DEUCE – A Jax Diamond Mysteries by Gail Meath | Book Review and Guest Post

I love researching history nearly as much as I love writing my historical romance novels. Yet, I’ve never had so much fun as I have researching the Roaring Twenties for my new Jax Diamond Mysteries series. The books take place in 1923 before the depression when jazz was born and prohibition was in full swing, which was intended to curb crime, but triggered the opposite effect – gangsters, murders, speakeasies, bootlegging, and bribes abounded!

At the end of each of the books, I love sharing tidbits from the era, so I thought it would be fun to share them with you. Originally, I had intended Songbird, the first book in the series, to be based upon the true Broadway Butterfly Murders that took place in New York City in 1923-24. Dorothy King and Louise Lawson were two not-so-famous actresses who were drawn away from their Broadway careers by a few wealthy businessmen who showered them with furs and diamonds. They were both killed separately a year apart, and their murders remain unsolved to this day. Back then, the newspaper headlines had read, “Who Killed the Broadway Butterflies?” 

Although I reference the murders, my story ended up more lighthearted. The first book focuses on Broadway theaters, but includes some treasured landmarks in New York City, too. And I found some great videos! This is Coney Island in the 1920s. What a hoot! The rides were none too safe back then! 

Watch Canned Thrills at Coney Island in the 1920s

One of the main characters is a rising Broadway star, so music plays a big part in all the books. The next video is Judy Garland singing her 1959 rendition of April Showers, which was one of the most popular songs in 1923. And the second video is a taste of the jazz era that rocked and altered the music world forever in so many ways.

Watch Judy Garland sings “April Showers” finale from “GE Theatre” 1956

Watch Original Memphis Five – Tin Roof Blues 1923

Did you know that before the 1920s, ‘cocktails’ were unheard of? Framed, the second book in the series, concentrates on gangsters, speakeasies, and bootlegging. Back then, beer, shots of liquor, and wine were the only common alcoholic drinks. Prohibition was passed on January 17, 1920. Shortly afterward, women won their right to vote on August 26. Therefore, more and more women began frequenting clubs and speakeasies. To accommodate them, the club owners began introducing different liquors combined with various mixers, which appealed to women far more than beer or shots. And cocktails were born.

Another tidbit that I included in the book was about the Wall Street Bombing, which took place at 12:01 pm on September 16, 1920. The fatalities and wounded were mostly young people who worked as messengers, stenographers, clerks, and brokers within the J.P. Morgan & Co. bank. The bomb caused over two million ($25.8 million today) in property damage. The NY Stock Exchange quickly closed down to avoid a panic, and their prompt clean-up spoiled efforts to find those responsible. The case remains unsolved, although many historians have different theories.

As for speakeasies and gangsters, Al Capone began his career in NYC, then became Johnny Torrio’s right-hand man, a major mobster in Chicago. After Al Capone took over Torrio’s business in 1927, his annual income was estimated at around $60 million per year from bootlegging. Since his involvement in the Valentine’s Day Massacre (February 14, 1929) could not be proven, it wasn’t until 1931 when Al Capone was finally arrested for tax fraud and served eleven years in prison.

The following are a few of the more popular tunes I included in the book. The first song is I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (I love the name of that song!). According to documents, it was written by Armand J. Piron and published in 1922.  Yet, Louis Armstrong claimed he had written the song, and he sold it for $10, which he never received. The song itself is referring to a woman named Katie Townsend, who was a murdered brothel madame. This is Betty Grable’s 1930 rendition.

Watch I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate

This next song was recorded in 1923 and originally recorded by Marion Harris, one of the most popular singers of that era. Many of you might be familiar with Connie Francis’ remake in 1958 when it once again became a hit song.

Watch Who’s Sorry Now? 

My Man was originally recorded by Fanny Brice of the Ziegfeld Follies in 1923, but my favorite is the 1968 rendition by Barbara Streisand from the movie Funny Girl, based upon Fanny Brice’s life.

My man

The first two books in the series take place in New York City, and the next two books will be back in the heart of Broadway. Yet, in Deuce, the third book, the characters insisted on traveling to a small town in Massachusetts to investigate a murder. And boy, are there are some quirky characters in this town. Yet, no matter where you traveled, jazz, Broadway, bootlegging, and bribes were everywhere.

There’s also a young girl in the book who loves to tap dance, so I’m including a few of Shirley Temple (1928-2014) videos. She was not only an extremely talented young actress and Hollywood’s number one box-office draw from 1934 to 1938, but as an adult, she became a highly respected United States Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. Bill (Bojangles) Robinson (1878-1949) was a hugely successful actor, singer, and tap dancer during the Vaudeville and Broadway heydays. He and Shirley Temple had teamed up in several movies. Here is their Shim Sham variation from “The Littlest Rebel” (1935); then Shirley Temple (7 years old) singing Polly Wolly Doodle from the same movie:

Bill Robinson and Shirley Temple – Shim Sham Variation

Shirley Temple Polly Wolly Doodle

Thank you so much for your time! I hope you enjoyed all my Roaring Twenties Tidbits.

All my best,

Gail Meath