I’m pleased to share my review, and a chance to win a paperback, today for Dashiki as part of the blog tour organised by Rachel’s Random Resources. 
My Thoughts
Initially I wasn’t sure this would be my cup of tea as I’m not particularly a fan of Jazz, but the author’s obvious interest in, and love of, the music, its history and musicians is infectious. Dashiki is based around true events concerning a recording between two Jazz greats, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, which came to light in later years.
Virginia Farrell is a Jazz enthusiast and journalist/researcher. To her delighted surprise she secured an interview with the mysterious singer Betty Brown, well known in her day but now lives quietly in obscurity. Virginia is quite overwhelmed by Betty Brown’s confessions and to be entrusted with tapes of the extremely rare 1957 recording, thought to have been lost.
What am I supposed to do with this information?
That was the question Virginia Farrell asked herself as the door to 1305 Bloomfield shut behind her. She stood in the building’s bare concrete courtyard, facing Bloomfield Street in the mile-square city of Hoboken, New Jersey.
Virginia and her room mate, Socks, begin to look into potential suspects and their alibis for the night of a theft and murder. A story begins to emerge, which also includes a historic murder as well as interesting facts focusing on Jazz along with its history and culture. Also in on the investigation is Detective Robert Smith from the Hoboken Police Department.
Engagingly written, Dashiki is a twisty, atmospheric cozy murder mystery with characters who are portrayed three dimensionally and diversely, the three stand out ones being Virginia, Socks and Detective Robert Smith. A very enjoyable read.
A cozy mystery with a dash of romance set in the vibrant world of jazz.
During an interview with reclusive jazz singer Betty Brown, journalist Virginia Farrell is shown priceless tapes from the iconic 1957 Thelonious Monk-John Coltrane gig at the Five Spot. When Betty is found murdered, Virginia is determined to recover the tapes and uncover the truth behind Betty’s death.
In the spirit of Nancy Drew, Virginia teams up with her six-foot blonde roommate to investigate the various suspects. Detective Robert Smith from the Hoboken Police Department joins the case, quickly becoming absorbed by an unsolved murder possibly linked to Betty Brown’s death, as well as an undeniable attraction to Virginia.Dashiki is a cozy mystery laced with romance, immersing readers in the captivating world of jazz, where musicians, journalists, scholars, and enthusiasts intersect in an entertaining whodunit.
Purchase Links ~ Amazon US / Amazon UK
Florence Wetzel was born 1962 in Brooklyn, NY. Her novels include the thriller The Woman Who Went Overboard and the Swedish mystery The Grand Man. She has also authored horror short stories, a book of poems and memoir essays, and co-authored jazz clarinettist Perry Robinson’s autobiography. In July 2024, she published Sara My Sara: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss.
Social Media Links – Facebook
Florence Wetzel (@florencewetzel108) • Instagram profile
(1) Florence Wetzel | LinkedIn
Giveaway to Win a Paperback copy of Dashiki by Florence Wetzel (Open to UK / US / Canada only) Please click the Rafflecopter link to enter.
*Terms and Conditions –UK / US & Canada entries welcome. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
