The Devil's Jazz

Book Review: The Devil's Jazz: The Haunted Chronicles of the Axman of New Orleans by Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco 📚✨

Rating: 3 Stars

When I picked up The Devil's Jazz, I was drawn in by the promise of a gripping tale steeped in suspense and horror, set against the sultry backdrop of New Orleans. The premise seemed thrilling: a mysterious killer known as the Axman is on the loose in 1918, targeting Sicilian grocers. The tension is palpable as the retired detective Giancarlo Rabito, grappling with his own demons, is pulled back into the fray to uncover the truth behind this shadowy figure. 🎭🔍

To summarize what I gathered from the book, the Axman is not just a cold-blooded killer; he claims to be more than that—almost a supernatural entity. He sends chilling letters to the local newspaper, asserting his identity as a devilish spirit and threatening to spare those who indulge in jazz on his chosen night of terror. With each murder, fear grips the city like a vice, and as the jazz pulses through the air, it feels as if New Orleans itself is held captive by this phantom menace. 🎷👻

However, as I delved deeper into the narrative, I found myself feeling a bit let down. While the initial chapters had me eagerly flipping pages, hoping for a spine-tingling adventure, I eventually realized that the storylines felt somewhat disjointed. The idea of exploring the spirit world for answers was intriguing, particularly given that some survivors suspected the Axman might be more ghost than man. Still, this angle didn’t quite gel with me as much as I had hoped. 😕📖

The pacing varied dramatically throughout the book. Some sections were well-crafted and engaging, while others dragged on or felt rushed. As a reader, I craved more consistency in flow and connection between the storylines. It didn't help that the epilogue revealed that this was a fictionalized take on true events; it left me wanting to know more about the actual historical context rather than just the fictional dramatization. ⏳🌀

In conclusion, The Devil's Jazz has its moments of brilliance and intrigue that showcase the rich and haunted history of New Orleans. Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco certainly paints a vivid picture of a city gripped by fear and superstition. However, for me, it missed the mark on delivering a consistently engaging experience. I'd give it a solid three stars—there's potential here, but it just didn’t hit all the right notes for my taste. If you’re fascinated by tales of historical horror and are willing to wade through some uneven storytelling, it might still be worth your time. 🌆🎶

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

The book was good. The main character was interesting and anything "Detective" like is always a plus in my book. however, I found that sometimes the story deviated from the main character and focus a lot on the surrounding and story of the city and its places of notability, which stretch the books by a lot, perhaps this is what a Historical Fiction book is supposed to be like, and this being my first, is something new to me.

The authors has a gift for transporting the reader to the places he is describing, you can almost smell the city in your mind.

If you are into Historical Fiction this is a good choice to read.