What do you think?
Rate this book
Jax Diamond Mysteries #6
Killjoy
It's a spooky game of who's to blame.
New York City, 1923
The suspicious death of a chorus girl sends PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, to the oldest theater on Broadway. At the murder scene, they stumble upon a clue too bizarre to share with the cops or with Jax’s sweetheart, who would definitely make a haunted mountain out of this eerie little molehill. But one bizarre clue leads to the next.
Laura Graystone, Broadway star and Jax’s fiancée, drags her friends into the investigation after she’s scared out of her wits and finds another dead body. Convinced the ghost of a beautiful actress is behind the murders, they follow the eerie clues and end up in the slammer.
As Jax digs deeper, even he begins to wonder if the elusive killer is as dead as the victims.
(Easily read as a standalone)
New York City, 1923
The suspicious death of a chorus girl sends PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, to the oldest theater on Broadway. At the murder scene, they stumble upon a clue too bizarre to share with the cops or with Jax’s sweetheart, who would definitely make a haunted mountain out of this eerie little molehill. But one bizarre clue leads to the next.
Laura Graystone, Broadway star and Jax’s fiancée, drags her friends into the investigation after she’s scared out of her wits and finds another dead body. Convinced the ghost of a beautiful actress is behind the murders, they follow the eerie clues and end up in the slammer.
As Jax digs deeper, even he begins to wonder if the elusive killer is as dead as the victims.
(Easily read as a standalone)
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2024
37 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Gail Meath
21 books298 followersGail Meath is the author of the multi-award-winning Jax Diamond Mysteries, a fun 1920s series about wise-cracking PI Jax Diamond, his courageous German Shepherd partner, Ace, and Broadway star Laura Graystone, as they, along with a crazy group of friends, solve some of the toughest crimes in New York City. She is alternating that series with her new 1930s Golden Age of Hollywood mysteries series, Stone & Steele, starring Vivian Steele, a widow seeking justice, and Preston Stone, a playboy vigilante. As always, she blends the most lovable characters with a good, solid mystery.
Gail also has a list of other award-winning historical romances, westerns, and fictional biographies of true heroines. She lives in a small village in Upstate New York with her husband and their sweet Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren. Connect with Gail at www.gailmeath.com or Facebook @GailMeathAuthor.
Gail also has a list of other award-winning historical romances, westerns, and fictional biographies of true heroines. She lives in a small village in Upstate New York with her husband and their sweet Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren. Connect with Gail at www.gailmeath.com or Facebook @GailMeathAuthor.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 5, 2023
ASIN: B0C3Y559VV
Publisher: Cranberry Pond Publishing (October 18, 2023)
Publication date: October 18, 2023
In this 6th installment of the award winning Jax Diamond Mysteries series, by author Gail Meath "Killjoy" once again provides us with a tight story line featuring the characters we have come to love. Detective Jax Diamond, his canine partner, Ace, and Jax's fiance Laura Graystone, an up and coming Broadway star, have teamed up to find whoever is killing Broadway chorus girls.
Hang onto your hat as Jax, Laura and Ace speed along the streets of New York City during the roaring twenties as they try to solve a ghostly murder mystery! Jax and Laura are convinced that the death of one of the chorus girls at the theater where Laura is performing was no accident. But can one of the prime suspects really be a ghost? No matter if the killer is from this world or the spirit world they had better hurry. Bodies are starting to pile up, and Laura’s best friend, Jeanie, is about to end up on the killer’s hit list!
I always look forward to any of Gail Meath’s novels, but this series is a true delight as it continues to satisfy from the first page to the last. Plenty of twists and turns and a dose of humor makes the cozy Jax Diamond Mysteries "Killjoy", by author Gail Meath, a must read. These can be read as stand alone books, but you'll get a more satisfying experience by starting at the beginning with "Songbird".
I received this free arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher: Cranberry Pond Publishing (October 18, 2023)
Publication date: October 18, 2023
In this 6th installment of the award winning Jax Diamond Mysteries series, by author Gail Meath "Killjoy" once again provides us with a tight story line featuring the characters we have come to love. Detective Jax Diamond, his canine partner, Ace, and Jax's fiance Laura Graystone, an up and coming Broadway star, have teamed up to find whoever is killing Broadway chorus girls.
Hang onto your hat as Jax, Laura and Ace speed along the streets of New York City during the roaring twenties as they try to solve a ghostly murder mystery! Jax and Laura are convinced that the death of one of the chorus girls at the theater where Laura is performing was no accident. But can one of the prime suspects really be a ghost? No matter if the killer is from this world or the spirit world they had better hurry. Bodies are starting to pile up, and Laura’s best friend, Jeanie, is about to end up on the killer’s hit list!
