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Kate March #1
Speak Easy
The Roaring Twenties. A ghastly murder. A failing family newspaper business. What more could lure Katharine Ann March into playing hooky and risk missing her own high school graduation?
As a budding reporter and amateur slew, Kate has the audacity to, not only wear boy’s clothing, but to trespass into the male habitat of the newspaper business. While her best friend, Addy, prefers they go Modern by becoming flappers, Kate set her sights on saving the family newspaper by plunging headfirst into the most sensational murder scene in Hollywood.
Famed film director, William Desmond Taylor, has been shot in the back, and Kate has the inside scoop. Her dear friend and famous film star, Mary Miles Minter, fancied herself in love Mr. Taylor. With Mary’s help, Kate is set to bring a new angle to the story. Easy peasy. But not so fast.
Suspicious, late night visits to Taylor’s home, drug connections, false identities, and family secrets prompt Kate to solve the murder herself, much to the annoyance of the Los Angeles Police Department.
But something wholly unexpected captures Kate’s attention; her neighbor and childhood friend, Nicky Masino, has returned from the Great War no longer the boy she once knew. Mysterious, and explosive, Nicky is haunted by his past. After joining the LAPD, Nicky warns Kate to stay away from the Taylor murder case.
Why should Nicky care? And who are the two shadowy thugs following him? Could Nicky somehow be involved in the murder? Why is he so adamant Kate stop investigating?
Undaunted by the warnings, Kate and Addy charge unceremoniously into dangerous schemes involving salacious gambling dens and illegal speakeasies; not to mention the dark and seedy underbelly of Paramount Studios. A spectacularly wild time is had by all until Kate lands on the wrong end of a murder charge.
As a budding reporter and amateur slew, Kate has the audacity to, not only wear boy’s clothing, but to trespass into the male habitat of the newspaper business. While her best friend, Addy, prefers they go Modern by becoming flappers, Kate set her sights on saving the family newspaper by plunging headfirst into the most sensational murder scene in Hollywood.
Famed film director, William Desmond Taylor, has been shot in the back, and Kate has the inside scoop. Her dear friend and famous film star, Mary Miles Minter, fancied herself in love Mr. Taylor. With Mary’s help, Kate is set to bring a new angle to the story. Easy peasy. But not so fast.
Suspicious, late night visits to Taylor’s home, drug connections, false identities, and family secrets prompt Kate to solve the murder herself, much to the annoyance of the Los Angeles Police Department.
But something wholly unexpected captures Kate’s attention; her neighbor and childhood friend, Nicky Masino, has returned from the Great War no longer the boy she once knew. Mysterious, and explosive, Nicky is haunted by his past. After joining the LAPD, Nicky warns Kate to stay away from the Taylor murder case.
Why should Nicky care? And who are the two shadowy thugs following him? Could Nicky somehow be involved in the murder? Why is he so adamant Kate stop investigating?
Undaunted by the warnings, Kate and Addy charge unceremoniously into dangerous schemes involving salacious gambling dens and illegal speakeasies; not to mention the dark and seedy underbelly of Paramount Studios. A spectacularly wild time is had by all until Kate lands on the wrong end of a murder charge.
403 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2021
3 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Lori Adams
6 books155 followersLori Adamsis the author of the Avalina Jones Series, the Kate March Mysteries, and the Soulkeepers Series. She grew up in Oklahoma and now lives in California.
During her nomadic travels, she attended six different colleges and universities before starting a career in writing. Lori is a Classic Hollywood Movie buff and explorer of beaches and tidepools, always on the lookout for unusual shells, rocks, or the occasional buried treasure.
During her nomadic travels, she attended six different colleges and universities before starting a career in writing. Lori is a Classic Hollywood Movie buff and explorer of beaches and tidepools, always on the lookout for unusual shells, rocks, or the occasional buried treasure.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 16, 2021
Special thanks to NetGalley for sharing this free digital copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
This book was a fantastically plotted mystery! Scandalously delicious: Miss Fisher meets Nancy Drew crossed with China Blues. Such a fun and sassy murder mystery. I am so glad I read this one. It kept me guessing the whole time.
