FICTION

Rhode Island Red

by Charlotte Carter
Vintage Crime/Black Lizard. (Nanette Hayes Mystery, Bk. 1). Jul. 2021. 192p. ISBN 9780593314104. pap. $15.99. M
COPY ISBN
Nanette Hayes, the bohemian busker whose jazz-inflected cadences drive Carter’s 1997 mystery debut, is an irresistible bundle of contradictions: worldly and naïve, cerebral and impulsive, soulful and sexy, gutsy and self-deprecating. As she puts it, “If only I played the sax half as well as I play the fool.” The murder of a fellow street musician who stashes $60K in her tenor saxophone lures Nan far from her middle-class roots into the colorful environs of a Manhattan that is far from cozy but wears its grittiness lightly. Nanette might not be a musical virtuoso, but she sure can improvise, kicking off a swift MacGuffin-fueled narrative that’s short on probability and long on quirky spontaneity.
VERDICT Centered on the perils and amours of a strong and sophisticated Black woman, this stylish, melodic mystery and its two newly reissued sequels, Coq au Vin and Drumsticks, will be broadly appealing additions to any mystery collection.
Reviewed by David Wright, Seattle P.L. , Aug 01, 2021
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

FICTION

The Emperor
by Orcel, Makenzy
FICTION

Real Americans
by Khong, Rachel
FICTION

The 7-10 Split: A Romantic Comedy
by Lee, Karmen
FICTION

Swan Song
by Hilderbrand, Elin
FICTION

The Sword Unbound
by Hanrahan, Gareth
FICTION

Out of Office
by Cunningham, A.H.
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?