I always look forward to any of Gail Meath’s novels, but this series is a true delight as it continues to satisfy from the first page to the last. Plenty of twists and turns and a dose of humor makes the cozy Jax Diamond Mysteries "Killjoy", by author Gail Meath, a must read. These can be read as stand alone books, but you'll get a more satisfying experience by starting at the beginning with "Songbird".
I received this free arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2023
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite
The sixth book in the Jax Diamond Mysteries, Killjoy, is a page-turner from start to finish. I honestly couldn't guess who the culprit was until the last few pages. This one is for sleuth mystery aficionados!
Having read a couple of books from this series so far, I have concluded that author Gail Meath has a knack for crafting absorbing murder mysteries that always keep you on the edge. In Killjoy, it's not only Jax playing the central role but also his fiancée Laura, who has a lot of agency in this plot.
Meath has a way with characters that make readers become attached to them and feel invested in their story arcs. Apart from Jax and Laura's relationship, I also enjoyed what their friends Jeanie, Aubrey, Tim, and Carla brought to the tale. The narrative is very well-paced, and you will find it difficult to foresee the unexpected twists and turns of the plot.
The sixth book in the Jax Diamond Mysteries, Killjoy, is a page-turner from start to finish. I honestly couldn't guess who the culprit was until the last few pages. This one is for sleuth mystery aficionados!
Having read a couple of books from this series so far, I have concluded that author Gail Meath has a knack for crafting absorbing murder mysteries that always keep you on the edge. In Killjoy, it's not only Jax playing the central role but also his fiancée Laura, who has a lot of agency in this plot.
Meath has a way with characters that make readers become attached to them and feel invested in their story arcs. Apart from Jax and Laura's relationship, I also enjoyed what their friends Jeanie, Aubrey, Tim, and Carla brought to the tale. The narrative is very well-paced, and you will find it difficult to foresee the unexpected twists and turns of the plot.
February 2, 2024
This is book 6 of the Jax Diamond Mystery series and I have to admit to still not having caught up with the rest of the books that come before - however, I did read book 5 last year, so had some background to the team prior to coming into this one.
It's been a while but was great to be back in 1920's New York and this time heading to the theatre, where a chorus girl has died after being hit by a sandbag.
I absolutely love that the writing style is perfect for this era and really transports us back with it's descriptive passages and great narrative.
Jax again has his trusty sidekick, Ace, who really isn't keen on the theatre and we soon discover that not only was the death mysterious, it looks like the theatre is being haunted! I'm with Ace here, not sure I'd have been keen going in there either!
I loved the creepy vibe that this book has - not just your standard murder mystery this time - dolls appearing and disappearing, lights going on and off and strange noises mean that I was feeling pretty on edge!
Of course this all gets explained and so works ok as a standalone again - but I'm really enjoying this series and really must catch up before the next book comes!!
It's been a while but was great to be back in 1920's New York and this time heading to the theatre, where a chorus girl has died after being hit by a sandbag.
I absolutely love that the writing style is perfect for this era and really transports us back with it's descriptive passages and great narrative.
Jax again has his trusty sidekick, Ace, who really isn't keen on the theatre and we soon discover that not only was the death mysterious, it looks like the theatre is being haunted! I'm with Ace here, not sure I'd have been keen going in there either!
I loved the creepy vibe that this book has - not just your standard murder mystery this time - dolls appearing and disappearing, lights going on and off and strange noises mean that I was feeling pretty on edge!
Of course this all gets explained and so works ok as a standalone again - but I'm really enjoying this series and really must catch up before the next book comes!!
November 3, 2023
This series keeps getting better and better . There is a spooky, ghostly element in Killjoy as Jax, Tim, Laura and company try to get to the bottom of a murder and other strange happenings at the New Amsterdam Theatre. Lilith the cat and Ace added some fun moments and when Laura and friends were arrested I laughed out loud. As always I love being transported to 1920's NYC and behind the Broadway scenes. The addition of old photographs adds another fun element to these engrossing mysteries. I highly recommend the Jax Diamond series to lovers of historical mysteries. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 1, 2023
What a great historical mystery/ ghost story. This was an awesome read. It had just enough suspense and ghostly occurrences to keep you hooked and guessing. Looking forward to the next one. I received an arc copy for a voluntary review.
January 25, 2025
Another Intriguing Mystery by Gail Meath
So far I am thinking that this book, number 6, is my favorite. It has some of the same great characters and some new and interesting ones. I was totally surprised by the ending, it was pretty awesome.
So far I am thinking that this book, number 6, is my favorite. It has some of the same great characters and some new and interesting ones. I was totally surprised by the ending, it was pretty awesome.
August 11, 2025
The Jax Diamond series is truly an enjoyable reading experience. It brings you back into the old days with an exceptional German Shepherd. Once you read book one, you will want to finish the series. I could see this as being a TV series...it's awesome.
