Welcome to my stop on Rachel’s Random Resources Book Tour for Dashiki by Florence Wetzel – a cozy mystery with a dash of romance set in the vibrant world of jazz. Be sure to enter the giveaway to win a paperback copy of Dashiki. (Open to UK / US / Canada only) ENTER HERE! *

301 pages, Kindle Edition

February 7, 2011 Publication Date 

About the Book:

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.

My Review:

What an intriguing mystery! I don’t know much about jazz and jazz history, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this story. I found the idea of previously unknown and unheard tapes surfacing from a famous jazz artist fascinating. The peak into the culture of jazz enthusiasts was also a draw and had me quickly turning the pages. I had to force myself to stop at night as I knew early morning alarms would come soon! 

The writing is vibrant, bringing to life the sights and sounds of Hoboken and Virginia’s and Sock’s little country hideaway.  I enjoyed the dash of romance Virginia experiences. Virginia is a wonderful sleuth – sincere and genuine and pretty brave! The mystery was well paced and I enjoyed searching for clues. I did not have it figured out until the very end and I enjoyed the final scenes! 

An immersive story that kept me entertained the entire time. I’d love to read more adventures featuring Virginia! 

About the Author:

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.

Author Links:

Facebook

Florence Wetzel (@florencewetzel108) • Instagram profile

(1) Florence Wetzel | LinkedIn

Purchase Link 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:  Stop by the rest of the tour!

* Giveaway Terms and Conditions –UK / US & Canada entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  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 be 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.