The Goddess of Shipwrecked Sailors: A Lizzie Crane Mystery
December 1925: Salem, Massachusetts
When Matthew Gardner, the heir to a shipping fortune, hires New York jazz singer Lizzie Crane and her band to perform during the Christmas holidays, she has high hopes that this prestigious event will foster their career and bring them riches and recognition. She's also eager to reconnect with a handsome man from one of Boston's most esteemed families, whom she met at an earlier visit to Massachusetts.
But the evening the musicians arrive in historic Salem to begin their engagement, police discover the body of a man near a tavern owned by Lizzie's cousin--a cousin she even didn't know she had until Christmas Eve. In the dead man's pocket is a cryptic letter addressed to Gardner. To compound her dismay, she also learns that her host plans to marry his daughter to the man Lizzie wants for herself.
Soon Lizzie's caught in the middle of a high-stakes feud between her cousin and her employer over a mysterious lady. When she digs deeper into their conflict, she discovers its roots are deep and bitter: her cousin's father crewed on one of Gardner's grandfather's ships that sunk during a storm in 1868. As she struggles to piece together the puzzle and find the lady at its center, Lizzie becomes a pawn in each man's deadly game for money and revenge.
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"Set in the Prohibition era...it's filled with plot twists, intriguing characters, and snappy dialogue...Rich with juicy historical details--especially the motorcars!--and surprising turns, this book should appeal to fans of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers." -- The Historical Novel Society's Historical Novels Review
"Lizzie Crane and the New York City-based Troubadours are back on the road in Massachusetts, this time hired to provide entertainment for the fiftieth birthday celebration of Duncan Fox, the owner of a creepy rockpile called Halcyon Castle. Of course, the musicians are no sooner settled into their rooms when a murder is discovered, drawing the self-styled amateur detective Lizzie into an unofficial investigation that brings her and her band mates into a world of séances, fortune-telling, secret passages, disembodied voices, ancient animosities, and, for Lizzie, a re-connection with an old heartthrob. In What the Walls Know, author Skye Alexander takes her readers on an exhilarating ride that will keep them turning the pages all the way to the exciting and altogether unexpected climax. This is a great read, filled from beginning to end with accurate historical references, and unforgettable characters." -- Gregory Stout, author of Lost Little Girl and Gideon's Ghost
"The Golden Age of Mystery is alive and well in What the Walls Know, the second of Skye Alexander's clever and charming Lizzie Crane novels. Set in 1925, in the ironically named Halcyon Castle, the author brings together an eclectic group of characters in the tradition of great British mysteries. Bootleg alcohol, illegal drugs, and period-perfect details about that era's craze for all things occult are seamlessly woven into the story. Agatha Christie fans: You've found your next great read." -- Lori Robbins, author of the On Pointe and Master Class mystery series
"A delightful mix of mystery, romance, and the Roaring Twenties set against the background of coastal New England during Prohibition. In actress and singer Lizzie Crane, Alexander has created a refreshing heroine, whose charm and keen understanding of human nature make her an amateur sleuth to watch. Highly recommended." -- Paula Munier, USA Today bestselling author of the Mercy Carr series
"Skye Alexander ... vividly recreates the Roarin' 20s through her depiction of the architecture, fashion, literature, and language. She's also created a smart and sassy heroine in Lizzie Crane with a supporting cast that's the 'bee's knees'." -- Kevin Kleusner, author of The Killer Sermon
"Alexander brings the period to life with a twisting tale of murder and mayhem that will satisfy any fan of historical mystery." -- Edith Maxwell, Agatha-winning author of the Quaker Midwife Mysteries
"Alexander's protagonist, Lizzie Crane, is a ball of fire. You'll love her talent, her courage, and her clothes." -- Kate Flora, award-winning author of A World of Deceit