.
.
January 27, 2024
I’ve read all the Jax Diamond Mysteries apart from one and I don’t know how I missed it. I love them all. This one could well be my favourite as I love the supernatural element. Is the theatre haunted and could a ghost be responsible for the ‘accidents’? Or is it murder? If so, then that spooky someone is very angry indeed. And you can’t beat a story where not one, but two animals are amongst the main characters.
Ace has a friend in this book and it’s not a human or even another dog. It’s a black cat called Lilith, who seems to have a sixth sense and a ‘nose’ for solving a mystery. Or maybe she’s just a bit witchy – she is after all a black cat.
The bodies are piling up at the theatre and nothing makes sense. Even our intrepid hero Jax is struggling to find a link, but he is far too sceptical to believe a ghost could be responsible. The clues are all a bit odd and appear to point towards the spirit of Olive Thomas, a famous music hall star, who died in Paris under suspicious circumstances a few years ago.
Laura and her friend Jeanie are terrified – theatres are often said to be haunted and superstitions abound. And then there are the scary dolls.
Can Laura, Jax, police officer Tim, his wife Carla and some new characters solve the mystery before anyone else dies? The twist in the tale (not tail ha ha) meant that I had no idea who was responsible until the very end and then it all became very exciting. Another great read from Gail Meath. I hope there will be more Jax Diamond Mysteries in the future. And will it be goodbye to Old Nellie forever and will Lilith become a permanent member of the team? I need answers!
Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
Ace has a friend in this book and it’s not a human or even another dog. It’s a black cat called Lilith, who seems to have a sixth sense and a ‘nose’ for solving a mystery. Or maybe she’s just a bit witchy – she is after all a black cat.
The bodies are piling up at the theatre and nothing makes sense. Even our intrepid hero Jax is struggling to find a link, but he is far too sceptical to believe a ghost could be responsible. The clues are all a bit odd and appear to point towards the spirit of Olive Thomas, a famous music hall star, who died in Paris under suspicious circumstances a few years ago.
Laura and her friend Jeanie are terrified – theatres are often said to be haunted and superstitions abound. And then there are the scary dolls.
Can Laura, Jax, police officer Tim, his wife Carla and some new characters solve the mystery before anyone else dies? The twist in the tale (not tail ha ha) meant that I had no idea who was responsible until the very end and then it all became very exciting. Another great read from Gail Meath. I hope there will be more Jax Diamond Mysteries in the future. And will it be goodbye to Old Nellie forever and will Lilith become a permanent member of the team? I need answers!
Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
January 26, 2024
As I’ve come to expect from this author, as soon as I opened the first page I knew I was going to love this book.
When a chorus girl dies in suspicious circumstances it’s up to PI Jax Diamond, his fiancée Laura and Jax’s ever dependable sidekick Ace to solve the case. With a theatre reputed to be haunted, a disappearance and what could have been a fatal accident, this had everything I love in a mystery. There’s plenty of action, a sense of creepiness with the dolls and this time for me, quite a bit of humour when Lilith is introduced into the mix. Apart from wishing I could meet a Jax, I loved Laura with her feistiness and her air of bravado especially when she finds another body. I found Killjoy to be a very atmospheric read, with Olive’s story and the haunting air of the theatre which at times sent a shiver of dread over me.
Once again Gail has written a book where you really care about the characters and I’m already waiting for the next book in this fabulous series with great anticipation.
When a chorus girl dies in suspicious circumstances it’s up to PI Jax Diamond, his fiancée Laura and Jax’s ever dependable sidekick Ace to solve the case. With a theatre reputed to be haunted, a disappearance and what could have been a fatal accident, this had everything I love in a mystery. There’s plenty of action, a sense of creepiness with the dolls and this time for me, quite a bit of humour when Lilith is introduced into the mix. Apart from wishing I could meet a Jax, I loved Laura with her feistiness and her air of bravado especially when she finds another body. I found Killjoy to be a very atmospheric read, with Olive’s story and the haunting air of the theatre which at times sent a shiver of dread over me.
Once again Gail has written a book where you really care about the characters and I’m already waiting for the next book in this fabulous series with great anticipation.
January 22, 2024
I haven’t read any other of the Jax Diamond books but I can safely say I will be doing after this, even if I don’t know if they can beat having a cat help out! In all seriousness I adored this cozy crime thriller set in the 1920’s. The first thing that drew me in was the characters, particularly Jax, Laure and of course Ace! But all the supporting characters were also enjoyable, if a little infuriating at times.
Tied with the characters was for me the writing. It was engaging and set at a pace that kept you hooked and guessing right till the end and while there were moments of worry and tension it was still a calmer read which I found nice as well. I also adored the details and historical accuracy of the novel on top. I really could imagine the characters and places as if I was there! On top of all this we even had a touch of the paranormal and a cat and dog who help out (and honestly it was done realistically – assuming you can convince a cat to do anything you tell it?) In short I loved it!
I will definitely be reading more of Jax’s adventures in the future and would encourage anyone who loves a good mystery, brilliant characters, little romance and a sprinkle of paranormal to give this one a read!
Tied with the characters was for me the writing. It was engaging and set at a pace that kept you hooked and guessing right till the end and while there were moments of worry and tension it was still a calmer read which I found nice as well. I also adored the details and historical accuracy of the novel on top. I really could imagine the characters and places as if I was there! On top of all this we even had a touch of the paranormal and a cat and dog who help out (and honestly it was done realistically – assuming you can convince a cat to do anything you tell it?) In short I loved it!
I will definitely be reading more of Jax’s adventures in the future and would encourage anyone who loves a good mystery, brilliant characters, little romance and a sprinkle of paranormal to give this one a read!
April 3, 2024
This is Book 6 in the series and I'm fully invested in the characters and their stories. It's lovely to see the developing relationship between Jax and his parents as well as seeing him and Laura plan their wedding.
The story in this I'd brilliant. Partly based on a true story, where a young theatre star dies after accidentally ingesting poison. The theatre she performed in is supposedly haunted and the lead chorus girl is murdered.
After that there are lots of strange goings on, seemingly linked to the greatest fear of everyone investigating.
The different aspects to the story are brilliant and cleverly done. There is a lot of tension and a really ghostly supernatural element. I'm the biggest non believer but even I got creeped out by the dolls (which are super creepy!) And the lipstick marks on the mirror.
The characters of Murph, Orin, Jeanie and Snake have become more prominent in the last couple of books, and they greatly benefit from it.
One of my favourite moments was between Ace and the cat. There are lots of funny little moments and the end was really heartwarming. I cannot wait for the next book and it looks ike I caught up just in time.
The story in this I'd brilliant. Partly based on a true story, where a young theatre star dies after accidentally ingesting poison. The theatre she performed in is supposedly haunted and the lead chorus girl is murdered.
After that there are lots of strange goings on, seemingly linked to the greatest fear of everyone investigating.
The different aspects to the story are brilliant and cleverly done. There is a lot of tension and a really ghostly supernatural element. I'm the biggest non believer but even I got creeped out by the dolls (which are super creepy!) And the lipstick marks on the mirror.
The characters of Murph, Orin, Jeanie and Snake have become more prominent in the last couple of books, and they greatly benefit from it.
One of my favourite moments was between Ace and the cat. There are lots of funny little moments and the end was really heartwarming. I cannot wait for the next book and it looks ike I caught up just in time.
June 8, 2024
I just got finished reading this splendid book. The other day when I was buying another book on Amazon I realized that instead of using my cell phone to read books I could take the time to actually read the book in my browser - which is what I did. I literally read this book all at one sitting. Phew.
The awesome hero Jax is engaged to the wonderful Laura. In between solving murders - and there are a few in this book - they manage to plan their wedding. As someone who also planned a wedding in a month - I totally understood their situation.Laura and her friends are quick workers.
Yes there are murders in the book - several as a matter of fact. I don't want to ruin the surprises for anyone so I won't talk about all the murders. Let's suffice by saying all gets resolved by the end of the book.
What I will say is that I had no clue who the murderer was until literally the end of the book. That's how awesome the book is - that at least myself, I didn't know that until the end.
The awesome hero Jax is engaged to the wonderful Laura. In between solving murders - and there are a few in this book - they manage to plan their wedding. As someone who also planned a wedding in a month - I totally understood their situation.Laura and her friends are quick workers.
Yes there are murders in the book - several as a matter of fact. I don't want to ruin the surprises for anyone so I won't talk about all the murders. Let's suffice by saying all gets resolved by the end of the book.
What I will say is that I had no clue who the murderer was until literally the end of the book. That's how awesome the book is - that at least myself, I didn't know that until the end.
