A chance meeting of her old boyfriend and leader of all girl swing band, Ultra Belles and an unfortunate accident lead to an offer for Katy to send a week touring California for top pay. Even though Ted has a reputation for being a womanizer and nothing seems to have changed, Katy agrees. When one of her bunkmates turns up dead, and then another, she thinks the tour may not have been such a good idea. When the police begin to look at Katy, the former lover, current outsider, for the murders, she has to uncover a jealous killer.

Too Dead to Swing is a fast-paced, fun read that evokes the sights and sounds of the 1940's and the big band era. Katy Green is a feisty, yet feminine woman, as are the other members of the band. They are a wisecracking bunch that has formed a close-knit, if not unusual, family.

The mystery is pretty straightforward and the suspects limited, but the atmosphere that Hal Glatzer has so authentically recreated, steals the show. A week on the train during which the events occur, helps contain the action and keep the plot from getting away. Too Dead to Swing will appeal to those who long for the days of the old black and white movies, backed by a kicky soundtrack.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry