The Diva and the Detective

Augusta Iris McKee, former opera singer, professor of music on two college campuses in 1960s Cincinnati, sometime stage director, is a strong-minded, tender-hearted, savvy lady in midlife. She loves nice clothes and stilettos. Augusta has never married, and doesn’t expect to be.

That changes when she meets Homicide Detective Malcolm Mitchell on the campus of Cliffside College, following the murder of one of her voice students. He’s the best-looking man she’s ever laid eyes on. While that first meeting is confrontational (he’s at least as strong-willed as she is, and he’s a cop), something sparks between them. As they grow to know each other, Augusta discovers important information that leads to the arrest of the killer. The friendship becomes a romance.

Augusta is seven years older than Malcolm. She’s much more sensitive to that fact than he is; after all, they’re both mature adults. But it is the 1960s, and it’s not something that happens often. Augusta finds herself involved in Malcolm’s cases sometimes in ways she didn’t expect or intend. That can be a cause of friction.

In their most recent adventure, The Case of the Chrysanthemum Murders, once again Augusta has slightly overstepped while attempting to be helpful.

***

Augusta headed down the steps, purse in hand, to find Malcolm standing in the entrance hall, his arms folded across his chest, looking none too pleased.

“That phone call was from Jim Edmonds. He just had a discussion with the Boone County coroner’s office about a visitor they had this afternoon.”

He took a step toward her, fists at his waist. “It seems a very attractive older woman was there asking a lot of questions about Anton Portnov’s death. Would you know anything about that, Augusta?”

“He called me an older woman?”

“A very attractive older woman. Good Lord, Gus. What the hell were you doing over there? You promised me you wouldn’t do anything like that.”

“Do you think of me as an older woman? I’m not that much older than you, Malcolm Mitchell.”

“Augusta!” He took her firmly by the shoulders and stared directly into her eyes. “This isn’t about you. You just interfered in an ongoing homicide investigation; do you realize that?”

“I tried to call you before I drove over there. I couldn’t imagine what harm it would do.”

“Let’s see.” Malcolm crossed his arms over his chest again and leaned against the door frame. “This woman told the clerk she was manager of the string quartet Portnov had been part of at one time.”

“Well, I just thought maybe I could play on their sympathy and they might let something slip. I’m sorry, Mal. I promise it won’t happen again.” Oh, dear. The last thing I wanted was to annoy him. “I tried to present myself as a sympathetic friend of the quartet and of Anton’s. I honestly thought it might be helpful.”

She saw the twitch at the corner of his mouth and relaxed.

“You’d do better to stick with fiery gypsies like Frasquita in Carmen.” He laughed and shook his head. “Come on, I want to get to the opera pavilion early.”

He extended an arm. “By the way, for a ‘not that much older woman’ you look great to this not that much younger guy. Love that dress.”

“Mal, I am sorry about driving over to the coroner’s office.” She slipped an arm through his. “I won’t do anything again without talking to you about it first.”

“Very well, Mrs. Mitchell.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll let you off this time with a warning. I’m too busy to visit you on Sundays anyway. You know that’s a punishable offense, though.”

“Let’s blame it on the Frasquita part of me. She tends to be impulsive.”

“She’s also irresistible.” He grinned again as they headed for Augusta’s car.

**

All of the “Augusta McKee Mystery Series” books are available on Amazon, paperback and Kindle. Book 5, The Case of the Chrysanthemum Murders, will be LIVE May 24-25! Watch for it! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KBCWS24?ref_=dbs_r_series&storeType=ebooks

 Covers by Taylor van Kooten. Poster by Katy Schultz Burton

The Diva and the Detective

The Case of the Toxic Tenor, book three in “The Augusta McKee Mystery Series,” is now available on Amazon. The first two books, The Case of the Slain Soprano and The Case of the Disappearing Director, have some nifty reader reviews.

Readers like my protagonist:

“Professor Augusta McKee, just introduced in Susan Moore Jordan’s mystery The Case of the Slain Soprano, will take her place among the lady detectives you wish you knew in person. She’s a no-nonsense voice teacher in spike heels, tough and tender and smart as all get-out.” - Michaele

“Augusta McGee … is well-drawn for us and we are soon thoroughly intrigued by this well-dressed and extremely well-shod woman in midlife with many roles - professor of music, voice teacher, stage play director, and supportive mentor to faculty and students.” - Catherine

“McKee makes a strong protagonist and I liked her instantly as she asserts herself in defiance of the detective, who seems a bit overwhelmed by her, but later regains his composure sufficiently to woo her.” – Pocopop

About that detective, Malcolm Mitchell. I owe a lot of thanks to some remarkable people who’ve been an immense help in developing this series, first among them retired Cincinnati Police Department Detective Lieutenant Stephen Kramer, who is former president of the Greater Cincinnati Police Historical Society and former long-time director and current archivist of its Museum. When I started writing the series, set in Cincinnati in the mid-1960s, Lt. Kramer was kind of enough to respond to my request for assistance in understanding police procedural matters in that time and place. He also provided considerable insight into the mind of a homicide detective, and some of the words uttered by Malcolm are—with permission—quotes from Lt. Kramer. 

I also have to thank my intrepid editor, Ashleigh Evans, who continues to help me through tricky scenes and thorny issues as I follow this new path of writing a series, attempting to make each book fresh and new while keeping the reader engaged by my protagonists and how they deal with each new challenge. When considering the cover for the first book, Ashleigh suggested incorporating what has become the series’ brand: Augusta’s red stiletto.

It’s quite a thrill to see the talented Taylor Van Kooten’s covers as a trio. What a serendipity to find a photo of the engraving for the original design of Cincinnati’s wonderful Music Hall and learn it was in the public domain! A perfect background for a murder mystery which takes place in the building. Taylor’s artistic rendering of the gazebo in Eden Park is stunning. We’re already thinking about the cover for book number four, which is my current work in progress. 

Reader reviews are vital for an independent author, and if you’ve read and enjoyed any of my books, I’d be grateful for even a brief review on Amazon. This review for The Case of the Disappearing Director by Pocopop was definitely gratifying. With each book I attempt to hone my writing skills, and it seems I may be succeeding!

“Jordan weaves an intricate plot that slowly peels back the layers, reveals her protagonist's depth and nature, while interspersing Jordan's knowledge and obvious love of opera, classical music, and performance theater. The music and the theatrical aspects add depth to the story and characters, and Jordan uses these elements expertly to help tie up the plot and bring it to a satisfying conclusion. Although Disappearing Director is part of a series, the book stands alone, with no need to read the preceding novel in order to understand this one. I felt Jordan reached new levels as a budding novelist in this story.”

(In celebration of the release of third book in the series, Book One, The Case of the Slain Soprano, Kindle edition, is on sale for $0.99 until 8 a.m. May 4. Grab it while you can!)

You can find links to the books on my Amazon author page: 

https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Moore-Jordan/e/B00IBZ731U/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Or on my website: http://www.susanmoorejordan.com/

Power Couple: Augusta and Malcolm

Writing about Augusta McKee, former opera singer, professor of music, fashionista, amateur sleuth, known for her independence and her stilettos, has elicited some great responses from readers:

“Professor Augusta McKee, just introduced in Susan Moore Jordan’s mystery The Case of the Slain Soprano, will take her place among the lady detectives you wish you knew in person. She’s a no-nonsense voice teacher in spike heels, tough and tender and smart as all get-out.”

“Augusta McGee, (Jordan’s) heroine, is well-drawn for us and we are soon thoroughly intrigued by this well-dressed and extremely well-shod woman in midlife with many roles - professor of music, voice teacher, stage play director, and supportive mentor to faculty and students.”

When Augusta crosses paths with experienced Homicide Detective Malcolm Mitchell, there has to be much more to what begins as an adversarial encounter.

“Augusta, a strong force to be reckoned with, isn’t the type to take bad news lying down. Instead, she decides to do a bit of snooping on her own, especially when her red stilettos and sassy wit cross paths with the hunky, smart homicide detective, Malcolm Mitchell. Sparks sure do fly!”