October 29, 2023
Things that go bump in the theater
Oh, my! Detective Jax Diamond and company have their hands full of strange clues in this latest Roaring 20s mystery thriller. A dead reporter's notes about a famous dead chorus girl in the Follies famous theater. Two more dead chorus girls and a dead cleaning lady - in that same theater! And the near-death of the theater's owner, Jax' good friend. Not to mention disappearing dolls, red lipstick smudges on the dressing room mirrors, flickering electric lights, and mysterious knocks.., And the pièce de résistance? Jax' slightly psychic mother's weirdly intuitive black cat. It's a spooky, scary multiple-murder mystery as only Gail Meath writes them, which means 5 stars from this independent volunteer ARC reviewer (and a warning to stay out of dark theaters). MWAH-ha-ha-ha-ha…
Oh, my! Detective Jax Diamond and company have their hands full of strange clues in this latest Roaring 20s mystery thriller. A dead reporter's notes about a famous dead chorus girl in the Follies famous theater. Two more dead chorus girls and a dead cleaning lady - in that same theater! And the near-death of the theater's owner, Jax' good friend. Not to mention disappearing dolls, red lipstick smudges on the dressing room mirrors, flickering electric lights, and mysterious knocks.., And the pièce de résistance? Jax' slightly psychic mother's weirdly intuitive black cat. It's a spooky, scary multiple-murder mystery as only Gail Meath writes them, which means 5 stars from this independent volunteer ARC reviewer (and a warning to stay out of dark theaters). MWAH-ha-ha-ha-ha…
October 31, 2023
The sixth book in the Jax and Ace the dog series, along with Jax's fiancee - from the first book several other characters who are friends, family and colleagues keep on appearing and at times they are a major part of the mystery element.
Ms. Meath has a knack to reproducing dialogue of the times and interjecting historical figures of the time to really give these books a true feel of the times.
The introduction of Jax's parents in book 5 is continued here with the added presence of a cat: Lilith who is an excellent counterfoil to the faithful dog: Ace.
The mystery - a murder of a lead chorus girl is interesting - with a few spooky events added and the denouement was excellent.
I totally recommend these books and this 6th one is brilliant.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ms. Meath has a knack to reproducing dialogue of the times and interjecting historical figures of the time to really give these books a true feel of the times.
The introduction of Jax's parents in book 5 is continued here with the added presence of a cat: Lilith who is an excellent counterfoil to the faithful dog: Ace.
The mystery - a murder of a lead chorus girl is interesting - with a few spooky events added and the denouement was excellent.
I totally recommend these books and this 6th one is brilliant.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 14, 2023
Another Jax Diamond success!!
This is my favourite series of all time. I am absolutely in love with all the characters and can’t wait for the next book.
I definitely suggest reading all of them in order.
A can’t-put-it-down-have-to-finish book that keeps you wondering… a lot of interesting twists and then at the end of the book interesting facts and videos about the story.
I think the Jax Diamond book series would make a great movie series!
Gail, thank you for your absolutely great entertaining stories!! Please write more!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is my favourite series of all time. I am absolutely in love with all the characters and can’t wait for the next book.
I definitely suggest reading all of them in order.
A can’t-put-it-down-have-to-finish book that keeps you wondering… a lot of interesting twists and then at the end of the book interesting facts and videos about the story.
I think the Jax Diamond book series would make a great movie series!
Gail, thank you for your absolutely great entertaining stories!! Please write more!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 24, 2023
Killjoy is book 6 in the Jax Diamond Mysteries by Gail Meath. Killjoy is excellent and packed full of action and mystery. Jax and Laura are engaged and Jax has found his parents. Murder at the theater puts everyone on edge… was it an accident or a clever murder? I love that the core characters are in each book and the relationships grow in a natural way rather than forced. Ace is a force of detective greatness and does he have a new cat partner? I found Killjoy to be an exceptional mystery and I can't wait to read book 8, The Diamonds. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
June 24, 2025
Killjoy is BRILLIANT! I love how the Olive Thomas' story plays a significant fact in the plot. This story brings a few new characters into the main group too. Though, the main focus is on Jax, Laura, and Ace, it is nice to see Jeanie in the forefront of the story. Additionally, Winnie and Lilith bring a clairvoyant, mysterious, factor that is exciting to see. All the characters mesh together perfectly and that adds such a positive dynamic to the story.
Like the previous books in this series, Meath does an amazing job bringing the story lines together, building up to nail biting ending. I have to say, I couldn't figure out who the bad guy was until it was revealed! This is one thing I love about this series, it is incredibly well written and leaves you in suspense up until the end.
Over all, I definitely recommend this book and this series!
Happy reading! 📖
Like the previous books in this series, Meath does an amazing job bringing the story lines together, building up to nail biting ending. I have to say, I couldn't figure out who the bad guy was until it was revealed! This is one thing I love about this series, it is incredibly well written and leaves you in suspense up until the end.
Over all, I definitely recommend this book and this series!
Happy reading! 📖
October 25, 2023
Jack and Ace's new murder mystery was wonderful! I love the new characters and there was so many surprising twists I could hardly keep up. I enjoy the novels by this author and can't wait for the next in the series.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 17, 2024
My review of the book KILLJOY.
Rating: 5, excellent.
Gail Meath has done it again. A page turner for her latest installment of the Jax Diamond series.
Private Detective Jax Diamond and his fiance, Laura, are thrown into another mystery to solve.
Who is committing murders in the theater? Who is leaving odd and bewildering items in the showgirls' dressing rooms?
I couldn't put this one down.
Rating: 5, excellent.
Gail Meath has done it again. A page turner for her latest installment of the Jax Diamond series.
Private Detective Jax Diamond and his fiance, Laura, are thrown into another mystery to solve.
Who is committing murders in the theater? Who is leaving odd and bewildering items in the showgirls' dressing rooms?
I couldn't put this one down.
February 26, 2024
Fun, mysterious read
I really enjoyed reading this book. After starting a bit slow, the book picked up speed and turned into quite the story. It was nearly impossible to guess the ending, which I absolutely love, and finding out in the long run that it ia based on a true story made me love it even more. Great story!
I really enjoyed reading this book. After starting a bit slow, the book picked up speed and turned into quite the story. It was nearly impossible to guess the ending, which I absolutely love, and finding out in the long run that it ia based on a true story made me love it even more. Great story!
October 29, 2023
A Great Story
I am all in with the Jax Diamond Series. They are the most interesting mysteries I have ever read. I have enjoyed each one. The addition of spirits and and a cat made this one special. It was a real page-turner.
I am all in with the Jax Diamond Series. They are the most interesting mysteries I have ever read. I have enjoyed each one. The addition of spirits and and a cat made this one special. It was a real page-turner.
December 14, 2024
Gail Meath maintains the high level of quality in this series. She will transport you back to New York in the '20s and make you feel at home. In this volume she produces a haunted murder in a famous theater. Paranormal events transpire at will until Jax learns the theater's secrets.
August 20, 2024
𝑨 𝒄𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒛𝒚 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚
𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆,, 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆.
𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒎 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆,, 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆.
January 23, 2024
This is the first of the Jax Diamond Mysteries that I’ve read, and the fact that it’s the sixth in the series isn’t an issue as it can be read easily as a standalone.
Private Investigator Jax Diamond doesn’t have any truck with superstition—his soon-to-be-wife Laura has enough for both of them—even in the face of the flickering lights, chilly draught, lipstick on the mirror and pink rabbit’s foot, not to mention the doll. The animal instinct of his canine companion Ace, however, is enough to make Jax concede that there’s something weird going on.
Sure enough, as the curious clues mount up—and the body count rises—Laura becomes convinced that the ghost of Olive Thomas is behind the killings. Nevertheless, Jax holds on to reality, until even he has to admit that there might be something to the killer-from-beyond-the-grave theory—and when his own Old Nellie becomes the latest victim of the perpetrator, his suspicions move firmly back into the land of the living. The characters feel real too, from the motivations and jealousies of the chorus girls through the world-weary Orin to Ace the Alsatian and his new sidekick—Lilith, a feline friend brought on the scene by Jax’s recently-returned parents, Winnie and John.
The narrative is well-worked-out, with excellent research done into real-life Broadway star Olive Thomas, the New Amsterdam Theatre and the Ziegfeld Follies. Where I did have an issue, however, was with the writing—quite a lot of little grammatical errors that might go unnoticed by the untrained eye but which I couldn’t help but pick up in the first thirty pages. Thereafter they weren’t so frequent, but a good edit would go a long way to improving matters. I also found the decision to use the uncontracted forms ‘Mister’ and ‘Missus’ rather strange, given that the characters weren’t speaking in any form of vernacular elsewhere. Overall though, a good story that kept me mystified.
Private Investigator Jax Diamond doesn’t have any truck with superstition—his soon-to-be-wife Laura has enough for both of them—even in the face of the flickering lights, chilly draught, lipstick on the mirror and pink rabbit’s foot, not to mention the doll. The animal instinct of his canine companion Ace, however, is enough to make Jax concede that there’s something weird going on.
Sure enough, as the curious clues mount up—and the body count rises—Laura becomes convinced that the ghost of Olive Thomas is behind the killings. Nevertheless, Jax holds on to reality, until even he has to admit that there might be something to the killer-from-beyond-the-grave theory—and when his own Old Nellie becomes the latest victim of the perpetrator, his suspicions move firmly back into the land of the living. The characters feel real too, from the motivations and jealousies of the chorus girls through the world-weary Orin to Ace the Alsatian and his new sidekick—Lilith, a feline friend brought on the scene by Jax’s recently-returned parents, Winnie and John.
The narrative is well-worked-out, with excellent research done into real-life Broadway star Olive Thomas, the New Amsterdam Theatre and the Ziegfeld Follies. Where I did have an issue, however, was with the writing—quite a lot of little grammatical errors that might go unnoticed by the untrained eye but which I couldn’t help but pick up in the first thirty pages. Thereafter they weren’t so frequent, but a good edit would go a long way to improving matters. I also found the decision to use the uncontracted forms ‘Mister’ and ‘Missus’ rather strange, given that the characters weren’t speaking in any form of vernacular elsewhere. Overall though, a good story that kept me mystified.
