1958, San Francisco, crime-fiction, romance, political-corruption, action, whodunit, thriller, lawyers, law-enforcement, investigations, mafia, friendship, historical-mystery, historical-novel, historical-research, historical-places-events, history-and-culture, false-conclusions, falsely-accused, drama, procedural*****

Kay Schiffner is an adventurous lawyer and a devoted jazz enthusiast. Leitisha Boone is a formidable Black club owner who works hard to keep her elegant jazz club afloat against threats of redevelopment and worse until she is accused of murder. Kay joins into that dangerous investigation with SFPD Inspector Thursday Zimpel who is as jaded as any of his rank at that time. The story puts itself clearly in the crosshairs of a particularly disgusting time in history but is well paced and conveys the ugliness of politics as well as the beauty of the area and the abiding good deep within the major characters. We need to remember the past, so we aren't tempted to repeat it.
Very well done and I hope for more to come.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Bronzeville Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

4.5 rounded up
Historical fiction at its finest. Great characters and story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Timeless Elegance: "But Not for Me" Captures 1958 San Francisco in All Its Glory

In "But Not for Me," set against the vibrant backdrop of 1958 San Francisco, readers are treated to a novel that is as rich in historical detail as it is in emotional resonance. This book masterfully transports its audience to a bygone era, enveloping them in the charm and complexity of a city on the cusp of change.

The story unfolds with the elegance of a classic film, capturing the essence of 1950s San Francisco through meticulous descriptions and evocative storytelling. The author’s attention to detail is nothing short of remarkable—every page is a window into the city’s bustling streets, glamorous nightlife, and the palpable sense of optimism that defined the era. From the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the lively cafes of North Beach, the setting is brought to life with such authenticity that readers can almost hear the jazz music and feel the fog rolling in.

The characters in "But Not for Me" are portrayed with a depth that resonates deeply. Each figure is intricately developed, reflecting the nuanced social dynamics and personal struggles of the time. Their interactions and personal growth are portrayed with sensitivity and insight, making their journeys both relatable and profoundly moving. The novel’s exploration of themes such as love, ambition, and self-discovery is handled with a grace that underscores the universal nature of these experiences, even in a specific historical context.

The narrative is enriched by its historical backdrop, but it is the emotional core of the story that truly captivates. The author deftly balances the romance and drama of the era with a contemporary relevance that ensures the story remains engaging for modern readers. The dialogue crackles with period-appropriate wit and charm, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the characters’ interactions.

"But Not for Me" is more than just a historical novel; it’s a celebration of a time and place that continues to capture the imagination. It’s a beautifully crafted work that shines with the warmth and sophistication of its setting. For those who cherish a well-told story that immerses them in a specific time and place, this book is an absolute gem.

This debut novel is so much more than a well paced crime novel with great characters. This historical novel focuses on the gentrification of the Fillmore district in San Francisco in 1958 and explores the racial injustice and misogyny of the era. Full of engaging characters and an action packed whodunit, this one kept me reading late into the night. I didn't want to leave these characters behind. We can only hope this is the beginning of a series. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Bronzeville Books for an advanced reader copy.

A fresh voice in thriller writing, and what a fabulous novel Ms. Davis has created! First of all, the setting: 1950s San Francisco and named after the historic Fillmore music venue, the setting conjures up a brilliant atmosphere of an era long gone by. Secondly, the main characters: an aspirational, resilient young lawyer and a pragmatic, ‘seen-it-all-before’ police inspector. Thirdly, the themes: politics, societal change and the arts all feature shine through the less salubrious societal issues of the times, such as political corruption, misogyny and inequalities. The setting is beautifully evoked, and the storyline brilliantly executed, so I can only hope this novel represents the first in a planned series as I read the last page hoping for more! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for letting me read a copy early, by way of an ARC.

“But Not for Me” is a gripping novel set in 1958 San Francisco amidst the Fillmore District's jazz-filled nights and the Eisenhower era's political undercurrents. Kay Schiffner, a pioneering lawyer by day and a jazz enthusiast by night, navigates a world where her professional and musical passions collide with societal expectations. In the same spirited neighborhood, Leitisha Boone, a formidable Black club owner, fights to keep her elegant jazz club, the Blue Moon, afloat against threats of redevelopment and sexism. The plot thickens when Leitisha is accused of murder, pulling Kay into a dangerous investigation that stretches from city politics to the mafia.

This book brilliantly combines a murder mystery with a poignant commentary on gentrification and the struggles faced by women in male-dominated fields during the 1950s. The author masterfully portrays the era’s racial and political tensions through the lives of two strong, defiant women. “But Not for Me” is more than just a crime story—it’s a vivid exploration of resilience and friendship against the backdrop of one of America’s most turbulent times. It is a must-read for anyone who loves well-crafted historical fiction with a powerful message.

I'll just say it: take my review with a grain of salt.
This book is not for me. Not my preference of genre or story timeline.
The art cover is stunning and the synopsis was fairly appealing to me. But the execution failed to hold my attention.
I struggled with the heavy historical part of the book, but I know it's a *me* thing.
If you actually like historical fiction novels, consider giving this one a chance.

A wonderful (presumably) start to a new series. This book is at times hard to read because it is unflinchingly accurate about how hard it was in the 1950s to be a POC, a woman, LGBTQ+ or basically anyone who wasn't a Christian white male. However, it is a whip sharp mystery/thriller with great characterization and a pleasantly twisty plot. Even the characters who are "good" are fully fleshed out (to the point of being occasionally jerks). I look forward to more about Kay in the future.

Kay Schiffner is a practicing lawyer by day, during a time when women were rarely hired as lawyers, and at night, secretly follows her passion for playing jazz at the Blue Moon in San Francisco’s Fillmore District, a neighborhood where good white women weren’t supposed to go. Leitisha Boone is the Fillmore District’s only Black female club owner, having started her career in her father’s barbecue joint. She’s not about to give up her successful and elegant Blue Moon when threatened by redevelopment and betrayed by men who don’t believe women should run a business, even when threats turn deadly. When Leitisha is arrested for murder, Kay’s search for the truth leads her from city politics to the mafia, Beatnik poets to union graft. As pressure mounts from her boss, the police force, and organized crime, Kay must make an impossible choice—to save her hard-won job as a lawyer or to risk her own life and livelihood to try and save the friend and her club that gave her music. I found it very hard to believe this was a debut novel. This reads like it was written by a well seasoned pro. It captures a little-known time in San Francisco when racism was rampant. Fabulous characters, great location and an incredible mystery. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

This was a gripping thoroughly enjoyable read that raised your hackles at the sense of injustice. Set in 1950's San Francisco in the Fillmore area it tells the story of how big business with the help of backhanders and mafia intimidation destroyed a local community under the guise of cleaning up the streets. Murder, intrigue and racism figure prominently. The lead characters are great, a feisty female lawyer and a hardened homicide inspector. This was well worth reading.

It's in the 1950s. Kay Schiffner was a lawyer. For a woman to be independent was to be frowned upon at that time. Men didn't like women to have career, let alone be prosperous in her own business like Leitisha Boone. Her club, The Blue Moon, where Kay often played jazz, was threatened by redevelopment.

When a prominent black businessman who opposed the redevelopment was murdered, Leitisha was accused and imprisoned. It's up to Kay and Thursday Zimpel, a white Detective Inspector who was concerned with injustice against black people, to reveal the truth and bring justice.

This is a combination of a murder mystery and a poignant tale of racial injustice and prejudices, of women's struggles for freedom and recognition. Add the unique atmosphere and pop culture of the 1950s into it, and you'll be entertained as well as inspired.

This was a fascinating murder mystery centred around two strong female character in a time where racism and sexism were so prominent. I found navigating the battle with race, politics, gender bias and greed both infuriating and empowering. It was a stark reminder of the dark history we have and how far we still need to go.

The main characters were facing a constant uphill battle with push back from family, friends, and employers for simply doing what was right. The characters were likeable and watching Kay finally stick it to the man was enjoyable even though her decisions along the way were questionable.

This was a great reminder that doing the right thing will not always be easy but will be worth it in the end.

Huge thank you to Bronzeville Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this advanced copy.

