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Jax Diamond Mysteries #9
Hellcat
There's a killer in town...the legendary Death Row Dotty
New York City 1923. PI Jax Diamond and his trusted partner, Ace, are having a hell of a day. It starts with the suspicious death of a salesman and a family’s pleas to find their missing father. It ends with a murdered mob leader who is marked with red lipstick, proving they have a female serial killer on their hands.
While Jax works around the clock with the police, Laura decides to help him with one of the cases. She and her friends search for the owner of a gold locket found at a crime scene and uncover shocking evidence that points to Jax’s mother as a murder suspect.
With the body count rising and the city on edge, Jax and Laura frantically search for the truth before Death Row Dotty delivers her final act of ‘justice’. But solving the case may mean uncovering secrets that hit far too close to home.
"WOW. Just WOW. By the time you reach book nine of a series, you think you know the author. You think you understand the rhythm. You think you can outsmart the mystery. I was totally wrong. The twists actually twist. The clues are layered so brilliantly. Hellcat didn’t just entertain me. It outsmarted me and completely consumed me." - Goodreads
(All books in the series can be read as standalones)
New York City 1923. PI Jax Diamond and his trusted partner, Ace, are having a hell of a day. It starts with the suspicious death of a salesman and a family’s pleas to find their missing father. It ends with a murdered mob leader who is marked with red lipstick, proving they have a female serial killer on their hands.
While Jax works around the clock with the police, Laura decides to help him with one of the cases. She and her friends search for the owner of a gold locket found at a crime scene and uncover shocking evidence that points to Jax’s mother as a murder suspect.
With the body count rising and the city on edge, Jax and Laura frantically search for the truth before Death Row Dotty delivers her final act of ‘justice’. But solving the case may mean uncovering secrets that hit far too close to home.
"WOW. Just WOW. By the time you reach book nine of a series, you think you know the author. You think you understand the rhythm. You think you can outsmart the mystery. I was totally wrong. The twists actually twist. The clues are layered so brilliantly. Hellcat didn’t just entertain me. It outsmarted me and completely consumed me." - Goodreads
(All books in the series can be read as standalones)
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2026
10 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Gail Meath
22 books303 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. 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.
Gail loves researching history, crafting mysteries with clues hidden in plain sight, building characters with a sense of humor, and always includes some very clever canine and feline companions. She 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 sweet Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren.
Gail loves researching history, crafting mysteries with clues hidden in plain sight, building characters with a sense of humor, and always includes some very clever canine and feline companions. She 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 sweet Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 1, 2026
I confess I am a fan of this series. I just love reading about Jax and Laura and their dog Ace in 1923 New York. All the period details like: cars, speech, clothes, buildings, entertainment, comportment, eating……… and many more are described brilliantly.
The murder mystery is very tangled - so much so that Jax even suspects his mother!
The murder is linked to gangs and mafiosi of the time and there is danger. Strangely I felt sorrow once the murderer was arrested as I deeply sympathize with their chagrin.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I urge you to read the whole series (in order) but this book also would be great as a standalone.
The murder mystery is very tangled - so much so that Jax even suspects his mother!
The murder is linked to gangs and mafiosi of the time and there is danger. Strangely I felt sorrow once the murderer was arrested as I deeply sympathize with their chagrin.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I urge you to read the whole series (in order) but this book also would be great as a standalone.
April 30, 2026
A stylish, fast-moving historical mystery with a strong 1920s atmosphere, Hellcat pulls you in from the first pages with danger, intrigue, and a heroine who immediately makes an impression. Gail Meath blends murder, suspense, and vintage charm in a way that feels polished and highly entertaining.
April 7, 2026
Jax Diamond Book 9
Another home run! I really enjoy this series. All the characters are fantastic, especially Ace. I plan to keep reading.
Another home run! I really enjoy this series. All the characters are fantastic, especially Ace. I plan to keep reading.
April 5, 2026
Hellcat opens like a trap snapping shut and hardly loosens its grip from there. Gail Meath drops us into 1923 Manhattan with a woman already stalking a man she believes is about to murder his wife, then braids that lethal prologue into a larger mystery involving Jax Diamond, his newlywed life with Laura, a string of gangland killings marked by lipstick and black roses, and the aching disappearance of Riley O’Shea. What I found especially satisfying is the way the book keeps shifting registers without losing its footing. It can move from an elevator-shaft death at the Plaza to a World Series sequence where Laura’s shaky rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” gives way to a genuinely stirring, stadium-silencing “Star-Spangled Banner,” and somehow both scenes belong to the same emotional weather. The result is a mystery that feels busy in the best sense, full of motion, personality, and period texture.
I enjoyed the novel’s emotional undercurrent, which is stronger and sadder than the jaunty setup first suggests. Jax’s jealousy over Vince Vitali’s flowers and his rough-edged honeymoon banter give the book a screwball warmth, but the missing-person thread lends it real ache, especially once Maureen O’Shea speaks about a marriage so steadfast that her husband would have “fought his way through hellfire” to get home. That conviction gives the whole investigation a pulse. Later, when Jax carefully coaxes the amnesiac Riley back toward himself with talk of a house, a yard, and finally Maureen’s name, the novel lands on something unexpectedly tender. Beneath the wisecracks, the book is interested in loyalty, memory, and the terrible distance between being alive and being able to return to the people who love you.
Death Row Dotty is not treated as a cheap gimmick. She becomes a way for the novel to ask what people do when institutions fail, when grief curdles into purpose, and when vengeance starts to look like justice from far enough away. There’s even a moment when public sympathy for her grows, and that complicates the moral atmosphere nicely. Meath’s writing isn’t trying to be hard-boiled in a joyless, imitative way. It’s more generous than that. The dialogue has bounce, the pacing is brisk, and the historical details, from the nightclubs to the library work to the underworld gossip, are woven in with an easy hand. The plotting can feel a little crowded, and the sheer number of moving parts asks for some patience, but I found that abundance part of the charm. The book wants romance, danger, sentiment, spectacle, family drama, and a fair bit of theatrical flair, and more often than not, it earns all of it.
Hellcat is entertaining. What I expected to be a stylish period mystery turned out to have a bruised heart, and that heart is what gave the story its staying power for me. I’d recommend it most to readers who like historical mysteries with strong relationship dynamics, a touch of melodrama, and a detective story that makes room for grief, devotion, and moral ambiguity alongside its murders and clues. It’s a lively, emotionally textured mystery, and I closed it feeling that it had more on its mind than a simple whodunit.
I enjoyed the novel’s emotional undercurrent, which is stronger and sadder than the jaunty setup first suggests. Jax’s jealousy over Vince Vitali’s flowers and his rough-edged honeymoon banter give the book a screwball warmth, but the missing-person thread lends it real ache, especially once Maureen O’Shea speaks about a marriage so steadfast that her husband would have “fought his way through hellfire” to get home. That conviction gives the whole investigation a pulse. Later, when Jax carefully coaxes the amnesiac Riley back toward himself with talk of a house, a yard, and finally Maureen’s name, the novel lands on something unexpectedly tender. Beneath the wisecracks, the book is interested in loyalty, memory, and the terrible distance between being alive and being able to return to the people who love you.
Death Row Dotty is not treated as a cheap gimmick. She becomes a way for the novel to ask what people do when institutions fail, when grief curdles into purpose, and when vengeance starts to look like justice from far enough away. There’s even a moment when public sympathy for her grows, and that complicates the moral atmosphere nicely. Meath’s writing isn’t trying to be hard-boiled in a joyless, imitative way. It’s more generous than that. The dialogue has bounce, the pacing is brisk, and the historical details, from the nightclubs to the library work to the underworld gossip, are woven in with an easy hand. The plotting can feel a little crowded, and the sheer number of moving parts asks for some patience, but I found that abundance part of the charm. The book wants romance, danger, sentiment, spectacle, family drama, and a fair bit of theatrical flair, and more often than not, it earns all of it.
