Carolyn Marie Wilkins author of Murder at the Wham Bam Club, in conversation with Laura West [08/28/25]

Porter Square Books is excited to welcome Carolyn Marie Wilkins for her novel Murder at the Wham Bam Club. Laura West will join Wilkins in conversation.

This event will take place at our CAMBRIDGE store. We offer validated parking in the lot on Roseland St. behind Lesley's University Hall. See parking details below.

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ABOUT MURDER AT THE WHAM BAM CLUB

As Prohibition era speakeasies and Jazz Age excitement reign supreme throughout a deeply divided country at the height of the Roaring 20s, a young psychic in small town Illinois helps the Black community fight crime and corruption in this thrilling historical mystery written by a real-life psychic medium and jazz pianist.

After the death of her brave Harlem Hellfighter husband during the First World War, young widow Nola Ann Jackson returned to her hometown of Agate, Illinois, to live with her Aunt Sarah, a known local psychic. Under her aunt’s care and tutelage, Nola has been learning how to tap into her own intuitive gifts and communicate with the spirits. And she will rely on their insightful guidance when she’s asked to help investigate a woman’s disappearance.

Lilly Davidson, the missing woman, was living at the Phyllis Wheatley Institute for Colored Girls where young ladies are educated and prepared to follow bright futures. But she vanished after a night at the Wham Bam Club where jazz music swings, prohibition is defied, and other vices are encouraged. Lilly was seen fraternizing with Eddie Smooth, trumpeter and leader of the St. Louis Stompers—and a notorious pimp. Nola finds Lilly at the club alive and well, supposedly engaged to Eddie. That same night, the Wham Bam is set afire and Eddie is killed by gunfire, leaving Lilly on the run, a suspected murderer.

Eddie Smooth had shady dealings with Agate’s wealthy elite, Black and white, making plenty of enemies with motives for wanting him dead. He was also a notorious womanizer who left several broken hearts in his wake. To prove Lilly’s innocence, Nola must listen to her spiritual instincts to unravel political schemes and personal vendettas to find a killer desperate to cover up a scandalous conspiracy . . .

PRAISE FOR MURDER AT THE WHAM BAM CLUB

"Murder at the Wham Bam Club is a well-plotted mystery that will introduce mystery lovers to a dynamic new sleuth, Nola Jackson. Culturally rich and full of period detail, this mystery has everything including good food, music, and a paranormal touch.” —Valerie Burns, author of A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death

“In Murder at the Wham Bam Club, psychic Nola Ann Jackson uses her abilities to help her community fight against crime. Set amidst the high times and corruption during the Roaring Twenties Jazz Age, Nola must use psychic arts to save a young woman who goes missing from Wham Bam Club. Fast-paced, scandalous— Nola is a detective to watch.” —Vanessa Riley, award-winning author of Island Queen and The Lady Worthing Mysteries

“Murder at the Wham Bam Club is a powerful, impressive, and entertaining debut with well-developed, diverse, and unforgettable characters. The plotline, descriptions of the characters, and dialogue are so real, it's hard to believe that this is a work of fiction. If you only read a few books a year, make this one of them.” —Mary Monroe, New York Times bestselling author

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Carolyn Marie Wilkins is a practicing psychic medium, a Santeria priestess, and a professor at Berklee College of Music Online. An accomplished jazz pianist and vocalist, she has toured South America as a Jazz Ambassador for the U.S. State Department. She is a member of Crime Writers of Color and Sisters in Crime New England. When she is not writing, performing, or offering Reiki to students at Berklee, Carolyn maintains a private practice in healing and mediumship. She lives in the Boston area.

Laura West is a Master Teacher of Japanese Reiki, Herbalist and Spiritual Counselor who has been “Bringing Eastern Health to the West” since 2009 through her work involving intuitive development, meditations, herbalism (via essential oils) and Reiki. She helps people discover their innate wisdom and their own healing capacity.

Laura has been featured on the radio, on TV and in magazines and blogs. This includes the Gaiam TV blog, Carolyn Wilkins' TV Show - Carolyn's Psychic Playroom, The Herbal Academy blog, Boston Voyager Magazine, Achieve Radio’s Walking the Path Radio Show, All Business Media's Radio Show and meditations featured in the Insight Meditation community, just to name a few. She has also made various guest appearances and collaborations with colleagues in the health and wellness field.

Laura has also supported the work of the Celebration of Reiki, Inc., a Massachusetts non-profit organization dedicated to Reiki education and outreach, serving many roles including conference panelist, conference planner, solo lecturer, and Board of Directors member. In addition to her holistic healing practice, Laura holds a Master of Education degree and has worked in the field of early childhood education since 1999.

PARKING

Porter Square Books: Cambridge Edition offers validated parking in the lot on Roseland St. behind Lesley's University Hall. Roseland Street is accessible by Beacon Street and Mass Ave. When you arrive at the lot, use the screen on the kiosk to get a ticket.

When you're ready to leave, ask for a validation barcode at the cash register. (No purchase necessary.) Parking is free on weekends and weekday evenings from 6PM-7AM. From 7AM-6PM on weekdays the first 45 minutes are free.

Upon exiting the lot, scan your ticket and choose "validation." Then scan the barcode your received from us. If you have an additional charge, you will be prompted to pay after scanning your barcode.

Carolyn Marie Wilkins author of Murder at the Wham Bam Club, in conversation with Laura West

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Carolyn Marie Wilkins author of Murder at the Wham Bam Club, in conversation with Laura West

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Summer Concert Series & Beer Garden

Comedy at Summer Shack ($15 + Free Parking!)

Climb to the Roof of Crane Estate & Explore Historic Ipswich | Save 15% with Code BOSCAL15

Atlantic Wharf's Summer Bash