1958, Kay Shiffner, a lawyer and a jazz pianist, tries to navigate her way through a world that expects women to not do those 2 things and become mothers and housewives instead. The club where Kay plays, The Blue Moon, is being threatened by redevelopment. The club is owned by Leitisha Boonen the only Black female club owner in the neighbourhood.

At some point Letisha is arrested for the murder on her landlord. Kay starts searching for the truth and finds a new vocation. She puts (aspects of her) her own life at stake and is being confronted with different kinds of corrupted people. At the same time she can count on other people, such as Michael Zorn, a fellow lawyer, and Thursday Zimpel, a police inspector, which provides a nice dynamic.

I love how the challenges for women in those days are portrayed in this book: the burden of patriarchical expectations, the remarks, the treatment they get... I just read another ARC about the American feminist movement and everything Muriel Fox explains in there, is reflected very well in this fictional story: doing work as a lawyer, but the credits go to a man because a client may not want it, a black woman being framed for murder because of corruption, the general racism they experienced, the minor everyday issues...

The book also shows how corruption and gentrification work and how people from minorities in the USA were affected by it in the late fifties. It's more than just a crime story and that's what I enjoyed the most.

Thank you Allison A. Davis, Bronzeville books and NetGalley for this ARC!

Love love loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. It had a hold on me and I just needed to keep reading to find out more!
Thank you so much to be able to review this

An absolute cracker, opening up the realisation of some of the real struggles faced by non-whites in the late 1950s. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Kay and Leitisha are two strong women who fight adversity in the job they have chosen and when crime and murder comes into play, they are thrust in the middle of all this mayhem and it’s this conundrum that keeps me reading until the end. The author’s writing style made it easy to follow along and the details of the subject matter was evident by the research that was done as I felt myself walking the paths of the two women in their pursuits. When Leitisha is accused of murder, Kay searches for clues and uncovers the underbelly of organized crime and politics. Her dogged determination as well as working alongside the detective lead to the revelation and identity of the killer. Overall, a good read.

This book is set over four weeks in 1958,
San Francisco was a time of social change and urban redevelopment. It was a time in history filled with music, civil and racial unrest, political intrigue, and organized crime.

What a debut novel!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learning about the controversial redevelopment of the Fillmore District of San Francisco.

The book centres around two formidable protagonists who are determined to have the space to work and create a profitable business: Leitisha Boone, the formidable club owner of the Blue Moon in the Fillmore District, and Kay Schiffer, a tenacious lawyer and jazz pianist on the side.

Leitisha Boone, a business owner, is fighting to keep her club open and opposing redevelopment plans to shut down her business and the communities of Fillmore District forcibly. Kay Schiffner, a lawyer, is a woman on her own in the legal profession who releases her tension and frustration playing jazz on the piano in the clubs.

The story centres around a murder investigation, and Kay helps the investigating detective, Thursday Zimpel, uncover the truth and ensure the perpetrator is brought to justice. The investigation uncovers corruption in the police force, the role of organised crime in corporate redevelopment, and the lengths influential people will go to in gentrification.

Davis crafts an absorbing, well-researched historical thriller with relatable characters and a vivid narrative about racial prejudice and corporate greed. The book is full of energy, from the chapter structure to the music, an essential part of the story, and, of course, the story.

I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical thrillers.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bronzeville Books, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Do not know how the author made a book thats a murder mystery set against the Jazz Era/Harlem Renaissance Era boring, but the did cause despite the interesting premise and the New York jazz era setting, I found this boring. I never end up caring for the characters or the plot and the story being told. Really wished I did like this one

I love a good mystery book, even if 99% of the time, my guess as to who the killer is is so far off the mark. (Watching Midsomer Murders with my dad every time I would make a guess who the killer was, they would be the next victim).

But Not for Me, is the debut novel of Allison A. Davis, a mystery set in San Fransico in 1958. A wealthy Black man has been murdered, and succesful Black businesswoman is being framed. Kay Schiffner and Thursday Zimpel are trying to find the real killer, bust must carefully navigate through politics, organised crime, and a mole to uncover the truth.

Reading this I found myself frustrated at all the roadblocks that were put in Kay's way. Set in 1958, it's a time when most women were expected to be quiet, respectable housewives. Kay however is a practising lawyer, with a love of playing jazz piano, which in the times this book is set just wasn't heard of, however, she knew what she needed to do, and seeing her transform from unwilling participant to vocal support was inspiring.

Thursday Zimpel was an interesting character that I enjoyed reading about. Rather than dismissing Kay outright, he actually valued her work, and what she was doing, and whilst he was exasperated at the danger she put herself in, he knew that trying to disuade her from doing what she felt was right was futile. He had an air about him that made people happy to talk to him, and were able to confide in him when other cops didn't care about doing the work, depending on who the crime affected.

Leitisha Boone was such a strong characetr. Whilst we don't get much information about what had happened whilst she in jail, the kind of things that she was subjected to are briefly mentioned, and honestly they were heartbreaking to read. Along with having to deal with what she did, having a lawyer only after she had already been in jail for a while, who didn't believe that she was innocent, and wasn't doing all they could to help her was so frustrating, but she held herself with such dignity and when she finally got released, and finallly got to tell Saul exactly what she thought it was so good, I nearly cheered.

The characetrs are really the backbone of this story and Davis has written chracters so good that I'm hoping we see more of them soon. The backdrop of San Fransico in 1958 was enjoyable and having it not only be a way of being an issue for the characters, but having them use it to their advantage was so well executed. The only let down for me was at times the story was a bit confusing, (which I'm sure on a re-read will be fixed), and I felt like the mystery got solved a little bit quietly. I love a good plot twist, and I felt as though the characters knew who the killer was the whole time, and there was never a moemnt I was like a-ha! which was a little bit of a disappointment.

All in all its a 3.5 star for me, and I look forward to reading more of Davis' works in the future.

Thanks in advance to NetGalley, Allison A. Davies, and Bronzeville, for the opportunity to read this early copy. All thoughts are my own.

“But Not For Me” is a captivating dive into 1958 San Francisco, blending jazz, politics, and crime against the backdrop of major societal shifts. Mayor George Christopher grapples with organized crime while redevelopment transforms the city, and racial tensions escalate with the murder of a Black real estate magnate. The narrative unfolds through the experiences of Kay Schiffner, a trailblazing lawyer and jazz enthusiast, and Leitisha Boone, the resilient Black female club owner of the Blue Moon in the Fillmore District. In a male-dominated legal profession, Kay finds solace in jazz at the Blue Moon, challenging societal norms. The story explores the dark side of gentrification, shedding light on racial and political struggles during this pivotal time.

Davis crafts a compelling tale with a conversational, easy-to-read style, navigating the complexities of city politics, the mafia, and the Beatnik era. The characters, especially Kay and Leitisha, come to life, providing readers with relatable struggles and triumphs. The precise timeline facilitates a seamless reading experience. The novel delves into the consequences of urban renewal, exposing the harsh realities faced by the characters. The commentary on gentrification and racial issues resonates, offering readers a slice of life centered on those striving to make a living in the jazz scene, hindered by greedy entrepreneurs and racial prejudices. While the narrative succeeds in creating a vivid portrayal of the Fillmore District, some readers may find the link between the title and the story’s substance unclear. Additionally, certain chapters feel lacking in substance and character development, hindering the overall flow of the story. Despite these points, the novel successfully explores the impact of gentrification and racial tensions, shedding light on a dark chapter in American history.

The protagonist, Kay, emerges as a frustrated yet determined individual, grappling with societal expectations and racial prejudices. Her commitment to justice and friendship with Leitisha adds depth to the narrative. The book introduces readers to a unique Detective Inspector, Thursday Zimpel, offering a fresh perspective on racial dynamics within the community. While the novel touches on the complex issues of the time, some readers may feel that Kay’s character could be more developed to evoke greater empathy. The incorporation of jazz elements, though frequent, could have been enhanced by fictionalizing well-known performers, adding an extra layer of enjoyment for jazz enthusiasts. Despite these considerations, “But Not For Me” provides a thought-provoking exploration of historical fiction, jazz, and mystery-thriller genres. The portrayal of societal challenges, coupled with the well-defined characters and engaging narrative, makes it a commendable debut novel. For readers interested in the intersection of history, crime, and jazz, this book offers a compelling journey into a fascinating era.