Hellcat is entertaining. What I expected to be a stylish period mystery turned out to have a bruised heart, and that heart is what gave the story its staying power for me. I’d recommend it most to readers who like historical mysteries with strong relationship dynamics, a touch of melodrama, and a detective story that makes room for grief, devotion, and moral ambiguity alongside its murders and clues. It’s a lively, emotionally textured mystery, and I closed it feeling that it had more on its mind than a simple whodunit.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don’t even know how to put into words what Hellcat did to me… but I’m going to try because WOW. Just WOW. Gail Meath has done it again, and somehow, impossibly, she keeps raising the bar with every single book in this series.
Let me start with this: I had been deep in a February reading slump. Nothing was sticking. Nothing was exciting me. I was picking up books and putting them back down. And then Hellcat happened.
This book didn’t just pull me out of my slump, it REVIVED me. It reminded me why I love reading. It had me sneaking chapters, thinking about it when I wasn’t reading, and staying up way too late because “just one more chapter” is a lie we all tell ourselves.
By the time you reach book nine of a series you’re completely addicted to (and addicted feels like a total understatement), you think you know the author. You think you understand the rhythm. You think you can outsmart the mystery.
I truly believed I’d be able to figure out who did it this time. I was so confident. I was keeping tallies in my head, mentally stacking up motives, opportunities, suspicious glances. Every chapter I was adjusting my internal scoreboard.
And my God… I was totally wrong.
Every. Single. Time.
The twists actually twist. The clues are layered so brilliantly. Just when I felt sure, Gail would quietly shift one piece and suddenly everything I thought I knew unraveled. It was maddening in the best way. I loved being outplayed.
And Jax… oh, Jax. He continues to be one of my all-time favorite fictional detectives. Brilliant, relentless, sharp as ever, but in Hellcat we see even more depth. More weight. More vulnerability beneath that steady exterior. It made me love him even harder.
It’s like on page 21 when Jax and Murph are talking about the case at the Plaza Hotel, then catch Dugan stealing home off a single, and drift right back into the conversation. It’s just so perfect. So real. Those small, seamless moments make the world feel alive. I felt like I’d been transported back in time, sitting there with them, listening in. I literally can’t form my words over here, but I love it so much.
The atmosphere is electric. The stakes are sky high. The tension practically hums off the page. The emotional threads woven through the mystery add such richness; loyalty, danger, devotion, consequences. It’s not just a whodunit. It’s a fully immersive experience.
And that pacing? Flawless. Not a wasted word. Every scene matters. Every interaction builds toward a climax that had my heart pounding and my jaw on the floor.
Nine books in and this series isn’t slowing down, it’s evolving. It’s deepening. It’s getting sharper and more emotionally powerful with every installment. That is rare. That is special. That is serious storytelling talent.
Hellcat didn’t just entertain me. It revived me. It outsmarted me. It completely consumed me.
If you’re already in the Jax Diamond world, you need this immediately.
If you haven’t started the series yet, consider this your sign.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and then some.
Let me start with this: I had been deep in a February reading slump. Nothing was sticking. Nothing was exciting me. I was picking up books and putting them back down. And then Hellcat happened.
This book didn’t just pull me out of my slump, it REVIVED me. It reminded me why I love reading. It had me sneaking chapters, thinking about it when I wasn’t reading, and staying up way too late because “just one more chapter” is a lie we all tell ourselves.
By the time you reach book nine of a series you’re completely addicted to (and addicted feels like a total understatement), you think you know the author. You think you understand the rhythm. You think you can outsmart the mystery.
I truly believed I’d be able to figure out who did it this time. I was so confident. I was keeping tallies in my head, mentally stacking up motives, opportunities, suspicious glances. Every chapter I was adjusting my internal scoreboard.
And my God… I was totally wrong.
Every. Single. Time.
The twists actually twist. The clues are layered so brilliantly. Just when I felt sure, Gail would quietly shift one piece and suddenly everything I thought I knew unraveled. It was maddening in the best way. I loved being outplayed.
And Jax… oh, Jax. He continues to be one of my all-time favorite fictional detectives. Brilliant, relentless, sharp as ever, but in Hellcat we see even more depth. More weight. More vulnerability beneath that steady exterior. It made me love him even harder.
It’s like on page 21 when Jax and Murph are talking about the case at the Plaza Hotel, then catch Dugan stealing home off a single, and drift right back into the conversation. It’s just so perfect. So real. Those small, seamless moments make the world feel alive. I felt like I’d been transported back in time, sitting there with them, listening in. I literally can’t form my words over here, but I love it so much.
The atmosphere is electric. The stakes are sky high. The tension practically hums off the page. The emotional threads woven through the mystery add such richness; loyalty, danger, devotion, consequences. It’s not just a whodunit. It’s a fully immersive experience.
And that pacing? Flawless. Not a wasted word. Every scene matters. Every interaction builds toward a climax that had my heart pounding and my jaw on the floor.
Nine books in and this series isn’t slowing down, it’s evolving. It’s deepening. It’s getting sharper and more emotionally powerful with every installment. That is rare. That is special. That is serious storytelling talent.
Hellcat didn’t just entertain me. It revived me. It outsmarted me. It completely consumed me.
If you’re already in the Jax Diamond world, you need this immediately.
If you haven’t started the series yet, consider this your sign.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and then some.
March 2, 2026
This is book 9 in the Jax Diamond Mysteries series and I tell you, these books get better each time! Hellcat picks up right after the end of book 8, Wildcard, which is set in Niagara Falls where newlywed Jax and his wife Laura honeymooned. Now they are back in New York, the honeymoon over. Jax has been hired by the wife to find her husband who went missing 4 months ago, but on the way he gets involved in the police case of a mysterious woman murdering gangsters in both Chicago and New York. His police friend Tim, Tim’s wife Carla, and Jax’s wife Laura help out, and Jax’s mother Winnie is in the picture, too. We can’t forget Jax’s partner in his detective business, his good dog Ace. They mostly work on the gangsters’ murders, but they help Jax with trying to find the missing man as well.
This story can be read as a standalone, although if you have read previous books in the series, you’ll have a better handle on the recurring characters. That said, the author has done an excellent job of filling in the blanks where needed, so if you’re new to the Jax Diamond series, you won’t be scratching your head wondering what the heck? As with the previous books, there is action, mystery, and some humor. Ms.Meath shows you the story, rather than telling you the story. There is no unnecessary repetition of the facts. When Jax has to deliver news about what he has found out to the missing man’s wife, for example, the author just writes that Jax explains what he knows. She doesn’t repeat it all since the reader already knows it. I appreciate that so much. I love the 1920s setting – a beer for a quarter with a generous nickel tip! The dialogue is spot on for the times. I love how Laura and Carla play such a big role in helping with investigations. They’re not trying to take Jax and Tim’s place, but they do some of the leg work and gather critical information for them. Laura also knows quite a bit about cars, and that warms my heart as I have loved cars since I was a little kid. Who says women can’t be car nuts, too? And now we have Winnie also lending a huge hand. Gail Meath’s women don’t just stay home and clean house and fix dinner. They are intelligent women of action and adventure!
The story is complete, no cliffhangers, although there is a two-page lead into what I think will be the next book in the series at the end. For those who care, this is mostly G-rated except for some scenes of violence, but even those aren’t graphic. No foul language or adult romance stuff. This is a book that can be enjoyed by anyone who likes a good mystery with likeable characters and a great dog!
I received a free advance review copy of Hellcat through Booksirens. I leave this review voluntarily and with great pleasure.
This story can be read as a standalone, although if you have read previous books in the series, you’ll have a better handle on the recurring characters. That said, the author has done an excellent job of filling in the blanks where needed, so if you’re new to the Jax Diamond series, you won’t be scratching your head wondering what the heck? As with the previous books, there is action, mystery, and some humor. Ms.Meath shows you the story, rather than telling you the story. There is no unnecessary repetition of the facts. When Jax has to deliver news about what he has found out to the missing man’s wife, for example, the author just writes that Jax explains what he knows. She doesn’t repeat it all since the reader already knows it. I appreciate that so much. I love the 1920s setting – a beer for a quarter with a generous nickel tip! The dialogue is spot on for the times. I love how Laura and Carla play such a big role in helping with investigations. They’re not trying to take Jax and Tim’s place, but they do some of the leg work and gather critical information for them. Laura also knows quite a bit about cars, and that warms my heart as I have loved cars since I was a little kid. Who says women can’t be car nuts, too? And now we have Winnie also lending a huge hand. Gail Meath’s women don’t just stay home and clean house and fix dinner. They are intelligent women of action and adventure!
The story is complete, no cliffhangers, although there is a two-page lead into what I think will be the next book in the series at the end. For those who care, this is mostly G-rated except for some scenes of violence, but even those aren’t graphic. No foul language or adult romance stuff. This is a book that can be enjoyed by anyone who likes a good mystery with likeable characters and a great dog!
I received a free advance review copy of Hellcat through Booksirens. I leave this review voluntarily and with great pleasure.
April 5, 2026
"Hellcat" is an engaging, fast weekend read. Gail Meath drops the reader into the glittering yet shadowed streets of 1923 New York, where danger wears perfume and justice comes dressed in sapphire silk. At the center stands Jax Diamond, sharp-witted and newly married, pulled from honeymoon bliss into a tightening web of murder, missing persons, and a killer who strikes with chilling intent. The legend of “Death Row Dotty” looms large. Meath sets the tone from the first scene, where a poised woman calmly plots a man’s demise: this is a world where morality bends and vengeance smiles sweetly before it strikes.
What follows is a brisk, twisting investigation layered with misdirection and rising stakes. Meath balances multiple threads with care. The partnership between Jax and his loyal dog Ace adds warmth and familiarity, while Laura’s involvement lends both heart and tension, grounding the story as the body count climbs. The prose moves with confidence, light in places, dark where it counts. I enjoyed that it captured the rhythm of the era without drowning in it.
This ninth installment in the series delivers exactly what a seasoned mystery reader craves: atmosphere, intrigue, and a villain who lingers in the mind long after the final page. "Hellcat" is a tale of justice warped into something far more dangerous: every answer threatens to become another lie and stopping the killer may come at a cost far closer to home than Jax ever expected.
What follows is a brisk, twisting investigation layered with misdirection and rising stakes. Meath balances multiple threads with care. The partnership between Jax and his loyal dog Ace adds warmth and familiarity, while Laura’s involvement lends both heart and tension, grounding the story as the body count climbs. The prose moves with confidence, light in places, dark where it counts. I enjoyed that it captured the rhythm of the era without drowning in it.
This ninth installment in the series delivers exactly what a seasoned mystery reader craves: atmosphere, intrigue, and a villain who lingers in the mind long after the final page. "Hellcat" is a tale of justice warped into something far more dangerous: every answer threatens to become another lie and stopping the killer may come at a cost far closer to home than Jax ever expected.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jax Diamond and his new bride, Laura have returned from their honeymoon in Niagara Falls and Laura is looking forward to resuming her starring role in a Broadway musical written just for her, called Songbird.
In the middle of the night, Jax’ best friend, police lieutenant Tim Murphy, calls for assistance with a case and Jax, with his German Shepherd companion, Ace, accompany Tim to the Plaza Hotel to investigate.
The next day, Jax receives a call from a woman whose husband had mysteriously disappeared after leaving for work and had not returned home. Jax meets with the woman and decides to help her.
But, on the way home from his appointment, Jax spots a body, hanging from the Brooklyn Bridge. It's the body of an infamous gangster and Jax worries about a gang war.
Then, much to his dismay, Laura and her friends begin their own investigation of yet another murder and they are stunned to find that the cases are connected!
Wow! This book is full of twists and turns and kept my attention from the very beginning!
This is book 9 in the Jax Diamond Mysteries series and I have loved EVERY book!
The author has a way of bringing the 1920s to life and I couldn't put this book down.
I am honored to have been part of the ARC team for this book and I am happily leaving this voluntary review.
In the middle of the night, Jax’ best friend, police lieutenant Tim Murphy, calls for assistance with a case and Jax, with his German Shepherd companion, Ace, accompany Tim to the Plaza Hotel to investigate.
The next day, Jax receives a call from a woman whose husband had mysteriously disappeared after leaving for work and had not returned home. Jax meets with the woman and decides to help her.
But, on the way home from his appointment, Jax spots a body, hanging from the Brooklyn Bridge. It's the body of an infamous gangster and Jax worries about a gang war.
Then, much to his dismay, Laura and her friends begin their own investigation of yet another murder and they are stunned to find that the cases are connected!
Wow! This book is full of twists and turns and kept my attention from the very beginning!
This is book 9 in the Jax Diamond Mysteries series and I have loved EVERY book!
The author has a way of bringing the 1920s to life and I couldn't put this book down.
I am honored to have been part of the ARC team for this book and I am happily leaving this voluntary review.
Review of advance copy
I really love this series! Jax, Laura, and all of their friends and family are back in Hellcat, book 9. This one was just as good as all of the rest! In this one, gangsters are ending up dead, and the police are afraid that gang wars are going to break out all over the city. The author describes the 1923 New York City setting so well! I always feel like I'm right there in the book with the characters. Prohibition led to lots of illegal activity and gangsters ruling parts of the town. Of course, when the murders start happening, they're the first suspects, but when Jax finds a body with a red lipstick kiss on the victim's forehead, it's looking more and more like a woman is doing the killing. I was so caught up in this mystery, and I loved this twist! I had no idea who was guilty though there are some red herrings that might lead you astray. I highly recommend this page-turning detective mystery for its 1920s NYC setting, great characters (love them!), action, suspense and twisty mystery! You can read this as a stand alone, but I recommend them all! With each book, I'm more and more invested in the characters' lives. I'm not sure I would have wanted to live back then, but I sure love jumping into these books! I can't wait for more!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
April 1, 2026
Hellcat, the 9th of Jax Diamond mystery series sent me straight back to 1920’s New York, where Jax is plunged into the murder of a salesman and the disappearance of a much loved father.
Barely having time to turn around after their best forgotten honeymoon, when Jax discovers that mobsters are being murdered in creative ways, he soon finds out that this killer is ingenious and determined. This was pretty much an action packed read, not everything was as it seemed. Ace as ever, is awesome as Jax’s sidekick, while Laura is definitely a lady who knows what she’s doing and doesn’t pull any punches, getting involved in the action. And Jax, well what can I can say. He’s a man’s man, but one who hugely respects and loves Laura with a passion. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty, upsetting some people along the way, but his loyalty to his friends and the friendliness and compassion he shows to others is fabulous to read. There’s a few red herrings throughout the book and I never saw the ending which came.
As always, Gail has created a landscape which transports you into this era of gangsters, big heroes and big heroines. Roll on the next in this fantastic series!
Barely having time to turn around after their best forgotten honeymoon, when Jax discovers that mobsters are being murdered in creative ways, he soon finds out that this killer is ingenious and determined. This was pretty much an action packed read, not everything was as it seemed. Ace as ever, is awesome as Jax’s sidekick, while Laura is definitely a lady who knows what she’s doing and doesn’t pull any punches, getting involved in the action. And Jax, well what can I can say. He’s a man’s man, but one who hugely respects and loves Laura with a passion. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty, upsetting some people along the way, but his loyalty to his friends and the friendliness and compassion he shows to others is fabulous to read. There’s a few red herrings throughout the book and I never saw the ending which came.
As always, Gail has created a landscape which transports you into this era of gangsters, big heroes and big heroines. Roll on the next in this fantastic series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite 5-STARS: Gail Meath's Hellcat, book nine in the Jax Diamond Mysteries series, is set in October 1923, when detective Jax Diamond finds a gang leader hanging beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, marked by lipstick and a black rose, echoing the recent death of Chicago crime boss Victor Vitali.
Gail Meath's Hellcat does a fantastic job of putting readers right into Prohibition-era America, with meticulous attention to period detail. Jax and Laura Diamond are the protagonists who brilliantly anchor the series, but it is actually his mother, Winifred Diamond, whom I love. She's a former Pinkerton agent working undercover for the Bureau, and I would 100% read every prequel to this series to find out her story.
