The Axeman's Jazz [Paperback]

Julie Smith (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: St Martins Pr (1991)
• ASIN: B000OSYZVI
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Author of the Skip Langdon and Talba Wallis mystery series; Edgar-winner; New Orleans resident.

Also founder of www.booksBnimble.com, an electronic publishing start-up, and author of the YA paranormal adventure, CURSEBUSTERS!

Latest adventure:
I've reworked my writing class as an ebook called WRITING YOUR WAY (http://amzn.to/o6XN3T), with special emphasis on first chapters and marketing. You can see The Prose Nazi video below for an idea of my approach--i.e. flexible; designed to find YOUR best writing method, not force mine on you. We also have outtakes for your amusement. The third video, which I'll call GTFA, is a trailer for a fun parody book booksBnimble couldn't resist doing one rainy afternoon. Check out my websites, www.cursebustersbook.com, www.booksBnimble,com (where I also blog) and www.casamysterioso.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Skip takes on the 12 step programs, October 3, 2001

By 

Carol Peterson Hennekens (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Axeman's Jazz: A Skip Langdon Novel (Skip Langdon Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

The debut novel in the Skip Langdon series, New Orleans Mourning, won the Edgar Award. That's a hard act to follow and Smith sure tries. Many of the good parts of the first book are still present -- Skip's wonderful observations of Southern manners first among them. Got a killer holding a hostage outside? The Police are meeting at your house for a strategy session. Of course you serve coffee and cookies -- Cream anyone?

Unfortunately, the Edgar also seems to have given Smith the clout to ignore her editors and this book is easily 25% longer than necessary. The fact that the killer must be among the 12 step crowd (Codependents Anonymous) and in the six assigned to Skip is determined early. We then go through endless pages without moving the mystery forward.

Bottom-line: Still a nice sense of New Orleans but slow pacing make this an optional read. Reading of New Orleans Mourning helpful but not required.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good mystery and New Orleans - it doesn't get any better., March 23, 1998

By 

An Amazon User (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Axeman's Jazz: A Skip Langdon Novel (Skip Langdon Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you've ever lived in New Orleans you'll recognize the quirky characters. If you're like me and you MISS living in New Orleans, Axeman's Jazz, and Julie Smith's other Skip Langdon stories will transport you back there - as well as entertain you.

5.0 out of 5 stars 12 Step Programs Featured in Great Mystery, March 23, 2011

By 

Sally Jacobsen - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Axeman's Jazz (Skip Langdon Novels) (Hardcover)

I always enjoy this series of Louisiana mysteries starring failed belle Skip Langdon, but I had to buy this one for my daughter because of the great portrayal, only sometimes satirical, of 12-step programs (especially ones addressing co-dependency).