The story starts out slow, and there were quite a few characters; so, it was a bit difficult to follow at times. About halfway through the story, it does pick up and the mystery more interesting.

The ending was both out of left field, but still predictable. Al a Agatha Christye-esque.

Overall, my final rating is 3.75. Mostly due to the lack of character development and no character that I was every really rooting for.

I received an advance copy of the book and am voluntarily leaving this review.

I couldn't get through this title. It ended up not being for me, but I hope it finds a hope with other readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A fun murder mystery set during a fun time period. This was an easy, quick read and I was invested in figuring out what was going on. I enjoyed it and would read more of these characters.

The Jade Tiger was a great trip back to the early days of pre-Depression New York. Penelope Harris is quite the dame and her love interest Thom, the ex-cop makes the storyline pop. The speakeasy atmosphere, thick with smoke and the stench of booze is so descriptive that it's hard not to imagine the heady rush of bathtub gin. Seeing New York during this time is a real gift and watching Penelope and Thom navigate the "who dun it" is well worth the read.

2.5/5 stars
It was ok I guess. Kind of boring and predictable for me and quite forgettable. It was written well, though. There were quite a few characters and it was difficult to keep track of them at times, but they were still decently fleshed out. Honestly wouldn't read this again and don't have much of an interest in the author's other writing. I probably wouldn't recommend it, not because it's bad but just because it's so boring. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Prohibition, high society, yellow journalism, and speakeasies are the stuff of which THE JADE TIGER is made. It was a time of gangsters and thugs… the ones in wearing 'boiled suits' and drinking from 'champagne coupes,' and those wearing their criminality like a badge of honor.

I have been reading murder mysteries for a very long time. I remember when colorful language was made more so by its lack. Writers could convey the sentiment of a few choice, four-letter words without ever using any. THE JADE TIGER harkens back to these 'clean' but not so clean tales of murder and mayhem.

Although set in New York City, in 1928, the setting vacillates between New York and Shanghai. There is a danger implied when a place is inhabited by ex-pats converging on a den of iniquity. The atmosphere is rife with possibilities for blackmail and police corruption. In fact, the 20s were alive with double-dealing police in cities both Oriental and Occidental.

This is the first book in a series that introduces us to its heroine, Penelope Harris, a woman who seems far removed from sleuthing. And, to our hero, Thom Lund. The two met in Shanghai under less than idyllic conditions and resume their friendship in New York City. The social scene of the roaring 20s is a perfect setting for the glitter and glamour of the elite, as well as the dark underbelly of bootleggers and gangsters. When the two elements meet, there is bound to be trouble.

Be sure to read the Historical Notes at the end. I always find that books built around music have a special place in my heart. Although I am not a particular fan of opera, Cooper's description of its place in 1920s entertainment, likening it to pop music today, added to my knowledge of the art form and to my overall appreciation of music.

Would I read the next book in the series? You bet I would!

This is book 1 of the Penelope Harris Mystery Series. In New York in 1928, Penelope Harris is trying to start her life over. However, her troubles are awaiting her when she arrives. When her blackmailer is murdered, and someone close to her is suspected, can she help him, or will she lose him forever?

Set in 1928 New York, this was a great mystery. I love the characters and the setting. The plot was great. Kept you moving along with it. I really rooted for Penelope! I highly recommend this book!

It's the 1920s, and ready to face the good, the bad, and the ugly of New York, Penelope thinks she has done all that it takes to let go of her past behind and start afresh, but fate has different plans. Finding herself in the midst of a homicide, she is left with almost no time or choice to track and find the murderer. This was a brilliant mystery, set in very engaging tones. Penelope's characterization, with all her inner turmoils, is superbly done. The pace is gripping and the narration, lovely. My thanks to Cooper, and the publishers, Ink Dog Press and AuthorBuzz, for gifting me with a copy of this book.

Short and sassy, just like the dresses of the era. This was a fun read that held my attention to the very last word.

I enjoyed the twists and turn of this book. The Jade Tiger is a story of the dark edges of society — jealousy, murder and crime — as well as the best parts of society — love, friendship and entertainment. I enjoyed Penelope and Thom and their love story. I hope they get a better chance for happiness. The mystery was good and the villains were despicable. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

I felt in the dark from the outset of the book. There are multiple backstories referred to throughout, with tidbits of information dropped here and there regarding the main characters. And while it is all revealed in the end, it was quite distracting. Why did Penelope turn away from here career in opera? How did she and her entire family end up in Shanghai? It was as if this were the second, not the first,

That being said, I still enjoyed the characters and the complex relationships. The author also did very well in giving the reader a good sense of the era—Prohibition, speakeasies, gangsters, etc., and weaving it all into what was really quite a complex mystery.
.
I do hope that there will be more in this series in the future.

Source - Review copy (Dog Press via NetGalley

<i>*I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*</i>

3.5 stars

Penelope Harris, opera singer and former casino owner, has come back to NYC to escape the questions being asked following the murder of her husband in Shanghai in this quick historical mystery.

I thought this was entertaining and well paced. I liked the almost dual-mystery aspect as we are trying to figure out what exactly happened to Penelope's husband before the story's start, as well as solve the murder of Penelope's blackmailer/rival in the present day. Personally, I was more invested in the husband's murder as I figured out the "present day" case fairly quickly.

I thought the characters were over the top, but in a way that fit well with the story. Initially, when I realized the cast was all white, I was a little hesitant to continue as a large portion of the story relates to the characters' time spent in China; however, I think the author did a good job conveying the Western worldview of "the Orient" in the 1920s as an "exotic" place where they can pretty much do what they want with no consequences.

The story had a <i>Gatsby</i>/Roaring Twenties/soap opera vibe crossed with the plot of a fast-moving 1940s noir pocket mystery, and overall I was quite entertained.

The first Penelope Harris Mystery is a delightful throwback in time to the Forbidden Hollywood pre-code era movies of the late 20s early 30s America when inhibitions were easily thrown to the wind and bad behaviors were genderless. A delicious Prohibition Era merry-go-round redolent with the scents of unbridled sexual passion, financial greed, venomous jealousies and murderous grudges, a compelling whodunit blessed with a cast of unforgettable characters and mouthwatering dialogues. Don't expect me to spill the beans and talk about the plot because you guys need to hurry and get onboard this sleek and utterly compelling fictional journey full of gutsy and sexy dames, brainless thugs, double crossing chippies and slicked-back hair and tuxedo wearing bucks. An action packed and thrilling ride reminiscent of the best Mae West, George Raft and Barbara Stanwyck performances just to name a few......A fabulous new series that should be enjoyed without any moderation!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Ink Dog for the ARC.

This book was so fun! I love the premise of a historical mystery. I appreciated Penelope’s strong female presence and I was absolutely surprised by the ending! This was definitely very reminiscent of Agatha Christie and I’m looking forward to more!

4 stars

Greed, revenge, & scandal all collide against the backdrop of jazz age NYC, with many of the story’s players running from sordid expat lives in Shanghai. This murder mystery was fun, despite having its share of tragedy & despair bubbling close to the surface. It packs quite a punch for 200 pages.

[What I liked:]

•There are some great scenes, with such heightened drama that never becomes melodramatic (like the opera scene, & the warehouse scene). The prose is simple where it needs to be, but has flourishes of humor & vivid descriptions along the way.

•Thom is a great MC. I felt for him, then wondered about him, but was always intrigued by him. James & Charles & Gott & Penny’s mum were also great side characters, keeping things spicy & funny.

•Wow, the story packed so much emotion & doubt & suspense & deep dark secrets into one book—but fortunately I never felt derailed or lost by the plot. Things all fit together.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Something about the police detectives’ role felt awkward. Halfway through they suddenly show up, nearly becoming MC’s themselves, with lots of backstory & drama & narration from their POVs’. I think it would have felt more balanced if they either showed up sooner, or weren’t quite so prominent in the later parts.

•Renee’s character felt a bit flat. I get it, she’s evil, but that’s all we really see of her. Pretty one dimensional.

CW: murder, domestic violence, police brutality

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

I loved this book! The Jade Tiger is a gripping mystery - not just because of the murder that takes place in New York City during the story, there is also so much mystery surrounding several key players connected past in Singapore. Penelope Harris and Thom Lund are such interesting characters with many layers to be explored, both individually and as a couple. The plot is very well done! Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read #TheJadeTiger.

This was a little like reading a book that was written to become an episode in a television series, At the opening, I felt I had been dropped into the middle of the story, with questions about all the references to Shanghai and what had happened there. Penelope, the main character, has an entire story of singing, gambling club ownership, a bad marriage, and a love affair that are referred to throughout the book, but in bits and pieces that don't really provide a clear enough picture to feel like this book should be read without having first read a book leading up to this one. Unfortunately, there isn't one, so the sense of having joined the story late never really recedes.

There are some interesting characters, particularly the former detective sergeant who is now a patrolman. I would have liked to read more with him as the focus, and with some respect for him. The corruption of the police was an unpleasant note, for me. I also liked Eleanor, Penelope's mother, and would like to read more with her dispensing wisdom and calm.

The premise of bad relationships between Penelope and the victim, Renee, almost went over the line of fiction into caricature writing. It was slightly difficult to completely buy into the book's main premise. The basic plot was a good one; but I would have liked it better if it hadn't worked so hard to look like a hard boiled novel filled with all the negatives of the prohibition era, i.e. speakeasies, corrupt police, glittering wealthy vs. poverty others, etc. My thanks to Ink Dog Press and NetGalley for providing me with a electronic copy for review.

A quick who-done-it with many characters. The Jade Tiger is the first in the Penelope Harris Mysteries. The story begins in high society New York City in 1928 after recently relocating from Shanghai Penelope is trying to start her life over. But, can she, after her worthless husband is murdered and her father’s death? No spoilers here.

Thank you #NetGalley, #InkDogPress and #E.W.Cooper for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

It took me a bit to get "into" this book, but I found the story to be engaging. I liked the characters and it gave me a little more insight into a culture I'm not that familiar with. Thank you for the chance to read it.