The Bolden Cylinder
A Bruneau Abellard Novel
by Norman Woolworth
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Pub Date 21 Oct 2025 | Archive Date 28 Feb 2026
Level Best Books | Historia
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Description
A potentially momentous discovery. A suspicious fire. A 50-year-old missing person’s case. Are they connected?
When Buddy Bolden died in a Louisiana insane asylum in 1931, a quarter century after his reign as the undisputed first “king” of jazz, he left behind no known recordings. But when quirky New Orleans antiques dealer Bruneau Abellard listens to a vintage phonograph cylinder he found in the secret compartment of a sideboard, he wonders if he has stumbled upon an important piece of musical history. In researching his discovery, Bruneau runs headlong into an arson investigation led by his childhood friend, NOPD Detective Bo Duplessis, which in turn may hold the key to a 50-year-old unsolved missing person’s case.
To untangle their present-day mysteries, Bruneau and Bo must first piece together a perplexing string of puzzles from the distant past. Their parallel investigations immerse them in the rhythm-and-blues subculture of 1960s New Orleans, and transport them to the dawn of the 20th Century, when a brash young musician introduced a new sound to the city, forever changing the course of music history.
Fast-paced and vividly drawn, The Bolden Cylinder introduces a memorable cast of eccentric characters, including a malodorous collector of early R&B memorabilia, a sultry nightclub singer, a reputed mob boss, a 12-year-old tap dancer, and an inscrutable peddler of voodoo paraphernalia. Together, they serve up a savory gumbo of suspenseful intrigue set against the seductive backdrop of a city in which past and present are forever interwoven.
Advance Praise
Praise for The Lafitte Affair, Book One in the Bruneau Abellard series:
"Woolworth's novel is a well-crafted mystery that is beautifully written, educational, and all-around entertaining."-- Kirkus Reviews
"A savory jambalaya that tempts you to take another bite and keep turning pages." -- BookTrib
"The Lafitte Affair is set in contemporary New Orleans but vividly evokes the 1820s. The novel is as much about the city's colorful characters as it is about the unfolding mystery. ... A fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat read. ... Worthy of the big screen!" -- Readers' Favorite
"Bruneau Abellard doesn't necessarily need a mystery on his hands, but his friends think otherwise. With colonial pirate treasure, grave-robbing, decoding secret letters, and ties to
Napoleon, the New Orleans gourmet finds himself tangled in an investigation of international proportions. Wonderfully intriguing; a little gritty and a lot of fun, Woolworth's debut offers good food, great wine and an exceptional whodunit." -- Chris Keefer, author of No Comfort for the Undertaker and Tragedy's Twin, the Carrie Lisbon Mysteries
"Norman Woolworth is a writer with an impeccable eye for detail, and his cleverly plotted novel is infused with the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of New Orleans. His descriptions of food and beverages alone will leave you eager to book the next flight to the Crescent City." -- Proal Heartwell, author of In Beauty It Is Finished and The Boardinghouse
"The Lafitte Affair, exquisitely written and full of delightful plot twists, is peopled with Southern eccentrics drawn with insight, humor, and compassion. Those who love great Southern mystery writers like Greg Isles and John Berendt will appreciate Woolworth's weaving of real-life history with a modern New Orleans flare. Don't miss the first book in this series, featuring gourmand antiques dealer Bruneau Abellard as the quirky, loveable sleuth." -- Claire Holman Thompson, author of The Ring and The Blue Water
"After reading Norman Woolworth's The Laffite Affair we are convinced that this fictional tale could easily have happened. After having experienced our own real-life "Laffite affair" during the research and writing of Jean Laffite Revealed: Unraveling One of America's Longest Running Mysteries, we easily fell into the rhythm of twists and turns laid out in this novel. Knowing the old pirate as we do, we can say with confidence that Woolworth portrays him in a fascinating and yet very believable light." -- Dr. Ashley Oliphant and Beth Yarbrough, co-authors, Jean Laffite Revealed: Unraveling One of America's Longest Running Mysteries
Marketing Plan
- National print and online publicity campaign
- Select book signings and events at on-sale
- Review copy distribution to book reviewers and influencers
- Bookstagram and BookTok campaign
- National digital consumer advertising campaign
- Influencer giveaways
- Goodreads giveaway
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9798898200350 |
| PRICE | US$17.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 320 |
