Willowjean "Will" Parker is our narrator, a circus runaway who in 1942, starts working for New York's best Private Investigator, Lillian Pentecost.  The main story is set in 1945, just after peace has been declared, as a rich widow is bludgeoned to death with a crystal ball following a big, boozy Halloween party at her home.  It's a locked room mystery involving messages from the dead, a seductive spiritualist, and the beautiful daughter of the deceased, who Will quickly starts falling for.  

I love the characters, Will's certainly my new favourite for "best imaginary person to go for a drink and a dance with", and I also love the setting (not the most vivid New York description, but in terms of the social background of the story and the way they are trying to help people that need it, but also get paid well once in a while.)