A couple of days ago I went to the local library and there in front was a stack of copies of “The Jazz Bird,” by Craig Holden. The author is coming in for a book discussion in a couple of weeks and local residents are urged to take a memory trip back to Prohibition Era Cincinnati of the 1920s.

Based on a true story, District Attorney, Charley Taft, son of the former President and Supreme Court Chief Justice, is prosecuting a case involving a local bootlegger. It seem the bootlegger has just shot and killed his wife and femme fatale, Imogene, aka, The Jazz Bird. George Remus had made over $80 million dollars as he arranged with Kentucky spirits manufacturers, Jim Beam and Jack Daniels, to make the precious liquor under phony licensing as a drug manufacturers. Across the Ohio River it came in barges to the clubs and speakeasies of the city. Corrupt Ohio born and bred, President Warren G. Harding, provided cover and the trade flourished. But when Harding died among the scandal of his administration, the Untouchable Feds broke the scheme and sent the bootlegger away to Federal Prison for two years. His empire went to vamp and wife, our darling Imogene, to manage in his absence.

She squandered away his fortune as she danced, cavorted and did what all femme fatales eventually do -- betrayed her man. In short skirt, bobbed hair, high heels, beads and cloche hat, she sported a flask atop one rolled silk stocking and a pistol atop the other as she danced the night away in the clubs she supplied with liquor.

But George got out of the clink and when he found out what she had done, he shot her dead, right beside the reflecting pool of Eden Park. The scenes are vividly familiar to me as I have lived in the area since 1964. I have been to the clubs, hotels and haunts described in the novel. The only difference is that the events are happening 40 years before I got here. What a magnificent time warp for my mind to cavort in!

I read about 100 books per year and enjoy those with adventure and intrigue. So I am wallowing the "Jazz Bird" today. Will George be found guilty or will his excuse for shooting his gal dead for her deceit convince the jury?

Here are the Jazz Age lovelies for you to enjoy:
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