This book is about a girl(Katharine Ann March) who aspires to be a reporter. When film director William Desmond Taylor is shot in the back, Kate takes it upon herself to investigate the crime.
Trust me, you would have never come across such a bold protagonist who has a penchant for trouble and also proves to be an exceptional investigator.
I think it managed to hold itself and remain interesting and engaging owing to its fresh voice and clever writing.
My only complaint is that it was a bit lengthy and some details could have been left out, Otherwise. there really isn't much I didn't enjoy.
Lori Adams’ Speak Easy had me laughing one moment and on the edge of the seat the next. The amazing mix of humor and suspense will have you flipping the pages like crazy. I can’t wait to read more of this author's works.
This book was a fantastically plotted mystery! Scandalously delicious: Miss Fisher meets Nancy Drew crossed with China Blues. Such a fun and sassy murder mystery. I am so glad I read this one. It kept me guessing the whole time.
This book is about a girl(Katharine Ann March) who aspires to be a reporter. When film director William Desmond Taylor is shot in the back, Kate takes it upon herself to investigate the crime.
Trust me, you would have never come across such a bold protagonist who has a penchant for trouble and also proves to be an exceptional investigator.
I think it managed to hold itself and remain interesting and engaging owing to its fresh voice and clever writing.
My only complaint is that it was a bit lengthy and some details could have been left out, Otherwise. there really isn't much I didn't enjoy.
Lori Adams’ Speak Easy had me laughing one moment and on the edge of the seat the next. The amazing mix of humor and suspense will have you flipping the pages like crazy. I can’t wait to read more of this author's works.
December 4, 2021
The jazz age seems to be a popular choice for historical mysteries lately, and Lori Adams does a good job with it in this YA novel. Mostly this because she doesn't forget what came just before the Roaring Twenties - World War I, or, as it was known at the time, the Great War. Heroine Kate lost both of her older brothers in the war, which resulted in the breakup of her family, her mother packing and leaving without a word. In an attempt to feel closer to her lost brothers, Kate has begun dressing in their clothes (a style known as "boyette," although the term isn't used here, possibly because it can have lesbian implications) and is determined to become a top reporter on her father's newspaper. It isn't entirely clear if she always harbored this ambition or if she's trying to fill in for her brothers, but it hardly matters once she ends up covering a murder.
The mystery is based on a real-life case, the murder of William Desmond Taylor, and Kate's solution is basically the author's thoughts on the crime. This is on the darker side of YA, although it's not quite New Adult, and Kate does manage to get herself into a lot of trouble. But that does help with the caper feel, something nicely driven home by the writing style and the fact that much of the story takes place in flashback while present-Kate is sitting in the police department being interrogated. While this isn't the best YA murder mystery I've read, it is a good one and ultimately the flaws - some language feels like it's trying too hard, Nicky is a difficult character - are outweighed by the atmosphere and clear fun the author had in writing this.
The mystery is based on a real-life case, the murder of William Desmond Taylor, and Kate's solution is basically the author's thoughts on the crime. This is on the darker side of YA, although it's not quite New Adult, and Kate does manage to get herself into a lot of trouble. But that does help with the caper feel, something nicely driven home by the writing style and the fact that much of the story takes place in flashback while present-Kate is sitting in the police department being interrogated. While this isn't the best YA murder mystery I've read, it is a good one and ultimately the flaws - some language feels like it's trying too hard, Nicky is a difficult character - are outweighed by the atmosphere and clear fun the author had in writing this.
June 1, 2025
Kate March is a precocious high school senior, following in her father's footsteps to become an intrepid reporter. Early one morning Kate gets a scoop: a famous Hollywood director has been found dead inside his home. Not only is Kate the first reporter on the scene, she gets there just in time for the police to find out that death was brought about by a bullet to the back.
The case is terribly complex. Before homicide was deemed to be the manner of death, dozens of employees, coworkers, friends, and neighbors traipsed through the crime scene, removing items from the house and trampling all over the room where William Desmond Taylor met his maker. Evidence was hard to come by so Kate could only question witnesses and put together the tiniest inconsistencies in their stories until she figured out who was to blame.
Though this book was significantly longer than the average cozy mystery, there wasn't a moment of lag in the entire thing. Kate was on the razors edge of the action from page one until it was over. Though the story took place over the course of around two weeks, Kate went from a rambunctious high school girl to a sophisticated Modern female reporter. There were so many subplots and so many backstories that different angles of the story could be fleshed out for many books to come.
Kate can be a bit frustrating as she digs herself into one hole after another no matter how much her father and her neighbor and local police officer Nicky Masino beg her not to get involved. Despite that, you can't help but root her on and acknowledge that in her shoes I'd have done the same thing. Addy makes a great sidekick, she's adventurous but level-headed and well-connected. Mr. Morgan added some spice to the story, especially at the end.
I find the 1920's fascinating and this book gives you a whirlwind ride through what was probably one of the most interesting places in the United States during that time. Showing that time and place through the lens of a young woman getting ready to go out into the world and trying to decide who she wanted to be made it even more interesting. I also thought tackling the unsolved mystery of the murder of William Desmond Taylor was exciting, especially since the author identified the killer as having been the person I always thought seemed to have been the most likely suspect. Another thing I enjoyed was the back and forth timeline. Not all authors can pull this off but for me it read like a movie, where we're seeing the current time at the beginning of each chapter and then flashing back to the past. It worked really well and built suspense throughout the story.
This book was excellent and as you're reading I highly recommend checking out some of the movies that are mentioned in the book and the actors that appear in the story; there are lots of old movies from this era available online that will allow you to see the actors and actresses at work. I look forward to reading more in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
The case is terribly complex. Before homicide was deemed to be the manner of death, dozens of employees, coworkers, friends, and neighbors traipsed through the crime scene, removing items from the house and trampling all over the room where William Desmond Taylor met his maker. Evidence was hard to come by so Kate could only question witnesses and put together the tiniest inconsistencies in their stories until she figured out who was to blame.
Though this book was significantly longer than the average cozy mystery, there wasn't a moment of lag in the entire thing. Kate was on the razors edge of the action from page one until it was over. Though the story took place over the course of around two weeks, Kate went from a rambunctious high school girl to a sophisticated Modern female reporter. There were so many subplots and so many backstories that different angles of the story could be fleshed out for many books to come.
Kate can be a bit frustrating as she digs herself into one hole after another no matter how much her father and her neighbor and local police officer Nicky Masino beg her not to get involved. Despite that, you can't help but root her on and acknowledge that in her shoes I'd have done the same thing. Addy makes a great sidekick, she's adventurous but level-headed and well-connected. Mr. Morgan added some spice to the story, especially at the end.
I find the 1920's fascinating and this book gives you a whirlwind ride through what was probably one of the most interesting places in the United States during that time. Showing that time and place through the lens of a young woman getting ready to go out into the world and trying to decide who she wanted to be made it even more interesting. I also thought tackling the unsolved mystery of the murder of William Desmond Taylor was exciting, especially since the author identified the killer as having been the person I always thought seemed to have been the most likely suspect. Another thing I enjoyed was the back and forth timeline. Not all authors can pull this off but for me it read like a movie, where we're seeing the current time at the beginning of each chapter and then flashing back to the past. It worked really well and built suspense throughout the story.
This book was excellent and as you're reading I highly recommend checking out some of the movies that are mentioned in the book and the actors that appear in the story; there are lots of old movies from this era available online that will allow you to see the actors and actresses at work. I look forward to reading more in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
December 15, 2021
WELCOME TO THE ROARING 20s!
I really enjoyed reading Speak Easy, A Kate March Mystery by author Lori Adams. I loved most the pacing of the story and its setting. That it was set against a really unique historical period in 1920’s Los Angeles made for good storytelling and lots of moving parts. I was drawn into the vibrant characters and how they interacted throughout the book and how Adams captured a lively moment in time.
The story is one of sassy, precocious, and budding graduating senior, Katherine Ann March. Kate should be focused on graduating high school and planning her future in journalism as a modern woman, which even she is unsure she is ready for. When her brothers did not make it home from the war, it changed her. She dresses in boys clothing, and takes on an industry that is male-dominated. That is, until film director William Desmond Taylor is found murdered in his home and Kate is one of the first on the scene to discover his body. To add further dismay, Kate learns that her family’s newspaper business is on the brink and decides to change their fate by taking on the arduous task of determining who killed Mr. Taylor and why. As secrets and lies rear their ugly head, Kate with the help of associates, friends and even unlikely allies won’t let up until they kind the killer and can put a stop to many of the outlandish rumors floating around.
With Kate, we’ll go on adventure after adventure as she grows closer to making a case and in essence becomes quite the investigator. She’ll use pranks and games and all that she can muster to get the answers she’ll need. She is all-in when it comes to solving the Taylor murder and saving the family business. And it’s such a good time witnessing her evolve successfully as a young woman and as a investigative journalist. Making her journey a great coming of age story and a treat.
It is a longer than usual murder mystery but it worked really well. The characters in this story were written quite complimentarily. I have to mention that I especially liked the tension between Kate and Nicky. I think it made for an interesting subplot. I also enjoyed Addy and Mr. Morgan and even her brother Eugene.
Thanks to NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed reading Speak Easy, A Kate March Mystery by author Lori Adams. I loved most the pacing of the story and its setting. That it was set against a really unique historical period in 1920’s Los Angeles made for good storytelling and lots of moving parts. I was drawn into the vibrant characters and how they interacted throughout the book and how Adams captured a lively moment in time.
The story is one of sassy, precocious, and budding graduating senior, Katherine Ann March. Kate should be focused on graduating high school and planning her future in journalism as a modern woman, which even she is unsure she is ready for. When her brothers did not make it home from the war, it changed her. She dresses in boys clothing, and takes on an industry that is male-dominated. That is, until film director William Desmond Taylor is found murdered in his home and Kate is one of the first on the scene to discover his body. To add further dismay, Kate learns that her family’s newspaper business is on the brink and decides to change their fate by taking on the arduous task of determining who killed Mr. Taylor and why. As secrets and lies rear their ugly head, Kate with the help of associates, friends and even unlikely allies won’t let up until they kind the killer and can put a stop to many of the outlandish rumors floating around.
With Kate, we’ll go on adventure after adventure as she grows closer to making a case and in essence becomes quite the investigator. She’ll use pranks and games and all that she can muster to get the answers she’ll need. She is all-in when it comes to solving the Taylor murder and saving the family business. And it’s such a good time witnessing her evolve successfully as a young woman and as a investigative journalist. Making her journey a great coming of age story and a treat.
It is a longer than usual murder mystery but it worked really well. The characters in this story were written quite complimentarily. I have to mention that I especially liked the tension between Kate and Nicky. I think it made for an interesting subplot. I also enjoyed Addy and Mr. Morgan and even her brother Eugene.
Thanks to NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
December 9, 2021
3.5 stars.
Kate March, precocious seventeen-year old and budding investigative reporter, aiming for a career writing for "The Messenger", the long-running newspaper and family-owned business. When she finds out that "The Messenger" is in trouble financially, she knows they need a story to set them apart from all their competitors. And one practically falls in her lap, when she hears of the death of a Hollywood cinema director, William Desmond Taylor. It's the era and silent films, and Kate, living in L.A., knows an actress, Mary Miles Minter, who is involved in what turns out to be a case with lots of interest, from its Hollywood director and the stars he knew well, the salacious rumours and behaviour of Hollywood actors and actresses, and the way this behaviour somehow keeps getting hushed up by L.A.'s District Attorney.
Kate takes it upon herself to visit the crime scene before any of her competitors' reporters, and uses her connection to Mary, and her intelligence, ability to think on her feet and burning need to save the family business, to uncover a mess of motives, messy behaviours of the parties involved, and lots of secrets before discovering the killer.
I had not realized many of the people referenced in this book were real, and this was a real murder case in 1922 Los Angeles that remains unsolved. I really liked how author Lori Adams wove in the facts with Kate's activities, and gave her a friend equally in love with snooping/sleuthing, Addy, to help Kate get in and out of some sticky situations.
Adams also deals with the pain of loss from WW1: two of Kate's brothers were killed in combat, and Kate's mother abandoned the family after news of her sons' deaths. Kate is still grieving and holds a lot of anger about her mother's abandonment, while one of her neighbours, who is also a policeman, is dealing with his own bad memories from the War, and these elements are also woven into this mystery.
The pace is pretty good, with Kate moving through L.A. as she searches for clues and interviews people. I liked the period detail, and though this probably wasn't intended, I was reminded of the movie "Double Indemnity" as the story is told with Kate in an interrogation room with one of the Detectives on the case; she relates all her actions in her investigation in a series of flashbacks.
As a first novel in a series, I think the author sets up the main character and her friends well, and I might be persuaded to read Kate's next adventure.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Spyhop Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Kate March, precocious seventeen-year old and budding investigative reporter, aiming for a career writing for "The Messenger", the long-running newspaper and family-owned business. When she finds out that "The Messenger" is in trouble financially, she knows they need a story to set them apart from all their competitors. And one practically falls in her lap, when she hears of the death of a Hollywood cinema director, William Desmond Taylor. It's the era and silent films, and Kate, living in L.A., knows an actress, Mary Miles Minter, who is involved in what turns out to be a case with lots of interest, from its Hollywood director and the stars he knew well, the salacious rumours and behaviour of Hollywood actors and actresses, and the way this behaviour somehow keeps getting hushed up by L.A.'s District Attorney.
Kate takes it upon herself to visit the crime scene before any of her competitors' reporters, and uses her connection to Mary, and her intelligence, ability to think on her feet and burning need to save the family business, to uncover a mess of motives, messy behaviours of the parties involved, and lots of secrets before discovering the killer.
I had not realized many of the people referenced in this book were real, and this was a real murder case in 1922 Los Angeles that remains unsolved. I really liked how author Lori Adams wove in the facts with Kate's activities, and gave her a friend equally in love with snooping/sleuthing, Addy, to help Kate get in and out of some sticky situations.
Adams also deals with the pain of loss from WW1: two of Kate's brothers were killed in combat, and Kate's mother abandoned the family after news of her sons' deaths. Kate is still grieving and holds a lot of anger about her mother's abandonment, while one of her neighbours, who is also a policeman, is dealing with his own bad memories from the War, and these elements are also woven into this mystery.
The pace is pretty good, with Kate moving through L.A. as she searches for clues and interviews people. I liked the period detail, and though this probably wasn't intended, I was reminded of the movie "Double Indemnity" as the story is told with Kate in an interrogation room with one of the Detectives on the case; she relates all her actions in her investigation in a series of flashbacks.
As a first novel in a series, I think the author sets up the main character and her friends well, and I might be persuaded to read Kate's next adventure.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Spyhop Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
December 12, 2021
I was allowed to read this book as an ARC, but I just finished it after it was published.
What draw me to the book was the cover and the description. A book set in the 1920's, flappertime and a young lady who wants nothing more than being a reporter in a world full of men and help her father's newspaper company. So, Kate March, our protagonist, is a girl who dresses in boys clothes, wants to break from the standard and even thinks about becoming "Modern". So when Famed film director, William Desmond Taylor, has been shot in the back, and Kate has the inside scoop, she goes full into the investigation. Suspicious, late night visits to Taylor’s home, drug connections, false identities draw her attention to it, much to the annoyance of the Los Angeles Police Department.
I really loved the character of Kate. We woman nowadays get a lot og chances in men's worlds. Certainly there is still room for improvement, but when reading a book set in the 1920's you see the difference. I also enjoyed the writing style a lot, at the beginning of each chapter you read Kate sitting in an interrogation room with one of the detectives so you really step right into it all! I had no idea who did it and why, so that's always good! I recommend this book, especially if you are into historical Cozies.
What draw me to the book was the cover and the description. A book set in the 1920's, flappertime and a young lady who wants nothing more than being a reporter in a world full of men and help her father's newspaper company. So, Kate March, our protagonist, is a girl who dresses in boys clothes, wants to break from the standard and even thinks about becoming "Modern". So when Famed film director, William Desmond Taylor, has been shot in the back, and Kate has the inside scoop, she goes full into the investigation. Suspicious, late night visits to Taylor’s home, drug connections, false identities draw her attention to it, much to the annoyance of the Los Angeles Police Department.
I really loved the character of Kate. We woman nowadays get a lot og chances in men's worlds. Certainly there is still room for improvement, but when reading a book set in the 1920's you see the difference. I also enjoyed the writing style a lot, at the beginning of each chapter you read Kate sitting in an interrogation room with one of the detectives so you really step right into it all! I had no idea who did it and why, so that's always good! I recommend this book, especially if you are into historical Cozies.
August 29, 2022
This was fun historical cozy mystery set in the 1920s! I loved the character of Kate and her best friend as they get ready to graduate high school, become a "modern", and solve a mystery! I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
May 1, 2025
This book mentions a copy editor with a red pencil, which is funny because that's exactly what it needs. I wish the author had found a bigger publisher with a real editor because the story is actually good and deserves better.
Kate is a great character. I liked the mystery and the fact that it was based on a true story (although the ending in real life and in the book is a bit unsatisfying). It's clear the author did a lot of research on this time period. I enjoyed the slang and felt it really added to the story. (I read it in Karen Kilgariff's old-timey voice 😂) I also found the bit about the sanitary pads interesting, although probably unnecessary.
Which brings me to what I didn't like. This book is longer than it needs to be. Many parts get bogged down in superfluous details. Some red pencil strike-outs would have made this a tighter story. On top of that, the book is riddled with annoying typos (Santa Monica Peer? Really?!). And in this country we spell gray with an A, for fuck's sake! We haven't been British for almost 250 years, so just stop it.
To continue this series, please find an editor. For Kate and all the Modern ladies.
Kate is a great character. I liked the mystery and the fact that it was based on a true story (although the ending in real life and in the book is a bit unsatisfying). It's clear the author did a lot of research on this time period. I enjoyed the slang and felt it really added to the story. (I read it in Karen Kilgariff's old-timey voice 😂) I also found the bit about the sanitary pads interesting, although probably unnecessary.
Which brings me to what I didn't like. This book is longer than it needs to be. Many parts get bogged down in superfluous details. Some red pencil strike-outs would have made this a tighter story. On top of that, the book is riddled with annoying typos (Santa Monica Peer? Really?!). And in this country we spell gray with an A, for fuck's sake! We haven't been British for almost 250 years, so just stop it.
To continue this series, please find an editor. For Kate and all the Modern ladies.
May 21, 2022
This historical mystery is set in LA in the time between the two world wars. The lead protagonist is a girl wanting to do more than just attend high school. The times are different, and the behaviour of the people around the 'youngsters' to them rather than their own behaviour sets the scene better. It is also a city where the money flows in from the movie industry, giving them a hold over things.
Kate happens to stumble on the death of a movie bigwig and arrives there with enough time to realise that things are being swept under the rug, or in this case, being smuggled out before the police make their arrival. This is just the opportunity Kate has been waiting for in order to prove to her father and even herself that she is an investigative reporter with all the right intuitions.
I was not as pleased by the narrative style initially as I was later on. The book begins with Kate being held in an interview room, and she is biding for time. She tells her story in drips, focussing on the mundane just to annoy the detective in front of her. It also annoyed me because I felt like the plot was not taking shape quickly enough. A few chapters in, I started to get more involved.
Overall, I was very satisfied with the book. I am not sure how accurate the lingo was, but it took me a while to get used to it. The people introduced to us were quite exciting, and the mystery at the heart of it all was worth the wait. The investigation was not dull, with a variety of efforts thrown into the mix.
I would definitely recommend this to people who like the cozy mystery-historical fiction mash-up. I look forward to the next book since a little of the angst in Kate's head and relationships have been tackled to some degree.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
Kate happens to stumble on the death of a movie bigwig and arrives there with enough time to realise that things are being swept under the rug, or in this case, being smuggled out before the police make their arrival. This is just the opportunity Kate has been waiting for in order to prove to her father and even herself that she is an investigative reporter with all the right intuitions.
I was not as pleased by the narrative style initially as I was later on. The book begins with Kate being held in an interview room, and she is biding for time. She tells her story in drips, focussing on the mundane just to annoy the detective in front of her. It also annoyed me because I felt like the plot was not taking shape quickly enough. A few chapters in, I started to get more involved.
Overall, I was very satisfied with the book. I am not sure how accurate the lingo was, but it took me a while to get used to it. The people introduced to us were quite exciting, and the mystery at the heart of it all was worth the wait. The investigation was not dull, with a variety of efforts thrown into the mix.
I would definitely recommend this to people who like the cozy mystery-historical fiction mash-up. I look forward to the next book since a little of the angst in Kate's head and relationships have been tackled to some degree.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
December 18, 2021
A YA murder mystery set in the roaring 20s…yes, please! This follows a teenager named Kate that happens to be at the right place and the right time when the murder victim is found. She wants to be a respected journalist for her family owned newspaper but finds she is quite good at being a detective. She has unconventional ways to solve a murder and haphazardly finds her way to the killer! What a great way to start a series. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
December 16, 2021
A delightful noire mystery set in the early 1920s with a heroine with a fresh voice. I thoroughly enjoyed Speak Easy and look forward to more from this series.
December 19, 2021
Full review here:
https://shereadsworlds.travel.blog/20...
https://shereadsworlds.travel.blog/20...
December 12, 2021
Speak Easy is a murder mystery about a 17 year old girl who is struggling through the last few months of high school while trying to save her father's news paper business. She discovers the murder of a famous actor which leads to her investigating and eventually becoming a suspect herself. The story flashes back and forth between the past as she investigates, and the present when she is being interviewed by the detective as a suspect herself.
While I did enjoy this book, I teach middle school and this book is better suited to older students. It does address several heavy topics such as World War, parental abandonment, murder, relationships with older men, speakeasies, racial inequality, etc.
The story takes place during the Roaring 20's which is fun. The author uses period appropriate terms which is entertaining but I could also see this making comprehension a little more difficult for some students. For example juice joint, Good Time Charlie, dewdropper, and phosphate cola.
While I did enjoy this book, I teach middle school and this book is better suited to older students. It does address several heavy topics such as World War, parental abandonment, murder, relationships with older men, speakeasies, racial inequality, etc.
The story takes place during the Roaring 20's which is fun. The author uses period appropriate terms which is entertaining but I could also see this making comprehension a little more difficult for some students. For example juice joint, Good Time Charlie, dewdropper, and phosphate cola.
February 12, 2022
This was a really enjoyable and fun Murder mystery!
I liked Kate as a character and I enjoyed joining her in her sleuthing and I loved that she kept being ahead of the seasoned investigators
The format of the book was something I’ve never come across before and I thought it was great. Each chapter took the format of police questioning being answered by a flashback and I really enjoyed that
I will definitely be looking out for future books in this series
I liked Kate as a character and I enjoyed joining her in her sleuthing and I loved that she kept being ahead of the seasoned investigators
The format of the book was something I’ve never come across before and I thought it was great. Each chapter took the format of police questioning being answered by a flashback and I really enjoyed that
I will definitely be looking out for future books in this series
February 19, 2022
Speak Easy was so much fun - If you're looking for a fun and unique murder mystery to read this is definitely the one for you! I loved Kate as a character and her sleuthing was fantastic! The format and storytelling method were unique and kept me interested the entire time!
March 25, 2022
The time period this book was set in is fantastic. Adams really bings the setting to life, I felt immersed in the early days of Hollywood and in the mystery. It was a fun read and really checked all the things I like to see in a YA novel. I liked that this novel didn't ignore or shy away from the damage done to young men by WWI, and the main character herself carries pain that so many felt during that time period from losing loved ones during the war. The author clearly has skill in storytelling.
I will say that it took me till about the 50% part to really get involved in the book. Like the detective who was interviewing Kate, I took a while to get into the long drawn out explanations Kate gave. I really wanted the story to get on with it at some points. I also didn't connect with Kate as a character - but that is a personal preference. I just found her a tad annoying? She's very headstrong and stubborn (which could totally be a plus for others, but just didn't work for me) I did really like Nicky, and I fully understood his motivations. I can see the books getting more interesting as Kate ages and her relationship with Nicky expands. I think the series has good potential, even if I didn't fully connect with this book.
I would recommend this book for slightly older YA, New Adults, and Adults who want a relaxed mystery read set in the Roaring 20's.
Thank you to NetGalley for a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I will say that it took me till about the 50% part to really get involved in the book. Like the detective who was interviewing Kate, I took a while to get into the long drawn out explanations Kate gave. I really wanted the story to get on with it at some points. I also didn't connect with Kate as a character - but that is a personal preference. I just found her a tad annoying? She's very headstrong and stubborn (which could totally be a plus for others, but just didn't work for me) I did really like Nicky, and I fully understood his motivations. I can see the books getting more interesting as Kate ages and her relationship with Nicky expands. I think the series has good potential, even if I didn't fully connect with this book.
I would recommend this book for slightly older YA, New Adults, and Adults who want a relaxed mystery read set in the Roaring 20's.
Thank you to NetGalley for a ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2022
My opinion of this book improved the more I was drawn into the story. In the beginning, the constant use of 1920s slang and historical details felt contrived. I was also put off by the format, starting each chapter with Kate being interviewed by a police investigator about the dead body with which she'd been found. Like the inspector, I became impatient with her long-drawn out explanation which had nothing to do with the dead body but instead details how she solved the main crime in the book. Almost despite myself though, I found myself enjoying Kate's adventures and mystery-solving skill. Although listed as a YA and despite the fact that Kate is a senior in high school at the beginning of the book, I would actually recommend this to adult mystery readers who want an entertaining, non-demanding read.
February 20, 2022
While this isn't the best YA murder mystery I've read, it is a good one and ultimately the flaws are outweighed by the good plot, the bold protagonist, and the way the author wrote it. I also liked that the story as told with flashbacks, each chapter started with the police questioning Kate and then what happened. I think that detail worked really well, the long explanations, not so much.
This book brings the 20s to life. Between the details, the people referenced and the actual murder case, I was reading and researching finding out what was real and was the author’s imagination. While reading I thought that the war, the PTSD and the abandonment brought the post war environment that some authors avoid in a roaring 20s book.
This book brings the 20s to life. Between the details, the people referenced and the actual murder case, I was reading and researching finding out what was real and was the author’s imagination. While reading I thought that the war, the PTSD and the abandonment brought the post war environment that some authors avoid in a roaring 20s book.
December 25, 2021
Kate grew up quick when at fourteen both of her older brothers were killed in the Great War and her mother just left. Against the backdrop of the film industry, Kate wants to be a reporter but finds that she has a penchant for being a detective. Although it's a mite long, it held my interest to the end.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Spyhop Publishing/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) via NetGalley.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Spyhop Publishing/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) via NetGalley.
March 6, 2024
One of the best!
This tale was expertly written. Creative, well-paced, with fascinating characters and believable plot twists. Also provided a nice portrait of the era. I rarely follow mystery series , but look forward to book 2 here. I hope it will be as innovative and enjoyable as this one.
This tale was expertly written. Creative, well-paced, with fascinating characters and believable plot twists. Also provided a nice portrait of the era. I rarely follow mystery series , but look forward to book 2 here. I hope it will be as innovative and enjoyable as this one.
October 1, 2022
Inviting everyone to share their amazing reviews on Amazon ★★★★★
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