Black Jade
Series: A Daiyu Wu Mystery #1
Author: Gloria Oliver
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery
Pages: 246
Release Date: May 11, 2021
Summary:
Could an old-fashioned ballgown be used to commit murder?
Daiyu Wu is aware that fear of the Yellow Terror has made her nationality a rare breed in the Lone Star State. Being Chinese and blind makes her doubly unique in 1930: Dallas. Despite these impediments, anyone who dismisses her for either fact does so at their peril.
One day, at her family-owned laundry business, Dai detects the scent of burned garlic. With the help of her companion, Jacques, the source is soon discovered. It is a green ballgown. The gown has money pinned inside it to pay for the cleaning, but oddly, it came with no address label to identify its owner. Her extensive knowledge leads Dai to believe someone has committed murder using arsenic. The perpetrator is trying to use White Laundry to hide the evidence. But no mention of foul play turns up in the newspapers, and there’s not enough proof to convince the police there’s been a crime.
Her curiosity and intellect stimulated like never before; Dai ignores the possible consequences and sets out to solve the mystery with the help of her canine companion, Prince Razor, and her confidant, Jacques Haskins. It’s either that or let the killer get away with it — assuming a spoiled popinjay, his jealous self-appointed girlfriend, and Dai’s overprotective parents don’t get in her way.
Interview with Jacques Haskins
How did you and your author meet?
Like many meetings, it wasn’t something we’d planned. It just happened. The author was looking for an unusual set of characters to write about, and we just stumbled upon one another.
Why did this writer decide to feature you in a book?
She, like myself, wanted the world to learn about Miss Daiyu Wu. Since I’ve been with her the longest and was privy to the odd circumstances and steps Dai took to find the murder victim as well as the murderer, I was the perfect choice. My mistress is blind, you see, and since I am her eyes, I was best suited to tell her story. But don’t misunderstand; assuming Dai is less than what she is because of her blindness would be a grave mistake.
Do you have any friends or family helping you out?
Absolutely!
Prince Razor, a Scottish Terrier and Pomeranian mix, is Dai’s second-closest companion. He is trustworthy and trained to help protect our mistress from undesirables.
Once we stumbled over the potential murder, two other people helped us. The first being Dr. Aiden Campbell, a skilled pathologist. As I was happy to discover, she is a person with a keen mind and as interested in becoming friends with Dai as Dai was to become hers.
The second is Truman Pierce. A local rich popinjay, which, while useful in the case, I would have been happier with us never run across him. I don’t trust his intentions, but I can’t get Dai to see reason. The cad can’t even be bothered to remember my name—Jacques. Every time he calls me ‘Jackie,’ I dislike him all the more.
Do you have a regular job and investigate on the side or are you a full time detective?
My employment is not what most people would consider normal. I am the chauffeur, handyman, and American face for the Wu family. I do whatever the family needs, though my primary duties center around Dai. She found me in Dallas City Park when I was seven years old and convinced her parents to take me on so I could be her eyes and companion, despite the number of pitfalls and risks they took in doing so. But even back then, Dai was looking to her future.
I owe her everything. Yet many in 1930 would consider being employed by a Chinese beneath them, despite the current economic downturn. The current fears regarding the ‘Yellow Peril’ haven’t made it easy for the Wus to make a home in Texas.
To be honest, I would be happier if Dai didn’t clamp onto these puzzles at all. But I support her to the best of my ability.
What is the funniest thing that happens to you or another character in this story?
At the time, the incident was quite embarrassing, but I suppose it’s filled with a certain amount of humor when looking back on it. It occurred when Dai and I first met Truman Pierce, a rich playboy, at the Adolphus Hotel. The popinjay had just finished extolling how it had been fate that brought him to meet Dai, and he stepped forward as if about to sweep her off her feet and swing her around the room. In a panic, I dived to get between them, and we collided. This pushed me backward, and I bumped into Dai. She lost her balance and then fell. She had no way of knowing the humiliation I’d just saved her from—though falling flat on her bum probably wasn’t much better than being swung through the air like a child. I’m not sure she’s forgiven me to this day.
Have you solved other cases or is this your first one?
Figuring out who was murdered with the old-fashioned gown and then who did it is the first case we’ve ever worked on. For my peace of mind, I hope it is the last. Though I will admit, having the puzzle to solve seemed to delight and excite Dai more than anything else in some time.
Do you have a gift or special talent?
I possess one unusual skill, which I picked up when I was six during the year I lived on my own after running away from the Buckners Orphan Home. My friend Em showed me how to become a pickpocket. When I first entered the Wu family, I’d planned to no longer practice the art, but Dai insisted I keep my skills sharp as it might someday prove useful, aside from the filching of the occasional cookie for her before dinner. As is often the case, she had more forethought than I did. The skill came in handy during one phase of the case, though what we tried to do was foiled all the same.
Who is the most important individual in your life?
Without question, the most important person in my life is Dai. She is in every sense my sister, though we are not related by blood. She saved me from the streets and gave me purpose, a debt I can never repay.
What is your ideal vacation?
I think spending time with Dai and Prince at the beach would be a great vacation. The sound of the waves crashing to the shore, the texture of the sand when run through your fingers. Not only would the sights be beautiful to my eyes, but Dai could enjoy the scene through her other senses. Her delight at new discoveries and sensations would make it the ideal vacation for me.
If you could change anything about your life what would it be?
Despite the invaluable help he gave us during the Laura Cooper case, the change would be for Dai never to have met the insufferable Truman Pierce. While I don’t begrudge her experiencing falling in love and even marriage, there must be someone out there better suited for that honor than the flippant popinjay. He is ‘trouble’ with a capital T.
About the Author
Gloria Oliver lives in Texas, staying away from rolling tumbleweeds while bowing to the never-ending wishes of her feline and canine masters. Her previous works have been fantasy, urban fantasy, and young adult fantasy novels. Several contain romantic and mystery elements. Her short stories of speculative fiction can be found in many anthologies, covering things from the fantastic and strange to a Bubba Apocalypse.
Her latest release, “Black Jade – A Daiyu Wu Mystery” is Gloria’s first cozy historical mystery novel. This is her ninth published novel.
Gloria is a member in good standing of BroadUniverse though she has yet to make the list for Cat Slaves R Us. In her spare time (what’s that?), she watches TV shows, movies, anime, plays PC games, and reads books.
For some free reads, novel-related short stories, sample chapters, appearance schedule, and more information on her and her works, please drop by and visit her at her site which the link is below.
Giveaway
Prize: (2) Digital Copy – Black Jade: A Daiyu Wu Mystery by Gloria Oliver
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