Broadway Butterfly

A Thriller

By: Sara DiVello

Narrated by: Jordan Cobb

Length: 16 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

New York in the Roaring Twenties—a riveting true-crime novel, based on one of the most notorious unsolved murders of the era, where power, politics, and secrets conspire to bury the truth.

Manhattan, 1923. Scandalous flapper Dot King is found dead in her Midtown apartment, a bottle of chloroform beside her and a fortune in jewels missing. Dot’s headline-making murder grips the city. It also draws a clutch of lovers, parasites, and justice seekers into one of the city’s most mesmerizing mysteries.

Among them: Daily News crime reporter Julia Harpman, chasing the story while navigating a male-dominated industry; righteous NYPD detective John D. Coughlin, struggling against city corruption; and Ella Bradford, the victim’s Harlem maid, closest confidante, and keeper of secrets. Adding fuel to the already volatile crime: a politically connected Philadelphia socialite, an Atlantic City bootlegger, Dot’s dicey gigolo lover, a sultry Broadway dancer, and a cagey sugar daddy guarding secrets of his own.

From Broadway’s glittering lights to its sordid underbelly to the machinations of the country’s most powerful men, Julia embarks on a quest for justice. What she discovers, twist after breathtaking twist, might be even more nefarious than murder.

©2023 Sara DiVello (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Jordan Cobb offers a smooth, rhythmic narration of this compelling historical mystery, providing a variety of character voices and capturing the frustration of those seeking justice. Readers of true crime will be hooked by this intriguing and atmospheric tale. A winner for fans of Beatriz Williams's The Wicked City and Kate Belli's Deception by Gaslight.”—Library Journal

“DiVello maintains a breakneck pace from one brief, datelined chapter to the next. Her pulpy, over-the-top prose credibly evokes the era’s crime magazines, while her fidelity to the characters and the well-documented facts surrounding the unsolved murder give the story extra interest.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Based on a confounding, never-solved true crime and featuring real-life figures, DiVello's latest offers readers all they need to reach their own verdict…DiVello will delight readers with this foray into fiction highlighting Julia Harpman and her remarkable career.”—Booklist (starred review)

Long-winded

I listened to this book on a long drive and though it started off promising, by half-way through it became very, very long-winded. In my opinion, the book should have been more thoroughly edited so that the story of the murder remained the main focus and the action moved along. Instead, even towards the end, the author would put in long text about a character's "development." I had high hopes for this one, but really can't recommend it to anyone.

Not a page turner

I was hoping for more as I kept listening but “more” never appeared. It all fell flat at the end.
Narration was good but story lacked depth & development.

This is not a thriller.

Loved the cover, loved the idea, this is not a thriller. I kept waiting for the thrill because people loved this. It is a historical crime drama not a thriller. Disappointed.

Not a page turner

Started out ok but then dragged on and on. Lost interest and returned the book

Snoozefest

This one was a struggle to finish. What genre is it? Thriller? No thrills here. Suspense? None to be had. Historical fiction? I guess? Way too long and way too boring. Get a new editor and maybe there's something there, but I doubt it.

Incomplete possibilities

It starts off with a promise to be a good thriller in mystery. And while some of it accurately portrays those days, the longer it drags on, the more nonsensical it gets. And the immatation "male" voices are just irratating. But the worst of it: after hours of listening to who really "done it?" is the lack of answers by the ending. Waste of my time.

Disappointed

The story was too long and felt repetitious all too often for the ground covered. Unfortunately, the narrator didn't help as she was most times fine with female voices and had a hard time with men's. As much as I hate to leave mediocre reviews, I am left with an OK rating all around.

Very long-winded tale

I would say this story is more mystery than thriller. I was definitely NOT on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this story but I willingly admit I got lost on many occasions as well as bored.

It felt like we were getting far too many character POVs, many of which didn't add anything to the story itself.

It also seemed like we essentially got everything wrapped up at the end but then there was some sourness.

Additionally, the narrator sounded as though she had a cold (or just spoke nasally) throughout the performance.

Waste of time

I struggled to stay with this title through Ch. 16, hoping it would get better eventually. This book has no tension to keep the listener intense. The book has no logic and unfortunate is very boring. I was also bothered by the disclaimer of the author in the beginning.

So slow

Even listening on 1.7 I gave up in Chapter 18 (77 in total). So incredibly slow. I tried to stick with it but couldn't. Returned without finishing.