This is the follow on to the very good, The Axeman's Jazz previously reviewed by the group. I was venturing alone this time having received it as a Christmas present (probably two years ago now - whoops!)
The two year gap wasn't the only time lag, I was surprised to note the time gap in between the two books (and even more so on the proposed time gap between this one and the third in the series but more on that later).
Set in Chicago in 1928 the books focuses on the attempted poisoning of Al Capone, a white gangster's brutal murder and the vanishing of a famous heiress. As with Axeman the three strands are investigated by three different parties - Pinkerton detectives Michael Talbot and Ida Davis (with a little help from Ida's long time friend Louis Armstrong) are hired to find the missing heiress. Crime scene photographer, Jacob Russo, embarks on his own investigation of the gangster's murder and Dante Sanfelippo a troubled rum-runner and fixer investigates the poison party at the orders of Al Capone.
Each story did require some concentration as they unravelled and intertwined but Celestin did account for this and helped wherever possible. There were surprises thrown in along the way (Jacob) and it felt different enough from Axeman to avoid feeling like you were reading the same book, even with the strong similarities - three interlinked stories, a murky underworld, constant racism and of course, jazz.
I did find there was very little character development in the gap between Axeman and Dead Man's Blues, with the exception perhaps of Louis whose history was of course already written. I was surprised as a woman like Ida just doesn't strike you as one who would stagnate. It did give the reader the feeling that you hadn't missed out on anything though and were able to pick up where Axeman left off despite the passing of years.
I really enjoyed the Armstrong/Capone elements to the book and learnt some brilliant facts along the way (do you know why junkies are called junkies?). There were some very savvy points raised by Celestin such as how prohibition lead to the increase of violent crimes committed by women and there were some beautiful pieces of writing. The book was sometimes horrific, it was sometimes tense and it was sometimes sad but at all times it supremely captured Chicago with its heat, its race/class divide and its abattoirs.
I am not a jazz fan but as with Axeman the passion in which Celestin described jazz in the 1920s shone through. I did end up Googling 'West Man's Blues', the song referred to in the book and recommend you do the same.
I did really enjoy the book (even more so due to the fact the weather allowed me to sit outside until 11pm with the chimenea on until I had finished it). It could be read as a stand alone but when both are equally as good why would you want to?
Dead Man's Blues is book number 2 of 4 all set around a certain weather, city, decade and song. Apparently book number 3 although set in the 1940s will feature the main characters from this book. It's an unusual concept for a series and I'm not sure how it will pan out but Celestin did very good with this one and with Axeman so I'm looking forward to it.
The two year gap wasn't the only time lag, I was surprised to note the time gap in between the two books (and even more so on the proposed time gap between this one and the third in the series but more on that later).
Set in Chicago in 1928 the books focuses on the attempted poisoning of Al Capone, a white gangster's brutal murder and the vanishing of a famous heiress. As with Axeman the three strands are investigated by three different parties - Pinkerton detectives Michael Talbot and Ida Davis (with a little help from Ida's long time friend Louis Armstrong) are hired to find the missing heiress. Crime scene photographer, Jacob Russo, embarks on his own investigation of the gangster's murder and Dante Sanfelippo a troubled rum-runner and fixer investigates the poison party at the orders of Al Capone.
Each story did require some concentration as they unravelled and intertwined but Celestin did account for this and helped wherever possible. There were surprises thrown in along the way (Jacob) and it felt different enough from Axeman to avoid feeling like you were reading the same book, even with the strong similarities - three interlinked stories, a murky underworld, constant racism and of course, jazz.
I did find there was very little character development in the gap between Axeman and Dead Man's Blues, with the exception perhaps of Louis whose history was of course already written. I was surprised as a woman like Ida just doesn't strike you as one who would stagnate. It did give the reader the feeling that you hadn't missed out on anything though and were able to pick up where Axeman left off despite the passing of years.
I really enjoyed the Armstrong/Capone elements to the book and learnt some brilliant facts along the way (do you know why junkies are called junkies?). There were some very savvy points raised by Celestin such as how prohibition lead to the increase of violent crimes committed by women and there were some beautiful pieces of writing. The book was sometimes horrific, it was sometimes tense and it was sometimes sad but at all times it supremely captured Chicago with its heat, its race/class divide and its abattoirs.
I am not a jazz fan but as with Axeman the passion in which Celestin described jazz in the 1920s shone through. I did end up Googling 'West Man's Blues', the song referred to in the book and recommend you do the same.
I did really enjoy the book (even more so due to the fact the weather allowed me to sit outside until 11pm with the chimenea on until I had finished it). It could be read as a stand alone but when both are equally as good why would you want to?
Dead Man's Blues is book number 2 of 4 all set around a certain weather, city, decade and song. Apparently book number 3 although set in the 1940s will feature the main characters from this book. It's an unusual concept for a series and I'm not sure how it will pan out but Celestin did very good with this one and with Axeman so I'm looking forward to it.
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