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Julie Hayes Mysteries #3
Lullaby of Murder
Julie Hayes writes a story on a dance marathon for gossip columnist Tony Alexander and finds herself in the midst of mysterious and dangerous events
213 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1984
About the author
Dorothy Salisbury Davis
57 books16 followersDorothy Salisbury Davis is a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America, and a recipient of lifetime achievement awards from Bouchercon and Malice Domestic. The author of seventeen crime novels, including the Mrs. Norris Mysteries and the Julie Hayes Mysteries; three historical novels; and numerous short stories; she has served as president of the Mystery Writers of America and is a founder of Sisters in Crime.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 25, 2014
Despite the reference to the song “Lullaby of Broadway” in the title Lullaby of Murder, this third novel in Dorothy Salisbury Davis’ Julie Hayes series is peopled not with Broadway stars but with the also-rans: Julie herself, an unsuccessful actress turned assistant on a gossip column, Tony Alexander Says…, which is written by a bitter second-tier old tabloid columnist who feels he doesn’t get his due respect from the theater world; a fired press agent on the downhill slide, a child actress trying to make a comeback, and a bevy of unemployed and unemployable actors.
Julie and her globetrotting New York Times columnist husband, Geoffrey Hayes, who is much more successful and 15 years her senior, are having dinner as he’s preparing to return to Paris. A visibly drunk publicist, Jay Phillips, announces that he’s been fired, and hours later he’s jumped off a bridge.
But Julie suspects that Jay Phillips’ death wasn’t actually a suicide. When her boss Tony Alexander is murdered, she believes there’s a connection. Julie pursues the case, as much to clear Tony’s wife and stepdaughter as in pursuit of justice for a man who was much more flawed than Julie ever knew.
Julie Hayes mysteries are always an amalgam of cozy, noir and the hunger at the heart of every actor, whether ingénue, Broadway superstar, or has-been on the way down and out. But each novel also differs more from each other than the entries usually do in a series (e.g., Agatha ChristieAgatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot novels share a sensibility, as do Elizabeth Peters’s Vicky Bliss novels), enough that you wouldn’t have been surprised if they were by different authors. I’ve already begun the final novel in the series, Habit of Fear, which is so different from the previous three that it reads as if it had been written by Lawrence Block rather than the author of The Judas Cat. If you feel variety is the spice of life, then you should rely on Dorothy Salisbury Davis to be your spice cabinet.
Julie and her globetrotting New York Times columnist husband, Geoffrey Hayes, who is much more successful and 15 years her senior, are having dinner as he’s preparing to return to Paris. A visibly drunk publicist, Jay Phillips, announces that he’s been fired, and hours later he’s jumped off a bridge.
But Julie suspects that Jay Phillips’ death wasn’t actually a suicide. When her boss Tony Alexander is murdered, she believes there’s a connection. Julie pursues the case, as much to clear Tony’s wife and stepdaughter as in pursuit of justice for a man who was much more flawed than Julie ever knew.
Julie Hayes mysteries are always an amalgam of cozy, noir and the hunger at the heart of every actor, whether ingénue, Broadway superstar, or has-been on the way down and out. But each novel also differs more from each other than the entries usually do in a series (e.g., Agatha ChristieAgatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot novels share a sensibility, as do Elizabeth Peters’s Vicky Bliss novels), enough that you wouldn’t have been surprised if they were by different authors. I’ve already begun the final novel in the series, Habit of Fear, which is so different from the previous three that it reads as if it had been written by Lawrence Block rather than the author of The Judas Cat. If you feel variety is the spice of life, then you should rely on Dorothy Salisbury Davis to be your spice cabinet.
November 26, 2023
Where have these novels been?
I've often regarded that some of the best mystery writing is under 300 pages if it is tight and creative. This is one of those mystery novels. I had to keep reminding myself that the story is 40 years old because the writing is timeless.
The protagonist, Julie Richards, is a young woman who has recently taken a job as a newspaper reporter. She gets caught up in the murder investigation of her boss and is exploited by both the police and a mafia don. I've read the first chapter of the next book, Habit of Fear, and will finish that as soon as I conclude this review. Wowser.
I've often regarded that some of the best mystery writing is under 300 pages if it is tight and creative. This is one of those mystery novels. I had to keep reminding myself that the story is 40 years old because the writing is timeless.
The protagonist, Julie Richards, is a young woman who has recently taken a job as a newspaper reporter. She gets caught up in the murder investigation of her boss and is exploited by both the police and a mafia don. I've read the first chapter of the next book, Habit of Fear, and will finish that as soon as I conclude this review. Wowser.
April 25, 2015
The truth - I adore these books for their main character, Julie Hayes, but the plots ... sometimes I wonder if it's because I read these on an e-reader and not in paper form. I find myself getting lost. But the thing is, I don't mind that I stumbled along as Julie Hayes' boss, a egotistical gossip columnist, is murdered, at the same time that a theater agent is murdered, and there are two child actresses to confuse matters and a former tent revival preacher and the mobster Sweets Romano (who has a role in every book) and and and. The details are so much fun, and there is something captivating about Julie Hayes. It's impossible for me to put my finger on it. Perhaps it's simply that I'm such a fan of the weirdness of 1970s fiction - I love the lack of restraint of this time period. Who knows? This series appeals to me. Sometimes it's best just to go with it and enjoy :)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews