The Deadly Mystery of the Missing Diamonds: A Dizzy Heights Mystery, Book 1

I both read and listened to this book, but omuch preferred listening to narrators Simon Mattacks and Elizabeth Knowelden bring the quirky characters to life. I had already read the 2nd book in the series so knew the primary characters—jazz musicians in a band called the Dizzy Heights— so the first part of the book seemed a bit slow; I didn’t need the introductions. But things did pick up and I enjoyed the dry wit and sometimes wacky behaviors of the band and in this book the inept dancing abilities of certain members of a London gentlemen’s club as they learn the latest 1920s dance steps for a competition. Scotland Yard comes into the picture, as the band is recruited to do some sleuthing while at the club. The plot keeps the reader guessing and amused. This is a fun book and I recommend it (especially the entertaining audio) for enjoyable reading and gaining some insight into life in London before, but mostly immediately after, WWI.

This is a cute story. Plenty of old fashioned slang peppers the vocabulary. The characters are likeable. I usually read nonfiction but this was a nice break.

Quite an interesting story about a deserter from the war, stolen diamonds, and a search for hidden treasures. An unexpected murder and a dance contest add even more excitement to the tale. Sort of a spin-off from the Lady Hardcastle series, but fun to read by itself.

I haven't finished this yet but as there are no reviews yet I thought I'd write a few lines to aid anyone trying to decide on their First Reads choice...So far the story seems a bit all over the place... But it has potential. At this point there seem to be a great deal of unnecessary details and background, instead of just jumping into the action, but with a mystery all that could actually end up being important. There is a lot of dialogue, which I generally like but I kind of feel the author is trying a little too hard to mimic Roaring Twenties British slang and it doesn't always flow as well or naturally as novels actually written during that time.However if the other choices don't seem your cup of tea, this is a fun, light choice. It may not be the caliber of Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers but it's a noble attempt at a story set in 1920's England. I will update once I've finished the book.2/3/2021 Update: This is a light, entertaining story, but not much of a mystery. It's heavy on snappy dialogue, very sparse on clues, detecting or investigating. If you go into the book looking for a light escape it's enjoyable enough but true mystery fans will be disappointed. It's more a story of a group of musical friends in the 1920s who stumble into a diamond theft and consequently, a murder, but very little of the story actually has to do with these events. I also feel the random letters scattered throughout were unnecessary and added nothing to the advancement of plot.That all being said, there are some fun moments, the 1920s London setting works well, and if you don't have high expectations for the mystery aspect, it's not a bad book. The author knows how to tell a decent story, just not how to write a good mystery. I looked back over the choices for this month and, even if this book doesn't stand out, I don't regret my choice or feel any of the others would have been better. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This is the first book of a new series starring Skins Mahoney and Barty Dunn, who are the leads in the Dizzy Heights Jazz Band. Supposedly during the war in 1917, a courier who is carrying uncut diamonds is robbed by a deserter from the Army, and the diamonds and deserter might be found at the Aristippus Club. Skins' wife, Ellie, is an American; they first met in 1910 when she was touring with her Aunt. She went to France as a nurse during WWI as a nurse to try to find Skins who was in France during the war. She stitched him up after he was injured in 1918, and they were married a year later when he left the service. Her family was fairly wealthy, so they have a very nice house near the British Museum in London.Skins and Barty are old friends of Lady Hardcastle for whom they have played, and Ellie is a friend of Flo. Thus, after they are called to talk with Superintendent Sunderland about keeping their eyes open while at the Aristippus Club, they talk with Flo and Lady Hardcastle who also know Sunderland very well. Sunderland has heard that the man who stole the gems is a member of the club and plans to run off with them during a dance competition. The Dizzy Heights are playing for all the dance classes, as well as regular Friday night gigs and will be playing for the competition.At one of the lessons, Blanche, a female saxophone player suddenly dies. The six suspects appear to be the five young men known as the Alphabet Gang taking the dance lessons and the attractive dance teacher, Millie. Ellie becomes the manager of the Dizzy Heights so that she can come into the club and help sleuth. Finally, on the night of the dance competition, Ellie figures out the culprits, and there is a wonderful scene where the two of the alphabet gang in costume manage to tangle up the fleeing culprits.

It is 1925 and Superintendent Sunderland asks Skins and Barty for their help. He wants them to track down a deserter from the war who got away with a large amount of diamonds.I so loved this book. I thoroughly enjoy T E Kinsey 's Lady Hardcastle novels and this one is every bit as good. Full of familiar faces this book is a dream.The story is really good and there are plenty of twists and turns as Skins, Barty, Ellie and the rest of the Dizzy Heights try to sort out the truth.If you have never read any of the Lady Hardcastle it really doesn't matter. This is a book to sit down with and enjoy.Highly recommended.

I'm a big Kinsey fan, he writes with wit, panache and pace. So I expected more from Skins and co's story - at least some actual diamonds. It's jumped 12 years or more from Lady H and Flo's adventures, so there's a big gap, certainly in personal back stories (I think it's safe to assume we all know about WW1) although we do get tiny hints from Flo's letters. And I missed that - I like the gradual development, rather than a rushed and overloaded explanation of Ellie and Skins getting together, years previously.The murder is a bit of a damp squib, as there doesn't seem to be much in the way of grief or raging at the loss of a dear friend. The method is clever, the setting is good but it's just not cohesive enough this time around - I felt as if I was reading a jolly jape rather than a thrilling mystery.As ever though, the dialogue is sparkling and funny, although there is an awful lot of it. I wanted a bit more about the peripheral characters, and that was lost really. Even good old Inspector Sutherland was an also ran, and don't get me started on how his intervening years were written off in a single sentence.Mr Kinsey, you're a brilliant writer with an eye for the foolish, the farcical and the absurd combined with the style to get that across to your dear readers. But this needs a bit more work, a bit more polish and a bit more depth. In my very humble opinion.

As someone who has played in a band, or two, the banger between the rhythm section was identifiable. As was the drummer taking ages to set up his kit, and no one offering to help him afterwards.The description of the Club, and other places, rings true. The book intrigued me enough to read others by the same author.

Another great read from T E Kinsey. I've read the previous Lady Hardcastle books and loved them all. The Dizzy Heights Mysteries are a follow on from those, although you could start without reading those, I highly recommend you do read them, you get a feel for the main characters and their background.There is always an element of humour in his books and happily no smut, or unnecessary descriptions of gore , as they dont need it. Main characters have lost none of their personality, that I came to love from previously mentioned series. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book.

I very much enjoyed the Lady Hardcastle series, and was interested to see how the author handled the move on. It was risky to "demote" two such central characters and give the peripheral ones a run, but I think it came off. The mood is much the same - light-hearted, but without hiding the impact that the First World War had on the people of that generation. Some reviewers have complained that it is too long and too slow-moving, but it is very much in keeping with the previous series, where some felt the same. For me the painting in of the details of the period is an important part of the book as a whole, and does not detract from the interest in solving the mystery.But Mr Kinsey has definitely committed himself to a cracker-jack of a story for Lady Hardcastle's 60 birthday: preferably narrated by Flo!