Tag: cozy mystery

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!

I am happy to share my thoughts today about Eleanor and the South Beach Murders (An Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery) by Ellen Yardley.

Eleanor and the South Beach Murders (An Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery/Women Sleuths
2nd in Series
Setting – Florida
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 24, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496750101
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496750105
Kindle
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496750129
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FBHK3VZQ
Audiobook
ASIN B0FVBKDBTF
Audio CD
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GMYSKZ23

Miami, 1951. With a flurry of UN engagements bringing Mrs. Roosevelt to vibrant South Beach, Kay Thompson is thrilled to escape the post-Christmas blues in Washington, DC—and distance herself from the sting of her recent breakup with private investigator Tim O’Malley. The dizzying sights and sounds of Miami reach their peak at the Copa City Club, where a late-night meeting with singer Josephine Baker reveals a troubling truth: Baker’s bold stand against segregation has made her a target.

Josephine dismisses the threats. But Rosaleen—her cautious young assistant with big dreams—is deeply afraid. That’s why it’s a stunning shock when a dead man turns up in Josephine’s dressing room and Rosaleen is the one arrested for his murder. Determined to exonerate her new friend, Kay realizes it will mean facing conspiracies and prejudices that reach into the darkest corners of American society still haunted by the horrors of World War II.

Now, tangled in a high-stakes murder case with lives and legacies on the line, Kay joins forces with Mrs. Roosevelt and her former flame to confront the sinister forces lurking just beneath Miami’s glittering Art Deco surface. But when a killer’s scheme comes into sharp focus, Kay must act swiftly in a quest for justice that proves far more dangerous than she ever bargained for . . .

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Mrs. Roosevelt and her temporary secretary, Kay Thompson, travel to Miami for an important UN Conference. Kay is trying to put her breakup with private investigator Tim O’Malley behind her. Eleanor and Kay are excited to take in the sights and sounds of South Beach and attend a late-night performance of Josephine Baker at the Copa City Club. It is after the show that they learn that Josephine Baker’s fight against segregation and racism has brought numerous death threats. Baker has traveled to war-ridden areas over the years and has no fear of the threats, but her assistant, Rosaleen Davis, thinks they need to be taken seriously and asks for Mrs. Roosevelt’s help. Everyone is surprised when a man is found dead in Josephine’s dressing room, and her assistant is jailed for his murder.  

Now Josephine is asking for Eleanor’s help, and Kay commits to working with her, even though it means working with her ex, Tim O’Malley. There is more going on in Miami than meets the eye. Kay’s drive to clear Rosaleen’s name could make her the killer’s next target. Will Eleanor and Kay survive their quest to find the real killer?

Eleanor Roosevelt and Kay Thompson have gotten comfortable working together. Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is a true force, working hard in all the right ways. Political figure, diplomat, activist, and advocate for human rights. In 1951, she is a United States delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, playing a leading role. Kay’s confidence continues to grow as she handles getting out her boss’s daily “My Day” messages, keeping track of the calendar, taking notes during meetings, and filling in when ER is needed elsewhere. They have also become competent amateur sleuths.

Josephine Baker is an icon; she aided the French Resistance during World War II and also worked with the British Secret Intelligence Service and the United States.  In Miami, she refused to perform for segregated audiences, making her a target for radical groups. It was interesting how she described her life in France as being so freeing and different from her time in the U.S.

The story takes place during a volatile time in history. It’s the era of McCarthyism; racism, segregation, civil rights, women’s rights, corruption, and the KKK. Eleanor, Kay, Josephine, Rosaleen, and Tim navigate their way through it all as they try to pin down the true killer. I enjoy how the author twists together historical facts with a compelling mystery. Sadly, many of those themes are again relevant today.

The mystery is expertly crafted, weaving together multiple storylines that make it much more than a simple whodunit. The plot skillfully incorporates real-world events, with secrets waiting to be uncovered and clues that demand careful attention. Set in a time and place where many secrets remain hidden beneath the surface, the quest for justice becomes a search for truth that gradually brings everything into the light.

Ellen Yardley has penned a convincing fictional mystery entwined with the true history of the time. The characters pull readers deeply into the story, captivating them with unexpected twists and turns, and culminating in a truly dramatic and entertaining conclusion. Eleanor and the South Beach Murders is the second Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery. I encourage you to read Eleanor and the Cold War first for maximum enjoyment. I highly recommend both for fans of historical mysteries and Eleanor Roosevelt.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

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About the Author

Ellen Yardley is the pseudonym of a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose previous novels received the National Reader’s Choice Award and the Colorado Award of Excellence. A mother of two, she finds tremendous inspiration in Eleanor Roosevelt. She lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Find Ellen on her Website  – Facebook – Instagram 

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