Starting in 2010 with And All That Murder, Joan Merrill has published five novels centered in the world of jazz. Her main character is San Francisco-based PI Casey McKie, a jazz fan whose best friend is club owner and vocalist Dee Jefferson. Casey’s investigations have taken place in San Francisco’s North Beach, a jazz cruise, a jazz festival, New York’s jazz scene, and, in the latest book, a jazz camp.
Jazz musicians and critics have complimented Merrill on her authentic depiction of all things jazz.
“Jazz lovers will feel … joy as Ms. Merrill craftily deflects suspicion from suspect to suspect before sounding the final chord in this swinging whodunit.”
- Harvey Siders, Jazz Times
“Writing with flair and imagination, Joan’s pace is crisp, her dialogue snappy and apposite, and her comments on jazz, the music and the people, are insightful.”
– Bruce Crowther, Jazz Journal.
“You can almost hear the bebop soundtrack.’
– Scott Yanow. L.A. Times
“I’m a jazz musician and felt that the author did a great job of keeping things ‘real.’”
– Shanna Carlson, jazz singer, pianist
When jazz festival headliner Sid Satin is fatally shot after his set, local police blame Dee. Casey investigates, uncovering a number of Satin’s enemies with a motive for murder.
"The fictional jazz instrumentalists, singers and those involved in the business of jazz all sound and act realistically.
- Scott Yanow, LA Times
Casey goes to New York to investigate a 50-year-old cold case. Was the drug dose that killed the legendary jazz singer Georgia Valentine self-administered or was someone else involved?
"A tale of intrigue and revenge, all set to the beat of the blues and be-bop. A colorful, exceptionally intelligent thriller."
- Carol Sloane, jazz singer
When Dee asks Casey to look into the murder of a young jazz singer whose boyfriend is being targeted for the crime by the police, she agrees, delving deep into North Beach nightlife.
"Another exhilarating page-turner from Joan Merrill and her alter ego, Detective Casey McKie."
- Harvey Siders, JazzTimes
While on a jazz cruise as Dee’s guest, Casey is asked to locate a missing passenger – the Countess. It turns out she has a number of enemies on board. Did one of them toss her into the Caribbean?
"In investigating the disappearance of a passenger, Casey soon discovers that many of those on board, jazz fans and jazz musicians, have secrets."
- Bruce Crowther, Jazz Journal
Casey looks into the supposed suicide of Dee’s friend, an Oakland jazz club owner. As more jazz people are murdered, she realizes she’s dealing with a serial killer.
"The author has great insight into the genre and the world of the jazz player… Her opinions and perspective through her characters were quite authentic."
- Joe Sullivan, musician
sayingitwithjazz.com includes 50 videos and numerous essays on the singers and songwriters of The Golden Age (1920s-1965).
Listen to the Great American Songbook with host JM Jazz (Joan Merrill) on WETF the jazz station in South Bend, Indiana on Saturday at 5 pm. Repeats Sunday at midnight.
Live stream website: jazzradiowetf.org
Listen to 80 archived shows on sayingitwithjazz.com