“BUT NOT FOR ME”

by Allison A. Davis (2024)

Reviewed by Anirood Singh for NetGalley

Scheduled to be published September 17, 2024, by Bronzeville Books, California, U.S.A.
eBook ISBN: 978-1-952427-62-6; pages: 358

“Urban renewal is negro removal.”

Debut author, Allison A. Davis’s, Adult Historical Fiction: Mystery & Thrillers genre novel, “But Not For Me” is bookended by August 1 and August 29, 1958. She covers this four-week period in 358 pages divided into 77 chapters averaging 4.5 pages each. The title derives from that of the song, “But Not For Me”, originally composed in 1930 by brothers George and Ira Gershwin for the musical, “Girl Crazy”. The story is set in the Fillmore District in San Francisco’s Bay area. The tale unfolds through the eyes of Kay Shiffner, a smart white female piano-playing whiskey-drinking lawyer, somewhat unique for that paternalistic and racially divided time. The focus is on the physical yet also metaphorical Blue Moon bar, and specifically the trials and tribulations of its black owner, Leitisha Boone.

The novel’s dedication provides insight into its premise and objective:

“To Leola King, Queen of the Fillmore, and all the men and women who breathed life into the Harlem of the West.”

Fillmore District’s label derives from it emulating New York City’s black jazz musical locale. The story, then, is a slice of life centered on a few characters earning a living in the jazz entertainment and allied industries, but being thwarted by greedy entrepreneurs using racial laws to bulldoze black residents out of a small area. Conspiracies, dirty tricks, and murder provide the drama to an intriguing story. Davis writes in a conversational, easy-to-read style, facilitated by professional editing. The story has a precise timeline, making it easy to follow. The limited number of characters appear true to life and readers can identify with them and their plight. The foundation and framework of the drama in “But Not For Me” is summed up by her bartender, Walter, who remarks, “Urban renewal is negro removal.”

The protagonist, who learned to play the piano before she could run, is a frustrated lawyer in a male dominated profession and society. She finds solace in the Blue Moon where the music and comradery for most blacks is a temporary respite from racial hatred and the struggle for survival.
Starting with the murder of the owner of the property and attempts by the police to close down the establishment, Kay resolves to help Leitisha. An ally is Thursday Zimpel, a white Detective Inspector, unique in a racially repressive community. Through hard work and determination they are able to free Leitisha on a charge of murder, a battle won in a war that rages on.


Being a “non-white” (an official classification by the government of South Africa of persons of color during its race-based segregation policy, 1948-1994) who witnessed mass removals under the label of slum clearance, I was naturally and immediately drawn to “But Not For Me”. Such background enables me to respectfully highlight some perceived but limited shortcomings of the novel, in the belief that my views could be used to improve it.

The conversational but serious, visual, dramatic opening in undertones sets up the story well. This, alongside the guise of “redevelopment” and the devious means to achieve it promises to provide the drama and intrigue necessary for a mystery-thriller genre. However, some disappointment set in as I read further. I could not find the link between the title and the substance of the story. Some of the chapters, all being short, have little substance and do not advance the story nor reveal character. The realistic, intriguing murder scene and introduction to what seems like one honest cop in a city plagued by organized crime is not carried through realistically, given the frequent mention of “LCN”, La Cosa Nostra, the Mafia. With respect, Kay’s character is not well developed and did not evoke empathy from me, unlike Zimpel, who I could readily identify with. Frequent name-dropping, of songs and artistes does not help – “But Not For Me” could have been more enjoyable if known jazz performers were turned into fictionalized characters appearing at venues in the district. The closing of some chapters with a “black limousine’ moving in or out is unconvincing. The unholy alliance established by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (“ABC”), the police, rich real estate developers, and the LCN has not been exploited sufficiently to heighten and sustain the intrigue and suspense in a crime thriller.

A smile followed by King’s familiar greeting, “Oh! How ya doin’, sugar?” at her small Blue Mirror Cocktail Lounge at 935 Fillmore strongly contrasts with the entrapment scene in Chapter 15. This incident actually happened, but has not been acknowledged by the author. I believe that had “But Not For Me” been a fictionalized biopic of Leola King and some jazz artistes, against a backdrop of race-based removals, the story and characters would have been more intriguing and engrossing, while also being realistic. She could have been the vehicle for a fictionalized tale based on her multiple tragic encounters until she left Fillmore and passed on at age 96. This would have been a fitting tribute to a hero. If, for example, the writer was guided by selected scenes from movies with the theme of jazz, such as “Stormy Monday”, “Cotton Club Encore”, and “I Call Him Morgan”, fused with police corruption movies like “Chinatown” and “L.A. Confidential”, I respectfully submit that Davis would have a bestseller. Jazz and its accompaniment, such as lifestyle, culture, fashion, cuisine, and language were successful American exports globally. A visual writing style, such as in a screenplay, could result in a series of crime-thriller novels and possibly also a movie with prequel and sequels a mini television drama series.

Notwithstanding some limited shortcomings, I have no hesitation in awarding “But Not For Me” 5 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to historical fiction, jazz, and mystery-thriller aficionados.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

This was a beautiful story set in 1950s San Francisco. Two women facing different struggles in this time.

The plot was very intricate and explored both female protagonists very well. It explored a lot of heavy but important topics like race, and how women are treated.

Stunning debut novel.

I keep talking about this book! I love a great mystery, and I really love reading about one of my favorite cities: San Francisco.

One of the most brilliant moves Allison A. Davis makes is to weave the rich history of music, baseball, and poetry into the historical fiction novel. Johnny Mathis, Willie Mays and the San Francisco Giants, and City Lights Booksellers! Brilliant.

Set in the late 50's, the history of the gentrification of Fillmore District was very interesting. Brought to life by characters of the time, this crime story brought forward race relations, women's rights, and the use of power to destroy.

I am astounded that this is a debut novel! It's an era and a location that I only had a vague knowledge of, but after reading this book, I have developed a fascination with the localised social changes of the era and it is certainly a subject for further research

The year is 1958, the place San Francisco. In a time where women were fighting to be recognised in the workplace, let alone to have careers, Kay Schiffner is a Lawyer who has a passion for Jazz and moonlights in the SF Fillmore District, not a place where an unmarried white woman was rarely seen. The owner of the club is our other protagonist, Leitisha Boone, a female business owne r who is also fighting to retain her business against bigotry and bias against independant women in the 50s, amidst the civil rights movement in the US

San Francisco was going through a period of gentrification, where the poorest areas were being taken over and redeveloped by the affluent minority, who have no qualms at all about how they get what they want, even framing someone for murder. The story follows Kay fighting for justince for Leitisha, through the darkest underbelly of politics, wealth and corrupt police, risking her job and her life

This book is absolutely outstanding. As a debut, it is perfection. The plot is elegant and balances well between the two protagonists, the personalities are well defined and the narrative is descriptive and well researched. I really, really enjoyed this gritty yet elegant masterpiece

Thank you to Netgalley, Bronzeville Books, and Allison A Davis for this impressive and immersive ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own