“You know we’re not supposed to talk about it,” Lulu whispered.
"There’s nothing like a slick and sassy speakeasy for atmosphere, and MURDER KNOCKS TWICE delivers. The secrets are as heady as bathtub gin in this smart 1920s mystery that will keep you guessing." -Deanna Raybourne, Best-Selling Author of Historical Mysteries
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The first mystery in Susanna Calkins’ captivating new series takes readers into the dark, dangerous, and glittering underworld of a 1920's Chicago speakeasy.
Nominated for the
Anthony for Best Paperback Original! Nominated for the Agatha for Best Historical Mystery Award! Nominated for the Bruce Alexander Historical Mystery (Lefty) Award! Nominated for the Macavity Award (Sue Feder Historical Mystery)! Gina Ricci takes on a job as a cigarette girl to earn money for her ailing father—and to prove to herself that she can hold her own at Chicago’s most notorious speakeasy, the Third Door. She’s enchanted by the harsh, glamorous world she discovers: the sleek socialites sipping bootlegged cocktails, the rowdy ex-soldiers playing poker in a curtained back room, the flirtatious jazz pianist and the brooding photographer—all overseen by the club’s imposing owner, Signora Castallazzo. But the staff buzzes with whispers about Gina’s predecessor, who died under mysterious circumstances, and the photographer, Marty, warns her to be careful.
When Marty is brutally murdered, with Gina as the only witness, she’s determined to track down his killer. What secrets did Marty capture on his camera—and who would do anything to destroy it? As Gina searches for answers, she’s pulled deeper into the shadowy truths hiding behind the Third Door. |
“Calkins deftly captures the language and atmosphere of Prohibition-era Chicago in all its glory and terror in the first book in her new series. She takes readers on a riotous ride through swinging speakeasies and dark, dank alleys, as her vibrant heroine stumbles onto three murders and a whole lot of trouble. Peppered with memorable characters and rich historical details, Murder Knocks Twice is sure to have readers asking for another round.”
– Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries
– Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries