Blanche Tucker is naïve and desperate to escape her small-town existence in Boynton, OK. She falls prey to the charismatic Graham Peyton, who promises her fame and fortune if she will run away with him. Barely escaping his nefarious plans, Blanche strikes out on her own. Six years later, she is widely known as Bianca LaBelle, the enigmatic movie star. However, when Peyton’s skeletal remains are uncovered, private detective Ted Oliver is hired to find out who killed him. Unfortunately, the clues lead him straight to LaBelle. Did the glamorous starlet murder Peyton? With this new series launch, Casey (“Alafair Tucker” mysteries) performs a little genre-bending, penning a coming-of-age tale within the context of a 1920s-set cozy mystery that could just as easily been ripped from today’s headlines.
VERDICT Old Hollywood, silent film stars, the Jazz Age, and strong female characters all combine to create a solid read for crime fiction fans of all stripes.
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