February 11, 2024
Here’s my review for Killjoy by Gail Meath
I found this to be a nice cosy crime mystery that I could lose myself into and enjoy at my leisure. The plotting and the storyline were good, it kept me guessing till the end. It included a lot of road names and place names including theatres. The author must have researched about theatres as he goes into great detail over the layout and workings of The Amsterdam Theatre as it features heavily in this book. The story writing is good and the reading style is easy. There are other books in this series available to read which given time I would like to read myself.
Blurb :
The ghost of a famous Follies chorus dancer is haunting the New Amsterdam Theatre. Is she the serial killer?
New York City, 1923
The suspicious death of a chorus girl sends PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, to the oldest theater on Broadway. At the murder scene, they stumble upon a clue too bizarre to share with the cops or with Jax’s sweetheart, who would definitely make a haunted mountain out of this eerie little molehill.
But one bizarre clue leads to the next.
Laura Graystone, Broadway star and Jax’s fiancée, drags her friends into the investigation after she’s scared out of her wits and finds another dead body. Convinced the ghost of a famous chorus dancer is behind the murders, they follow the eerie clues and end up in the slammer.
As Jax digs deeper, even he begins to wonder if the elusive killer is as dead as the victims. It’s a spooky whirlwind of ghosts and magic in this fun yet deadly fast-paced 1920s cozy thriller.
I found this to be a nice cosy crime mystery that I could lose myself into and enjoy at my leisure. The plotting and the storyline were good, it kept me guessing till the end. It included a lot of road names and place names including theatres. The author must have researched about theatres as he goes into great detail over the layout and workings of The Amsterdam Theatre as it features heavily in this book. The story writing is good and the reading style is easy. There are other books in this series available to read which given time I would like to read myself.
Blurb :
The ghost of a famous Follies chorus dancer is haunting the New Amsterdam Theatre. Is she the serial killer?
New York City, 1923
The suspicious death of a chorus girl sends PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, to the oldest theater on Broadway. At the murder scene, they stumble upon a clue too bizarre to share with the cops or with Jax’s sweetheart, who would definitely make a haunted mountain out of this eerie little molehill.
But one bizarre clue leads to the next.
Laura Graystone, Broadway star and Jax’s fiancée, drags her friends into the investigation after she’s scared out of her wits and finds another dead body. Convinced the ghost of a famous chorus dancer is behind the murders, they follow the eerie clues and end up in the slammer.
As Jax digs deeper, even he begins to wonder if the elusive killer is as dead as the victims. It’s a spooky whirlwind of ghosts and magic in this fun yet deadly fast-paced 1920s cozy thriller.
January 19, 2024
The 6th book in the Jax Diamond Mysteries and another enjoyable foray into 1920’s New York. Yes I have read them all. This time we are back in theatreland and a suspicious death at the New Amsterdam Theatre that has Jax and loyal canine companion Ace on the case, although Ace is very wary of entering the theatre. I’m so invested in this team of Jax and Ace alongside Jax’s fiancée Laura and their friends Jeanie, Tim and Carla but oh I now have a new love…
Briefly, when a falling sandbag kills a chorus girl Jeanie asks Jax to look into it as she doesn’t believe it was an accident. Soon neither does Jax. And some very odd things are happening in the theatre, strange dolls appearing then disappearing, lipstick marks on mirrors, knocking noises and flickering lights. Then another ‘accident’ takes place. Who, or what is haunting the theatre!
Always well written with some great characters but the star for me this time was Lilith! I also enjoyed meeting Jax’s mother who seems strangely ‘familiar’ (pun intended) with Lilith. I really liked the paranormal twist to this novel, which for newcomers isn’t the norm. Another very entertaining read, one sitting as I was enjoying it so much. Loved it.
Briefly, when a falling sandbag kills a chorus girl Jeanie asks Jax to look into it as she doesn’t believe it was an accident. Soon neither does Jax. And some very odd things are happening in the theatre, strange dolls appearing then disappearing, lipstick marks on mirrors, knocking noises and flickering lights. Then another ‘accident’ takes place. Who, or what is haunting the theatre!
Always well written with some great characters but the star for me this time was Lilith! I also enjoyed meeting Jax’s mother who seems strangely ‘familiar’ (pun intended) with Lilith. I really liked the paranormal twist to this novel, which for newcomers isn’t the norm. Another very entertaining read, one sitting as I was enjoying it so much. Loved it.
January 27, 2024
📚When a murder occurs in the Theatre, Jax and his canine partner Ace are on the case straight away, with help from his on to be wife Laura and her friends they soon put the pieces of this case together....the results may be shocking.
I very much enjoyed this book! I was into the story straight away, you get thrown into things so quickly and I loved that so much, we did have backstory as we went along which was great too.
