Undertones is a ground-breaking reference book on jazz in crime fiction. As the opening historical overview shows, crime and jazz are soulmates in popular (especially American) culture and this book is by far the most exhaustive - but also entertainingsurvey of the interaction of both. The book is divided into two parts. The first is comprised of essays framing some of the jazz crime novels in their historical context and giving the casual reader a better understanding of the genre. Essays on ragtime and the blues offer insight into jazz roots. Other essays are regional (New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Kansas City, San Francisco, Los Angeles (black & white)), or set abroad. Four essays are topical: Private Eyes and Jazz ("Jazz Eyes"), Cops and Jazz, Jazz and Drugs, and Jazz in Spy and Thriller novels. The second part consists of an annotated bibliography of books, short stories and magazines as well as lists of: authors and their series characters, series characters and their authors, geographic locations, crime jazz topics, a chronology, a discography, a "Hot 100 list" and a list of jazz books and short stories by author.