“The beautiful, spiked-heel McKee encounters romance with an unlikely match (who turns out to share her love of opera, no surprise there!) in the detective assigned to the case, Malcolm Mitchell. McKee makes a strong protagonist and I liked her instantly as she asserts herself in defiance of the detective, who seems a bit overwhelmed by her, but later regains his composure sufficiently to woo her.”

While that initial encounter may at first appear to be instant dislike, it turns out to be a great deal more. Augusta’s thoughts about the detective evolve, and this scene at Linnea Murphy’s funeral could be the beginning of their romance. (Informational note: the books are set in Cincinnati in the 1960s.)

The Case of the Slain Soprano

Excerpt from Chapter 7

Arriving at the church, Augusta was somewhat taken aback to see a number of police officers on hand, including Detective Malcolm Mitchell and his partner, Jim Edmonds.

“Crowd control, Detective?” she said to Mitchell.

“Something like that,” he replied, rather curtly.

“It appears you’re looking for someone.”

He glanced at her briefly, continuing to scan the crowd as he spoke. “One of our suspects has cut and run. There’s a chance he might show up today.”

Augusta had to catch her breath and realized she was shaking slightly; the emotions she was already experiencing intensified. “I don’t suppose you’ll tell me who it is.”

“You suppose correctly, Professor McKee.” He gazed directly at her and said quietly, “You should take your seat, don’t you think?”

She nodded and walked down the aisle to the soothing strains of the prelude, Mascagni’s haunting “Intermezzo” from Cavalleria Rusticana, to sit with Sisters Norbert and Vincent. As Augusta listened to the angelic Fauré Requiem, she found herself from time to time studying the crowd which filled the church. Who are they looking for?

The sopranos began to sing the lovely “Pie Jesu” and Augusta’s mind took her back to the concert in October when Linnea had performed it flawlessly, and she let the tears flow. The mass concluded; Father Culhane spoke of Linnea with love and compassion, and there were few dry eyes in the congregation.

The casket was wheeled to the front of the church and removed, and the congregation began to exit to the gentle, ethereal strains of Theodore Dubois’ “In Paradisum.” Augusta was jostled slightly from behind, and she glanced back to apologize but the person behind her hurried forward.

Augusta almost stopped still as she stared at the woman who had brushed past her. She was wearing too heavy a coat for this late April day and had a scarf wound around her head. With a shock Augusta realized it wasn’t a woman at all; it was a man. When she reached the steps leading from the church she received a second shock: after a brief scuffle, the “woman” was being arrested by Mitchell and Edmonds. Augusta hurried down the steps and Terry Jenkins locked eyes with her.

Terry’s voice broke as he called out, “Professor McKee, you know I didn’t kill Linnea. I loved her.” Detective Edmonds pressed the fugitive into a police car, which sped away fairly quickly. While Augusta realized the police had managed to avoid too much of an uproar, there was some consternation among the mourners who had witnessed the arrest. Furious, she confronted Mitchell.

“Was that absolutely necessary?” She struggled to keep her voice under control.

“Unfortunately, it was. I’d have preferred to arrest him elsewhere, but if we hadn’t done it here, he would have been on the run again.”

“I simply can’t believe that boy killed Linnea.”

“Well, he sure didn’t help his case by taking off the way he did. Not smart to come to the funeral, either. And he compounded his problems by taking a swing at Detective Edmonds.”

Augusta’s jumbled emotions had been in high gear all morning, and she found herself weeping and unable to speak. To her surprise, Detective Mitchell reacted with sympathy.

“I’m sorry this happened, Augusta.” He handed her his handkerchief. “I know you loved Linnea and this has all been difficult for you.”

She still couldn’t speak. Malcolm Mitchell put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “The Sisters are waiting to take you to the cemetery,” he said quietly, his mouth close to her ear. “You need to be there for the conclusion of the funeral.”

Still clutching the handkerchief, Augusta allowed Sister Vincent to lead her to one of the limousines that had been hired for the day.

The car pulled away slowly as Augusta glanced through the back window at Mitchell. How caring he was with me. I didn’t expect that.

The Case of the Slain Soprano and The Case of the Disappearing Director, Books #1 and #2 in “the Augusta McKee mysteries,” are both available on Amazon, Kindle and paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Moore-Jordan/e/B00IBZ731U/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Covers by Taylor Van Kooten