Velma Gone Awry

A Brooklyn 8 Ballo Mystery

By: Matt Cost

Narrated by: Colin Martin

Award-winning author Matt Cost brings us back to Brooklyn in the Roaring 20s and introduces us to Hungarian private eye, Eight Ballo, who is hired to find the daughter of a wealthy businessman. The search will lead him to cross paths with Dorothy Parker, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins, Bugsy Siegel, Babe Ruth, and many more as he tries to uncover why Velma went awry.

Eight Ballo’s mother was certain he was going to be born a girl, but when he comes out a boy, she writes down simply the number eight, as he has seven older siblings. She meant to change it to a real name at some point, but never got around to it.

Now, in his mid-30s, Eight is a college educated man, a veteran of the Great War, jilted in love, and has his own private investigator business. He enjoys his friends, a good book, jazz music, and a very simple life. When he is hired to find the young flapper daughter of a German businessman, life suddenly becomes much more complicated.

©2023 Matt Cost (P)2023 Matt Cost

It's the roaring 20s, with emphasis on roaring

Matt Cost tells a thrilling mysterious tale with Velma Gone Awry. I did read the print version of the story, and enjoyed it, but I also really enjoyed this audiobook. This narration really brought this story to life. This is a new story from Matt Cost, and one of his most interesting. The listener is introduced to 8 Ballo, yes, his name is 8, as his mother never got around to giving him a real name. That is just the start of this intriguing and intense character. 8 grows up and becomes a private investigator, and I love myself a good PI story, especially with unique and interesting characters. 8 is a complex man, a veteran of WWI, a college graduate, and he just loves life, as simple as possible. Then, he is hired to find a young girl, a flapper of the time, making life a bit more ... well more of organized chaos, and complex. This is one of those stories that grabs you from the start and pulls you in. I'm a big fan of this author! The characters are so real, it's like being with them within the story. The listener just embarks on a superb journey. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn't put it down. Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. I just love, love, love this story. The author's technique of raw, magnetic characters and great plotlines is a gift. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. 8 develops through out the story, and gives some insight to his past, and who he is and how he is now, with the grand instinct to do his job. Velma Gone Awry on audiobook is a definite listening recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to listening to many more titles by this author. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who listens to this book, to also write a review.

Flappers, Mystery and Ballo

Eight is hired to track down Velma, the young daughter of a wealthy German businessman. Eight finds himself neck deep in the mob, multiple murders, and discovers he’s enamored with Velma. The question is, will Eight make it out alive?

The author, Matt Cost, is a riveting writer! He takes unique characters and blends them together into polished and captivating stories. The storyline was smooth and flawless, authentic not only historically but true to the characters as well. He develops each character in time with the story and with depth that is intriguing and engaging. Cost is adept at building emotional connections between the listener and the main characters. Granted, you may not love all the characters, but you will respond to them! Cost is versatile and easily captures the attention of the listener/reader.

The narrator, Colin Martin is impressive. He gives each character a unique voice that captures and projects the personality of each character in rich tones. He speaks clearly and with appropriate enthusiasm. Between Cost and Martin, the story came to life!

I loved this book! It was well-written and reflected the noir genre accurately. A must listen.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.

Familiar faces in a fresh story

With the first mention of Dorothy Parker, I was intrigued. In VELMA GONE AWRY, author Matt Cost brings “Dottie” to life with all the wit and snark I always imagined. Her Algonquin Circle counterparts Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald also make an appearance, as do Bugsy Siegel, Babe Ruth, and other names of the era. But these familiar faces aren’t just cameos; they are essential players in Cost’s novel that skillfully weaves historical mystery with suspense, romance, and a little action. At the center of the story is 8 Ballo, who is not your typical hardened detective. He’s a complex mix of street-wise and philosophical, a sort of renaissance man-cop who brings to mind Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, and other classic noir detectives. 8 holds his own against the more colorful cast members, including the flamboyant Velma—especially when the reader gets a glimpse into his past. Matt Cost draws you into a vivid landscape of 1920s Brooklyn with an atmosphere that is elegant and alluring on one side, gritty and dangerous on the other. The dialog is sharp, the settings and characters well illustrated, and the pacing perfect. A great story that takes the reader on a delightful trip back in time.