The Jazz Files

Fiona Veitch Smith
Works of: Fiction
Publisher: Lion Fiction

It stands for Jazz Files, said Rollo. It’s what we call any story that has a whiff of high society scandal but can’t yet be proven – you never know when a skeleton in the closet might prove useful. Set in 1920, The Jazz Files introduces aspiring journalist Poppy Denby, who arrives in London to look after her ailing Aunt Dot, an infamous suffragette. Dot encourages Poppy to apply for a job at The Daily Globe, but on her first day a senior reporter is killed and Poppy is tasked with finishing his story. It involves the mysterious death of a suffragette seven years earlier, about which some powerful people would prefer that nothing be said. Through her friend Delilah Marconi, Poppy is introduced to the giddy world of London in the Roaring Twenties, with its flappers, jazz clubs, and romance. Will she make it as an investigative journalist, in this fast-paced new city? And will she be able to unearth the truth before more people die?

“A delightful period romp, neatly sprinkled with the choicest historical detail.” — D.J. Taylor author of Bright Young People

“What a delight to escape into the world of the irrepressible Poppy Denby in this cleverly-plotted debut.” — Ruth Downie author of the Medicus series

“An intriguing mystery, fizzing with energy.” –C.F. Dunn author of Mortal Fire