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The Red-Hot Blues Chanteuse
While performing in vaudeville in 1919 San Francisco, ambitious blues chanteuse Viola Vermillion’s piano player and lover Stu Wiley is murdered in the Pantages Theater balcony. With her own gun. To remain out of jail, Viola is forced to uncover Stu’s secret past and figure out which one of his lies got him killed.
Viola’s got secrets of her own, of course. Like the encrypted notebook in her possession, which really belongs to the East Coast munitions tycoon who caused her sister’s death. Then there’s her surprising attraction to her hot new piano player Jimmy Harrigan, who—unknown to Viola—is employed by the munitions tycoon.
As Viola unravels multiple secrets, lies, and suspicions, she still holds tight to her dream of reaching the vaudeville Big Time. But to succeed at anything, first she needs to stay alive . . .
Viola’s got secrets of her own, of course. Like the encrypted notebook in her possession, which really belongs to the East Coast munitions tycoon who caused her sister’s death. Then there’s her surprising attraction to her hot new piano player Jimmy Harrigan, who—unknown to Viola—is employed by the munitions tycoon.
As Viola unravels multiple secrets, lies, and suspicions, she still holds tight to her dream of reaching the vaudeville Big Time. But to succeed at anything, first she needs to stay alive . . .
- GenresMystery
388 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2023
33 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Ana Brazil
12 books51 followersAna Brazil writes historical crime fiction that celebrates bodacious American heroines. Her debut Gilded Age mystery FANNY NEWCOMB AND THE IRISH CHANNEL RIPPER won the IBPA 2018 Gold Medal for Historical Fiction.
Ana’s short story heroines are featured in “Kate Chopin Tussles with a Novel Ending” (FAULT LINES: STORIES BY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CRIME WRITERS), “Miss Evelyn Nesbit Presents” (ME TOO SHORT STORIES: AN ANTHOLOGY), and “Mr. Borden does not quite remem—” Kings River Life). Ana’s current WIP follows the detective adventures of a vaudeville-chanteuse-who-knows-too-much in 1919 San Francisco.
Ana is a founding member of the Paper Lantern Writers Collective of historical fiction writers (www.paperlanternwriters.com). Ana blogs about historical and mystery topics at www.anabrazil.com.
Ana’s short story heroines are featured in “Kate Chopin Tussles with a Novel Ending” (FAULT LINES: STORIES BY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CRIME WRITERS), “Miss Evelyn Nesbit Presents” (ME TOO SHORT STORIES: AN ANTHOLOGY), and “Mr. Borden does not quite remem—” Kings River Life). Ana’s current WIP follows the detective adventures of a vaudeville-chanteuse-who-knows-too-much in 1919 San Francisco.
Ana is a founding member of the Paper Lantern Writers Collective of historical fiction writers (www.paperlanternwriters.com). Ana blogs about historical and mystery topics at www.anabrazil.com.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 14, 2023
I was lucky enough to get an ARC form the author! I don’t typically read many mysteries (mea culpa), but I do find myself fascinated by the very varied history of San Francisco, which is close to where I live. In particular, we have a theater history that has many twists and turns that haven’t been well-explored in literature. So when Ana gifted me with an ARC of her latest mystery, The Red-Hot Blues Chanteuse (A Viola Vermillion Vaudeville Mystery), I was intrigued. And then the first page informed me we were starting with the Pantages Theater (now the Orpheum), I was in love. And I didn’t fall out of love throughout the whole book.
Brazil weaves in the neighborhoods of San Francisco so well with her characters wants and challenges that I forgot I was reading a mystery, until it became irrevocably clear that I was. I mean, we have some laugh-out-loud moments that compete with the secrets that also permeate the book. We’ve got ambition and stamina; we’ve got murder and lust. But above all, we have secrets.
Because while the protagonist, Viola Vermillion may think she’s destined to be a vaudeville star, she’s implicated in the death of her piano-playing lover, murdered with her own gun, and she has the hots for his replacement. And she’s got dangerous baggage of her own.
This is where Brazil’s skill with storytelling shines--she hooks you with the dreams and hopes of Viola Vermillion, the vaudeville star-to-be, and keeps you hanging until you truly understand what Viola is up against and whether she succeeds (and no, I won’t tell you!).
It’s a hell of a read, and I hope we see more from Brazil is this vein.
Brazil weaves in the neighborhoods of San Francisco so well with her characters wants and challenges that I forgot I was reading a mystery, until it became irrevocably clear that I was. I mean, we have some laugh-out-loud moments that compete with the secrets that also permeate the book. We’ve got ambition and stamina; we’ve got murder and lust. But above all, we have secrets.
Because while the protagonist, Viola Vermillion may think she’s destined to be a vaudeville star, she’s implicated in the death of her piano-playing lover, murdered with her own gun, and she has the hots for his replacement. And she’s got dangerous baggage of her own.
This is where Brazil’s skill with storytelling shines--she hooks you with the dreams and hopes of Viola Vermillion, the vaudeville star-to-be, and keeps you hanging until you truly understand what Viola is up against and whether she succeeds (and no, I won’t tell you!).
It’s a hell of a read, and I hope we see more from Brazil is this vein.
April 14, 2024
So this book is a little mystery to me. It came around Christmas time in my partners name. From Amazon he uses my prime account. It came with another book that he ordered. He didn't order this book and it's not a book that I would put into my wishlist so no one bought it from there. It came with no note. Have absolutely no idea why it got sent to us. That being said it was a really great mystery read and I did enjoy the book 100%. I'm hoping that there is another book to finish the story because I will be buying it.
December 2, 2023
The Red-Hot Blues Chanteuse: A Viola Vermillion Vaudeville Mystery provides a rollicking good romp through the early 1900s in San Francisco! The twists and turns were numerous and unpredictable. Viola Vermillion (formerly Viola Clark) is the center of this murder mystery with her fellow vaudevillians providing a load of color and suspicion.
When Viola first hits town with her lover/pianist Stu, she's over the moon having her name on the marquee at the Pantages Theatre. Her enthusiasm is short-lived when she finds her accompanist in the balcony, dead. Suspicion immediately falls on Viola, but she soon realizes, she doesn't know Stu half as well as she thought she did.
Troubles mount exponentially. Stu's mysterious past only seems to get murkier the deeper Viola digs. Soon she's wondering how it all connects to her sister's untimely death, her own bout of the flu, and a red notebook. To compound her troubles, her act is about to be cancelled, i.e. her livelihood, if she doesn't find another pianist FAST. She's a little wary of the good-looking Jimmy Harrington, who uncannily knows how to play most of her songs already. Still, she's out of options and hires him against her better judgement.
Author Ana Brazil captures the time period and location perfectly. Not only does she describe the landmarks of San Francisco with period accuracy, but she give the reader a historically correct perspective of the USA in the post-WWI era. The country, reeling from both the war and the Spanish flu pandemic, gives rise to vaudeville and a lust for entertainment that weary citizens desperately need.
Whether you enjoy a first-class mystery or a story with an historical perspective that explores the plight of employees who have no clout, either in the theatre realm or in the labor force, you'll thrive on this book. Crooked munitions tycoon Thaddeus T. Rutherford plays a fierce villain with more hateful characteristics than most. It's no wonder Jimmy keeps his connection to Rutherford under wraps as long as possible.
I was delighted to reach the end of this book and find that there would be more mysteries for Viola and Jimmy to solve. The unrequited sexual tension between the two was undeniable. . . but how long could it be denied? Well-placed inconveniences and interruptions kept this reader guessing and ready for the next book in the saga. Well done!
When Viola first hits town with her lover/pianist Stu, she's over the moon having her name on the marquee at the Pantages Theatre. Her enthusiasm is short-lived when she finds her accompanist in the balcony, dead. Suspicion immediately falls on Viola, but she soon realizes, she doesn't know Stu half as well as she thought she did.
Troubles mount exponentially. Stu's mysterious past only seems to get murkier the deeper Viola digs. Soon she's wondering how it all connects to her sister's untimely death, her own bout of the flu, and a red notebook. To compound her troubles, her act is about to be cancelled, i.e. her livelihood, if she doesn't find another pianist FAST. She's a little wary of the good-looking Jimmy Harrington, who uncannily knows how to play most of her songs already. Still, she's out of options and hires him against her better judgement.
Author Ana Brazil captures the time period and location perfectly. Not only does she describe the landmarks of San Francisco with period accuracy, but she give the reader a historically correct perspective of the USA in the post-WWI era. The country, reeling from both the war and the Spanish flu pandemic, gives rise to vaudeville and a lust for entertainment that weary citizens desperately need.
