Murder at the Silver Shoes Jazz Club: A twisty and utterly addictive historical British cozy mystery

by L.B. Hathaway

A nightmare client. A secret jazz club. An interview with London’s hottest band. And an impostor on her heels… For Posie Parker, it’s just another day at the office!

London, 1926. After a short leave of absence, Private Detective Posie Parker is back—and with a bang! Her first assignment? Interview the dazzling Eglantine DuBarry and Jack Smeaton of ‘The Banana Splits’, the most talked-about jazz band in town, who seem to have troubles aplenty. But before the ink is dry, Posie lands an even more notorious Lady Hilda Kilcoyne, a scandalous sportswoman convinced her war-hero husband wants her dead.

As Posie digs into both cases, trouble multiplies. A rival “girl detective” is undercutting her rates. A mudlark delivers a mysterious ancient necklace with a dangerous history. A blackmailer threatens Posie’s precious marriage to Richard Lovelace, Commissioner of Scotland Yard. And is someone following Posie all about town?

Two of her cases suddenly collide when along comes the invitation that changes everything, an exclusive night at the underground Silver Shoes Jazz Club, where masks hide secrets and half of London’s glitterati gather.

But when the music stops and two women—including Lady Hilda—end up dead on stage, Posie finds herself chasing a killer with a flair for drama. To solve the case, she must untangle a web of false identities, buried scandals, a centuries-old puzzle, and very dangerous obsessions—before the murderer strikes again.

A twisty, glamorous unputdownable historical British cozy mystery set against the backdrop of the Great Strike and the Jazz Age. Get ready for romance, red herrings, and murder galore! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Downton Abbey, T.E. Kinsey, Benedict Brown, and Verity Bright.

454 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 8, 2025

About the author

Cambridge-educated, British-born L.B. Hathaway writes historical fiction. She worked as a lawyer at Lincoln’s Inn in London for almost a decade before becoming a full-time writer. She brings her love of detective novels set in the Golden Age of Crime and an obsession with English history to her own writing.

The Posie Parker series of cosy crime novels span the 1920s. They each combine a core central mystery, an exploration of the reckless glamour of the age and a feisty protagonist who you would love to have as your best friend.

Her other interests, in no particular order, are: very fast downhill skiing, theatre-going, drinking strong tea, Tudor history, exploring castles and generally trying to cram as much into life as possible.

Reviews

[Kim Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a rather complicated plot, or perhaps it was Posie's dithering that made it so. I really must go back to read some of the earlier books as I don't remember her being so slapdash towards an investigation. She leapt to conclusions, ignored what people told her and generally behaved as though this as her first ever investigation. It was all rather frustrating for this reader who is used to Posie being in charge and on her toes. Okay, so she is pregnant, but the reader doesn't know that until over half way through the book. As for the ending, well I can't say it inspired me to look out for the next one. This was longer than any of the previous Posie Parker Mysteries and maybe I am just used to the quick, snappy solving of cases, rather than our intrepid investigator wondering wound like she was lost in the fog!

[Helen Durham · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a gripping read although I`d like to criticize that there were too many coincidences in terms of who Posie met for example in the streets. London is not a village- so I would say this is very unlikely.
Also I would prefer that other opponents arise, than the ever occurring Count or Anatole - this also is getting more and more far fetched. In a way it seems unrealistic, that Posie, given that she seems to be first and foremost a career woman- gets pregnant again and leaves her children with the nanny almost all the time. Sometimes I wonder if they knew her at all?
Why not let her solve some more realistic cases? I would definitely enjoy that. Hopefully Dolly gets a role in the next one- because this also was so unrealistic, that with the money of Rufus, Scotland Yard at her beck and call and Posie herself couldn't detect where Dolly was?
Space for improvements

[Mark J. Sauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too much.

Too dark, too much. I really don’t like you destroying Richard! Posie and Richard bond, and marriage was long overdue and hard earned; they deserve to work on cases not always to be the obsession for the case. It’s getting hard and almost “how can this happen” kind of stories.
Like the ending nothing was really resolved with Richard and Posie; you showed it by not having Richard with her in the hotel her in trouble Richard not knowing just like this last case no communication no honesty between them. Then you as a writer are you signaling Richard will have his own problems in the next book separate from Posie which will further distance, distract until they realize they are better together or will they further break?? No it’s Sad and it too what 10-12 books to get them together? ( I didn’t go back and check)
Sad Reader.

[Barbara Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Rowena Onions · Rating 1 out of 5]

So slow and laboured that I gave up halfway and read the end.... which I predicted anyway. Much too long for the quality of writing. A shame because I enjoyed most of this series.