Meath fleshes out every character, including Death Row Dotty, who is an ultra-calculating adversary. From a smoke-filled billiard hall where a Chicago crime boss convenes, to the fourteenth-floor corridor of a gunfire-cracking Ritz Carlton, Meath offers a period cozy mystery for all readers. Very highly recommended!
Gail Meath's Hellcat does a fantastic job of putting readers right into Prohibition-era America, with meticulous attention to period detail. Jax and Laura Diamond are the protagonists who brilliantly anchor the series, but it is actually his mother, Winifred Diamond, whom I love. She's a former Pinkerton agent working undercover for the Bureau, and I would 100% read every prequel to this series to find out her story.
Meath fleshes out every character, including Death Row Dotty, who is an ultra-calculating adversary. From a smoke-filled billiard hall where a Chicago crime boss convenes, to the fourteenth-floor corridor of a gunfire-cracking Ritz Carlton, Meath offers a period cozy mystery for all readers. Very highly recommended!
April 1, 2026
This is such an exciting series! Always full of mystery, twists & turns--all amidst the 1920s--with Ace, a dog smarter than many humans. Ms. Meath's research of this era adds an extra dimension to the storyline.
When Jax is tasked to find a missing salesman who is presumed to be dead by some family members, it's just the beginning. When Jax's wife Laura finds a missing locket near the death scene of a man who fell down an elevator shaft (or was he pushed?), there's plenty of mysteries to solve. Are they connected? And when the missing locket is claimed but later found in Jax's mother's home, could she be the murderess? What is she hiding? Gang wars, suspicions, plenty of twists & turns abound. Who is Death Row Dotty?
Well done, Ace. Great at sniffing out clues, he deserves being spoiled by all those who love him.
I highly recommend "Hellcat" as well as all the Jax Diamond books in this series, but I believe "Hellcat" was my favorite so far.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When Jax is tasked to find a missing salesman who is presumed to be dead by some family members, it's just the beginning. When Jax's wife Laura finds a missing locket near the death scene of a man who fell down an elevator shaft (or was he pushed?), there's plenty of mysteries to solve. Are they connected? And when the missing locket is claimed but later found in Jax's mother's home, could she be the murderess? What is she hiding? Gang wars, suspicions, plenty of twists & turns abound. Who is Death Row Dotty?
Well done, Ace. Great at sniffing out clues, he deserves being spoiled by all those who love him.
I highly recommend "Hellcat" as well as all the Jax Diamond books in this series, but I believe "Hellcat" was my favorite so far.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 12, 2026
We have again been delighted to catch up with Jax, Ace, Laura and the gang as they again embark on solving the next mystery that confronts them. Full of twists and turns, we learn more this time about Jax's mother, as she becomes entwined in the clues presented to them that seem to be never-ending and confusing.
The author has a wonderful ability to pull the reader right into New York 1923, as we visualise so clearly the various scenes we are presented with. And again with the help of wonderful Ace, Jax, Tim and the girls eventually pull all the clues together for a fabulous ending.
The only sad thing about this book - is that we have to wait another 12 months to find out what happens next in Jax and Ace's adventures - but it's good to know that another is coming.
My thanks to BookSirens and the author for an advanced copy of this delightful book - my review is provided voluntarily.
The author has a wonderful ability to pull the reader right into New York 1923, as we visualise so clearly the various scenes we are presented with. And again with the help of wonderful Ace, Jax, Tim and the girls eventually pull all the clues together for a fabulous ending.
The only sad thing about this book - is that we have to wait another 12 months to find out what happens next in Jax and Ace's adventures - but it's good to know that another is coming.
My thanks to BookSirens and the author for an advanced copy of this delightful book - my review is provided voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
So glad to be back with some of my favorite characters on their newest fast-paced exciting mystery adventure. I love that the ladies do not shy away from the action and Ace is always front and center finding clues. As always, Gail Meath had done extensive research and makes you feel like you’re right there in the 1920s. The story kept me engaged and guessing. I can’t wait for the next adventure. So glad this series didn’t end. Jax, Laura, Ace, and family and friends have so many more stories to share.
April 5, 2026
Jax and Laura along with Ace are three of my favorite characters. This book was no exception, keeping me turning the pages until late in the night. I love series that actually move forward and don't stagnate. This series does just that. I can forsee Laura's pregnancy, the birth of a child and that child entering the Jax Diamond private investigation agency!! I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Although I received an advance review copy for free, my opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Hellcat is Book 9 in the Jax Diamond Mysteries by Gail Meath. I love this series.. Jax and his special dog partner, Ace, are such a good team. The setting is 1923 and there has been a lot of mob deaths. Jax is a very good investigator and this time he has to be on his A game. All evidence seems to point to Jax's mother as Death Row Dotty….really!? Hellcat will keep you guessing until the end. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
March 3, 2026
Wow! A gripping story of murder and mystery.
Well developed storyline and characters. So many twists and turns that kept me guessing.
I enjoyed the interaction of the characters and how they work together to solve the mysteries.
I recommend this tale of suspense. It can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading all in the series.
I received an ARC copy of the book and all opinions are my own.
Well developed storyline and characters. So many twists and turns that kept me guessing.
I enjoyed the interaction of the characters and how they work together to solve the mysteries.
I recommend this tale of suspense. It can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading all in the series.
I received an ARC copy of the book and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This dynamic trio of crime solvers really had their hands full this time. As the murders stack up and the killer acts up, our three little sleuths carry out their investigations even if family maybe involved. A really great crime drama!I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 24, 2026
HELLCAT by Gail Meath is a fast paced and entertaining mystery set in the vibrant world of 1920s New York City. With a compelling mix of suspense, humor, and vintage charm, the story keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
The dynamic between Jax, Laura, and Ace adds heart and personality, while the hunt for a clever female serial killer raises the stakes. Twists and personal revelations deepen the intrigue.
Overall, it’s a lively and engaging mystery perfect for fans of historical crime with flair.
The dynamic between Jax, Laura, and Ace adds heart and personality, while the hunt for a clever female serial killer raises the stakes. Twists and personal revelations deepen the intrigue.
Overall, it’s a lively and engaging mystery perfect for fans of historical crime with flair.
April 27, 2026
I recommend "Hellcat" to any reader who enjoys cozy historical murder mysteries. Gail Meath has done extensive research, and she makes you feel like you’re right there in the 1920s. "Hellcat" kept me engaged and had me turning pages into the wee hours of the night! I look forward to the next Jax Diamond Mysteries adventure.
Review of advance copy
These books are so fun to read. They are always well written with very likable characters and with the descriptive locations you feel like you are there with them. It is so interesting when you think how differently things would have happened in the book if they had the technology we have today. I like how Laura helps Jax with his investigations. It's great that Jax and Murph don't disregard them as women as I'm sure many, especially back then, would have. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Another exciting adventure/mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed how this the events from "Framed" (book 2 of the Jax Diamond Mysteries) played a part in this adventure. As someone read "Framed" it felt like it added a new layer to that mystery and let me see things from a new perspective. I think it also showed how some of the characters were still impacted by the events from that case.
Also, I have to say I love when Laura, Carla and Jeanie help with the investigation. Even if Tim and Jax get upset when they do...mostly Tim. I agree with Jax and his mother though that if Laura ever decides to leave Broadway, she'd definitely make a great detective.
I look forward to the next Jax Diamond Mystery!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Also, I have to say I love when Laura, Carla and Jeanie help with the investigation. Even if Tim and Jax get upset when they do...mostly Tim. I agree with Jax and his mother though that if Laura ever decides to leave Broadway, she'd definitely make a great detective.
I look forward to the next Jax Diamond Mystery!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
This quick paced multi-faceted mystery brings us to the streets of New York in the 1920's. The clues scattered throughout had me quickly turning the pages with a twist that comes out of left field. Speaking of left field, one of my favorite scenes is at the Yankee game (what a fun scene and a clever way to introduce us to a gang member). Although I love Jax, Laura, Tim, Carla and Ace- Jax's mother, Winnie, steals the show on this one. Her contribution to the story is totally unexpected. Hellcat can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend starting at the beginning, especially since there is reference to an earlier incidence. This is a great series that I recommend for those who love old-fashioned detective stories. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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