Whether you enjoy a first-class mystery or a story with an historical perspective that explores the plight of employees who have no clout, either in the theatre realm or in the labor force, you'll thrive on this book. Crooked munitions tycoon Thaddeus T. Rutherford plays a fierce villain with more hateful characteristics than most. It's no wonder Jimmy keeps his connection to Rutherford under wraps as long as possible.
I was delighted to reach the end of this book and find that there would be more mysteries for Viola and Jimmy to solve. The unrequited sexual tension between the two was undeniable. . . but how long could it be denied? Well-placed inconveniences and interruptions kept this reader guessing and ready for the next book in the saga. Well done!
October 27, 2023
Ana Brazil's delightful new historical mystery introduced me to the fascinating world of vaudeville in 1919. Viola Vermillion is the sweet, sexy young songstress in a traveling troupe of 14 acts playing the Pantages Theatre in San Francisco. Viola is ambitious, determined to move her act to a higher spot in the troupe's hierarchy and order of performance, but is shattered to find Stu, her beau, accompanist, and songwriter, fatally shot with her own gun in the balcony of the theatre. She is somehow able to find a new piano player quickly, but is Jimmy really who he claims to be? Or does he have an ulterior motive for his relationship with Viola? And how does a munitions tycoon figure in Viola's history and her plans to unveil his secrets before he can stop her in her tracks?
I especially enjoyed the diverse cast of characters in this book, including Viola's fellow entertainers-everything from dog trainers and ballroom dancers to an accordion player and the headliner, a female impersonator--along with the peeks behind the curtains in the vaudeville world. I admired the way Viola's story revealed itself gradually throughout the first half of the book, making the plot more suspenseful and interesting. I also liked the varying points of view--Viola's first-person narration in alternating chapters, and the omniscient POV of the others. The author has an engaging writing style and moves the action along handily, skillfully maintaining the reader's interest. I found it a delightful story and one that can easily be continued into a series, based on some unfinished business at the end of the book.
I especially enjoyed the diverse cast of characters in this book, including Viola's fellow entertainers-everything from dog trainers and ballroom dancers to an accordion player and the headliner, a female impersonator--along with the peeks behind the curtains in the vaudeville world. I admired the way Viola's story revealed itself gradually throughout the first half of the book, making the plot more suspenseful and interesting. I also liked the varying points of view--Viola's first-person narration in alternating chapters, and the omniscient POV of the others. The author has an engaging writing style and moves the action along handily, skillfully maintaining the reader's interest. I found it a delightful story and one that can easily be continued into a series, based on some unfinished business at the end of the book.
October 25, 2023
I was lucky enough to read an advance copy of Ana Brazil’s latest mystery The Red-Hot Blues Chanteuse. The characters are a hoot, the plot is percussive and the depiction of theater life in 1919 San Francisco brings down the house. This is a jazzy launch to what’s sure to be a killer series.
Viola Vermillion’s breathless baby-doll way of speaking belies her steely interior. Despite her shimmering costumes, she’s a gun-wielding tough cookie who’s more than up to the zany challenges that Brazil throws her way.
Viola is a singer hoping to make it big on the vaudeville stage which means the book sings with music from the era. An historian by training, Brazil has done a masterful job incorporating the lyrics into the story. Also a musician, she has an ear for capturing the nuances of vocal performances. I was captivated by Viola’s stage presence.
The other acts are both villainous and entertaining—acrobatic poodles, anyone? And the love interests—both old and new—are fleshed out in believable, appealing ways. For anyone interested in theater history, Brazil has captured all the excitement of San Francisco’s vaudeville scene on the cusp of the Roaring ‘20s. The Red-Hot Blues Chanteuse is the bees-knees and how!
Viola Vermillion’s breathless baby-doll way of speaking belies her steely interior. Despite her shimmering costumes, she’s a gun-wielding tough cookie who’s more than up to the zany challenges that Brazil throws her way.
Viola is a singer hoping to make it big on the vaudeville stage which means the book sings with music from the era. An historian by training, Brazil has done a masterful job incorporating the lyrics into the story. Also a musician, she has an ear for capturing the nuances of vocal performances. I was captivated by Viola’s stage presence.
The other acts are both villainous and entertaining—acrobatic poodles, anyone? And the love interests—both old and new—are fleshed out in believable, appealing ways. For anyone interested in theater history, Brazil has captured all the excitement of San Francisco’s vaudeville scene on the cusp of the Roaring ‘20s. The Red-Hot Blues Chanteuse is the bees-knees and how!
