Dive into a gripping journey through jazz-soaked streets and mob-run back alleys with the Ray Celestin 3 Books Collection Set (The Axeman's Jazz, Dead Man's Blues, The Mobster's Lament). Perfect for fans of historical crime fiction, readers who love atmospheric mysteries, and gift buyers searching for a richly detailed boxed set. This paperback collection brings together three award-recognized novels that weave music, murder and moral complexity across New Orleans, Chicago and New York. What’s included. Titles in this Set: The Axeman's Jazz, Dead Man's Blues, The Mobster's Lament. Condition: BRAND NEW. Format: Paperback. ISBN: 9789123969388 The Axeman's Jazz. New Orleans, 1919. A chilling serial killer known as the Axeman stalks the city’s jazz scene and leaves the community terrified. Detective Lieutenant Michael Talbot leads the official investigation while carrying his own heavy secret. Former detective Luca d'Andrea, now working for the mafia, is equally driven to unmask the killer. Combining historical detail with a tense, layered mystery, this book introduces the City Blues Quartet with vivid period atmosphere and complex characters. Dead Man's Blues. Chicago, 1928. Heat, corruption and jazz set the stage for three unnerving events: poisoning at a luxury hotel, a mutilated gangster found in the Blackbelt, and the disappearance of a well-known heiress. Pinkerton detectives Michael Talbot and Ida Davis take the case, and Ida enlists the help of her friend Louis Armstrong to find a face known across the city. This installment blends real historical figures and social tensions into a suspenseful detective story. The Mobster's Lament. New York, 1947. Mob fixer Gabriel Leveson is tasked by the formidable Frank Costello to recover stolen money — just as Private Investigator Ida Young and Michael Talbot race to clear Talbot’s son Tom, accused of horrific murders in a Harlem flophouse. This novel tightens the series' moral stakes and pushes characters toward explosive reckonings in a post-war city grappling with crime and change.. Complete paperback collection of the first three novels from the City Blues Quartet — ideal for a historical crime fiction book collection.. From an award-winning author: Ray Celestin’s debut, The Axeman's Jazz, won the CWA New Blood Dagger; later books were shortlisted for CWA Gold Dagger honors.. Rich historical detail: Real-era settings, jazz culture and period figures add authenticity and depth.. Perfect for gifting: A compelling gift set for parents, teachers, book clubs, or crime-fiction lovers.. Great for reading groups: Complex themes and strong characters make this an excellent choice for discussion.. Whether you’re building a paperback edition library, searching for a memorable gift, or hunting a binge-worthy children’s-series alternative for adult readers who love immersive history, this boxed set delivers. Trusted by readers and praised by critics, Ray Celestin’s City Blues Quartet offers detective drama and cultural richness — a timeless keepsake for lovers of noir, jazz and literary crime fiction.