A socialite accused of murder, planted evidence, and mysterious enemies challenge blind detective Daiyu Wu in her new sleuthing adventure.
When a highly respected member of the 'Little Mexico' community is killed in 1930 Dallas, all the evidence points towards Grace Pierce, wife of a local businessman and a former member of the Ku Klux Klan. Grace’s son Truman turns to Daiyu Wu and her unique detective skills for help, but Dai quickly discovers that nothing about this case is what it seems.
With her companion Jacques and canine bodyguard Prince Razor, Dai must navigate a family in turmoil, racial tensions, and shady business deals to find the actual killer before Truman's mother is sentenced to death.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Oliver has penned a solid plot with a unique protagonist as amateur sleuth. However, there are various subplots that seem to meander and fade away and this detracts from the overall enjoyment of the novel.
Prose: Told in first-person narrative by Jacques, the prose style is very reminiscent of Rex Stout and is aptly suited to the 1930s setting of the novel.
Originality: The setting, Dallas in 1930 with a young, blind Chinese woman serving as the detective protagonist, brings a different hue to the cozy genre.
Character Development/Execution: Whether intentional or not, Dai never really comes across as fully formed and remains opaque. The rest of the characters are fairly one-dimensional, and leave the reader desiring something more tangible.
Date Submitted: June 22, 2022
★★★★★ out of 5 - Dai is another modern-day Agatha Christie as she embarks on solving a murder with the help of her loyal assistant, Jacques and several other characters. I enjoyed reading about the Chinese and Mexican cultures, and how they came together in this murder mystery.—Violet Kovacevic
The cover concept has been chosen and ARC files created for Book 2 of the Daiyu Wu Mysteries - The JOY of Murder.
The hardcover version of The JOY of Murder - A Daiyu Wu Mystery is now LIVE!
Readers can now get both the hardback and paperback editions of The JOY of Murder!
For the month of July 2022, I will be celebrating the release of The JOY of Murder with a giveaway!
The prize is a three-book hardcover set which includes 1) Poirot Investigates (Royal Collector's Editions, Black Jade - A Daiyu Wu Mystery (Book 1), and The JOY of Murder - A Daiyu Wu Mystery (Book 2). (Retail $75)
The prize is US only, but there are a ton of freebie cozy/mystery/thriller ebooks up for grabs for everyone! Come check it out!
