ABOUT THE BOOK:
Hollywood, 1926. Where actors’ and actresses’ dreams can come true. But do they? While silent screen movie stars reign supreme, a film producer is gunned down in cold blood. Enter Rosie, a pretty bit-player, Eddie, her current beau, and Beatrice, her bitter stage-mother. As real celebrities of the time, such as Clara Bow, Lon Chaney, Gloria Swanson, and Rudolph Valentino float in and out, a chase to find the killer exposes the true underbelly of Los Angeles––with all its corruption.
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MY REVIEW:
Trouble In Glamour Town by S.R. MalleryMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Trouble in Glamour Town by S.R. Mallery is a 2017 publication.
Old Hollywood, romance, and a surprising murder mystery!
Rosie and her boyfriend, Eddie are on a movie set when the producer is killed by a long -range shooter. Eddie becomes a person of interest in the case right away, but it also looks as if the syndicate could be involved.
Meanwhile, Rosie struggles to please her mother, who lives vicariously through Rosie, and truly dislikes Eddie, who is not a part of the ‘Hollywood Elite’.
Meanwhile, Frank, the detective assigned to the case struggles with the corruptness in his department, and is tempted to nail Eddie for murder, even though he may not be guilty, just so he might have a chance with Rosie.
If you follow my reviews, then you already know I’m a sucker for stories centered around Old Hollywood. This story was truly a delight for me because the author cleverly inserted real movie stars into the plot.
Lon Chaney gets a pretty prominent role in the book, as does Clara Bow, and other popular actors in the mid-twenties make an appearance as well.
The author did a fantastic job of capturing the vernacular of the day, the moral codes, and the atmosphere in Hollywood in the 1920s. The authenticity created a realistic atmosphere which instantly transported me into the past and held me captive there until I turned the final page.
There is quite a bit going on in this story, such as Rosie's relationship with her cynical mother, Beatrice, the mob ties to the movie industry, the corruption in the police force, the Hollywood scandals and cover ups, and the Rosie’s romance with Eddie, which is tested on more than one occasion. But, the author, once again, managed to find a perfect balance between each thread, blending them together seamlessly.
The murder mystery was a real head scratcher. I didn’t have a clue who the killer was, not in the least- it never even crossed my mind! The glamour, the romance, and drama kept my mind occupied while the mystery gradually deepens, so that I never saw that twist coming!
I truly enjoyed this wonderful, well rounded story. It has everything you could ask for in a story, enhanced by impeccable pacing, and authentic dialogue, and great characters.
If you like the magic of old Hollywood, historical fiction, romance and a good old -fashioned murder mystery, you can't wrong with this book! I highly recommend it!!
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https://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Glamour-Town-S-R-Mallery/dp/1979566070/
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
They say I'm as eclectic as my characters. I've been a singer, a composer, a calligrapher, a quilt artist, and an ESL/Reading teacher. But it is the world of writing historical fiction where I feel I've come "home." It's where I've received various awards and in addition, get to do my second love: Research.
When people talk about the news of the day, or when I listen to music, my overactive imagination likens the story to a similar kind of news in the past, which helps me conjure up scenes between characters I've yet to meet.
