Book Title: Gold Diggers, Gamblers and Guns
Author: Ellen Mansoor Collier
Category: mystery, 268 pages
Publisher: DecoDame Press
Published: May 18, 2014
Available in: mobi, epub, PDF
Content Rating: PG*

Synopsis

During Prohibition in 1920s Galveston, the Island was called the “Free State of Galveston” due to its lax laws and laissez faire attitude toward gambling, girls and bootlegging. Young society reporter Jasmine (Jazz) Cross longs to cover hard news, but she’s stuck between two clashing cultures: the world of gossip and glamour vs. gangsters and gamblers.

After Downtown Gang leader Johnny Jack Nounes is released from jail, all hell breaks loose: Prohibition Agent James Burton’s life is threatened and he must go into hiding for his own safety. But when he’s framed for murder, he and Jazz must work together to prove his innocence. Johnny Jack blames Jasmine’s half-brother Sammy Cook, owner of the Oasis speakeasy, for his arrest and forces him to work overtime in a variety of dangerous mob jobs as punishment.

When a bookie is murdered, Jazz looks for clues linking the two murders and delves deeper into the underworld of gambling: poker games, slot machines and horse-racing. Meanwhile, Jazz tries to keep both Burton and her brother safe, and alive, while they face off against a common enemy.

Review

This is book 3 in the Jazz Age Series and while I liked the first two books, this book really caught my interest.  I’m not sure what the difference was between the first two books and this one, but it seemed like it flowed better and at a faster pace.  Perhaps now that James Burton is in the hot seat, more so than in previous books.  The action also moved at a faster pace, perhaps it was the topic compared to the first two?  Either way, this book was a winner in my eyes.

Of course we still have Jazz meddling where maybe she shouldn’t, but at the same time she finds out information that helps Burton, but he is pretty smart too and has things in the works that Jazz doesn’t know about.  And perhaps in this book Jazz and James will finally become a couple?  We can only hope since the attraction is there!  And what about Aunt Eva?  Will she will be able to retire the “spinster” title?  And will Amanda and Sammy still be together?  You can find out by reading the book!

We give this book 4 1/2 paws and look forward to the next installment.

About the Author

Ellen Mansoor Collier is a Houston-based freelance magazine writer and editor whose articles, essays and short stories have been published in a variety of national magazines. During college summers, she worked as a reporter (intern) for a Houston community newspaper and as a cocktail waitress, both jobs providing background experience for her Jazz Age mysteries.

A flapper at heart, she’s worked as a magazine editor/writer, and in advertising and public relations (plus endured a hectic semester as a substitute teacher). She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Magazine Journalism and served on UTmost, the college magazine, and was active in WICI (Women in Communications), acting as president her senior year.

Flappers, Flasks and Foul Play is her first novel, published in 2012, followed by the sequel, Bathing Beauties, Booze and Bullets, released in May 2013. Gold Diggers, Gamblers and Guns is the last novel in her Jazz Age Mystery series, published in May, 2014. She lives in Houston with her husband and Chow mutts, and visits Galveston whenever possible.

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