Things get pretty sticky for PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, when their best friend, a cop, is framed for murder. And not just anyone’s murder. The victim is the fiancée of the most notorious gangster in the city, Orin Marino, Jax’s deadliest enemy.
Laura Graystone, the budding Broadway Star and Jax’s new squeeze, proves to be an ingenious partner as they sift through clues trying to find the real murderer. But when Jax is pinched for another crime, Laura and Ace are forced to go undercover.
Hang on to your seat as Jax, Laura and Ace take you on another crazy, whodunit ride during the Roaring Twenties. Where no one is who they seem, and those who do, aren’t. Anything goes during an era of fun and frolic, song and dance, speakeasies, gangsters, bootlegging and bribes.
Gail Meath is the author of the multi-award-winning Jax Diamond Mysteries, a fun 1920s series about wise-cracking PI Jax Diamond, his courageous German Shepherd partner, Ace, and Broadway star Laura Graystone, as they, along with a crazy group of friends, solve some of the toughest crimes in New York City. She is alternating that series with her new 1930s Golden Age of Hollywood mysteries series, Stone & Steele, starring Vivian Steele, a widow seeking justice, and Preston Stone, a playboy vigilante. As always, she blends the most lovable characters with a good, solid mystery.
Gail also has a list of other award-winning historical romances, westerns, and fictional biographies of true heroines. She lives in a small village in Upstate New York with her husband and their sweet Boston Terrier, and she spends loads of time with her grandchildren. Connect with Gail at www.gailmeath.com or Facebook @GailMeathAuthor.
I didn't read the first book in the series, but the plot sounded right up my street so I had to give it a whirl! I think reading the first book will have helped know the characters' personalities and relationships between each other, as I felt the start was a little jarring for me trying to get everyone straight in my head. The plot was fantastic though, and I was gripped throughout once I had done that. Having a dog, Ace, as a character was inspired. As a person obsessed with dogs, this was a fantastic touch and I loved him! I want to give an extra star just for that! Now I have read the book and know the characters, I will definitely want to read the next book in the series, if there is one!
What a great book! Meath’s next installment in her Jax Diamond series involves a framed cop, and later, a framed Jax. The result is a whodunnit that will take you through several twists and turns and leaves you thoroughly satisfied at the end. Meath is an expert writer of historical mystery and paints not only a great story but creates fully developed, likable as well as despicable characters. This book was such a delightful treat. What a great follow up to her amazing Songbird.
Hold on to your hat, Framed is quite a ride. As delightful as Songbird (Jax Diamond Mysteries book 1), Jax, Laura and Ace are back and entangled in a whodunnit that will keep you guessing as you flip the pages. The plot is well developed and the era of the 1920s is perfectly represented. Oh! And the cover is simply brilliant like the author. So classy!
This was an absolutely great read. There were so many twists within this story, it kept me up reading having to finish this in one sitting! Each of the main characters in this book were well described and having one of them be the canine partner is superb.
I missed the 1st installment of this series so just grabbed that to read so that I can learn more about Jax and Laura.
A marvelous 1920’s whodunnit with a perfect PI, his dog and his girl
Framed is book #2 in the Jax Diamond mysteries by Gail Meath. PI Jax and his German shepherd Ace, with girlfriend, singer (Songbird) Laura work together along with his pal Murph in a fast-paced, twisty, marvelous 1920’s murder mystery! It’s Prohibition time in NYC and there’s all sorts of crooked folks. Buckle up for this fun ride. I can’t wait for #3 due out this Fall!
I was fortunate to receive an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review gladly and voluntarily.
I adored Songbird – the first book in the Jax Diamond series – and this one is just as good, if not better. It’s a rip-roaring ride through a world of murder, gangsters, night clubs, jazz and bootlegging.
Sometimes you can’t help liking the enemy (remember Denzel Washington in American Gangster) and I had a soft spot for Orin Marino right from the beginning. After all, he was Jax’s best mate in the army back when, but then people do change over time, so we need to keep an open mind.
Jax Diamond is our hero – tall, blond and handsome, with a wicked sense of humour. Ex-police officer turned private detective, Jax counts Ace the German Shepherd as his faithful and very clever sidekick. And now he has ‘songbird’ Laura Greystone, feisty, fearless, beautiful and talented on his side. And she knows all about cars. What’s that all about?
So when Orin’s fiancée is found murdered, the intrepid three must discover who is responsible as Jax’s police officer friend Murph is being set up for the murder. One problem though, the last time Jax and Orin met they had a real physical fight, and Jax is blinkered as to who is involved. Orin Marino, end of.
But what’s his motive – apparently he adored his fiancée – and why was Murph hit over the head and almost drowned if he was the killer? It all gets very complicated and then Jax is also implicated and wanted for murder. Where will it end?
It’s a fast-paced, quick and easy read, always exciting and with a brilliant cast of characters. I can’t wait for the next in the series. I’m already casting it for its Netflix series.
Many thanks to @zooloo2008 for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
I read Songbird for a blog tour. It wasn't the sort of book I'd normally read but I absolutely fell in love with the characters, the 1920s America setting, and the writing style. When the opportunity for the blog tour came up for the second in the series I jumped at the chance. The second book of this series is even better. It begins when a car flies off a bridge into a river, when it's recovered a young woman, the current girlfriend of the biggest mob boss of the area, is found shot to death inside. Jax's partner and friend Murph is Framed for her murder. What follows is a crazy thrill ride of a story, with gangsters, mob bosses, corrupt cops, double and triple crossing, and at the centre of it, Jax Diamond, Laura and the amazing Ace. This doesn't let up once, I was totally gripped from the beginning. I read it beginning to end in one go, These aren't long books but certainly pack a whole bunch of content in. I love the language, the description of clothes, the music, the cars, all uncomplicated. It really adds to story. Jax and Laura (and Ace) are brilliant characters, I absolutely cannot wait to see what they get up to next. Bring on book 3.
5-STARS Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite “Framed by Gail Meath is the second book in the Jax Diamond Mysteries Series. I thoroughly enjoyed this classic pulp detective story about a hard-working sleuth and his allies working hard to get to the center of a web of mystery. Gail Meath consistently demonstrates a profound understanding of what makes the genre fun to read and carves a path through the narrative that is addictive and entertaining throughout. I particularly enjoyed the character Laura Greystone and her contributions to solving the mystery, giving the book a fresh set of eyes to neatly balance out Jax’s world-weary viewpoint. Framed is a dynamic story that never lets up on the twists and turns in the tale as it weaves a tangled web of suspects and masterminds for the heroes and reader to unravel. The setting is excellent and the deft switching between serious and light-hearted moments only helps to make this book a work that is impossible to put down once started. A must-read mystery novel, I'd certainly recommend Framed to all fans of the genre.
The author kindly offered me an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I truly loved the first book in this series Songbird. This book: Framed can be read as a standalone. However it follows several of the characters in the first book - the Detective Jax, his dog Ace, his girlfriend Laura and other characters. Jax is an orphan who was abandoned and this is mentioned in both the novels and the suspense about his past is interesting and I hope to read more about that.
The story in this book is about the Prohibition in the 1920s in the United States and the underbelly of crime a good intentioned act engendered.
Framed the title of the book is very apt, as Tim a good cop friend of Jax is 'framed' for a murder he did not commit, but then other people (Jax, his ex-friend a club owner………..) are also framed. So who committed the murder, why was the murder done and is the law force corrupt? I do not want to mention any more but the suspense in this realistic mystery in Prohibition times is well written and keeps me wanting to read more about the main protagonists.
This is a neat little period mystery set in the '20's in New York City. It has a hero who is a bit hardboiled, a strong female character as his love interest and sidekick, and more twists and turns than Lombard Street in San Francisco. I would suggest you read the first book in the series, 'Songbird", for the background needed. Both books are well worth your time if you like period cozies. The author has captured the period very well.
When Jax Diamond's best friend, and former partner police Sargeant Tim Murphy is knocked out, put in an expensive car, and dumped in the river along with a dead night club singer, Jax is on the case. The twisted trail he's following leads to police corruption and another murder. When the clues lead to dirty cops Jax doesn't know who to trust. The icing on the cake is when his girlfriend Laura decides to go undercover at the club replacing the dead singer. Jax is frantic with worry. Jax works his way through a long list of suspects before arriving at the surprising conclusion. A good read.
Another great story in the Jax Diamond Mysteries series! Jax has a mystery to solve when his best friend & police sergeant Tim is framed and set up as a murder suspect in the death of a night club singer. Jax's girlfriend Laura decides to help him when she goes undercover at a nightclub where danger, corruption, and the murder suspect(s) are working. Will they be able to solve the mystery and free their friend without getting themselves killed? Police corruption, danger, and plenty of twists and turns abound! And Ace is truly a gem of a friend! I suggest reading Songbird first, as it establishes the characters for this book. I heartily recommend this series set in the 1920's--a wonderful escape! I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review.
This is book 2 in the PI Jax Diamond Mysteries series and having read and enjoyed book 1 I was really looking forward to this. I wasn’t disappointed. Another fun cozy mystery featuring the gorgeous Ace, a German Shepherd who is Jax’s canine partner. If you haven’t read book one I would definitely recommend going back and reading it as background for the main characters, however this would still read well as a standalone. Set in New York in the 1920s; a period of prohibition that spawned often gangster run speakeasies, along with bootlegging, crime and some corrupt police officers.
Briefly, when Jax and Ace see a girl floating in the river, immediately after a car has gone in, Jax rescues her, but much too late, she was killed with a single gunshot. Jax’s closest friend Tim, a serving police officer, has been set up to take the fall for the murder. Jax, and his girlfriend Laura, are determined to prove his innocence but their own lives are at risk when they start investigating.
I’m really enjoying this series. It’s a period of American history that has always fascinated me and the author really brings it to life in these books. There are twists and turns to keep you guessing and a great storyline that almost seemed real; I’m guessing real life in those days wasn’t that different. A great easy read, a few dead bodies but no gore and a blossoming romance - oh and Ace. What’s not to enjoy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another Jax Diamond mystery that keeps you reading well into the early morning hours. I absolutely love this series. The same characters as the first book continues to solve mysteries and grow in their relationships. You grow with them, love them all over again and I can’t wait for the next book. Love the history that is intertwined with the story and the interesting facts and videos at the end of the book confirms the picture you had in your head while reading the story. An absolute must read! ❤️❤️❤️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I finally got round to returning to Jax’s world and what an adventure that is. The book is high action, edge of your seat drama with twists and turns. The historical setting is really well researched and feels like you are being drawn back in time. I love Laura as a character and how spirited and brave she is, even in the face of danger. The film noir feeling to the series continues in this book and the expected gangsters and molls as side characters pull readers deeper into the story. I’m already excited to continue reading this series.
This story has a lot of fast paced and intense moments making it a lot of fun to read. The characters are very different and some dangerous. Laura was my favorite character, but I did also like Jax. This is not my usual cozy mystery type, but I really enjoyed it. My first Gail Meath book, but not my last.
After reading and reviewing Songbird, which is the first book in the Jax Diamond Mysteries, I started reading Deuce, book 3 in the series, for which I had received an Advance Review Copy. I was just a few pages in when I realised that I had missed a big part of Jax, Laura, and Ace’s story by not reading book 2. So I downloaded it to my Kindle, and hardly put it down for the next 24 hours.
If at all possible, this story is even more thrilling than the first book, with Bent Cops, Speakeasies, Bootleggers, and Chicago Mobsters, all set against the very well researched background of New York during prohibition in the 1920’s.
Jax’s best friend Tim is framed for the murder of a woman with links to a Nightclub owner who is believed to be running a Speakeasy. Whilst Tim is behind bars, Jax is trying to figure out who he can trust, and what has actually happened. Laura meanwhile goes against Jax’s wishes and takes a job as a singer in the nightclub, having disguised herself so no one knows her true identity. She has Ace at her side to guard her, whilst Jax is himself framed for a murder he didn’t commit, and is keeping to the shadows.
The characters are well drawn, and I felt I was watching a black & white movie whilst reading - and was waiting for Elliot Ness to make an appearance!! The descriptions of the nightclubs involved made me feel as if I was there, and my heart was in my mouth whilst Jax & Laura worked to right the wrongs that had been done.
There are several things I enjoyed about this book. Private Detective Jax Diamond and his canine partner, Ace, are once again involved in a great "who done it" that takes place in the 1920's in New York City. The book is a cleverly written murder mystery. The author does a wonderful job of dropping subtle clues while Jax and Laura work at wolving a murder (for which Jax is being blames) while not becoming victims themselves. These books almost made me wish I had been alive during the 1920's. I appreciate the author's use of misdirection as I often thought I had it figured out until another subtle clue was given. The author's writing style is a plus for me. Her words flow easily from scene to scene and conversation to conversation. I often chuckled when the characters were hunting down and talking on payphones since we all now have phones in our pockets and purses. I admit that I remember a time when we had to use a payphone while traveling across my home state when going to and from college. Always had a code with our folks so we didn't have to pay for the call. Great book, and I look forward to reading more adventures of Jax, Laura, and Ace. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Jax, Laura and Ace have a A trip planned back to her hometown. Unfortunately the night before they depart they witnessed a car racing down the street and going in to the river. Jax being the good guy he is, jumps in and tries to save the lady in the car. Only to find she has been shot and not only that, she has on a bracelet that belongs to Tim Murphy‘s wife. Seconds after he pulls the dead lady out the river to cop show up, Stan and Butch. Little do jacks and Laura know but this will change their vacation plans because they will be fighting for Jack’s and Tim’s freedom. This case will teach him that not everyone that looks guilty is guilty and be wary of friends that really turn out to be your enemy. I loved songbird, but absolutely love framed. I don’t know if it’s because this is the new one or it is as great as I believe it to be. I just know the author did a fabulous job with this one around the middle of the book it seem like a discombobulated mess and by the end, the the author has untied all the tangles and smooth out the creases to make for a great mystery. You will never guess the ending are usually can and couldn’t with this one. I loved this book and now I can only wait for book 3 in the series.
