Jon StojanKenneth Michael Plaisance, a seasoned attorney with a passion for law and a growing reputation in the literary world, has just released his latest novel – The Return of the New Orleans Jazz Axe Murderer. Launched in May 2024, this captivating book weaves together legal drama, historical fiction, mystical elements, and an action-packed love story. The novel is a complex blend of imagination and real-life events, drawing readers into a world that spans from early 20th-century New Orleans jazz culture to modern-day legal battles.
This author, who was born in New Orleans, is no stranger to the city’s rich history, and his latest book demonstrates his deep connection to its lore. In addition to being an accomplished author, Kenneth is a prominent attorney specializing in employment law, civil rights, and federal appeals. Currently practicing in Houston, Texas, and admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, his over 30-year legal career has informed much of his creative work. This is his second novel, following his debut work – The Argument – which also had its roots in real legal cases.
The foundation for this book emerged from one of Kenneth’s actual legal cases. He represented a police officer in a series of trials that spanned years involving accusations, hidden evidence, and media influence. As this attorney and author explains, the case’s complexities, including legal maneuvering around double jeopardy, were a core inspiration for the book’s legal drama. “Most of the books I’ve written have a legal foundation. I use my cases as the foundation for my novels,” Kenneth shares.
The idea for the new novel is rooted in the real-world legal battle, but Kenneth, ever the creative mind, took it further, blending the facts of the case with elements of mystery, mysticism, and the supernatural. The story revolves around the infamous New Orleans jazz axe murders of 1918-1919, a real event in the city’s history that continues to capture imaginations. Kenneth, however, infuses this historical narrative with a mystical twist. In the book, the main character travels back in time through a portal to the early 20th century, where jazz legends like Louis Armstrong perform in a ‘well-known’ brothel on Basin Street.
“I wanted to give a nostalgic look at prostitution and music in New Orleans when jazz was in its heyday. They had a real jazz axe murderer back then, and that story always fascinated me,” Kenneth reveals. He used his legal expertise to craft a tale that sees a modern-day lawyer transported back to the time of the murders, where he meets a mysterious woman from the past, and together, they unravel the mystery. But as with any good thriller, the axe murderer follows them back to the present, continuing his violent spree. “If you don’t like jazz, you get chopped up,” the author says, capturing the book’s chilling premise with dark humor.
The Return of the New Orleans Jazz Axe Murderer is a multifaceted novel that defies easy categorization. Part legal drama, part historical fiction, and part supernatural thriller, it also weaves in a love story and a deep exploration of New Orleans’ cultural and legal history. Through the lens of this fantastical narrative, readers are introduced to the inner workings of the courtroom as the protagonist navigates a trial that echoes the real-life case this attorney once handled.
While Kenneth Michael Plaisance may be best known in legal circles, his talents as an author are quickly gaining recognition. This latest novel is a testament to his storytelling abilities, and – lucky for the reader – the book is the first of more to come in the same series and possibly even a movie. However, this series is not the only direction he is exploring. With more books planned for the future, he is poised to continue captivating readers with his unique mix of law, history, and imagination.