"The Cloak and Dagger Club"

Jackie McMahon writes murder mysteries with history, twists, and perhaps a romance (or two). She currently resides in Florida with her two cats, and in her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and sharing obscure historical facts she has recently learned.

McMahon applied the Page 69 Test to her new novel, The Cloak and Dagger Club, the first in a new historical mystery series, with the following results:

From page 69:

“His eyes?” she repeated, looking over her shoulder at Frank. “What’s wrong with his eyes?”

Frank observed Horace, who continued to drunkenly mumble. “Horace has some eye problems. He had surgery a while back, but his eyes still get very dry. He has a medication for it, I think.”

“Perhaps we should summon a physician,” Lucy said, but either the group didn’t hear her suggestion, or they ignored it.

“His medicine!” The countess stood straighter and snapped her fingers at her insight. “Yes, someone ought to get his medicine—”

“No!” Horace struggled to sit upright. “No, I’m fine. Dizzy for a moment—that’s all, Elisabeth—”

He rubbed his eyes with clenched fists, while the others stared speechless. First Albert, now Elisabeth. Based on the group’s facial expressions, Lucy suspected they didn’t know who these names referred to, either.

Page 69 drops readers of The Cloak and Dagger Club directly into the action. The crime writing club’s latest meeting has taken a disastrous turn. Horace Hazelmoor, the tyrannical club president, is seemingly drunk and babbling senselessly. All this happens on our main character, Lucy’s, first day at the club, which certainly makes for an interesting welcome.

This page gives readers a glimpse of drama and intrigue that fans of the murder mystery love. Is there any sense in what Horace is saying? Why is he calling people by the wrong names? And what is truly going on with him?

It’s not a spoiler to say that Horace isn’t simply drunk. Soon, he’ll be dead. A victim of murder.

Of course, readers will have to read the preceding 68 pages to fully understand the members of the Cloak and Dagger Club and their dynamics. At the same time, you can see small glimmers of each character’s personality through this small snippet. How someone reacts in a crisis can tell you a lot about them. Lucy is a caring person who feels the urge to help, even though she’s just met Horace. Her love interest, Frank—a natural leader, even if he doesn’t always see it in himself—keeps a calm head and takes charge.

And one of the seven people in the room may know more than they’re letting on.

Who did it, however? You’ll just have to read the rest to find out!

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--Marshal Zeringue