Love reading books set in the twenties and that this was set in Chicago, the city of my youth was a bonus. So much happening here, during this time, all mentioned in the story. Al Capone and the St. Valentine massacre, prohibition and the speakeasies, protection rackets, anarchist bombings and of course the stock market crash.

The year is 1929 and Gina works at a speakeasy. When two recent customers are found dead, Gina and her cousin who is a police officer, become involved. This is a light, non graphic mystery, characters that are from all backgrounds, and framed within some wonderfully illustrated historical context. It is fast paced and the main characters are well drawn, the story one that draws the reader into this time and place. It was easy to feel that one was actually there, the atmosphere created so vividly.

The authors note denotes those characters and events that were actual real and took place. Chicago was a rip roaring, often dangerous town during this time and many people became involved in things that soon became deadly. Well done and interesting. ( )

The Fate Of A Flapper is the second book in The Speakeasy Mystery series.

This book takes place in 1929 and is set in Chicago, Illinois. The country is dealing with Prohibition and speakeasy’s are popular for those that would like an alcoholic drink and the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and the Great Stock Crash are just around the corner.

Gina Ricci is a cigarette girl/waitress at the speakeasy, The Third Door. They are usually very busy and quite often have to turn patrons away. One evening the customers are packed in and Gina is very busy keeping up with the customer’s request for drinks and smokes. One gentleman has had far too much and has been ordered out of the establishment. Gina is also kept busy by another table that is occupied by two couples who have had a lot to drink and finally leave.

The next morning Gina gets a call from her cousin, Nancy Doyle, a police officer, asking that she bring her camera to an apartment where Nancy is investigating the death of a young girl. Gina has been able to prove her photographic skills since another cousin left his photographic equipment when he passed. Nancy is hoping that she can get a promotion if she can solve the case.

Gina is shocked when she arrives at the apartment and finds that the female is one of those from the previous evening at the speakeasy. It is thought that her death is from a drug overdose but when the body of one of the men is also found dead, they become suspicious that some “bad hooch” might have been delivered to the speakeasy. Gina wanting to help her cousin solve the murder and find out if bad gin was the reason for the death before The Third Door business becomes ruined.

This book is well-written and the time-period is well done. The characters are well-developed, interesting, and believable.

I will be watching for the next book in this exciting series. ( )