And All That Madness by Joan Merrill; A Casey McKie Mystery Book Review

  And All That Madness:

This is the 4th book in the fun Casey McKie Mystery series however, each book in the series are "stand alone" so you do not need to read them in order.

This book would be rated R for language.  

Publisher:  CreateSpace (February 20 2013) 

Category: Mystery

ISBN: 13: 9781 489278981

Tour Dates: September, 2014

Available in: Print , Audio, and E-book, 227 Pages

AND ALL THAT MADNESS is a Casey McKie mystery. When the New York Jazz Society acquires a fifty-year old letter from Georgia Valentine, questions arise over the legendary vocalist's death. Did she give herself a fatal dose of heroin, as the original investigators ruled, or did someone kill her? And if it was murder, what was the motive?

Casey moves her operation from San Francisco to New York to investigate the cold case, questioning Georgia's musician friends, her widower, a drug dealer, a Broadway actress, a mafia boss and the authorities who declared the death a suicide. This quest takes Casey to New York's most venerable jazz clubs, a Harlem nursing home, a mob-owned Italian restaurant, a lesbian bar and One Police Plaza, home of the NYPD.

She joins forces with an attractive detective from the Organized Crime unit, and, as the case progresses, so does their relationship. With no shortage of suspects, Casey ultimately uncovers evidence revealing a surprising killer. Author Joan Merrill has produced yet another captivating mystery as part of her on-going detective series featuring SF detective Casey McKie.

Praise for And All That Madness:

"And All That Madness is a well-constructed, slickly-told detective story that emphatically underlines the writer's secure knowledge of jazz, her believable settings, and her light touch with dialogue. Definitely a good read." -Bruce Crowther, crime novelist and jazz writer, Jazz Journal International

"Author Joan Merrill has produced yet another captivating mystery as part of her on-going detective series featuring SF detective Casey McKie. As usual, Ms. Merrill has masterfully woven her love of jazz and its practitioners into a tale of intrigue and revenge, all set to the beat of the blues and be-bop. A colorful, exceptionally intelligent thriller, most highly recommended." - Carol Sloane, jazz singer and writer

"Want suspense? Mystery? A surprise ending along with good writing? Then read Joan Merrill's "And All That Madness" and get pulled in. Her PI Casey McKie is a character with an independent mind who out thinks and outsmarts all around her in finding out what really happened to a famous jazz singer. This novel is just one of several adventures for Merrill and McKie who have been creating and solving crimes respectively in a supurb mystery jazz series. Rumor has it that Merrill is working on yet another case for Casey!"-Karen Adair, Amazon Reviewer

"I have now read all 4 of this Authors books. I have passed them on to my mom who Loves Murder Mysteries. She has actually read a few of them twice, she loves them so. These are a must read with tons of mystery and excitement. I highly recommend this Author Joan Merrill. Get them all and enjoy."-Kristi King, Amazon Reviewer

"Writer Joan Merrill has created one of the most contemporary and savvy jazz mystery series around. Her latest, "And All That Madness" takes San Francisco-based Private Investigator Casey McKie to some of the murkier-sides of New York City to find out what really happened to a famous jazz singer. Was she killed or did she commit suicide? Merrill's writing drew me in. I found myself thoroughly absorbed in her scintillating and surprising plot and climax. This is not just another mystery series. Through PI Casey McKie, Merrill has created a smart, hip, and high-consciousness role model for the ages. What's next, Ms. Merrill?"-Dian Kiser, Amazon Reviewer

"Merrill craftily deflects suspicion from suspect to suspect before sounding the final chord in this swinging whodunit." - Harvey Siders, JazzTimes

 Listen to an Excerpt

About Joan Merrill: 

Joan Merrill has written five Casey McKie mysteries, all taking place in the world of jazz: And All That Murder (2009), And All That Sea (2010), And All That Stalking (2011). And All That Madness (2012), And All That Motive (2014).

All books (except Motive, which will be published in early fall), are available at amazon.com and Kindle. And All That Madness is available as an audio book, narrated by long-time KCSM radio host, Alisa Clancy. To download, go to audible.com or iTunes.com or for the CD version, go to joanmerrill.com. An audio book of And All That Stalking is under production.

Joan Merrill has worked in the jazz field for over twenty years, producing fourteen shows for NPR's Jazz Profiles and four shows for the Smithsonian/PRI series Jazz Singers. She's represented various jazz singers; produced the video documentary "Saying It with Jazz" featuring Carmen McRae and others; and produced three CDs under her own label. She also created and curates the website: carmenmcrae.com.

Merrill is currently producing a musical revue tribute to Doris Day, entitled "Que Sera! Celebrating Doris Day" with Kristi King. See QueSeraTheMusical.com Paperback versions of the Casey McKie mysteries may be purchased at reduced rates from the website: joanmerrill.com.

Joan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoanMerrill20

My review:
This is the newest book in the Casey Mckie Mystery Series. Once again Casey has to figure out a murder that has twists and turns and has more than one suspect. This series is really a great read for anyone who loves solving a murder or suicide, whether it is new case or a fifty year old mystery. With little to go on Casey decides to find out what really happened. I give this book a 4/5.  I was given this book for the purpose of a review and all opinions are my own.