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Jules Landau Mysteries #3
Gold Coast Blues
Jules Landau’s father was mobbed up, as was his father before him. Jules takes a different He’s a licensed private eye, currently collecting his paycheck in cash from a young ex-con looking for his missing girlfriend, Tanya. But as Jules scours Chicago’s North Side, he realizes that any number of people might want to make sure Tanya stays gone. At the heart of her disappearance seems to be a thriving black market for expensive French wine—a vintage so lucrative that Tanya may have paid for it with her life. Following a trail of cash and power with more twists than a corkscrew, Jules traces a criminal conspiracy back to a corrupt New Jersey cop. With nobody telling the truth, Jules knows he has to act fast . . . because a perfect crime only gets better with age.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2015
71 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Marc Krulewitch
11 books7 followersFor his sixth novel, author Marc Krulewitch changes the venue to Boulder County, Colorado where he’s lived since 1992. His previous books, Maxwell Street Blues, Windy City Blues, Gold Coast Blues, Doubt in the 2nd Degree, and Something to Call Your Own, all take place in Chicago, where he was born and where his family has lived for generations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 16, 2020
Very interesting mystery.
Jules Landeau is a very interesting and well developed character. With his entire family belonging to the mafia, he was trying not to give in to that and he is maintaining a low profile as a Private Investigator.
That was when he is given the job of looking for Tanya.
After that the story is paced very fast as it is clear that a lot of people are looking for Tanya.
Very well scripted, the story has multiple layers and each layer tells us something new about the characters and it was all weaved together in one complex plot.
Enjoyed the story and especially the characters.
Jules Landeau is a very interesting and well developed character. With his entire family belonging to the mafia, he was trying not to give in to that and he is maintaining a low profile as a Private Investigator.
That was when he is given the job of looking for Tanya.
After that the story is paced very fast as it is clear that a lot of people are looking for Tanya.
Very well scripted, the story has multiple layers and each layer tells us something new about the characters and it was all weaved together in one complex plot.
Enjoyed the story and especially the characters.
July 31, 2015
French Wine, a Missing Woman, and the Mob
Jules Landeau is a private investigator, although both his father and grandfather were in the mob. He's mostly playing it straight, but his knowledge of the criminal underworld helps when an ex-con, Eddie, hires him to search for Tanya, his missing girl friend.
Jules is reluctant to take on the case. Eddie is newly released from prison, and he's an unpleasant character. But Jules is a sucker for a Jersey boy who wants to find his lost love. After searching through Chicago's North side, Jules realizes that the case is not as simple as finding the girl. A valuable French wine and a dirty Jersey cop complicate the case. After plenty of twists, Jules succeeds with a surprising ending.
If you like stories featuring tough investigators, the mob, and a convoluted plot, this is your kind of book. The Chicago background is a perfect setting for the hunt for the missing girl.
I enjoyed the book, but thought there were almost too many characters. Once Jules leaves Chicago for New Jersey the plot twists come fast and more characters complicate the action. Although I found the subplot with the expensive wine engrossing, it seemed like a detour from the major action until about halfway through the book. The other problem with the book for me was that the character motivation seemed thin. This was particularly true of Margot and Doug, the owners of the wine.
I recommend this book if you like a fast paced mystery with plenty of twists.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley.
Jules Landeau is a private investigator, although both his father and grandfather were in the mob. He's mostly playing it straight, but his knowledge of the criminal underworld helps when an ex-con, Eddie, hires him to search for Tanya, his missing girl friend.
Jules is reluctant to take on the case. Eddie is newly released from prison, and he's an unpleasant character. But Jules is a sucker for a Jersey boy who wants to find his lost love. After searching through Chicago's North side, Jules realizes that the case is not as simple as finding the girl. A valuable French wine and a dirty Jersey cop complicate the case. After plenty of twists, Jules succeeds with a surprising ending.
If you like stories featuring tough investigators, the mob, and a convoluted plot, this is your kind of book. The Chicago background is a perfect setting for the hunt for the missing girl.
I enjoyed the book, but thought there were almost too many characters. Once Jules leaves Chicago for New Jersey the plot twists come fast and more characters complicate the action. Although I found the subplot with the expensive wine engrossing, it seemed like a detour from the major action until about halfway through the book. The other problem with the book for me was that the character motivation seemed thin. This was particularly true of Margot and Doug, the owners of the wine.
I recommend this book if you like a fast paced mystery with plenty of twists.
I reviewed this book for Net Galley.
September 5, 2015
4 Stars!
Wow, this book had so many players and so many players that it was terribly hard to guess just what in the heck was going on. I mean the story wasn't hard to follow, but guessing what was actually going on. There's no way I was ever going to figure that one out.
Everyone is looking out for this girl named Tanya and everyone has a different reason why. Some people you know their reason, and some people you don't. You've got an ex-con paying a private investigator looking for her, then you have a rogue cop looking for her, then the FBI just happens to be looking for her and let's just go ahead and throw in some wine counterfeiters while we're at it. Then there's the jilted girlfriend who thinks she's dead because she killed her and the jilted boyfriend who thinks she's dead because why would she leave him? When you think about it, it's all kind of funny. But when you're reading about it, it's not funny, it's some serious. Some of these people looking for her mean business and it's not the kind of business that leaves you breathing.
I truly enjoyed this book. I thought it well written, entertaining, definitely held my interest and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book!
Hugh thanks to Random House Alibi and Net Galley for providing me a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, this book had so many players and so many players that it was terribly hard to guess just what in the heck was going on. I mean the story wasn't hard to follow, but guessing what was actually going on. There's no way I was ever going to figure that one out.
Everyone is looking out for this girl named Tanya and everyone has a different reason why. Some people you know their reason, and some people you don't. You've got an ex-con paying a private investigator looking for her, then you have a rogue cop looking for her, then the FBI just happens to be looking for her and let's just go ahead and throw in some wine counterfeiters while we're at it. Then there's the jilted girlfriend who thinks she's dead because she killed her and the jilted boyfriend who thinks she's dead because why would she leave him? When you think about it, it's all kind of funny. But when you're reading about it, it's not funny, it's some serious. Some of these people looking for her mean business and it's not the kind of business that leaves you breathing.
I truly enjoyed this book. I thought it well written, entertaining, definitely held my interest and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book!
Hugh thanks to Random House Alibi and Net Galley for providing me a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2015
Originally published at Reading Reality
Gold Coast Blues is a mystery about stolen vintage wine. Or about faking vintage wine. Or about stealing fake vintage wine. Or all of the above,
Whether the wine turns out to be real or fake, vintage wine is very expensive. And quite possibly undrinkable. But Chicago’s Near North Gold Coast is the setting for this story, because it’s the nabobs of the North Shore who can afford to pay $25,000 for a single bottle of 1945 or 1947 Mouton or Lafitte Rothschild, or even $2,500 for a possibly fake bottle.
If wine is treated like an investment, it’s also stolen and faked like any other investment. And it can even be a racket for organized crime. Even if that organization is supplied by a New Jersey police officer with some very “progressive” ideas about managing crime while skimming from every side.
This story takes place in Chicago, for the most part. Jules Landau gets hired by a Jersey kid who just got out of jail, and wants Landau to hunt for his missing girlfriend. The young woman, Tanya, sensibly got out of their downtrodden bit of Newark while the getting was good, and while her “connected” boyfriend was in the slammer.
Now he’s out and he wants to find her. Money seems to be no object – the guy is throwing cash around like there’s no tomorrow. And there might not be.
Because Eddie wants Landau to find his girl, but he doesn’t want to tell Landau anything that might help him investigate. Which puts the reckless Landau on his own, discovering that Tanya disappeared from her job at a wine bar in very mysterious circumstances, and that everyone connected with her former place of employment is up to their necks in some very shady wine deals.
So Landau follows the trail that he has, which finds him deeper and deeper into the vintage wine market, following the trail of a case of stolen vintage Rothschild wine that may be worth $5,000 per bottle, or $25,000 per bottle, or absolutely nothing at all.
What he doesn’t expect is to find himself at the end of a beat down by a cop in Jersey. No one that Landau questions believes that he is only after the girl, when every question at every turn finds him in the middle of a wine heist and a love triangle gone very, very wrong.
Everyone he talks to is lying to him, and assumes that he is lying to them, even when he isn’t. In the end, he finally figures out that he is going to have to solve the wine case in order to wrap up the missing persons case.
Assuming that the bad guys in one case or the other (or in the case of wine) don’t kill him first.
Escape Rating B: Landau takes Eddie’s case because he can’t stop himself from thinking it’s a love story. And Eddie pays well, and in cash. Which helps Landau paper over his intuition that Eddie is lying to him and that he’s being an idiot by taking the case. His few friends tell him that he’s going to be a dead idiot if he doesn’t get out while the getting is good.
Instead, Jules Landau does what he always does. He rushes in where angels, and even a few demons, fear to tread. (For Jules’ earlier adventures, see Maxwell Street Blues and Windy City Blues)
Landau is a likeable fellow with a penchant for getting in over his head, and then floundering his way out with a little luck, a lot of moxie, and some serious bluffing. He’s not as tough as he pretends to be, but he pretends very, very well. Both his father and his grandfather were “mobbed up”, but Jules is mostly on the straight and relatively narrow. But he has the street smarts when he needs them, AND remembers to use them.
Unfortunately for Landau, he and the undercover FBI agent are the only two likeable people in this whole mess. Every other person involved is a lying sack of shit, including both the missing girl and the ex-boyfriend who is searching for her.
This case is a mess. Every single person Landau talks to is lying to him, including his old friend, the retired Chicago cop Kalijero. Some, like his cop friend, lie to him for his own good. The undercover FBI agent he trips over lies to him for her own good, but she also cat sits for him.
But everyone even tangentially involved with either the missing Tanya or the mysterious case of possibly pilfered vintage wine, lies to keep Jules from investigating their involvement in the mess, in spite of his initially true contention that he’s only after the missing girl. It’s so obvious amidst the welter of lies that the missing Tanya is in the fake wine scam up to her very threatened neck. He eventually figures out that he can’t find the girl without solving the wine case. Or vice versa.
And his original contention was totally wrong. This isn’t really a love story, unless it’s a story about the love of money being the root of all evil.
Gold Coast Blues is a mystery about stolen vintage wine. Or about faking vintage wine. Or about stealing fake vintage wine. Or all of the above,
Whether the wine turns out to be real or fake, vintage wine is very expensive. And quite possibly undrinkable. But Chicago’s Near North Gold Coast is the setting for this story, because it’s the nabobs of the North Shore who can afford to pay $25,000 for a single bottle of 1945 or 1947 Mouton or Lafitte Rothschild, or even $2,500 for a possibly fake bottle.
If wine is treated like an investment, it’s also stolen and faked like any other investment. And it can even be a racket for organized crime. Even if that organization is supplied by a New Jersey police officer with some very “progressive” ideas about managing crime while skimming from every side.
This story takes place in Chicago, for the most part. Jules Landau gets hired by a Jersey kid who just got out of jail, and wants Landau to hunt for his missing girlfriend. The young woman, Tanya, sensibly got out of their downtrodden bit of Newark while the getting was good, and while her “connected” boyfriend was in the slammer.
Now he’s out and he wants to find her. Money seems to be no object – the guy is throwing cash around like there’s no tomorrow. And there might not be.
Because Eddie wants Landau to find his girl, but he doesn’t want to tell Landau anything that might help him investigate. Which puts the reckless Landau on his own, discovering that Tanya disappeared from her job at a wine bar in very mysterious circumstances, and that everyone connected with her former place of employment is up to their necks in some very shady wine deals.
So Landau follows the trail that he has, which finds him deeper and deeper into the vintage wine market, following the trail of a case of stolen vintage Rothschild wine that may be worth $5,000 per bottle, or $25,000 per bottle, or absolutely nothing at all.
What he doesn’t expect is to find himself at the end of a beat down by a cop in Jersey. No one that Landau questions believes that he is only after the girl, when every question at every turn finds him in the middle of a wine heist and a love triangle gone very, very wrong.
Everyone he talks to is lying to him, and assumes that he is lying to them, even when he isn’t. In the end, he finally figures out that he is going to have to solve the wine case in order to wrap up the missing persons case.
Assuming that the bad guys in one case or the other (or in the case of wine) don’t kill him first.
Escape Rating B: Landau takes Eddie’s case because he can’t stop himself from thinking it’s a love story. And Eddie pays well, and in cash. Which helps Landau paper over his intuition that Eddie is lying to him and that he’s being an idiot by taking the case. His few friends tell him that he’s going to be a dead idiot if he doesn’t get out while the getting is good.
Instead, Jules Landau does what he always does. He rushes in where angels, and even a few demons, fear to tread. (For Jules’ earlier adventures, see Maxwell Street Blues and Windy City Blues)
Landau is a likeable fellow with a penchant for getting in over his head, and then floundering his way out with a little luck, a lot of moxie, and some serious bluffing. He’s not as tough as he pretends to be, but he pretends very, very well. Both his father and his grandfather were “mobbed up”, but Jules is mostly on the straight and relatively narrow. But he has the street smarts when he needs them, AND remembers to use them.
Unfortunately for Landau, he and the undercover FBI agent are the only two likeable people in this whole mess. Every other person involved is a lying sack of shit, including both the missing girl and the ex-boyfriend who is searching for her.
This case is a mess. Every single person Landau talks to is lying to him, including his old friend, the retired Chicago cop Kalijero. Some, like his cop friend, lie to him for his own good. The undercover FBI agent he trips over lies to him for her own good, but she also cat sits for him.
But everyone even tangentially involved with either the missing Tanya or the mysterious case of possibly pilfered vintage wine, lies to keep Jules from investigating their involvement in the mess, in spite of his initially true contention that he’s only after the missing girl. It’s so obvious amidst the welter of lies that the missing Tanya is in the fake wine scam up to her very threatened neck. He eventually figures out that he can’t find the girl without solving the wine case. Or vice versa.
And his original contention was totally wrong. This isn’t really a love story, unless it’s a story about the love of money being the root of all evil.
September 27, 2015
Princess Fuzzypants here: While this is not truly a cat mystery, there is a great cat, Punim, who plays an important role in our hero, Jules Landau's, life. That is why I am doing the review and going to post in my blog, FUZZY Thoughts as well.
HIgh paws for this series. I liked it from the beginning but I am really getting invested in Jules. He is such an interesting character- somepawdy who might do well in a film noir or a hard-boiled detective movie.
Despite his father's long term relationship with the criminal element, Jules has decided to become an investigator. There are plenty of times during this particular outing where he has reason to question his motives for his career choice.
He is hired, for cash, by a convicted criminal who is looking for his girlfriend, who disappeared shortly before his release. In his quest to find her, Jules is drawn into a number of conspiracies that revolve around some very expensive wines. No matter which way he turns, it seems to come back to wine investments.
Poor old Jules takes his lumps several times during his search but finally finds the girl and discovers whom amongst the many people lying to him are the true villains.
It is a real nail biter, or in my case, claw biter. I like how much Punim figures into the story and he better get that trust signed and funded before his next adventure. I would not want Punim to be left without a proper "staff" person to tend to her needs.
Five purrs and two paws up.
HIgh paws for this series. I liked it from the beginning but I am really getting invested in Jules. He is such an interesting character- somepawdy who might do well in a film noir or a hard-boiled detective movie.
Despite his father's long term relationship with the criminal element, Jules has decided to become an investigator. There are plenty of times during this particular outing where he has reason to question his motives for his career choice.
He is hired, for cash, by a convicted criminal who is looking for his girlfriend, who disappeared shortly before his release. In his quest to find her, Jules is drawn into a number of conspiracies that revolve around some very expensive wines. No matter which way he turns, it seems to come back to wine investments.
Poor old Jules takes his lumps several times during his search but finally finds the girl and discovers whom amongst the many people lying to him are the true villains.
It is a real nail biter, or in my case, claw biter. I like how much Punim figures into the story and he better get that trust signed and funded before his next adventure. I would not want Punim to be left without a proper "staff" person to tend to her needs.
Five purrs and two paws up.
July 8, 2015
Gold Coast Blues -- Marc Krulewitch
For some reason, I've always been quite interested in the mob or the mafia. Perhaps it was The Godfather-movies (not The Godfather Part III ... never Part III), or perhaps it's just the thought of how a whole organisation can operate above the law.
Such is the life of Jules Landau. His father and grandfather were mob-men, but he has tried (with reasonable success) to stay away from a life of crime and is a private investigator.
I think it was clever of Marc Krulewitch to give Jules such a background. As the story unfolds, it's clear Jules understands the criminal mind a little better than most people.
In 'Gold Coast Blues' Jules has to track down a missing woman, Tanya. As the investigation progresses, he discovers there is reason why she is missing ... and many people want her to stay that way.
Add to that an expensive French wine (hence the picture on the cover) and you have yourself a mystery.
This is not the first thriller with Jules as the lead. As with the others (check them out), the character is believable, interesting and engaging. The plot is well thought out and rounded.
Keep them coming, Marc.
For some reason, I've always been quite interested in the mob or the mafia. Perhaps it was The Godfather-movies (not The Godfather Part III ... never Part III), or perhaps it's just the thought of how a whole organisation can operate above the law.
Such is the life of Jules Landau. His father and grandfather were mob-men, but he has tried (with reasonable success) to stay away from a life of crime and is a private investigator.
I think it was clever of Marc Krulewitch to give Jules such a background. As the story unfolds, it's clear Jules understands the criminal mind a little better than most people.
In 'Gold Coast Blues' Jules has to track down a missing woman, Tanya. As the investigation progresses, he discovers there is reason why she is missing ... and many people want her to stay that way.
Add to that an expensive French wine (hence the picture on the cover) and you have yourself a mystery.
This is not the first thriller with Jules as the lead. As with the others (check them out), the character is believable, interesting and engaging. The plot is well thought out and rounded.
Keep them coming, Marc.
September 21, 2015
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I have to say I’m impressed! The lead character in the story is Jules Landeau and boy does he have a checkered past! His father and grandfather were both in the mob but he’s mainly keeping on the straight and narrow, working as a PI and using his contacts and background knowledge to help him crack cases that would thwart others. He’s an engaging character, well developed, interesting and easy to relate to.
The focus for his current investigation is the girlfriend of an ex-con who has recently been released from prison. The lady concerned is Tanya and it seems that the boyfriend and Jules aren’t the only folk looking for her, she may have a very good reason for disappearing! As the search continues, with an unbelievable number of unforeseen twists and turns, things are revealed making this a tantalising and engaging read, definitely a good one for anyone who likes their mysteries with a touch of mob and taste of good wine (perhaps!). I'll certainly look out for more by this author in future!
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
The focus for his current investigation is the girlfriend of an ex-con who has recently been released from prison. The lady concerned is Tanya and it seems that the boyfriend and Jules aren’t the only folk looking for her, she may have a very good reason for disappearing! As the search continues, with an unbelievable number of unforeseen twists and turns, things are revealed making this a tantalising and engaging read, definitely a good one for anyone who likes their mysteries with a touch of mob and taste of good wine (perhaps!). I'll certainly look out for more by this author in future!
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
October 3, 2015
Jules Landu, is a Private investigator who has left the family business. His grandfather, and father were both in the mob. So he does know a thing or two about crime, but does not want to know where Eddie has come up with the cash for him to look for his ex-girlfriend. He does wonder in the back of his mind just getting released and having this much cash can let you turn a blind eye. He figures easy money because she finally left Eddie and did not want to give him a dear Eddie (John) letter. But that is not the case for he has to leave Chicago and travel to New Jersey where the family name is known and that brings in more characters into the story along with the ones from Chicago and everyone is looking for her or a bottle of wine. This is a very good story with many different players and no one is actually helping Jules. He must put it all together. A very entertaining book. Really enjoyed the read. I got this book from net galley.
September 20, 2015
A brilliant suspense thriller with Jules taking his usual beatings and failing to score with the female characters. Jules takes a case to find a missing women, and walks into the world of wine investing, organized crime, sex affairs, stings, and treachery. The story is well-written, the characters are well-defined, and the continuing action makes the book impossible to put down. Chicago's gritty Gold Coast is the setting for great adventures. I'm looking forward to more.
August 26, 2015
Jules Landau is a licensed private eye. A lot of his work is catching a cheating spouse with his camera., Sometimes he gets a case like tracking down missing person. However, this case of looking for a missing girlfriend named Tanya just gets deeper and deeper into dangerous territory and rife with layers and complications, any or all of which could get him killed!
September 17, 2015
Funny, but a long list of characters hasn't gotten in the way of George R.R. Martin's popularity.
August 28, 2020
Just too long
A good story line, but took too long to deliver. I got frustrated about halfway thru and began skipping pages just to finish
A good story line, but took too long to deliver. I got frustrated about halfway thru and began skipping pages just to finish
November 3, 2020
Enjoyed
I really enjoyed this latest book of yours the characters and the story line are keeping me interested in your book.
I really enjoyed this latest book of yours the characters and the story line are keeping me interested in your book.
November 5, 2022
An enjoyable mystery.
December 5, 2023
Gold Coast Blues by Marc Krulewitch
Pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Alibi, Alibi
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Private Investigator
Jules Landau is a private investigator in Chicago. He is approached by Eddie, an ex-con from New Jersey to find a missing woman. He heard that his girlfriend, Tanya, had moved to Chicago and was working in an upscale wine bar. Jules agrees to take the case since Eddie is offering a large pile of cash. While investigating, Jules gets dragged into a missing stolen wine case. He is tricked, lied to, and beat up. He feels the two cases are connected but does not know how. He gets unwanted help from Amy, a psychic.
The story is all over the place. Jules seems lost and unaware of the situation. Honestly, I did not feel anything towards these characters. They were not developed and felt flat. It was written in the first-person point of view.
Pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Alibi, Alibi
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Private Investigator
Jules Landau is a private investigator in Chicago. He is approached by Eddie, an ex-con from New Jersey to find a missing woman. He heard that his girlfriend, Tanya, had moved to Chicago and was working in an upscale wine bar. Jules agrees to take the case since Eddie is offering a large pile of cash. While investigating, Jules gets dragged into a missing stolen wine case. He is tricked, lied to, and beat up. He feels the two cases are connected but does not know how. He gets unwanted help from Amy, a psychic.
The story is all over the place. Jules seems lost and unaware of the situation. Honestly, I did not feel anything towards these characters. They were not developed and felt flat. It was written in the first-person point of view.
November 2, 2015
Gold Coast Blues
By Bob Gelms
As I said last month, Jules Landau, my favorite vegan Chicago private investigator, is at it again. Trying to avoid murder cases, he takes what he thinks is a missing persons case. What he gets is more than one eye opening surprise. It turns into a murder case…but does it? And what if someone else turns up dead? And the ever present question: will Purin, Jules’ cat, ever get those raw chicken livers? (Purin gets raw food because Jules has never seen a wild cat cook its food before eating it.) Gold Coast Blues is the third book in the Jules Landau Mystery series by Mark Krulewitch. You are going to love it.
Landau’s father and grandfather were both mid-level gangsters in Chicago. But his father did a long stretch at the ‘’charm school’’ in Joliet and Jules has tried to do the family name proud by going straight. Jules has become a licensed private investigator. Both his mentor, Frownie, and his Dad keep telling him not to take murder cases because you have to carry a gun since murder cases tend to get very dangerous very quickly. Guess what? Most every case he has taken turns into a murder case. This new one is no exception.
It all starts like most of his cases. A guy walks into Jules’ office one floor up in an Old Town building. The guy gives Jules a huge retainer to simply find his girlfriend, Tanya, which makes Jules suspicious because it is too much for a missing person’s case. Things get pretty murky almost immediately. First, Jules can’t decide if the lady, Tanya, is missing or dead. Second, there is that annoying little detail about a motive: there seems to be a zillion of ‘em. Third, there’s an odd out-of-state connection. In fact, it feels like half the people in the known world are looking for Tanya, seemingly all for different reasons. Some of these are very, very bad people with very, very bad things on their mind. There is a cadre of dirty cops in New Jersey that know all about Tanya, are looking for her, and have a few other as-yet-undisclosed motives for wanting to talk to her.
A very rich lady in Chicago is also mixed up in this caper. Part of her recent divorce settlement is a huge wine cellar of obscenely expensive wine. Or so it would seem. The polite (NOT) cops in New Jersey seem very interested in this cache of wine as well. Jules…..well Jules has about 6 different theories, all of them logical and all of them very interesting. It turns out that all his theories are a little bit true. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Jules Landau novel if Jules didn’t get into some deep trouble and this trouble is the deepest. Like there might not be a fourth Jules Landau novel. He is captured by the bad guys and beaten severely, multiple times. Only there is more than one group of bad guys.
Gold Coast Blues is a hoot and a half. You know Jules has to survive but how in the heck does he extricate himself from the mortal danger he is in and solve the mystery? Oh, by the way, there is a murder thrown in for good measure but it’s not who you think it is. This is a real page turner. The basic story is easy to follow. There is even a quasi love interest for Jules. There are a lot of characters and a lot of explanations and it is great fun watching Jules walk thru this minefield with snowshoes on to solve the case. He does. Purin, the carnivorous cat, does get his gizzards, which is a nice little respite from the danger and violence in the rest of the story.
If you liked the first two Jules Landau Mysteries, Windy City Blues and Maxwell Street Blues, I pretty much guarantee you will love Gold Coast Blues. If you haven’t read either of them, pick one. You don’t need to have read the previous books to have a great time reading any of them out of chronological order. I can’t wait for number four in the series.
By Bob Gelms
As I said last month, Jules Landau, my favorite vegan Chicago private investigator, is at it again. Trying to avoid murder cases, he takes what he thinks is a missing persons case. What he gets is more than one eye opening surprise. It turns into a murder case…but does it? And what if someone else turns up dead? And the ever present question: will Purin, Jules’ cat, ever get those raw chicken livers? (Purin gets raw food because Jules has never seen a wild cat cook its food before eating it.) Gold Coast Blues is the third book in the Jules Landau Mystery series by Mark Krulewitch. You are going to love it.
Landau’s father and grandfather were both mid-level gangsters in Chicago. But his father did a long stretch at the ‘’charm school’’ in Joliet and Jules has tried to do the family name proud by going straight. Jules has become a licensed private investigator. Both his mentor, Frownie, and his Dad keep telling him not to take murder cases because you have to carry a gun since murder cases tend to get very dangerous very quickly. Guess what? Most every case he has taken turns into a murder case. This new one is no exception.
It all starts like most of his cases. A guy walks into Jules’ office one floor up in an Old Town building. The guy gives Jules a huge retainer to simply find his girlfriend, Tanya, which makes Jules suspicious because it is too much for a missing person’s case. Things get pretty murky almost immediately. First, Jules can’t decide if the lady, Tanya, is missing or dead. Second, there is that annoying little detail about a motive: there seems to be a zillion of ‘em. Third, there’s an odd out-of-state connection. In fact, it feels like half the people in the known world are looking for Tanya, seemingly all for different reasons. Some of these are very, very bad people with very, very bad things on their mind. There is a cadre of dirty cops in New Jersey that know all about Tanya, are looking for her, and have a few other as-yet-undisclosed motives for wanting to talk to her.
A very rich lady in Chicago is also mixed up in this caper. Part of her recent divorce settlement is a huge wine cellar of obscenely expensive wine. Or so it would seem. The polite (NOT) cops in New Jersey seem very interested in this cache of wine as well. Jules…..well Jules has about 6 different theories, all of them logical and all of them very interesting. It turns out that all his theories are a little bit true. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Jules Landau novel if Jules didn’t get into some deep trouble and this trouble is the deepest. Like there might not be a fourth Jules Landau novel. He is captured by the bad guys and beaten severely, multiple times. Only there is more than one group of bad guys.
Gold Coast Blues is a hoot and a half. You know Jules has to survive but how in the heck does he extricate himself from the mortal danger he is in and solve the mystery? Oh, by the way, there is a murder thrown in for good measure but it’s not who you think it is. This is a real page turner. The basic story is easy to follow. There is even a quasi love interest for Jules. There are a lot of characters and a lot of explanations and it is great fun watching Jules walk thru this minefield with snowshoes on to solve the case. He does. Purin, the carnivorous cat, does get his gizzards, which is a nice little respite from the danger and violence in the rest of the story.
If you liked the first two Jules Landau Mysteries, Windy City Blues and Maxwell Street Blues, I pretty much guarantee you will love Gold Coast Blues. If you haven’t read either of them, pick one. You don’t need to have read the previous books to have a great time reading any of them out of chronological order. I can’t wait for number four in the series.
August 8, 2015
“Tanya Maggio’s a missing person, and I got a feeling she’s missing on purpose.” This third entry of the Jules Landau series finds Landau searching for Eddie’s missing girlfriend. There’s a faded noir feeling in its pages as Landau bounces between Chicago and New Jersey trying to trace back the thread. Though confusing at times, a trifle overburdened by excess characters, it’s a fun, original story. Thank you once and thank you twice to Net Galley and Random House Alibi for the DRC. This title is available for purchase September 22.
The search for Tanya leads Landau to the mean streets of Irvington, New Jersey, where a crooked cop named Cooper explains that in their town, they don’t try stamp out crime...they manage it. So anyone that is hooked up to the criminal world is fair game; the idea, at least ostensibly, is that bystanders should not be caught in the crossfire.
Right.
Turns out the New Jersey people are running a scam. Those among the one percent that have more time and money than good sense invest in fine wine, wine that is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for a case of a dozen bottles. Hey, its value appreciates, and some liken it to gold or silver. If a bottle gets busted, then that’s what insurance is for.
With a bizarre scenario such as this one, it’s only to be expected that someone would come up with the idea of counterfeiting labels and brewing up some fake stuff. After all, no one is going to drink it anyway, right? Who’s to know?
The plot twists, and it turns sometimes enough to confuse me. Hold up…are we in Illinois, or are we still in Jersey? But when push comes to shove, this romp is too enjoyable to walk away from. “That little shit Spike”, an heir to the Irvington mob, is one character that shines brightly enough to keep those pages turning. Another, of course, is Landau’s ridiculous cat Punim, for whom he sits down to compose a legal trust fund when he is depressed and in danger. His own life may be on the line, but by god someone has to be paid to feed Punim his chicken hearts every day. And then there is Amy. Is she an enemy? A spy? She sure as hell isn’t really a psychic, but she knows enough that she has to be something. Maybe she has Tanya tied up in her closet. You never can tell.
The originality of the plot is assisted by Krulewitch’s affinity for figurative language. I loved his description of the “horror hotel” and the “stunningly verdant” house located on…wait for it…Bunnybrush Lane.
September is a good time to curl up under the quilts with a good book, or for those in warmer climes, it’s not too late to stretch out on the beach with one. Either way, if you need an escapist beach read, or a good noir mystery, this might be the book for you.
The search for Tanya leads Landau to the mean streets of Irvington, New Jersey, where a crooked cop named Cooper explains that in their town, they don’t try stamp out crime...they manage it. So anyone that is hooked up to the criminal world is fair game; the idea, at least ostensibly, is that bystanders should not be caught in the crossfire.
Right.
Turns out the New Jersey people are running a scam. Those among the one percent that have more time and money than good sense invest in fine wine, wine that is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for a case of a dozen bottles. Hey, its value appreciates, and some liken it to gold or silver. If a bottle gets busted, then that’s what insurance is for.
With a bizarre scenario such as this one, it’s only to be expected that someone would come up with the idea of counterfeiting labels and brewing up some fake stuff. After all, no one is going to drink it anyway, right? Who’s to know?
The plot twists, and it turns sometimes enough to confuse me. Hold up…are we in Illinois, or are we still in Jersey? But when push comes to shove, this romp is too enjoyable to walk away from. “That little shit Spike”, an heir to the Irvington mob, is one character that shines brightly enough to keep those pages turning. Another, of course, is Landau’s ridiculous cat Punim, for whom he sits down to compose a legal trust fund when he is depressed and in danger. His own life may be on the line, but by god someone has to be paid to feed Punim his chicken hearts every day. And then there is Amy. Is she an enemy? A spy? She sure as hell isn’t really a psychic, but she knows enough that she has to be something. Maybe she has Tanya tied up in her closet. You never can tell.
The originality of the plot is assisted by Krulewitch’s affinity for figurative language. I loved his description of the “horror hotel” and the “stunningly verdant” house located on…wait for it…Bunnybrush Lane.
September is a good time to curl up under the quilts with a good book, or for those in warmer climes, it’s not too late to stretch out on the beach with one. Either way, if you need an escapist beach read, or a good noir mystery, this might be the book for you.
September 26, 2015
Gold Coast Blues
(A Jules Landau Mystery)
By: Marc Krulewitch
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Alibi
Jules Landau comes from a long line of Mafia affiliations. However, he chooses a completely different path for his life than that of his family before him. He has chosen to be a licensed Private Investigator. Jules is contacted by ex-con Eddie Byrne to find his missing girlfriend, Tanya Maggio. The deeper the search becomes, Jules realizes there are a lot of people who don’t want Tanya found and will do most anything to keep her missing. Jules background helps him to understand the criminal mind better than most, so his ability to “think” what the criminal will do next certainly makes for interesting reading. In “Gold Coast Blues”, he finds out why Tanya is missing, which leads to police corruption that spans from Chicago to New Jersey and an expensive French wine that has been stolen…maybe.
This book is well written and the characters are very well developed. Although this is the first time I have read any work by this author it won’t be my last time. Although I didn’t find it filled with deep intrigue, I did find it to be a great mystery, with a good storyline packed with lots of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this eBook by the publisher, The Alibi Group, through NetGalley blogger program for review. I was not required to write a favorable review nor was I compensated for my review. The opinions in this review are my own.
(A Jules Landau Mystery)
By: Marc Krulewitch
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Alibi
Jules Landau comes from a long line of Mafia affiliations. However, he chooses a completely different path for his life than that of his family before him. He has chosen to be a licensed Private Investigator. Jules is contacted by ex-con Eddie Byrne to find his missing girlfriend, Tanya Maggio. The deeper the search becomes, Jules realizes there are a lot of people who don’t want Tanya found and will do most anything to keep her missing. Jules background helps him to understand the criminal mind better than most, so his ability to “think” what the criminal will do next certainly makes for interesting reading. In “Gold Coast Blues”, he finds out why Tanya is missing, which leads to police corruption that spans from Chicago to New Jersey and an expensive French wine that has been stolen…maybe.
This book is well written and the characters are very well developed. Although this is the first time I have read any work by this author it won’t be my last time. Although I didn’t find it filled with deep intrigue, I did find it to be a great mystery, with a good storyline packed with lots of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
Disclosure: I was given a copy of this eBook by the publisher, The Alibi Group, through NetGalley blogger program for review. I was not required to write a favorable review nor was I compensated for my review. The opinions in this review are my own.
November 5, 2015
“Gold Coast Blues” eBook was published in 2015 and was written by Marc Krulewitch. This is Mr. Krulewitch’s fourth novel and the third in his ‘Jules Landau Mysteries’ series.
I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘PG’ as there are instances of Mature Language. This Mystery novel is set in contemporary Chicago.
Private Investigator Jules Landau is hired by a shady looking guy to find his missing girlfriend. As Landau digs into the disappearance, he finds that the missing girl, Tanya Maggio, last employer was a Chicago wine bar. The more Landau looks into the case, the more he finds that indicates there is more to the story.
Landau finds that Maggio had association with low level organized crime figures back east, and they are looking for her now too. There is also some sort of connection with counterfeit wines that the girl seems involved in. The investigation takes Landau to a few places where is health is at risk.
the story was OK, but I do not like the primary character. He does not seem to be a very good investigator. Nor do I find his sarcastic personality very endearing. Looking back at my review of the first book in this series (Maxwell Street Blues) I think that I should have stuck with my assessment then to avoid further books in the series. I give this novel a 3 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I obtained a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novel as ‘PG’ as there are instances of Mature Language. This Mystery novel is set in contemporary Chicago.
Private Investigator Jules Landau is hired by a shady looking guy to find his missing girlfriend. As Landau digs into the disappearance, he finds that the missing girl, Tanya Maggio, last employer was a Chicago wine bar. The more Landau looks into the case, the more he finds that indicates there is more to the story.
Landau finds that Maggio had association with low level organized crime figures back east, and they are looking for her now too. There is also some sort of connection with counterfeit wines that the girl seems involved in. The investigation takes Landau to a few places where is health is at risk.
the story was OK, but I do not like the primary character. He does not seem to be a very good investigator. Nor do I find his sarcastic personality very endearing. Looking back at my review of the first book in this series (Maxwell Street Blues) I think that I should have stuck with my assessment then to avoid further books in the series. I give this novel a 3 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
August 18, 2015
note: this was a free eBook from NetGalley
An ex-con walks into Jules Landau’s office and asks him to find his girlfriend Tanya. He just got out of jail after doing three years downstate. During the first two and a half years she visited him and wrote to him but he hasn’t heard from her in six months. She was last known to be working in a “wine bar” on Chicago’s North Side.
Thus begins the latest volume of Krulewitch’s “Jack Landau Mystery”. Before Jules can say ‘Cubs win the Pennant’ he’s involved with crooked politicians (are there any other kind in Chicago), stolen vintage French wine, wine counterfeiters , and other assorted criminals and low lives. Not to mention cops and feds and so many other characters that it’s enough to make the Chicago River run backwards (oh, wait, it does run backwards!).
That’s the problem with this novel, there’s too much going on with too many people doing too many things. It’s the reason I don’t read Russian novels. I liked the prior ‘Landau’ books, but this one was a disappointment (well, to me at least). Hopefully he’ll be back on track in the next one.
Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com zebsblog@gmail.com
An ex-con walks into Jules Landau’s office and asks him to find his girlfriend Tanya. He just got out of jail after doing three years downstate. During the first two and a half years she visited him and wrote to him but he hasn’t heard from her in six months. She was last known to be working in a “wine bar” on Chicago’s North Side.
Thus begins the latest volume of Krulewitch’s “Jack Landau Mystery”. Before Jules can say ‘Cubs win the Pennant’ he’s involved with crooked politicians (are there any other kind in Chicago), stolen vintage French wine, wine counterfeiters , and other assorted criminals and low lives. Not to mention cops and feds and so many other characters that it’s enough to make the Chicago River run backwards (oh, wait, it does run backwards!).
That’s the problem with this novel, there’s too much going on with too many people doing too many things. It’s the reason I don’t read Russian novels. I liked the prior ‘Landau’ books, but this one was a disappointment (well, to me at least). Hopefully he’ll be back on track in the next one.
Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com zebsblog@gmail.com
September 25, 2015
Gold Coast Blues 3 stars
Marc Krulewitch
Doesn’t quite hit the mark
A missing girl, stolen expensive wine, an honest private investigator, bent cops and a touch of organised crime. This novel has all the elements of a great crime thriller but doesn’t quite hit the mark.
The characterisation is very thin and the major protagonists’ motivation is often difficult to comprehend. The plot lacks bite and some parts of the action added nothing to the reader’s comprehension or understanding of the story line and appeared to be extraneous.
It is a pity that the author makes little use of the settings – principally New York and Chicago, both of which are marvellous, atmospheric cities. The plot could equally have been set in Birmingham or Acton. Additionally some of the twists in the final chapter were difficult to swallow and everything is wrapped up far too quickly.
It was a good read over a couple of days on the beach but looking for others in the series will not be a first priority.
mr zorg
Best Selling Crime Thrillers received a copy of this book to review.
Marc Krulewitch
Doesn’t quite hit the mark
A missing girl, stolen expensive wine, an honest private investigator, bent cops and a touch of organised crime. This novel has all the elements of a great crime thriller but doesn’t quite hit the mark.
The characterisation is very thin and the major protagonists’ motivation is often difficult to comprehend. The plot lacks bite and some parts of the action added nothing to the reader’s comprehension or understanding of the story line and appeared to be extraneous.
It is a pity that the author makes little use of the settings – principally New York and Chicago, both of which are marvellous, atmospheric cities. The plot could equally have been set in Birmingham or Acton. Additionally some of the twists in the final chapter were difficult to swallow and everything is wrapped up far too quickly.
It was a good read over a couple of days on the beach but looking for others in the series will not be a first priority.
mr zorg
Best Selling Crime Thrillers received a copy of this book to review.
November 9, 2015
Originally posted on my blog Live Laugh & Love Books
This book is well written and the characters are nicely developed. Although this is the first time I have read any work by this author it won’t be my last time, and I will probably go back and read the books before this one! While I didn’t find it filled with a bunch of intrigue, I did find it to be a great mystery, with a good storyline packed with lots of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
Originally posted on my blog Live Laugh & Love Books
This book is well written and the characters are nicely developed. Although this is the first time I have read any work by this author it won’t be my last time, and I will probably go back and read the books before this one! While I didn’t find it filled with a bunch of intrigue, I did find it to be a great mystery, with a good storyline packed with lots of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.*
Originally posted on my blog Live Laugh & Love Books
July 14, 2015
(2 ) I read this a week or so ago but it just turned up in the Goodreads database as I received an early release from NetGalley. I like JulesLandau, a thinking P.I. who is not Superman, he is a really engaging character. However, this is the weakest of all the Landau books. I do not know where Krulewitch got lost on this one but the plot doesn't work, the characters don't grab you, everything is cut and dried in a non interesting manner. Chicago is a great backdrop for any story and it continues to be in this one as well. Jules's carnivorous cat always amuses and entertains but I hope the next one will jump back up to the level of the other Landau escapades.
August 28, 2015
Jules Landau is a hard boiled, smart ass Private Eye. He is hired by a young man with a bag of money to locate his former girlfriend who had moved to Chicago. The story deals with her disappearance, missing wine that may or may not be incredibly valuable. Although the author made the attempt at noir I really didn't feel it. This wasn't bad reading, it just wasn't great reading.
Thanks to Net Galley and Alibi for an ARC for an honest review.
Thanks to Net Galley and Alibi for an ARC for an honest review.
September 29, 2015
I received this arc from Netgalley.
It was a struggle to finish this book. The beginning was okay and I was hoping that it was uphill from there. Not. It seemed to just fall in to an endless loop of ridiculous characters and ridiculous situations. I was overjoyed to see 98% on my Kindle because shortly this disaster will be behind me. I will definitely not be reading anymore books by this author; I barely survived this one.
It was a struggle to finish this book. The beginning was okay and I was hoping that it was uphill from there. Not. It seemed to just fall in to an endless loop of ridiculous characters and ridiculous situations. I was overjoyed to see 98% on my Kindle because shortly this disaster will be behind me. I will definitely not be reading anymore books by this author; I barely survived this one.
October 12, 2015
This is a thoroughly intriguing detective mystery with all of the classical clues and strong characters leading the reader like a mouse to the cheese but not yet to the trap. Private investigator Jules Landau does not give up in his search for the missing young woman Tanya. In the process he discovers a fraudulent wine scheme worth thousands of dollars, dirty cops, and other low life. A really good read…
I was given an electronic copy in return for an honest review.
I was given an electronic copy in return for an honest review.
December 21, 2015
I received this book from Netgalley to review.
Jules Landau is a private detective and is hired by a young man that grew up living amongst organized crime. After getting out of jail he hires Jules to find his girlfriend who has gone missing. But along the way he discovers a conspiracy in the selling of "fake"expensive wine. A missing girl and fake wine. Only Jules could solve a case like this.
Good detective series! Recommend it!
Jules Landau is a private detective and is hired by a young man that grew up living amongst organized crime. After getting out of jail he hires Jules to find his girlfriend who has gone missing. But along the way he discovers a conspiracy in the selling of "fake"expensive wine. A missing girl and fake wine. Only Jules could solve a case like this.
Good detective series! Recommend it!
September 15, 2015
I received an ARC from Netgalley, to read and review.
This was an ok book. There were so many different players in the story that I had trouble figuring everyone out. I think that might have been party of the storyline, but it was very confusing. It took me almost a week to read this book and I can normally knock one out in a day or two. I'm still not sure I figured it all out.
This was an ok book. There were so many different players in the story that I had trouble figuring everyone out. I think that might have been party of the storyline, but it was very confusing. It took me almost a week to read this book and I can normally knock one out in a day or two. I'm still not sure I figured it all out.
September 19, 2015
Thanks NETGALLEY for the ARC of this book< which I enjoyed but like some others found a little confusing because of the large cast. I think that I might have enjoyed it more in hard copy so that I could flip back and forth. THat said, it's well written and the plot is captivating (combine the mafia, detectives,and wine and well, I'M there.) I'd recommend this one.
October 28, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this inverse detective story. Jules Landau is again the underdog PI. He is an endearing character but too stubborn and intrepid for his own good! Lucky for us, he pulled through and untangled this interesting missing person/wine case. I look forward to reading more from this author.
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