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The Godfather of Dance (The Jade Riley Mysteries) Paperback – December 24, 2023

by Andrea Barton (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 30 ratings
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The unsolved murder of a ballroom dancer sets rookie journalist Jade Riley on a hunt for the killer.

Journalist Jade is determined to write a career-defining article. Her dance instructor Anton wants to know who killed his fiancée. Caught between the glamorous world of ballroom dance and Anton’s dark past in the Valencio crime family, can they solve the murder before they become the next targets?

Anton’s sister, desperate to protect family secrets, tries to stop the investigation. The siblings are on a collision course, challenging the Valencio maxim: loyalty to family no matter what.
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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 1
    The Jade Riley Mysteries
  2. Print length
    326 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    December 24, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.74 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1590886429
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1590886427
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A riveting mystery spanning Houston and New Orleans that doesn't let up the pace." - Sarah Hawthorn, author of The Dilemma

"A new heroine to fall in love with."- Bella Ellwood Clayton/author of Weekend Friends

"The tension. The pace. Excellent. A definite page-turner. Finished it after midnight." - Lisa Heidke (Darcy)/author of Should You Keep a Secret?

"A compelling story, with many twists and surprises, driven by sharply drawn characters who keep revealing new aspects to themselves." - Nadine Davidoff/Editor

"I thoroughly enjoyed this story-it has an absolutely cracking pace, so many fabulous twists, and a female lead I could relate to. Andrea hooked me and just when I thought the pressure was easing, she added some more." - Kate Murdoch/author of Stone Circle

"'Edge of your seat' reading." - Sue Anderson/Editorial Head NAC

"The author's descriptions are terrific. As the action moves from one city to the next, there is a palpable sense of place. The everyday choreography of people moving around a space is well executed, particularly the dance sequences which show specialized knowledge of this field. Similes and analogies, too, often produced great visual imagery. It's a cracking read-fast-paced. Never a dull moment!" - Diane Clarke/author

About the Author

Andrea, author and fiction editor, runs the book editing company Brightside Story Studio. Her writing credits include The Winding Narrative blog, several short stories, two picture books and nine stage productions about contemporary social issues. She has also co-authored/edited two anthologies about expatriate life. The Godfather of Dance is her first novel.An electrical engineer turned career consultant, Andrea spent 12 years enjoying the exhilaration and dislocation of life as an expat in Nigeria, USA, and Qatar with her husband and two children. She has now repatriated to Australia, where she commutes between Melbourne and Mansfield. Along the way, she developed a passion for ballroom and Latin dance, helped to build a school, got bogged in both the Qatari and Australian deserts and had an accidental hallucinogenic experience in Peru.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wings ePress, Inc. (December 24, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1590886429
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1590886427
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.74 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 30 ratings

About the author

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Andrea Barton

Andrea Barton

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Andrea, author and fiction editor, runs the book editing company Brightside Story Studio. The Godfather of Dance: A Jade Riley Mystery is her debut novel. Her other writing credits include The Winding Narrative blog, several short stories, two picture books, nine stage productions about contemporary social issues, and she has co-authored/edited two anthologies about expatriate life.

An electrical engineer turned career consultant, Andrea spent 12 years enjoying the exhilaration and dislocation of life as an expat in Nigeria, USA, and Qatar with her husband and two children. She has now repatriated to Australia, where she commutes between Melbourne and Mansfield. Along the way, she developed a passion for ballroom and Latin dance, helped to build a school, got bogged in both the Qatari and Australian deserts and had an accidental hallucinogenic experience in Peru.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
30 global ratings
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5 Stars
Love this book!
So excited to connect with the author of this book for the book launch! She is great and so is her book. This book has it all. There’s romance, mystery and adventure. A really fun read! Can’t wait for the second book in the series!
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Top reviews from the United States

Caitlin Avery
5.0 out of 5 stars The mob meets La Mamba.
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024
Verified Purchase
I was ‘swept off my feet’ by this action-paced mystery about a son trying to hide from his criminal family. When young reporter, Jade takes dance lessons from bad boy, Anton, she learns about a murder mystery to that will change her journalistic trajectory if she solves it. I enjoyed getting to know the world of competitive dance and this family of mob-inspired backstabbers. The Godfather of Dance is a whodunit with flair.
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@callistoscalling
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice to meet you, Jade Riley!
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
Amidst the glitz and glamor of ballroom dancing, darkness lingers on the edge of the dance floor. Anton’s grief is still heavy after the murder of his fiancée, especially since the crime remains unsolved. Jade is not only determined to learn the art of ballroom dance, she wants to use her journalistic skills to solve the murder and change the trajectory of her career. When the two passions collide, it creates a brilliant story with so many perfectly interwoven pieces, from grief to tumultuous family dynamics and illegal dealings. Non-stop action that ends with a wild twist, I am so excited to see more of Jade Riley!
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Raolee
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing thriller and page turner.
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2024
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This book is tough to put down. I have enjoyed reading it. The thrill and suspense are so believable, especially since I could relate to the geographical location of the settings - From The Woodlands, TX, to New Orleans.
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Whitney Van Nuis
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
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So excited to connect with the author of this book for the book launch! She is great and so is her book. This book has it all. There’s romance, mystery and adventure. A really fun read! Can’t wait for the second book in the series!
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Whitney Van Nuis
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
So excited to connect with the author of this book for the book launch! She is great and so is her book. This book has it all. There’s romance, mystery and adventure. A really fun read! Can’t wait for the second book in the series!
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Tara N Faseler
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Book!
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2024
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The Godfather of Dance is a very well written book. Loved the characters. The entire book was filled with suspense which was brilliant.
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AEC
4.0 out of 5 stars A mafia family murder mystery with dance!
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
Dance and crime, what is not to like about this book? This is action packed and follows Jade trying to uncover the mystery that surrounds the Valencio family. Jade has taken a leap of to move from Australia to the US. So this story is an introduction to her character and her new life. I enjoyed the mix of crime and romance. I am looking forward to the next installment!
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Amorina Carlton
5.0 out of 5 stars Crossover Mystery, Mafia Romance Vibes
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024
This murder mystery gripped me from the start. Unfamiliar with the world of dance or organized crime, I couldn't help but read one more chapter until long after bedtime.

Mafia romance isn't my thing, or at least it hasn't been. While this book hasn't converted me, it's definitely intrigued me. Also, that's not what I'd classify this as, but it definitely dabbles. This genre-bending tale a little bit of something for the romance lover, the mystery lover, the noir lover, the cozy mystery lover, the action lover, the family drama lover, and probably tons of others.

I will almost always pick up a book when the protagonist is a journalist. Call it morbid curiosity I suppose. Like so many of us, Jade clearly wants to make a difference while also making a name for herself. And she's got maybe a little too much ambition. But I love her oomph and her character. She forms a great crew, and I can't wait to see where they go from here.

She has a lot of growing to do, as do most of the characters presented. It was so interesting to see all the points of view and try to figure out who might be the killer - someone we knew or some unknown third party. The twist at the end was an absolute shock. And there were others along the way, some devastating. This is the author's first book, and she did not pull any punches. She took bold chances, and I believe they paid off. It was perfect and a little heartbreaking.

As someone who actually lives in New Orleans, I appreciate that the author has presented some of the real city - outside of Bourbon Street and the French Quarter for once - that for the most part made sense in the context she used them.

CWs: Murder, Violence, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Corrupt Police, Organized Crime, Dysfunctional Family, Adult Situations, Adult Language
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marbooks88
5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery on the Dance Floor
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
Set against the backdrop of competitive dance this captivating mystery has it all - sparkles, friendship, love, family loyalty, betrayal, and a crime family right in the middle of it all. The relationships are a big part of the story and watching them develop and deepen added to my engagement with the story.As the pieces of the puzzle came together I thought I had it figured out only for there to be a twist that had me questioning my conclusion. All in all an engaging mystery. When new reporter Jade discovers that her dance partner Anton’s fiance was murdered she latches on to the story and will not let go. What she doesn’t realize is that by investigating she is putting herself and Anton in danger. The closer she gets to the truth the more dangerous it becomes. Can she figure it out before it is too late? I hope that there are more books in the series and so I can spend more time with Jade.
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Top reviews from other countries

Lisa Turchyn
5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner
Reviewed in Canada on January 29, 2024
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Wow - Andrea hit this one out of the park! It was so fast paced and exciting that I couldn’t put the book down. The author did a brilliant job at developing the characters from the start. I felt like I knew them all. I cannot wait for her next book!
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sarah bourne
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2024
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Hard to believe this is a debut novel - the writing flowed so well, the characters were engaging (even the baddies!) and the plot had more twists and turns than a helter-skelter! Also nice to have a crime/thriller novel with a journalist as the protagonist instead of a detective. And a tango-dancing journalist at that! Sizzling dance scenes - you could almost hear the air crackling between Jade and Anton as they danced. Tension, drama, high-stakes - this book had it all. Highly recommend.
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susannah hardy
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!
Reviewed in Australia on April 20, 2024
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I picked up The Godfather of Dance by Andrea Barton, knowing very little about it – and I literally couldn’t put it down. A fast-paced page-turner from the opening paragraph, with an original and compelling storyline and extremely well drawn characters. Jade Riley is a young journalist, ambitious to make her mark. Anton, her ballroom dance instructor with a dark past, is looking for the murderer of his fiancée. He also happens to be a member of notorious Valencio crime family and Jade is suddenly embroiled in a dangerous family feud. The action flows beautifully until the final page, with intricate twists and turns, effortlessly woven into the glamour and competitiveness of ballroom dancing. Barton has done a wonderful job with this fabulous debut - I can’t wait to read Jade Riley’s next exciting mystery.
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WombatWriter
5.0 out of 5 stars First of The Jade Riley Mysteries
Reviewed in Australia on January 7, 2024
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Journalist Jade Riley – an Aussie living and working in the USA – is dogged (reckless?) in her pursuit of answers to an unsolved murder. Her love of dancing leads her to the mysterious Anton and his underworld family.
The author expertly glides between narrators and locations and the dance sequences are a treat. The Godfather of Dance is Andrea Barton’s first novel (although she has other writing credits under her belt) and I believe there will be another Jade Riley Mystery published in the near future.
With plot twists to match the dance moves, there’s plenty to keep you turning the pages. It’s an unpredictable story with an ending that has me looking forward to the next one.
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Diane Clarke
5.0 out of 5 stars Edge of your seat thriller!
Reviewed in Australia on January 1, 2024
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Jade Riley, rookie Australian journalist living in Houston, Texas, needs a good story. When she stumbles on the unsolved murder of Danica, the partner of Anton her dance instructor, she throws herself into an investigation which brings her up against the dangerous Valencio crime family.
This fast-paced thriller is Andrea Barton’s debut. As Jade unravels the mystery, the action moves between Houston, New York and New Orleans where each location is skilfully described. The characters are engaging, with their own motivations, talents and flaws. I particularly enjoyed the dance sequences involving Jade and Anton, which offer a rare storyline to the thriller genre. They sizzled! Finally, the mystery is clever, keeping the reader guessing until the final heart-pumping scenes. Highly recommended. I couldn’t put it down.
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