Snake in the Brass

Music Shop Mysteries #3

by Jennifer Lamont Leo

Idaho, 1920. When a body is discovered after a popular jazz ensemble's controversial concert, Amanda Parrish's world turns upside down. With people she's close to entangled in a web of suspicion, whispers spread through the small town of Timber Coulee like wildfire. Amanda knows she must act fast—even if it means partnering with handsome Sheriff James Holcomb and his unsettling new deputy.

As Amanda digs deeper into the glittering world of a traveling jazz band, she uncovers a jam session of bitter rivalries, broken hearts, and professional jealousies that have simmered for years. Every member of the ensemble had opportunity, and nearly all had motive. But with evidence scattered like discordant notes and alibis that don't quite harmonize, separating the innocent from the guilty becomes increasingly dangerous. The killer is watching, and Amanda's questions are striking too close to the truth.

Racing against time, Amanda must trust her instincts when all the obvious suspects seem too obvious. Because sometimes the most dangerous person in the room is the one no one suspects—the one hiding in plain sight, waiting to strike again. In a case where loyalty and truth clash like cymbals, Amanda will risk everything to unmask a killer who's been playing them all along.

Genres: Mystery

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2025

About the author

**THANK YOU, dear readers, for all the great reviews, and for choosing Moondrop Miracle, You're the Cream in My Coffee and Ain't Misbehavin for your book clubs. You're the bee's knees!** Author of Moondrop Miracle, You're the Cream in My Coffee and Ain't Misbehavin'. With a passion for all things historical, Jennifer Lamont Leo captures readers' hearts through stories set in times gone by. She is also a copywriter, editor, and journalist. An Illinois native, she holds a deep affection for Chicago and its rich history. Today she writes from the mountains of northern Idaho, where she shares her home with her husband, two cats, and abundant wildlife. Visit her at A Sparkling Vintage Life (http://www.JenniferLamontLeo.com/blog), as well as on social media.

Reviews

[Linda]

Snake in the Brass is a fun, quick, cozy read. Amanda Parrish owns mountain Melodies Music Shop in Timber Coulee, Idaho. It is the 1920s--the Jazz Age. Her niece Molly is excited that Joey Serpentine & the Midnight Serpents are coming to town to give a concert. The concert goes fine, but Joey is later found dead in his hotel room. He died of food poisoning. Amanda and her year-long beau, Sheriff James Holcomb, begin putting together timelines and clues. Even Amanda's observant cat, Moxie helps out! The characters in this book: Amanda's sister Kathleen Mulroney, Molly's fiance Clarence Butterworth, and Deputy Margaret O'Brien, are easy to picture and add a lot to the story. I liked the slow and easy romance between Amanda and James. I liked the setting--a music shop. I really liked the way James summed up the murder at the end. 5 stars.

[Bonne Sharp]

A trip back in time!!

This story was such a fun cozy!! The family dynamics are a hoot, the cat is awesome and it all works out in the end. A book worth reading!