I felt like the book was very fast paced, but in a way where you can easily keep up with everything that's going on, especially with the investigation moving as quickly as it did!
The characters are all great in this book, although at one point or another I literally suspected all of them🙈
The two storylines that the book focuses on came together really nicely and I was excited to see how that would happen. I felt like the story was wrapped up great, it felt a little bit poetic and very dramatic in a weird way- which makes sense since they're in a theatre.
I found myself finding this book within 2 sitting which must mean it's a great book! I'll definitely be going back and reading the other books in this series before the new one is released! This was one short and snappy, a great murder mystery!
I very much enjoyed this book! I was into the story straight away, you get thrown into things so quickly and I loved that so much, we did have backstory as we went along which was great too.
I felt like the book was very fast paced, but in a way where you can easily keep up with everything that's going on, especially with the investigation moving as quickly as it did!
The characters are all great in this book, although at one point or another I literally suspected all of them🙈
The two storylines that the book focuses on came together really nicely and I was excited to see how that would happen. I felt like the story was wrapped up great, it felt a little bit poetic and very dramatic in a weird way- which makes sense since they're in a theatre.
I found myself finding this book within 2 sitting which must mean it's a great book! I'll definitely be going back and reading the other books in this series before the new one is released! This was one short and snappy, a great murder mystery!
October 30, 2023
It is always a treat to find the next instalment of the Jax Diamond mysteries has arrived! Continuing on from past escapades, and again with Laura and her Follies friends joining in, everyone finds themselves caught up in various mysterious happenings at the theatre. Jax and Ace, this time aided by Jax' mother Winnie and her crazy cat Lilith, set out to investigate, of course along with Tim and everyone else joining in the sleuthing.
Needless to say, once again Gail Meath has given us a wonderful tale which was so hard to put down and enjoyable right to the last page. I was delighted to find out that there will be one more (although sadly the last) instalment in Jax Diamond's escapades coming to us next year - I can't wait. And in the meantime Ms Meath is tempting us with the news that a new series is on its way. And it's not even Christmas yet!
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for an advanced copy, which I was delighted to review voluntarily
Needless to say, once again Gail Meath has given us a wonderful tale which was so hard to put down and enjoyable right to the last page. I was delighted to find out that there will be one more (although sadly the last) instalment in Jax Diamond's escapades coming to us next year - I can't wait. And in the meantime Ms Meath is tempting us with the news that a new series is on its way. And it's not even Christmas yet!
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for an advanced copy, which I was delighted to review voluntarily
October 31, 2023
A spooky murder mystery that grabs the reader from the start. It is haunting in more ways than one!
It is a well written plot, characters and kept me turning pages to find out the who was the culprit.
Each of the characters are well developed and carried throughout the series. I have read several and each have grabbed me. I found that having read each in order was a deeper experience pertaining to the characters but that being said they can be read as a standalone.
The author does a great job of introducing new characters that add to the series.
I enjoy the animal partnership as well.
I look forward to reading the newest one when it is out and plan to read the earlier books in the series!
Possible trigger: death
I received an ARC copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
It is a well written plot, characters and kept me turning pages to find out the who was the culprit.
Each of the characters are well developed and carried throughout the series. I have read several and each have grabbed me. I found that having read each in order was a deeper experience pertaining to the characters but that being said they can be read as a standalone.
The author does a great job of introducing new characters that add to the series.
I enjoy the animal partnership as well.
I look forward to reading the newest one when it is out and plan to read the earlier books in the series!
Possible trigger: death
I received an ARC copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
January 7, 2025
Another entertaining Jax Diamond & Ace detective story.
After listening to Killjoy, the sixth story in the Jax Diamond series, I’m firmly convinced I need to go back and start reading or listening to this series from the first book to that last. Once again, I listened to this book out of order, but other than a couple of small items Killjoy worked well as a standalone story.
I enjoyed the premise of this story more than the others I’ve listened to before. Who could pass up murders in a theater that may or may not be haunted by the ghost of a famous actress.
If you enjoy period detective stories set in a simpler time, than you really need to give this series a look. The audiobook was narrated with virtual voice. I’ve only listened to two series that worked well with the virtual voice narration, and Jax Diamond is one of the two.
After listening to Killjoy, the sixth story in the Jax Diamond series, I’m firmly convinced I need to go back and start reading or listening to this series from the first book to that last. Once again, I listened to this book out of order, but other than a couple of small items Killjoy worked well as a standalone story.
I enjoyed the premise of this story more than the others I’ve listened to before. Who could pass up murders in a theater that may or may not be haunted by the ghost of a famous actress.
If you enjoy period detective stories set in a simpler time, than you really need to give this series a look. The audiobook was narrated with virtual voice. I’ve only listened to two series that worked well with the virtual voice narration, and Jax Diamond is one of the two.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews