These Crooked Things

Art Deco Mysteries #2

by Ellen Byerrum

A corpse, a coverup, and a grievously injured pregnant woman lead a playwright and a playboy detective down a crooked path to a secret society, a long-ago death, and three potential killers of a very rich bad boy.

It’s November 1934. Post-Prohibition lingers like a hangover in New York City as famous gangsters fight for headlines with local criminals, Broadway shows, and society sinners.

Amid the glitz and glamour, a man lies dead on the floor of a swanky Upper East Side apartment as his injured pregnant wife hides nearby. Private detective Graydon Chase and his new fiancé, playwright Esmé de LaForet, are called in by the family to keep the scandal at bay. But there’s no keeping this crime quiet, as playwright and playboy pursue a crooked path to untangle multiple would-be killers, with more than enough motives to go around.

Complications abound when Graydon’s aristocratic English parents invite themselves to Esmé’s place for that most American holiday—Thanksgiving. Over the turkey and stuffing, Graydon’s oh-so-upper-crust father itches to involve himself in the investigation (despite his prejudice against his son’s fiancé as a “woman of the theatre”), and a local mobster trying to go legit wades into the thick of it, bringing vital information on the murder. Will it arrive in time to keep our detecting duo safe from a gunman’s bullet? And which gunman is the real danger?

The second mystery in the Art Deco Mysteries by Ellen Byerrum

331 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2025

About the author

Ellen Byerrum was a Washington, D.C., news reporter, now a novelist and playwright. In the interest of research, she also earned a Virginia private investigator's registration. She has written comic mysteries, a thriller, a middle grade mystery, and a children's rhyming picture book.

Most recently, she published the 1940s prequel to her Crime of Fashion Mysteries, THE BRIEF LUMINOUS FLIGHT OF THE FIREFLY, starring Mimi Smith, a young woman from out west who goes to Washington, DC to do her part for the war effort.

Her Crime of Fashion mysteries star a savvy, stylish sleuth: Lacey Smithsonian, a reluctant fashion reporter in Washington D.C., "The City Fashion Forgot."

Lacey would rather be working "hard news," but her nose for nuance, eye for a great story, and talent for getting into trouble make her the right reporter for the Crimes of Fashion beat. In her vintage suits and killer heels, she trips over fashion clues, fabulous shoes, dangerous women, drop-dead men, and of course the occasional corpse (who wouldn't be caught dead dressed like that).

Reviews

[Andi]

edit: wah, I got denied - sad because the only review on netgalley ain't a review but a legit copy of the book blurb!?

OMG. A SEQUEL!?? I loved the first book!

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

1934 and its Post Prohibition now. Bars are open openly but crime proliferates. Graydon and his brand new fiancée are called in to cover up a murder. An attack on a pregnant woman by her own husband, high on cocaine leaves her husband dead and a upper crust father doing his best to see that his daughter in law does not end in the executioners chair. A plausible story to protect the injured Maura was floated by Esme, agreed on by all parties including the Detectives on the case as a tidy way of sorting out the problem.

They did not think that there were two other people wanting to take a shot at the victim, one a make believe one to shake him up and one assailant who feels cheated out of his victim! The story involves local and Chicago criminals, show biz characters and Graydon’s own aristocratic parents, particularly his father who has very set ideas of people and their place in society. A daughter in law who is a drama producer and one who dabbles in crime is not what he thought suitable.

The story was interesting and fast paced from the word go. Characters were varied and the settings of the theatre and the theatre lifestyle caught my interest.

[Tamara Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Crooked Things by Ellen Byerum is a quirky humerous murder mystery. It is the second book of her series. Even though I had not read the first book, I was able to jump right into the story. Not sure why but I kept picturing Jessica Rabbit and Eddie Valiant from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The story takes place in 1934.

Overview The story follows playwright Esmé de LaForet and private investigator Graydon Chase, who are called in to investigate a murder and coverup after a rich man is found dead in his Upper East Side apartment and a pregnant woman is injured nearby. The duo must navigate a secret society, long-ago deaths, multiple suspects, and lurking mobsters.

Thank you Netgalley ARC provided by Vicory editing Netgalley Co-op
Release date December 15 2025.

[Sofias Spooky Stuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following the unofficial ’detective duo’ through many twists and turns surrounding a scandalous murder. Written is a vintage style, we join the journey of the newly engaged couple and their many crime filled adventures. They seem to always be at the wrong place at the right time. I gave the story 3 stars because, even though the story was compelling, the was a lot of repetition and there were so many surface level characters to keep track of. It was enjoyable but definitely a slow burn.