"I can't let it go in vain."
In the dim, smoky haze of the 1950s jazz scene, Walter Devereaux, a gifted saxophonist and club owner, poured his soul into the music that filled the walls of The Blue Note Club. Every weekend, his eyes would search for her-the enigmatic woman in the red dress. She was a quiet presence, always perched at the edge of the crowd, her crimson attire burning through the shadows. Though they'd never exchanged a word, Walter was captivated, weaving her essence into every note he played.
One fateful night, Walter finally resolved to approach her, but she never came back inside. Hours later, her lifeless body was discovered in a nearby alley-violated and left for dead. The news shook him to his core, and the police investigation offered little solace. Witnesses were scarce, and the woman's identity remained shrouded in mystery.
Grief-stricken and fueled by a relentless need for justice, Walter delves into the city's dark underbelly, seeking the truth. The trail leads him to seedy clubs, dangerous connections, and secrets buried deep within the jazz world. With each clue, he uncovers a world of betrayal and hidden sins, realizing the woman in the red dress might not have been who she seemed.
As Walter edges closer to uncovering the killer, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous game where trust is a rare currency, and every answer brings new questions. Was she a victim, or did her past hold a secret worth killing for?
"Lady in Red" is a haunting tale of obsession, deception, and a man willing to sacrifice everything to find justice for a woman he barely knew. But in the end, will the truth set him free, or destroy him?
ONC Ambassador's Pick & Shortlister!
Rumors. Infidelity. Lies. Secrets. MURDER. And all before lunch time. Who knew being a socialite in 1951 could be so thrilling?
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On a lovely June afternoon, as the oh-so-chic members of the Gilded Grove Ladies' Book Club gather for their scheduled luncheon, they are shocked to receive the news that their vice president, Camilla Otis, is unable to attend. Gossip ensues. What catastrophe could possibly have befallen her to warrant a last minute cancellation?
The answer comes by way of two clever, dashing police officers. It seems Camilla Otis has had quite a busy morning, and that the truth behind her absence is far more scandalous than the Book Club ladies could ever have imagined.
As the police dig deeper into the events surrounding Mrs. Otis' shocking crime, buried secrets about the other Book Club members begin to surface. None of the women in question are the fine, upstanding ladies of society that the public believes them to be. Each has tarnish on her so-called "sterling reputation." And no one has more to hide than club president Marcella Montgomery.
Written for ONC 2024, this is a tongue-in-cheek "whodunit" (in reverse) that will leave you wondering just what a scorned woman *wouldn't* do for sweet, sweet revenge.
⚠️ Warning: many very nonchalant references to murder and death. Very ignorant (era-realistic), inaccurate comments about nationalities/cultures outside the US.