Harlem After Midnight

A Canary Club Mystery, Book 2

By: Louise Hare

Narrated by: Leonie Elliott

Named a Must Read by Ebony ∙ Boston Herald ∙ Book Riot ∙ Bookish ∙ Minneapolis Star-Tribune and more!

A body falls from a town house window in Harlem, and it looks just like the newest singer at the Apollo...in this evocative, twisting new novel from the author of Miss Aldridge Regrets.

Harlem, 1936: Lena Aldridge grew up in a cramped corner of London, hearing stories of the bright lights of Broadway. She always imagined that when she finally went to New York City, she’d be there with her father. But now he’s dead, and she’s newly arrived and alone, chasing a dream that has quickly dried up. When Will Goodman—the handsome musician she met on the crossing from England—offers for her to stay with his friends in Harlem, she agrees. She has nowhere else to go, and this will give her a chance to get to know Will better and see if she can find any trace of the family she might have remaining.

Will’s friends welcome her with open arms, but just as Lena discovers the stories her father once told her were missing giant pieces of information, she also starts to realize the man she’s falling too fast and too hard for has secrets of his own. And they might just place a target on her back. Especially when she is drawn to the brightest stage in town.

©2023 Louise Hare (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Narrator Leonie Elliott skillfully transports listeners to Harlem with an impressive story that contrasts the changes in Black life in the early twentieth century.... In flashbacks, Elliott superbly portrays Alfie, a pianist who encounters racial barriers as he pursues a musical career in 1908. Lena's perceptions of the city, her new friends, and the truths about Alfie are well rendered. Dramatic depictions of the Harlem Renaissance, rent parties, and the Apollo Club are engaging. Audio enhances a story replete with lively dialogue, descriptions, and atmosphere." (AudioFile)

"I was glued to the pages of this sophisticated historical crime drama. It was wonderful to be plunged back into Lena’s complicated life and onto the streets of Harlem in this evocative Jazz age novel. Lena's developing relationship with the somewhat mysterious Will Goodman and his friends, weaved with the story of Lena unravelling her own enigmatic family history, was utterly compelling. Mystery, drama, murder, all wrapped up in a story sublimely told. I am desperate to know what will happen next!" —Louise Fein, author of People Like Us

"An elegant, clever murder mystery. This is evocative historical crime fiction at its best with an intelligent, classy voice. Utterly fabulous!" —Victoria Dowd, author of A Smart Woman’s Guide to Murder

"Once again Louise Hare brilliantly evokes times past, in this case, the periods bookending Harlem's famous 'Jazz Age' Renaissance. Moving between New York at the turn of the 20th Century and the mid-1930s, she expertly crafts a gripping, character-led mystery. Ms Hare, like Miss Aldridge, is a keen observer of human nature, and brings a lost world to life, as well as one, highly suspicious, death. Superb." —Tom Benjamin, author of A Quiet Death in Italy

Great read!

Can't wait for next edition to series! A little less naivete in protagonist would be great!

Loved Both Books

Such a well written book, both this one and the first book in the series. I so wish there was a 3rd book. I was very sad that this one ended.

Continuing a Great Story

I really enjoyed the first book about Lena. But this continuation of her story is phenomenal fun. It’s so compelling. Like a great jazz song you just have to give in to the rhythm and let it take you away!

As much as I wanted to binge it, this story depends a slow & steady pace. I loved absorbing the rich details and complicated characters.

I hope for many more books to continue Lena’s story. I adore this character.