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Nanette Hayes Mysteries #3
Drumsticks
Back in Manhattan after splitting with her boyfriend, Nanette is determined to drink herself into the ground, but her new voodoo doll--a gift from a friend--is suddenly turning her life around
213 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2000
5 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Carter
9 books73 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Charlotte Carter is the author of an acclaimed mystery series featuring Nanette Hayes, a young black American jazz musician with a lust for life and a talent for crime solving. Coq au Vin, the second book in the series, has been optioned for the movies. Her short fiction has appeared in a number of American and British anthologies, including John Harvey's Blue Lightning. The first in a new series set in Chicago against the tumultuous backdrop of the 1960s will be published in late 2002 - early 2003. Charlotte Carter has lived in the American Midwest, North Africa and France. She currently resides in NYC with her husband.
Charlotte Carter is the author of an acclaimed mystery series featuring Nanette Hayes, a young black American jazz musician with a lust for life and a talent for crime solving. Coq au Vin, the second book in the series, has been optioned for the movies. Her short fiction has appeared in a number of American and British anthologies, including John Harvey's Blue Lightning. The first in a new series set in Chicago against the tumultuous backdrop of the 1960s will be published in late 2002 - early 2003. Charlotte Carter has lived in the American Midwest, North Africa and France. She currently resides in NYC with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 19, 2022
DRUMSTICKS
Charlotte Carter
I was completely taken by surprise with this one. I mean with the title of Drumstick, I really thought it was going to be something like a marching band book, but it wasn't.
This is a series about a female horn blower named Nanette and 22 years later, I am only the seventh person to write a review? That just seems unreasonable as good as this was. The setting is New York prior to 911, of course. Nanette has returned to the states from Paris where her aunt was killed and she broke up with her then-boyfriend. Now she is playing on the streets as a buster and just barely making it. She also has been residing in the bottom of a whiskey glass at night and spending her days with Gin and tonic.
But her luck is about to change when she gets a gift of a voodoo doll until the old lady that made the doll is found dead. It seems to me that Nanette is a better investigator than a musician, but she seems to hold her own with both. I loved the grittiness of the dialogue, the vivid descriptions of New York, and the twist and turns in the mystery itself.
Despite being old, it is well worth the read.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
Charlotte Carter
I was completely taken by surprise with this one. I mean with the title of Drumstick, I really thought it was going to be something like a marching band book, but it wasn't.
This is a series about a female horn blower named Nanette and 22 years later, I am only the seventh person to write a review? That just seems unreasonable as good as this was. The setting is New York prior to 911, of course. Nanette has returned to the states from Paris where her aunt was killed and she broke up with her then-boyfriend. Now she is playing on the streets as a buster and just barely making it. She also has been residing in the bottom of a whiskey glass at night and spending her days with Gin and tonic.
But her luck is about to change when she gets a gift of a voodoo doll until the old lady that made the doll is found dead. It seems to me that Nanette is a better investigator than a musician, but she seems to hold her own with both. I loved the grittiness of the dialogue, the vivid descriptions of New York, and the twist and turns in the mystery itself.
Despite being old, it is well worth the read.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
November 4, 2021
Y bueno... Muy bien todo el desenlace y toda la historia, pero el final me dejó en suspense...
May 11, 2022
Each of the three novels in this series feature a 20-something African-American female jazz musician who embroils herself in getting to the bottom of anomalies in the just order of things. I remain entranced by Nanette Hays for her appetites in the delights available – whether that's the best of jazz music, fine wine and decent men – or the solving of mysteries. The writing through all three volumes is savory, like our protagonist, enlivening the characters and illuminating the streets, swell clubs and dives of Manhattan and Paris. The series is ripe for adaptation into a TV or movie series.
March 26, 2023
we love a good mystery, don't we? I think it was well written. this was the first book I read by Charlotte Carter and I can say I'd love to read more. seeing the black representation be written by a black author is always good.
I think the plot was great, although it was a little bit confusing. I had to close the book and think about everything to start making sense, if you know what I mean.
it was a really fast and satisfying read.
I think the plot was great, although it was a little bit confusing. I had to close the book and think about everything to start making sense, if you know what I mean.
it was a really fast and satisfying read.
December 24, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It’s the first one in the series that I had read, and I was really enjoying the mystery at the heart of the book as well as the way it was told. Weird to see New York in the late 90s before the towers fell.
I wish the fourth book in the series would get published bc um excuse me IT LEAVES OFF ON A ROMANTIC CLIFF HANGER
I wish the fourth book in the series would get published bc um excuse me IT LEAVES OFF ON A ROMANTIC CLIFF HANGER
November 9, 2022
(3). This is the third and final entry in the Nan Hayes series and it is just as solid as the first two. Nan is a big fun protagonist, and she works her way through this story in her usual slightly off kilter manner. Lots of little diversions here, but that is what is needed in such a short book. Good action, nice twists and turns, another real solid effort. Good stuff.
September 25, 2025
Like with most series, the more you read the more you love the characters.
And Nanette remains a fave! I've read back-to-back books 2 & 3 (this is the third one).
I love that this is set in the early 2000's and I like that Nanette does her own thing.
But she does keep getting sucked into murder mysteries! Such a good series... more please!
And Nanette remains a fave! I've read back-to-back books 2 & 3 (this is the third one).
I love that this is set in the early 2000's and I like that Nanette does her own thing.
But she does keep getting sucked into murder mysteries! Such a good series... more please!
February 9, 2022
Another Great Nan Mystery
The novel breezed along at a fast clip. As usual, Nan is a unique protagonist with chutzpah. She has more bravery tan good sense at times, but the reader admires her nonetheless.
The figurative language is clever in the best sense of the word.
The novel breezed along at a fast clip. As usual, Nan is a unique protagonist with chutzpah. She has more bravery tan good sense at times, but the reader admires her nonetheless.
The figurative language is clever in the best sense of the word.
March 9, 2023
Bad luck & trouble continue to plague Nanette in this third book in the series. There’s less music this time, and more voodoo, lies, guns, and booze. A great character, an enjoyable series of interlocking mysteries, and a satisfying ending. Definitely read Coq au Vin first!
May 12, 2023
A truly enjoyable piece of storytelling from Charlotte Carter. She has a gift for describing places(NYC this time, Paris in the last novel) making you long to visit. This is a complex, satisfying mystery, and Nan is a complex, satisfying character… here’s hoping we get more!
April 14, 2025
Love Nan Hayes!
I wish there were more of this series. Nan is a powerhouse and Charlotte Carters writing is sharp, funny and propulsive. Her plots careen along. Fascinating characters!
Lots of jazz, NYC and Paris. Who could ask for more?
I wish there were more of this series. Nan is a powerhouse and Charlotte Carters writing is sharp, funny and propulsive. Her plots careen along. Fascinating characters!
Lots of jazz, NYC and Paris. Who could ask for more?
March 2, 2020
Great, real language, good story and nice athmospheric description-really liked it
March 26, 2023
Good. V emotionally involved. Main character has had it rough. Curious to learn more
July 6, 2023
It was okay but hard to relate too because the plot seemed preposterous. I was attracted to the voodoo thing but it turned out not be the book I expected.
November 13, 2023
Trilogia tancada. Molt divertida, com la resta.
August 4, 2024
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I read this thinking it was the last one in the series but upon completion goodreads shows a fourth book called “Roosters RIFF”Is this true??? HELP. I cant find it in print or ebook or audiobook anywhere.
Drumsticks was another great rollercoaster with Nanette. Although there were some things that seemed out of place. For example, Nan’s relationship with Justin being so close kept throwing me off because they seemed to really dislike each other in the previous books.
Also, the teacher that was basically a pedophile/sexual predator??? I was not expecting that or how sympathetic Nan was to his situation.
The ending was perfect though. Throughout this series Charlotte Carter has always unraveled the mysteries so seamlessly.
Follow me on Instagram!!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I read this thinking it was the last one in the series but upon completion goodreads shows a fourth book called “Roosters RIFF”Is this true??? HELP. I cant find it in print or ebook or audiobook anywhere.
Drumsticks was another great rollercoaster with Nanette. Although there were some things that seemed out of place. For example, Nan’s relationship with Justin being so close kept throwing me off because they seemed to really dislike each other in the previous books.
Also, the teacher that was basically a pedophile/sexual predator??? I was not expecting that or how sympathetic Nan was to his situation.
The ending was perfect though. Throughout this series Charlotte Carter has always unraveled the mysteries so seamlessly.
November 17, 2022
The third and final Nanette Hayes has some familiar faces popping up as Nanette gets involved with a voodoo doll that leads to murder and then trying to solve the crime. Readable 90 crime.
September 23, 2011
This book was a present from a friend. I didn't know anything about it and had never read anything else by the same author. It took me a while to pick it up and read it but when i did I actually liked it. It's a mystery, which I love, the characters were interesting and the story wasn't particularly predictable. I later found this was part of a series and maybe I should have started with the first one. Since I liked it I may pick up the others some time.
March 12, 2023
Esta es la mejor historia de la trilogía de Nanette Hayes, una novela de detectives en toda regla, con una Nanette más irreverente, mercurial y sarcástica a quien le sienta muy bien el rol de perdonavidas.
June 1, 2013
Boa história!
Read
May 19, 2025It was a nice summer read. Nice writing, I enjoyed the humor.
Want to read
April 13, 2010F 813.54 CAR
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews