City of Prey

Ava Gold #1

by Blake Pierce

In the rough streets of 1920s New York City, 34 year-old Ava Gold, a widower and single mom, claws her way up to become the first female homicide detective in her NYPD precinct. She is as tough as they come, and willing to hold her own in a man’s world.

But when a psychotic serial killer unleashes a rampage, murdering young women across the city, Ava will have to search the dark canals of the twisted killer’s mind if she has any hope of hunting him down. With psychological profiling still in its infancy, and mocked by most, Ava will be even more alone as she follows her instinct, and hunts him down in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Just when it seems the stakes couldn’t be higher, Ava comes to an awful realization: she herself may be the next target.

Amidst the speakeasies, jazz clubs, mafia-run prohibition rings, horrific mental asylums and dangerous back alleys of the city, can Ava achieve what all the men cannot: enter the sick mind of a killer, and stop him before more women die?

A heart-pounding suspense thriller filled with shocking twists, the authentic and atmospheric AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES is a riveting page-turner, endearing us to a strong and brilliant character that will capture your heart and keep you reading late into the night.

Books #2 and #3 in the series—CITY OF FEAR and CITY OF BONES—are now also available.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Crime

190 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2021

About the author

Blake Pierce is author of the bestselling RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seven books (and counting). Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising four books (and counting); and of the new KERI LOCKE mystery series.

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

Reviews

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read quite a few of Blake Pierce’s first in a series novels that he offers for free. He writes some wonderful mystery, suspense, thriller fiction, and I am happy to be here to share City of Prey with you. The simplicity of the cover still manages to give me a creepy feeling, a sense of foreboding.

Blake Pierce quickly got my attention. My spidey senses were tingling as soon as HE walked in the door.

Let’s step back in time…the 1920s in New York City, to be precise. Women had their place…at home, in the kitchen. Not so for Ava Gold. At her husband’s funeral, when the captain asked if there was anything he could do for her, she blurted out, “…I’d like a job.”

Ava’s father had been a boxer, until he broke his hand. He’s a trainer…and he taught Ava, so beware. This may be the 1920s and women were thought to be helpless, but not Ava. Once she starts working, he helps her with her ten year old son. She doesn’t realize it, but he has the utmost respect for her.

I could rant and rave about how the women were treated, but I want you to feel the same frustration and disgust that I felt at the stupidity of it all. Of course, I believe so much of this still goes on today, so it should be easy to imagine.

Ava has to deal with racism and sexism and understands neither. She loves Jazz and singing. She’s not afraid of Harlem and ignores those that frown at her independence. She is a natural investigator, whether because of her husband’s insight while discussing police business with her, or her own abilities to think like the criminal she is chasing. Investigating was not as sophisticated in the 1920s, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t those who stand above the rest, not willing to accept the easy way out. Piece by piece she puts the puzzle together to catch him.

I had a few issues with City of Prey, but overall they were minor. I loved the character of Ava and those who surrounded her had their place. History shows, it takes characters like these, willing to step outside the box and push the boundaries, to help us all progress.

City of Prey by Blake Pierce touches on racism, prohibition, and women’s rights.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of City of Prey by Blake Pierce.

See more at fundinmental

[Roxx Tarantini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always look forward to a new series from Pierce! City of Prey is exactly that!

Ava Gold is recently widowed, her husband was an NYPD cop who used her as a sounding board for his investigations, killed in the line of duty. When she finds out that his killer will most likely never be found, she swears that she will find him.

But in the 1920s, women just don't become cops, let alone detectives. In this opener, Pierce introduces a complex cast of characters that have depth and are extremely engaging - even the not so likable Chief. Weaving the various threads of the case that Ava is grudgingly assigned to with every expectation of failure, is handled with a dexterity that allows us to see the fight for acceptance and equality of women who came before us. I fully expect that Ava's trajectory in the NYPD will be fraught with obstacles and setbacks, but I have no doubt that Pierce will do us proud.

A great, engrossing read, I look forward to reading more about Ava as she sets the NYPD on its ear!

[I was fortunate to receive a copy of the book from the author via Book Sirens, with no obligation to review. The opinions expressed herein are given freely and are entirely my own.]

[Robert Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

If only someone gave it additional time. This could have been a good one.

Formulaic, this murder mystery follows the template so ingrained by the 25-cent novel mailed to our homes in the Baby Boomer years.

The author is not a single person. A conglomerate of writers ghost these novels under a single name. This is not my issue.

The novel does well with some concepts. Original metaphor. Clever perspective. Insightful description of surroundings. All good.

The warp speed thrusting the novel to print becomes obvious in other aspects. Thinly drizzled historical references. Shallow dialogue. Borrowed themes. Each could easily be improved by better editing. Each could have been tweaked by the obvious strong writing crew.

There is a market for novels like this, as is. It is good literature lite. If that is your delight, pick up these books and enjoy your page-turning mystery escapism folly. These are fun reads.

But, I write this to alert the authors. You are capable of more. You are on the precipice of NYT recognition. Maybe, an exorcism from this jaunt to a new publisher is your salvation.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this book was so poorly written/researched that I probably actually lost brain cells from reading it. How on earth are there so many 4 and 5 star reviews!? Fun fact, in 1928, ECT and lobotomies had not even begun to be used, regardless of the author attempting to paint them as a thing of the past.

[Hannah Barnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome thriller! I can’t wait to read the second one!

[Gabrielle Fontenot · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay GREAT plot but i CANNOT STAND spelling errors and there were quite a few, but really enjoyed the story

[Kathleen Penton · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in the series, serial killer crime thriller.

[Infosleuth · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy historical fiction and mysteries, try this police procedural set in 1920’s New York City.
A 1920's lady copper! Great new series.
Women have recently won the right to vote and a few women have been hired by the police department. Many men are not happy with either, including many policemen. Ava faces challenges inside the NYPD as well as on the mean streets. There is a lot of background to set, so the book starts slowly but builds momentum and tension as it progresses. Recently widowed, Ava is now a single, working mom when that was still unusual. Her father, a former boxer, taught her to fight and her late husband discussed his cases with her. She’s a former jazz singer, comfortable around blacks. This makes her an interesting protagonist with an unusual skill set for the time. I took an instant liking to her and was cheering her on. The mystery kept me guessing and at the end I wanted to start the next book right away. My only criticism is Ava tended to do what she wanted without caring how her actions might affect her colleagues.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer Peer · Rating 5 out of 5]

City of Prey by Blake Pierce is a new series featuring Eva Gold. It is set in the 20s during a time when women had earned the right to vote but still fought to gain the right to stand side by side with their male counterparts in the Police Force. New York City was rough and crime rampant.
Enter recently widowed Eva Gold, who lost her husband while he served with the men in blue. Eva pushes to gain a spot in the same squad room where her husband earned a reputation as an honorable and heroic cop, an all-around nice guy. Little does she know she’s expected to stay in the background and blow a whistle if she sees trouble. Eva is no willowy bystander. Her drive and determination get her into trouble with her new boss. However, when she sees a murderer and takes chase, it’s only the beginning of a rampage that will provide an opportunity for Eva to prove herself, if she doesn’t get killed first.
Utilizing her connections in the jazz clubs and desire to understand the killer, Eva tries to enter his mind to find a way to stop him. The stakes have never been higher for NYPD’s first female homicide detective. Can she live up to the expectations from others as well as those she has put upon herself? Find out in this atmospheric thriller. If you enjoy Blake Pierce novels, this is a can’t miss new series.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this new series, City of Prey, readers are taken back to the late 1920s and introduced to Ava Gold as she begins her police work in the NYPD’s Women’s Bureau. The dialogue in the book clearly depicts the speech and attitudes from ninety plus years ago, and I was transported back in time. I loved the look back to the struggles for equality of women in the workforce. It was exciting to read Ava’s struggles toward catching and stopping this mentally unstable serial murderer while being able to cheer on her tenacity when obstacles continued to get in her way. This book was a creative switch from the more modern day FBI heroines from all of Blake Pierce’s other great series. City of Prey shows the perseverance of Ava and her female colleagues on the police force as they search to apprehend the hatchet-killer before claiming his next victim. I can’t wait for book two and more—I’m already a HUGE fan of Ava Gold and look forward to future reads as she makes a name for herself as a New York City homicide detective.

[Avid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the 1920's, new, enjoyable

The author,  Blake Pierce,  took us back in time to 1920 where racism and sexism were simply a way of life and rarely did anyone look twice at the idea a woman or a person of color could possible have thoughts of substance to contribute to the greater population equal to or Heaven forbid above others that were their own. They were still seen as possessions,  necessities to get to a mean, to be seen and used for pleasure,  but not taken seriously and not heard or confided in with any matters of importance. It was very much a white man's world and that my friends is where our character,  Ava Stong,  comes in to prove them all just exactly how wrong their thinking is.

We meet Ava when she is mourning the loss of her husband, an officer who has been killed leaving her alone with a 10 year old son and her father. At the funeral Ava musters up the anger along with courage to ask for a job at her husband's precinct. At every possible turn people in the precinct, in the streets, and those she knows mock her, try to dissuade her, and even at times physically attack her or threaten her. Does this stop Ava? Nope! She's empowered by her will to catch her husband's killer, a killer on the street right now, to set an example for her son, to carry on her husband's legacy, and all this with ONLY A WHISTLE given to her by the department as her line of defense in case she runs into trouble or sees anything so she can blow it any hope a male officer gets to her in time. LOL! SERIOUSLY!? Well, no worries,  Ava's father, an ex-boxer, that now teaches boxing raised her to fight and she's good.(He of course carries on this tradition while helping babysit her son & teach him to box as well.) Of course when she protects herself (instead of blowing the stupid whistle) most of the men are angry with her and argue she should be fired for not following policy. The book continues on with her being unafraid of confronting poverty, mental illness, facing serial murderers, going into seedy places, placing herself in harm's way on purpose to achieve a lead, willing to risk the job to do what she knows is right. Bottom line,... she laid it out and took a stand in very difficult times when this was not permitted just to simply do her job. As she races through the streets for the current suspect known as, "The Hatchet Man" I think you will find the book enjoyable. It is different because the author has changed the time period on us so a bit of mind set needs adjusting. A book I recommend. Hope you enjoy. 👍

[Caitlin Griese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't hate this novella but I didn't like it either. The themes of feminism and girl power were heavy handed. Pierce spent so much time talking about women power and making sure the reader knew that Ava wasn't your average woman that it took you right out of the story. The plot itself was good. Widower deciding to honor her late husband starts at the same police station he worked at. She's a go getter who wants to take down a serial murderer. We also get a glimpse into the murderer's deranged mind. That was great. The execution was lacking. Then there was the dialogue. Pierce tried so hard to make the vocabulary correct for the time period, but it went so far it almost sounded like a 1920s skit at times. I would hear "Nahh see, nahh" in my head half the time.

From Goodreads:

In the rough streets of 1920s New York City, 34 year-old Ava Gold, a widower and single mom, claws her way up to become the first female homicide detective in her NYPD precinct. She is as tough as they come, and willing to hold her own in a man’s world.

But when a psychotic serial killer unleashes a rampage, murdering young women across the city, Ava will have to search the dark canals of the twisted killer’s mind if she has any hope of hunting him down. With psychological profiling still in its infancy, and mocked by most, Ava will be even more alone as she follows her instinct, and hunts him down in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Just when it seems the stakes couldn’t be higher, Ava comes to an awful realization: she herself may be the next target.

(my notes)
Ava sets a trap for the killer by making it known that she will be singing at a jazz club. The murderer has gotten smarter though and doesn't take the bait. Instead he waits until she is alone at her apartment building to attack. When he attacks her from behind she starts using her boxing moves to get him off her. Her father wakes up from the commotion and puts the guy down. Her dad takes a deep cut but is fine and her son didn't wake up at all. After the dust settles the book ends with Ava deciding to take up a case that will most likely lead to her husband's killer.

[Maryann Hornbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast Track to Detective

Ava Gold is a single mom since her detective husband was killed on the job. Luckily her dads around to help her through some rough times. Her dad is a former boxer and runs a training gym and Ava has learned all the tricks of the trade.
Now that she’s sole supporter Ava needs a job so she gets a job as a police officer. She kinda knows the business since her husband was a detective. But since this story takes place in the late 1920s, women on the police force were new to the force and had very minor authority. They could only carry a whistle and use to call police if they saw something going wrong. But Ava doesn’t follow rules very well, or at all, so when she sees something she acts.
There is a serial killer on the loose wielding an axe and killing women.
Picking up on some clues Ava sees, she takes off on her own to try to find the killers identity. As luck would have it Ava used to sing at some “speakeasies “ when liquor was legal so she uses her contacts to gather info. Needless to say this begins the chase for the killer.
Ava, breaking all the rules she barrels on, following clues, using her skills, of course, and solving the crime.
I enjoyed this novel for a lot of reasons. It took me back in time to the way the cities were during prohibition and just after women got the right to vote. The cities were growing and becoming modernized. Automobiles were new and rare. Nightclubs only served nonalcoholic drink, except if course in the upstairs private rooms, or speak easies. I think you’ll enjoy this book. It’s fast moving, and of course unbelievable but fun. There are more to follow since Ava is determined to find her husbands killer.

[Meredith H]

0 stars!

If I hadn't gotten this for free this would have ended up a DNF.

Set in the 1920's, this book (aside from the horrific editing - AGAIN) should be considered fantasy instead of thriller. Ava Gold, recently widowed when her cop husband dies, asks the chief for a job with the police at her husband's funeral. Absurd? Yes. But that's not the craziest part! The chief actaully GIVES HER A JOB and she starts right away with the "women's bureau". Not far fetched enough? Ava is sent out on patrol within minutes of arriving at the station on her first day, and causes a ruckus immediately by chansing down a perp instead of using her whistle. Oh and did I mention that she's a helluva jazz singer, and knows her way around a boxing ring?

She single handedly beats up a bunch of people during her patrols, manages to catch some bad guys, and magically knows how to profile because her husband was a cop. I mean, WTF? She is either a rock star or a complete boob, and I think she's really just a fool, making so many risky and stupid decisions. Especially when she has a kid at home to worry about.

This woman would be impressive for someone of today, but in the 20's? Pure fiction and not in a good way.

Dumb premise. Dumb story. Don't waste your time. I think I might actaully stop reading Blake Pierce's books now.

[Manie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more books I read of author Blake Pierce the more I seem to fall in love with new characters that intrigued and excellent in unexpected ways often against strange odds.
In City of Prey the main character is Ava Gold, the wife of Clarence Gold, a accomplished detective. And dead.
The strangest thing is that Ava want to become a detective too in order to help keep the city free from those that kill. And to ensure her son gets to live in a city where fear would not track or deter her son from living his life free and to the fullest.
The problem, though, is that Ava has no training being a police officer. Ava, though, is determined. The fact that she could become part of the women's bureau was in itself quite the triumph. Except these female officers are not really regarded as true police officers. In fact, they are regarded as simple whistle blowers to raise alarm for the "real " male detectives to take over.
Ha. This is where Ava starts changing attitudes.
And at a time an axe wielding decided to kill women.
City of Prey is a fascinating page turning mystery that captures your attention from the beginning to the very last paragraph on the book, leaving the reader bewildered how time could have flown by so quickly.
Enjoy

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 1st book in a new series by the prolific Blake Pierce. I have read several books by this author is various other series and all were good so I had high hopes that this would be the same. Of course it was.

The book is set in the 20's New York in an era of prohibition and when women had gotten the right to vote. Ava is an ex jazz singer and a recently widowed woman, her husband Clarence recently killed in the line of duty as a NYC cop.

Ava wrangles her way into the police force as part of the women's bureau and of course, won't toe the line and gets involved in her own investigation into the murder of several women in the city by a man with a hatchet.

This is a very enjoyable book, made more so by the era and background which feels very real and true to life. I enjoy the spunky character of Ava, trying to be a mother to her young son while also trying to do a job where despite the advances in women's rights, most people still feel women should not be voting or having a job. I am looking forward to reading about her next investigation.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the time of prohibition, City of Prey, had a good storyline but seemed a little too slow to unravel. The main character, Ava Gold, loses her husband, Clarence, who was killed in the line of duty. At his funeral, Ava asks the chief of police for a job. He grants her one in the ladies bureau which only allows the women to carry whistles to call their male counterparts. Since they are not able to carry guns or be involved in real cases Ava is at a loss. She mainly asked for the job to get revenge and find the suspect who killed her husband. As the plot unfolds, the reader runs into speakeasies, underground gambling dens, and places of entertainment selling the prohibited alcohol. At the same time, bodies soon begin to show up with hatchet marks and a deranged killer stalking women of power. As a result, Ava, takes on a case of her own, with the help of Frank, who recommended her after some excellent insight into the case. With colorful characters and some history regarding women in policing and prohibition the novel is interesting indeed. I would recommend this book and give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

[(Grace) Kentucky Bohemian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique Read, Brilliant Character
This seems to be the era of the strong, smart, independent female hero. So, it comes as no surprise that the lead character in this story, Ava Gold, is just that. She's a fiery package- and imminently likeable.

Ava is a flexible young woman, able to adapt to her circumstances and do what's necessary to keep her family together and thriving. She's tough as nails, often headstrong when she feels the situation warrants it, and carries a strong sense of justice. She's courageous and loyal, quick-witted and unflappable. Tenacity is a strong suit for her; she's not likely to back down from anything she believes in. Basically, Ava has all the warmth and charm of a Golden Retriever, but the bite of a Pitbull.

While Ava isn't the only remarkable character in this story, (her dad and her partner are both worthy of note), she is certainly the head of this show. The story itself is nicely written and well-paced, going in directions that are hard to see coming. I wouldn't quite call it an edge of the seat read, but it's certainly a good thriller with plenty to keep my overactive imagination happy.

[Of Butterflies & Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

THRILL TILL THE WEEKEND=December 17-19, 2021
PROMPT: Serial Killers
This was one of my picks for the THRILL TILL THE WEEKEND READ-A-THON.

PLOT: Ava Gold's world has been turned upside down when her husband, a decorated and respected police officer, is murdered and his murderer has yet to be caught. Now, aside from some help from her former boxer and training gym owner estranged father, Ava needs to find a better way than singing in the occasional club to support her son. A fire has been lit from within her and when an opportunity to have a colleague of her husband's make her a police officer, she doesn't hesitate. Women have more opportunities since gaining the right to vote but not by much and when women are turning up dead a what appears to be a madman, Ava is put in on the case.

REVIEW: I was very interested in this title, particularly because of the combination of the historical and mystery aspects. Even more, when I started it and the dual perspectives it takes on. However, at some point, can't really be specific when but I just became less of a fan of the writing style.

[Wytzia Raspe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost had stopped reading when I started the first chapter. That chapter is the mind of the villain. But the book turned out great afterwards and I can really recommend reading it.

It is set in1920 and in New York. We get to know Ava at her husband's funeral. He was a cop who was murdered. Money issues demand Ava to find a job even with a small child. Her father boxing school owner Roosevelt will babysit and Ava wants to join the policeforce. But they only have a Women Bureau and a woman cannot be a detective. And that is what Ava wants to be.

A fast spaced, not that long novel with a lot of local and period details like the slang, the jazzclubs, the speakeasies and the maffia. That plot is nicely constructed and in my opinion not far fetched. She can box, she heard her husband talk about how he caught villains, she was a jazzsinger. So she might be a rooky but is not green.

Nice book to read over your weekend.

[Cindy Coffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be honest, but when I first started reading and saw this was set in the 1920's, I kind of groaned inside because I typically ready books that are written in today's world. That feeling lasted less than a minute, because that is how long it took to draw me in and I didn't want to put it down. Ava Gold is one woman that no man (or woman) should ever mess with! I like that she has patience and is understanding of the limitations on women in that time period, but I like it even better that she doesn't let that stop her.

I lost count a few years ago of the books I have read by Blake Pierce, and honestly I wonder how she can continue to come up with such different, creative crime books. She just continues to outdo herself. I just hope she can finish book 2 in this series very soon!

This is a must read!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blake Pierce has started yet another series and you are going to like it!

I do enjoy his books, but I was still amazed by how much City of Prey captured my attention and imagination. The heroine of this series is Ava Gold, a newly-widowed, former jazz singer, mother, and police woman. Ava lives in NYC is the days of prohibition. In a sense this book is crime fiction and an historical novel. It is thought-provoking as Ava and the rest of the “Women’s Bureau” deal with the sexism of their day. It is also fun, as Ava chases down leads and confronts the streets of NYC with only a police issue whistle and her ability to punch herself out of danger.

If you like smart, talented police detection women, grab this book. I recommend it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

City of Prey is Book 1 in An Ava Gold Mystery by Blake Pierce. NYC 1928 is the opening of the story. A man man is getting a terrible headache goes home and kills his mother with a hatchet, a murderer is born. Fast forward to 1929 and Ava Gold is burying her murdered police husband, Clarence. When she asked the police Captain, Douglas Minard, for a job at the Precinct, she is now part of the NYPD Women’s Bureau. Ava was given a whistle and told to blow hard do the “male” police officer can come chase the bad guy. Ha— not on Ava’s watch. I really enjoyed how Blake Pierce took the dynamic’s of the early 1900s and pushed back on typical roll for women. Ava shines in police work. She solves crime and is hot on the trail of the hatchet murderer. This book is Blake Pierce at her best. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Marylovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ In 1920, Ava Gold is a widow with a young son. Her husband died as a member if the New York police service. Ava has an intense desire to follow in her husband’s footsteps to try to make the streets of New York safer for their son.

A serial killer is on the loose. He is targeting women and killing them with a hatchet.

When Ava is given a chance to work with the New York police, she quickly sees that women are not taken seriously by their colleagues and are given no real authority. She has a whistle to alert other male officers on night patrols and is not considered for serious cases.

Ava navigates the file critically and finds an unlikely ally in the detective who has taken over the serial killer case after Ava proves herself useful and a critical thinker.

This was a light read and I enjoyed it.

[Gianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seemed so promising! A strong female character, who is a single mother, works as a detective and tries to unravel a serial killer case. However, it felt flat to me. I was listening to the book, and several times I skipped the occasional chapter only to find out that I hadn't missed much. (The narrator's intonation seemed whiny most of the time.)

Ava has the potential to be interesting. It was difficult to believe, though, that, without any training, she would find herself in the center of such a dangerous and important case. The story itself dragged, and in this particular genre, boredom should not be the desired effect.

I hope it was so slow because this is the first novel in a series and the author was trying to introduce Ava and the setting. I would give the second novel a chance.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ava Gold's husband, a policeman in New York City is killed, Ava is in need of a job. The head of the police offers her a job in the women's division. So to support her son and herself Ava begins work. The police women only walk around town and blow a whistle when they see a crime being committed and the men who are policemen take over. Ava is disturbed when several woman are attacked and killed and when she starts asking questions on her walking route she learns things that the men have not been able to. When one of the officers offers to let her tag along with him she learns even more but gets herself in the hot-seat by her captain. However as Ava continues looking into the murders she is able to put some pieces together and set up a trap for the killer. I gave this book 4.6 stars as it is set during Prohibition and the language is from this time as well.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava Gold is not a common woman, she is beyond her time although she tries to conform as needed. It's heartbreaking to read about the perception society had about women's fragility and where women should or should not interact. Blake Pierce puts together all the pre-conceived beliefs existing in the late 1920s with good humor, portraits a woman who does not get defeated by the lows in her life, and writes about a crime with so many twists and turns that keeps you reading just to find how the culprit gets caught. It´s also rather interesting to read about New York City at the time, as it´s quite different from the one we can visit nowadays. Very entertaining!!! Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Cassandra Struble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going back to the 1920s, when women were still fighting for equality. Ava loses her husband in the line of duty, and she wants to make the city safer for herself and her child. While fighting to get a piece of the new murder case, Ava is thrown back into her jazz circles. It was her in there and the belief of Frank Wimbley that got her a spot.

She quickly took down one lead but wasn't satisfied they got it right. She kept pushing until she knew the right guy went down.

This one reads much like Blake Pierce's others, where you get a small glimpse into the killers head to round out the story while typically following the main character. I do think I'll read more Ava Gold series, but Jessie Hunt is still my favorite!

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Ava Gold Mystery series. Set in the 1920's Ava sets out to work at her late husbands precinct as a police officer. She wants prove that women are capable of doing the job and she wants to find the man who killed her husband. It doesn't take long for her to realize its going to be an uphill battle to get any of the men to take her seriously. Gripping book with plenty of mystery and suspense to keep me turning the pages way past my bedtime. I love Ava's grit and determination, very much looking forward to reading book two.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read books in various series written by this author but this book was the best I've read by him and I enjoy his writing. I'm not usually a fan of stories set in decades prior to my birth but I believe I am a convert. Great characters, interesting storyline, and a good grasp of the dialect of the time. Can't wait for the next one!

Ava Gold a recent widow of a cop killed in the line of duty takes on the challenge of joining the force to make New York City's streets safer for her son and the citizens of the city.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.