August 29, 2023
The title of The Red-Hot Blues Chanteuse perfectly sets the reader up for its sizzling, fast-paced story. The chanteuse is Viola Vermillion, and she is determined to make it big in vaudeville. There are various mysteries and secrets that propel the story forward, including the murder of her lover, Stu, her songwriter and pianist, the blossoming feelings she has for Jimmy, who thinks she is the woman he has been hired to find, and an encoded red notebook, which Viola thinks has the information to destroy the munitions manufacturer, who Viola believes is responsible for her sister’s death.
The unraveling of all of these knots makes for an intriguing plot, but Brazil adds so much more. We are immersed in the world of vaudeville in 1919, with its grueling schedule, fierce competition, and variety acts. The effects of the recent end of the war and of the Spanish influenza epidemic is never far from the surface, and has repercussions for the characters and everyone around them. I sped through this book as I have few others, because I just couldn’t wait to see how Viola would finally uncover the truth, and what she would do about it.
The unraveling of all of these knots makes for an intriguing plot, but Brazil adds so much more. We are immersed in the world of vaudeville in 1919, with its grueling schedule, fierce competition, and variety acts. The effects of the recent end of the war and of the Spanish influenza epidemic is never far from the surface, and has repercussions for the characters and everyone around them. I sped through this book as I have few others, because I just couldn’t wait to see how Viola would finally uncover the truth, and what she would do about it.
October 28, 2023
Viola Vermillion immediately transports us to the thrill of seeing her name on the Pantages Theatre marquee in 1919 San Francisco. She will be a star; she is talented and driven by ambition and revenge.
I loved the full immersion I got (with the help of you tube) to hear the music, feel the vaudeville experience, smell the backstage and share the exhilaration of performing on the stage. A bit like Gypsy Rose Lee and Yankee Doodle Dandy, but with murder, deceit, betrayal, and vengeance. The characters are interesting and well developed, propelling the story.
Post World War 1 San Francisco is brought to life from the backstage, the busy streets with cable cars and taxis, Alcatraz to Alameda Island. Author Brazil shows her writing prowess as well as her historian’s and musical background in this red-hot story, with plot upon plot, unfolding in tantalizing bits in this page-turner that kept me up late to finish.
More of this, please, Author Brazil!
I loved the full immersion I got (with the help of you tube) to hear the music, feel the vaudeville experience, smell the backstage and share the exhilaration of performing on the stage. A bit like Gypsy Rose Lee and Yankee Doodle Dandy, but with murder, deceit, betrayal, and vengeance. The characters are interesting and well developed, propelling the story.
Post World War 1 San Francisco is brought to life from the backstage, the busy streets with cable cars and taxis, Alcatraz to Alameda Island. Author Brazil shows her writing prowess as well as her historian’s and musical background in this red-hot story, with plot upon plot, unfolding in tantalizing bits in this page-turner that kept me up late to finish.
More of this, please, Author Brazil!
September 5, 2023
I was privileged to read an ARC copy of this fabulous mystery. I have never read a book set in the Vaudeville era, which has always felt like a special, unique time in American history. I loved getting an inside view of the workings of these variety shows, the competition, and the jockeying for position. I had a hard time putting this book down.
Viola Vermillion is on the rise when her pianist and lover is murdered. She discovers he has many secrets, leaving her with a lot of questions. But then Viola has many secrets of her own that are slowly revealed in this first mystery in the series. There is something about show business that really spices up a mystery and heightens the stakes. I highly recommend this book to historical mystery lovers. I can't wait to find out what else awaits Viola.
Viola Vermillion is on the rise when her pianist and lover is murdered. She discovers he has many secrets, leaving her with a lot of questions. But then Viola has many secrets of her own that are slowly revealed in this first mystery in the series. There is something about show business that really spices up a mystery and heightens the stakes. I highly recommend this book to historical mystery lovers. I can't wait to find out what else awaits Viola.
November 30, 2023
This book is as dynamic and sassy as the chanteuse herself.
Author Ana Brazil expertly weaves and intertwines two Jazz Age mysteries together in this fun Vaudeville novel. The voice of the era is audible on every page.
Viola, the investigator and main character, dreams of making it big in Vaudeville when her pianist and lover is shot dead in the very theatre they perform in. Viola and her new pianist must find the culprit before a shadowy millionaire from Viola's past brings the curtain down on them both.
If you enjoy historical mysteries with bold and brassy heroines, you'll find this one is the cat's pajamas!
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Author Ana Brazil expertly weaves and intertwines two Jazz Age mysteries together in this fun Vaudeville novel. The voice of the era is audible on every page.
Viola, the investigator and main character, dreams of making it big in Vaudeville when her pianist and lover is shot dead in the very theatre they perform in. Viola and her new pianist must find the culprit before a shadowy millionaire from Viola's past brings the curtain down on them both.
If you enjoy historical mysteries with bold and brassy heroines, you'll find this one is the cat's pajamas!
Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2023
Viola is heading for the top - or so she thinks. Vaudeville is a fiercely competitive business, and she needs all the breaks she can get - losing her lover, songwriter, and piano player wasn't in the plan. When Stu is murdered, she's out of luck - or is she? A new piano player shows up, but she's suspected of Stu's murder - and the chase is on.
Ana Brazil provides a delightful murder mystery with twists and turns to rival any roller coaster. Clues abound, along with villains, but who really killed Stu? And what about the red notebook that threatens a tycoon who killed Viola's sister? You'll be guessing to the end.
Ana Brazil provides a delightful murder mystery with twists and turns to rival any roller coaster. Clues abound, along with villains, but who really killed Stu? And what about the red notebook that threatens a tycoon who killed Viola's sister? You'll be guessing to the end.
October 18, 2023
From the time Viola looks up to see her name on the marquee, you will be enthralled with this character. She is feisty, determined, and loyal, forging forward despite disappointments. This novel is full of historical details that are meticulously researched and woven into a wonderful tale. I live near San Francisco and loved the depiction of places I know well. This mystery is well developed, with plenty of twists and turns that make it compelling right to the very end. I can hardly wait for book two, when it looks like Viola Vermillion will take on Ana Brazil's beloved New Orleans!
December 7, 2023
sweet, sultry web of lies
This book is the perfect antidote to today’s world. Just after WW1 and the Spanish Flu epidemic, Viola Vermillion is taking vaudeville by storm with her shimmying hips and huge voice. But she’s got a secret agenda, a revenge plot simmering behind her sequined bodice.
Guns, lovers, professional jealousies, a bounty hunter, and lies, lies, lies, weave a delicious spell, just right for a read on a rainy winter’s night.
This book is the perfect antidote to today’s world. Just after WW1 and the Spanish Flu epidemic, Viola Vermillion is taking vaudeville by storm with her shimmying hips and huge voice. But she’s got a secret agenda, a revenge plot simmering behind her sequined bodice.
Guns, lovers, professional jealousies, a bounty hunter, and lies, lies, lies, weave a delicious spell, just right for a read on a rainy winter’s night.
July 3, 2024
I chose this book as my vacation read, and I'm glad I did. Whenever I picked it up, time flew by. It's been a while since I enjoyed a mystery this much. Viola, a vaudeville singer, is a great character and her world is fascinating. I loved the side characters and the intrigue. The tension never lets up. The touch of romance, that I don't always like in mysteries, was just the right measure. Looking forward to the next book!
March 4, 2024
Great historical mystery!
I really enjoyed this book. The plot moved along at a good pace and the storyline was entertaining. I also really enjoyed learning about the Vaudeville scene, which I didn't know much about, and felt immersed in the time period. A great read for anyone who enjoys historical mysteries!
I really enjoyed this book. The plot moved along at a good pace and the storyline was entertaining. I also really enjoyed learning about the Vaudeville scene, which I didn't know much about, and felt immersed in the time period. A great read for anyone who enjoys historical mysteries!
April 6, 2024
Fascinating journey through the vaudeville experience in San Francisco.
Great read following the adventures of Viola, and her part in the theatres of the day, never mind the thread running through the story, and the red book … I shall be following the further story with Viola.
Great read following the adventures of Viola, and her part in the theatres of the day, never mind the thread running through the story, and the red book … I shall be following the further story with Viola.
June 8, 2024
Red Hot Blues Chanteuse
Author has a nice writing style and inside facts that kept me interested. However, from the middle of the book to the end, there is no resolutions. Who is the main character? I don’t want to read another book that drags me into a third.
Author has a nice writing style and inside facts that kept me interested. However, from the middle of the book to the end, there is no resolutions. Who is the main character? I don’t want to read another book that drags me into a third.
March 5, 2024
With more plot twists than a vaudeville show has acts, Red-Hot Blues Chanteuse is a delightful romp through 1920s San Francisco. Happy to know the curtain will not close on Viola Vermillion and look forward her further adventures!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews