It's July 1936 and Toronto is under a record-breaking heat wave. Charlotte Frayne is the junior associate in a two-person private investigation firm, owned by T. Gilmore. Two events set the book's plot in motion: an anti-Semitic hate letter is delivered to Gilmore, who up to now has not acknowledged his religion, and Hilliard Taylor, a veteran of the First World War requests the firm's assistance in uncovering what he believes is systematic embezzlement of the Paradise Cafe, which he owns and operates with three other men, all of whom were prisoners of war. The two events, although seemingly completely unrelated, come together in this wonderful novel that brings to life characters who are as real to the reader as those of the Murdoch series.

About the Author
Maureen Jennings is best known for the Detective Murdoch books, which have been adapted into the long-running television series, Murdoch Mysteries. This has now aired in over one hundred and forty territories. She is also the author of the Tom Tyler series, the Christine Morris series, and the Paradise Cafe series. This, the most recent work, features her latest protagonist, Charlotte Frayne. Her books have been translated into many other languages, including Polish, Korean, French, German, Italian, and Czech. Jennings was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from Heritage Toronto in 1998 and the Grant Allen Award for ongoing contribution to the genre in 2011. She was awarded the 2024 Crime Writers of Canada's Grand Master Award and has received eight nominations, for best novel and best short story of the year. Jennings was born in the UK and now lives in Toronto with her husband, photographer Iden Ford, and her dog, Murdoch.

Reviews

"In contemporary fiction, the millennial-aged single woman is often a character through whom we identify our own paucity and miscalculations: the lack of children, money, stability or foresight providing a plot in which to flail. What a relief it is then to spend time with a protagonist who isn't defined by the traditions she rejects - in the summer of 1936, no less."

-- Carly Lewis * The Globe and Mail *
"The plotting of this slim novel is seamless. There's only 240 pages but we solve not one but two mysteries and learn a great deal about the protagonist and the supporting characters in her life. Nothing is rushed or glossed over; the storyline climaxes in a short yet action-packed few pages, and our journey to that point wasn't totally unpredictable, but enjoyable nonetheless." * I've Read This *


Awards
Short-listed for Bony Blithe / Bloody Words Light Mystery Award 2020 (Canada).



Book Information
ISBN 9781770865426
Author Maureen Jennings
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Cormorant Books,Canada
Publisher Cormorant Books,Canada
Weight(grams) 310g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 140mm * 19mm