The Body in the Ballroom by R.J. Koreto

source: copy via Partners In Crime Book Tours
title: The Body in the Ballroom: An Alice Roosevelt Mystery
author: R.J. Koreto
pages: 293
genre: historical mystery
published: Crooked Lane Books (June 12, 2018)
first line: St. Louis wasn’t half bad.
rated: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

blurb:

President Teddy Roosevelt’s daring daughter, Alice, leaps into action to exonerate a friend accused of poisoning a man just about everyone hated.

Alice Roosevelt, the brilliant, danger-loving daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, has already risked an assassin’s bullet to solve one murder. She never expected to have to sleuth another, but she’d never pass up the opportunity, either. Anything to stave off boredom.

And such an opportunity presents itself when Alice is invited to a lavish ball. The high-society guests are in high spirits as they imbibe the finest wines. But one man, detested by nearly all the partygoers, quaffs a decidedly deadlier cocktail. An African-American mechanic, who also happens to be a good friend of former Rough Rider-turned-Secret Service Agent Joseph St. Clair, is suspected of the murder-by-poison, but Alice is sure he’s innocent and is back on the scene to clear his name.

From downtown betting parlors to uptown mansions, Alice and Agent St. Clair uncover forbidden romances and a financial deal that just might change the world. But neither Alice nor her would-be protector may survive the case at hand in The Body in the Ballroom, R. J. Koreto’s gripping second Alice Roosevelt mystery.

my thoughts:
The Body in the Ballroom: An Alice Roosevelt Mystery was a nice historical murder mystery centered around former president Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter Alice and her Secret Service Agent/Bodyguard Joseph St. Clair. This book is second in the Alice Roosevelt series but stands fine as a stand alone read. While at a ball a member of high society, Lynley Brackton dies after taking a poisoned drink. His wife later claims she knows the drink was meant for her. Alice and St. Clair try to solve the mystery because someone they know is being wrongfully accused.

As the story unfolds clues are being put together, they interview the wife, people who knew Brackton and even stumble on a secret wedding along the way.  There is a diverse cast of characters here and the topic of class status and race are women into the story-line as well.

I liked Alice right away. She’s smart and sassy. I liked St. Clair too, they work well together. The dialogue between these two was entertaining. The writing pulled me right along and this one was a quick read.

“So were you with a woman? Were you at a bordello? As Mr. St. Clair will tell you, I am not as sheltered as people think.”

As far as the mystery went it made sense and it wasn’t too hard to figure out. The ending wraps up and there is room for another installment.  At the end of the book the author includes a note saying he based Alice and a few other characters in the book on real people.

“That was interesting,” said Alice. “Mr. St. Clair, I would like your opinion. Is that true? Do women really love unsatisfactory men?
“All the time. And men love unsatisfactory women.”

Lastly, I also like the cover on this one, the teal is pretty. If you check out the author’s site there’s some nice covers on his other books too.

The Body in the Ballroom: An Alice Roosevelt Mystery is on virtual tour, see the rest of the tour stops below:

07/01 Showcase @ tfaulcbookreviews
07/02 Interview @ CMash Reads
07/04 Guest post @ Jane Reads
07/05 Showcase @ Brooke Blogs
07/06 Interview @ Teresa Trent Author Blog
07/07 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
07/09 Review @ Lauras Interests
07/10 Review @ Its All About The Book
07/11 Showcase @ Bound 2 Escape
07/12 Interview @ Mythical Books
07/13 Showcase @ Eclectic Moods
07/15 Showcase @ Stacking My Book Shelves!
07/17 Review @ Book Club Librarian
07/18 Showcase @ BooksChatter.
07/19 Showcase @ Celticladys Reviews
07/20 Review @ Life at 17
07/21 Review @ The Bookworm
07/22 Review @ Buried Under Books
07/23 Showcase @ The Pulp and Mystery Shelf.
07/24 Review @ sunny island breezes
07/25 Showcase @ 411 on Books, Authors, and Publishing News
07/26 Showcase @ Quiet Fury Books
07/30 Review @ A Room Without Books is Empty
07/31 Showcase @ Teatime and Books
09/05 Blog Talk Radio w/Fran Lewis
09/05 Review @ Just Reviews

About the Author
R.J. Koreto has been fascinated by turn-of-the-century New York ever since listening to his grandfather’s stories as a boy.

In his day job, he works as a business and financial journalist. Over the years, he’s been a magazine writer and editor, website manager, PR consultant, book author, and seaman in the U.S. Merchant Marine. He’s a graduate of Vassar College, and like Alice Roosevelt, he was born and raised in New York.

He is the author of the Lady Frances Ffolkes and Alice Roosevelt mysteries. He has been published in both Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine. He also published a book on practice management for financial professionals.

With his wife and daughters, he divides his time between Rockland County, N.Y., and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
Catch Up With R.J. Koreto On: Website , Goodreads , Twitter , & Facebook .

 

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disclaimer: This review is my honest opinion. I did not receive any kind of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. I am under no obligation to write a positive review. I received my free copy of The Body in the Ballroom: An Alice Roosevelt Mystery through Partners In Crime Book Tours.

Some of the links in the post are affiliate links.