Floor 24

A Skyline Murder Mystery, Book 1

De: Martin Hill Ortiz

Narrado por: Robert T. Sutherland

A pen falls from a high rise and shatters at the feet of New York World reporter and World War vet Alan Priest. Its broken barrel bears the name and office of Fritch Designs on the 24th floor. On a whim, he investigates. As he reaches floor 24, he finds a window open and a corpse on the sidewalk below. A gawker from a nearby office window recognizes the corpse by her dress, sees Alan looking out the victim’s window and screams.

Someone bolts from the office, and a hasty pursuit ends in a policeman being hurled to his death and Alan being accused of both murders.

He seeks shelter with the help of gentlemen’s club hostess Lorraine Marquette, which lands both of them in police custody. But the mob king of New York has the police in his clutches and soon Alan and Lorraine find themselves released solely to uncover the secret behind Fritch Designs, a secret that could cost them their lives as they evade assassins and brave the lethal heights of a city growing at a mad pace.

Floor 24 is a heart-stopping, old-fashioned adventure with a reckless pace and breakneck twists.

©2024 Martin Hill Ortiz (P)2025 Martin Hill Ortiz

Reseñas de la Crítica

"From the mob underworld to the tops of new skyscrapers, Floor 24 is a heart-thumping New York 1920’s historical mystery!” — Holly Newman, bestselling author of the A Chance Inquiry mystery seriesManhattan, 1926.

Action-packed Noir Murder Mystery

Floor 24 is a gripping historical murder mystery with noir suspense and witty humor. It’s the first installment in The Skyline Murder Mysteries trilogy.

The story follows Alan Priest, a WWI veteran who lost a hand in the war and is now a reporter for the New York World. When out on an assignment, a pen falls from a high-rise building, shattering at his feet. The pen’s barrel bears the name “Fritch Designs” and an address on the 24th floor. Curiosity piqued, Alan ventures to the 24th-floor office to discover an open window and a corpse now on the sidewalk below. A witness spots Alan at the scene, leading to a chaotic pursuit that results in a policeman’s death and Alan being accused of both murders. Seeking refuge on the 16th floor, Alan meets Lorraine Marquette, a gentlemen’s club hostess, who claims to have seen the real culprit fleeing. In a quest to clear Alan’s name, the unlikely duo begin to investigate the enigmatic secrets of Fritch Designs and are immediately thrust into a world of mobsters and corrupt police officers.

The book brilliantly captures the essence of 1926 New York City, with a noir suspense vibe brimming through the pages from start to finish. The already impressive skyline takes center stage throughout the story, becoming a character in its own right. In many key scenes, Ortiz emphasizes the skyline’s shift from stone-faced buildings to steel-framed skyscrapers—a metaphor for a metropolis that’s rapidly evolving while simultaneously becoming a more divided society. The real historical landmarks that become an integral part of the narrative, including the Adams Express Building and the Vanderbilt Mansion on Fifth Avenue, make the novel even more compelling.

The characters in this story are all compelling and charismatic, even the dubious mobsters and morally grey police officers. Alan Priest is an admirable and likable protagonist for many reasons. After the backstory of his wartime injury is revealed, it’s evident that he's a remarkable man with a positive outlook and won’t let any impairment stop him from advancing in life. When he’s wrongfully accused of the murders, his resiliency and determination are further evident, as he’s quick to focus on getting to the truth instead of his dire situation.

Lorraine Marquette is the perfect counterpart to Alan’s strong character. Her experience as a hostess gives her a world of experience with all kinds of men, and she’s not afraid to speak about it or express any opinions. She’s the antithesis of how women were represented in that era—with charismatic boldness, worldly intelligence, and demands of being treated as an equal in her partnership with Alan. In fact, she mostly outshines Alan in several key moments of their investigation, and readers will find her lovable and utterly refreshing. The romance that develops between Lorraine and Alan is foreshadowed by their immediate rapport and flirtatious banter, but it takes a back seat to their investigation and the overall story. With their teamwork and chemistry being the real highlight of the story, let’s hope both characters return and their relationship develops even further in the next two books of the trilogy!

The book has good pacing, with plenty of action scenes and compelling dialogue that is always expanding character development and relationships. The novel's unpredictable narrative and multitude of twists and turns make it a great choice for seasoned mystery readers who are looking for more intricate, unguessable stories. It’s evident that the author did a lot of historical research while writing this novel, as there’s an abundance of interesting information about the city's societal structure, the existing and new skyscrapers of the era, the thriving newspaper industry, and the city’s mob crime network. All of this is seamlessly woven into the narrative without overwhelming the reader, and what’s even more fascinating is that some of the characters in the story were real-life individuals of the time. The epilogue at the end is definitely worth a read or listen—it’s not really an epilogue of the story, but instead more of an “author’s note” providing fascinating insight into the real-life characters and incredible architecture in that pivotal moment in NYC’s history!

Overall, Floor 24 is a unique murder mystery set in a pivotal time in New York’s history that fans of noir suspense, detective sleuthing, and historical fiction will love! It’s a promising start to a new series with its lovable and charismatic lead characters and fascinating exploration of New York City’s early 20th-century architectural and societal structure. If you enjoy unguessable murder mysteries, unlikely duos, and compelling historical fiction, give this book high consideration!

Narrator Performance:

The audiobook of Floor 24 is an engaging, suspenseful listen read by upcoming narrator Robert T. Sutherland. Robert uses a clear and compelling voice to portray protagonist Alan, with an inflection in his tone that matches a New York-sounding voice of the 1920s era that makes the performance more interesting and authentic.

There are a lot of intriguing personalities in this book, including clever mobsters, morally grey police officers, and a very likeable head detective—all of whom Sutherland provides distinct and compelling voices for, giving the audiobook more of a full-cast feel. The POV of this book shifts between protagonists Alan and Lorraine, and Sutherland makes each transition seamless by giving both characters not only convincing-sounding voices but also different pacing and levels of awareness and intelligence. The chemistry between Alan and Lorraine is also well conveyed, and Sutherland's narration of their witty banter is a real highlight of the story.