Picture a Boston-born storyteller who swapped a life of high finance for gritty jazz bars and murder mysteries—meet Richard J. Cass! This Maine-based author has hooked readers with his Elder Darrow Mystery series, blending the soulful rhythms of jazz with the dark underbelly of crime fiction. Known for his debut novel, Solo Act, a 2017 Maine Literary Award Finalist, Cass crafts stories that feel like a late-night saxophone solo: raw, soulful, and impossible to ignore.
With a knack for turning dive bars into stages for human drama, Cass draws on his past as a bartender and his love for Boston’s vibrant jazz scene. His tales of Elder Darrow, a recovering alcoholic running a jazz nightclub, have earned praise for their gritty realism and complex characters, making him a standout in Maine’s literary landscape.
The Making of Richard J. Cass
Born and raised in Boston, Richard J. Cass grew up during the turbulent bussing years and graduated from the prestigious Boston Latin School. His path to writing wasn’t a straight shot—he earned an MA in Writing from the University of New Hampshire, studying under literary heavyweights like Thomas Williams Jr. and Joseph Monninger. Cass also honed his craft with luminaries like Ursula K. LeGuin and Ernest Hebert, blending their wisdom with his love for thrillers by Alfred Hitchcock and modern crime authors like Dennis Lehane and Robert Parker. Before diving into novels, he ran a technical writing business and taught creative writing, but the pull of storytelling proved too strong to resist.
Richard J. Cass’s Unforgettable Stories
Cass’s Elder Darrow Mystery series is the heart of his work, kicking off with Solo Act (2016), where Elder, a recovering alcoholic, buys a rundown Boston bar to transform it into a jazz hotspot—only to stumble into a murder mystery. The novel’s vivid setting and sharp dialogue earned it a spot as a 2017 Maine Literary Award Finalist. Its prequel, In Solo Time (2017), digs deeper into Elder’s world, winning the 2018 Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. Burton’s Solo (2018) shifts focus to Detective Dan Burton, offering a fresh angle, while Sweetie Bogan’s Sorrow (2020) weaves a tangled web of gangsters and heartbreak. Mickey’s Mayhem (2021) keeps the series humming with drug schemes and financial fraud.
Cass’s style is a love letter to noir, infused with Boston’s working-class grit and jazzy undertones. His characters, like Elder, wrestle with personal demons—addiction, loss, love—while navigating conspiracies and murders. Critics praise his “wonderfully textured” prose and ability to evoke Boston’s fatalistic charm, drawing comparisons to Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series. Whether it’s a seedy bar or a rain-soaked alley, Cass’s settings pulse with life, making readers feel like they’re sipping whiskey at the Esposito.
Why Richard J. Cass Matters
Richard J. Cass has carved a niche in crime fiction by marrying jazz’s improvisational spirit with the hard-boiled intensity of noir. His Elder Darrow series isn’t just about solving crimes—it’s about flawed people seeking redemption in a city that doesn’t forgive easily. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America and Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, Cass champions the genre, mentoring aspiring authors and blogging for Maine Crime Writers. His work captures Boston’s soul while shining a light on Maine’s growing literary scene, proving small-town authors can pack a big punch.
- Born: Boston, Massachusetts
- Key Works: Solo Act, In Solo Time, Sweetie Bogan’s Sorrow
- Awards: 2017 Maine Literary Award Finalist, 2018 Maine Literary Award Winner
- Fun Fact: Cass once worked as a bartender, inspiring his vivid barroom settings.
Ready to get lost in a world of jazz, crime, and Boston grit? Snag Solo Act and dive into Richard J. Cass’s thrilling Elder Darrow series!