewing – any producers out there please take note.
I am now going to move onto book two in the series.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Цвети Запрева · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Джаз досиета“ беше едно от онези четива, в които потъваш още от първите страници. Най-силно ме впечатли начинът, по който авторката вплита лекотата на едно ново начало с напрежението на истинска мистерия. Лондон от 20-те е жив, цветен и шумен.

Попи Денби е героиня, към която много бързо се привързах. Има онзи вид смелост, която не е шумна, а идва от сърцето - желание да се докаже, любопитство към света и готовност да рискува, за да направи правилното. Хареса ми и връзката ѝ с леля Дот - топла, подкрепяща, женска сила, която придава много чар на историята.

Разследването се развива естествено, без излишно бързане, но с достатъчно напрежение, за да те кара да обръщаш страница след страница. Темите за женската борба за равноправие, за властта, която може да прикрива неудобни истини, и за цената на истината придават тежест, която допълва приятната приключенска атмосфера.

За мен книгата беше чудесен баланс между исторически роман, мистерия и лична история за порастване. Обещаващо начало на една увлекателна криминална поредица.

[Roshini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical mystery set in the backdrop of the suffragette movement in the UK. Poppy is an interesting character and well written, and I am curious to see how she grows over the series. The book is paced well and keeps you engaged. The mystery isn’t too hard to figure out, but that’s not really what the story is about anyway.

[JEDKEN · Rating 5 out of 5]

En 1920-tals historia om ett första hos en nyhetstidning. Där ett assistent jobb ändras ett en utredande journalist. Om skadeler i vängrupper och hur det är att vara kvinna mot en mannsvärd.
Hennes aunts kompis är den som gör. Men grabben och hans pappa är dem som man ska akta sig för.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute mystery! Definitely done a great job mixing in historical events to a completely fictional story. Loved it!

[ReviewerLarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me. It was fun, engaging and with a good mystery. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Sarah Imray · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome book

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

As a fan of the Miss Clara Vale series from Fiona Veitch Smith, I jumped at the chance to read the first in the Poppy Fenby Investigates series.
This is a really enjoyable, fast-paced mystery. The links to the suffragette movement within the investigation Poppy finds herself involved in are fascinating.
Fiona has written such an intriguing story - full of great characters, strong women, and a great mystery to investigate- all set to the background of the rise in the fight for women’s rights.

[marita lazarus · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a refreshing story

Great read and I love the history behind it.... I fell in love with the characters and with Poppy and her editor

can't wait to read the whole series

[Ralinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Това заглавие определено е от онези, които увличат без усилие-леко, но написани с такъв фин усет към детайла, че всяка страница носи своя собствена магия. Фиона Вийч Смит създава свят, в който звуците на джаза се преплитат с пулса на една променяща се епоха, а между редовете звучи гласът на една млада жена, решена да се пребори за своето място. Блясъкът и вълнението от новата ѝ кариера бързо добиват мрачен оттенък, когато един от репортерите на вестника умира внезапно при загадъчни обстоятелства. Макар смъртта му да е обявена за нещастен инцидент, Попи-както и нейният обаятелен колега, фотографът Даниел-не могат да се отърсят от съмнението, че истината е много по-дълбока и по-мрачна, отколкото някой иска да признае.

Това ,което следва е изящно разгърнато разследване, изпълнено с улики, тайни и скандали от висшето общество-от задимените джаз клубове на Лондон до шумните редакции, където една млада жена се осмелява да търси истината.Вийч Смит майсторски вплита история, която е едновременно лека и напрегната, улавяйки чара на 20-те години и пулса на истинската мистерия.

Стилът на писане е изключително приятел-плавен, жив и изпълнен с онази лекота, която кара страниците да се прелистват една след друга. Авторката не натоварва с излишна информация, а изгражда атмосферата постепенно-чрез нюанси, диалози и финно поднесен хумор. Усеща се духът на 20-те години ,времето на промяна, свобода и женска независимост, без това да бъде натрапено или претенциозно.

Героите са прекрасно изградени и запомнящи се. Попи Денби е смела, интелигентна и сърдечна-героиня,която не се нуждае от силни думи ,за да докаже колко е способна. Връзката ѝ с леля Дот носи топлина и човечност, а взаимодействието ѝ с останалите персонажи придава на историята искреност и живост.

Мистерията се развива плавно, но достатъчно интригуващо ,за да ме държи в напрежение до самия край. Тя не тежи, не плаши, а по-скоро те приканва да разсъждаваш и разследваш заедно с героите.

„Джаз досиета“ е уютно, стилно и едновременно изпълнено с живот заглавия. Доказва, че не е нужно една книга да бъде драматична, за да бъде въздействаща.

[Grace Tenkay · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable historical mystery.