What a great followup to the author's first book in this series, "Songbird"! Jax Diamond, a former policeman/now private detective, and his partner, canine extraordinaire, Ace, again become involved in a twisted web of murder and intrigue. Jax's former partner and friend, Tim, is framed for murder, and soon Jax finds himself in the same predicament!
Of course, Jax's girlfriend, Laura Graystone, becomes involved and uses her beautiful singing voice to try to find answers by working in a nightclub owned by a notorious gangster. Soon, the trio and their friends find themselves deeply involved in the underworld of 1920's Prohibition era nightclubs.
The author has created a great set of characters and her descriptions of life in this era are wonderful! You can almost hear the songs, feel the music and the tension as Laura, Jax and Ace try to clear Tim and Jax from murder charges. And, who doesn't love a loyal, beautiful and highly intelligent canine like Ace! His character steals the scene many times and this series just wouldn't be the same without him!
I can't wait to see what's in store for this trio and hope that Ms. Meath has many more adventures waiting for them.
I absolutely loved these characters in Songbird, but now? I can't help but adore them. It made me so happy to see there would be a third book to the Jax Diamond Mysteries! Laura and Jax are amazing characters, their connection is so realistic and funny at times. I love Ace and the way he is incorporated in the story, but even a lot of side characters have gathered a place in my heart.
This series is not my usual type of read, but it makes me wonder if I should leave my comfort zone more often. I love the hunt for the true killer, and the way the author manages to surprise me multiple times along the way. This story took several unexpected twists and turns and I definitely didn't see that ending coming.
Combine all of that with a 1920's background and you end up with an amazing book that will leave you at the end of your seat until you finish it. I highly recommend this book, no matter what genre you usually like to read.
Framed is Book 2 in the Jax Diamond Mysteries by Gail Meath. I thought Framed was so exciting from page 1 to the last page, this book was outstanding. The cover of this book is perfect. 1923 in New York City there are so many mobsters and Tim Murphy is working hard to put Oren Marino behind bars. I felt that the mystery/murder was so well written with twist and turns. I thought Gail Meath bringing characters that were enemies to working together was surprising and made the story more interesting. Jax Diamond was written as a strong hero and I am looking forward to reading Book 3, Deuce. I can say that if you enjoy cozy mysteries, Framed is a book you must read. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
I loved this follow-up to “Songbird”. From page 1 we pick up following Jax, Ace and Laura in their continuing quests against the bad guys. Gail Meath has an exception skill in painting pictures with words, and you feel like you are right in amongst all the goings on, and you are having a delightful peek right from the sidelines. The 1920’s setting is perfect, and the plot fits perfectly into the time. A delightful page turner, you can’t wait to see what is coming. No putting this book down in a hurry, you want to stay right to the end. Very much looking forward to the promised next instalment, I hope it’s not too far away. Books like this wish you could give more than 5 stars!
My thanks to BookSirens for an advanced copy of “Framed” in exchange for my unbiased review.
4.49 Stars. Another fun, cozy mystery with Jax, Ace and Laura! I enjoyed the inclusion of Tim and Carla more, though the reason for their more starred appearance isn't quite a good one because Tim is being framed for murder. The characters are fun, the mystery is a good one, and Ace is positively adorable! I liked Laura's role in this book more than the last one. I think she really gets to be herself in this one. It's a fun, pretty easy, quick read. Perfect read for a cozy mystery fan. The story is told in third person POV. There's no/minimal swearing, mild violence (there is murder after all), and plenty of mystery fun.
I was so excited when this book became available for download. I really loved the 1st book and the 2nd was outstanding as well. All of the characters are wonderful and the mystery has plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing and definitely had me hooked. I love that all of the characters are so actively involved, including Ace, and I really looking forward to the next book. Definitely a new favorite series for me.
Framed is my second Gail Meath read. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. The New York City, 1920s setting enhanced the mystery and the romance. The 1920s were such an interesting time period, perfect for detective work. This novel is a smooth and fun read. I recommend it to all mystery lovers. Pat Spencer, author of Story of a Stolen Girl.