Murder Knocks Twice

In a brand new series by Susanna Calkins, the time period is the 1920s in Chicago. In Murder Knocks Twice, Gina Ricci finds herself working as a cigarette girl at a speakeasy. She has replaced a young woman who recently was murdered.

Whenever Gina tries to discover what happened to Dorrie, everyone clams up. It's a world unlike anything Gina knows. Bootleg alcohol served to customers who range from socialites to former servicemen with a hint of gangsters. Big Mike and Signora Castallazzo operate the Third Door and they run a tight ship.

Discouraged by almost everyone from asking questions, Gina thinks the photographer Marty might be able to help her. While talking to him, she discovers he is her late mother's cousin. When sweet Molly O'Brien eloped with Frankie Ricci, her family disowned her so Gina never knew that side of the family. She is excited to get to know him better, but he tells her to be careful and not to ask too many questions.

A few days later when Gina accidentally witnesses Marty being stabbed, she rushes to his side. With his dying breath he tell her to hide his camera and not to trust anyone. She takes the camera and wonders what pictures were on it that might have gotten Marty killed.

To her ultimate shock she discovers she is the heir to Marty's belongings including an apartment and a separate developing studio. This plays right into Gina's desire to learn how to develop film so she can see what incriminating evidence was on the pictures Marty took.

A fascinating look at Prohibition-era Chicago and an intriguing start to what I think will be a continuing series.