Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles

Babs Norman Hollywood Mystery #1

by Elizabeth Crowens

Asta, the dog from the popular Thin Man series, has vanished, and production for his next film is pending. MGM Studios offers a huge reward, and that’s exactly what young private detectives Babs Norman and Guy Brandt need for their struggling business to survive. Celebrity dognapping now a growing trend, when the police and city pound ridicule Basil Rathbone and ask, “Sherlock Holmes has lost his dog?” Basil also hires the B. Norman Agency to find his missing Cocker Spaniel.

The three concoct a plan for Basil to assume his on-screen persona and round up possible suspects, including Myrna Loy and William Powell; Dashiell Hammett, creator of The Thin Man; Nigel Bruce, Basil’s on-screen Doctor Watson; Hollywood-newcomer, German philanthropist and film financier Countess Velma von Rache, and the top animal trainers in Tinseltown. Yet everyone will be in for a shock when the real reason behind the canine disappearances is even more sinister than imagined.

Jump into Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles, Book One of the Babs Norman Golden Age of Hollywood Mystery series, Finalist in the Killer Nashville Claymore Awards for Comedy and First Prize winner in the Chanticleer Review’s Mark Twain Awards for Comedy and Satire. Get ready for its sequel, Bye, Bye, Blackbird, featuring Humphrey Bogart and the cast of The Maltese Falcon.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2024

About the author

Elizabeth Crowens has worn many hats in the entertainment industry, contributed stories to Black Belt, Black Gate, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazines, Hell’s Heart, and the Bram Stoker-nominated A New York State of Fright, and has a popular Caption Contest on Facebook.

Awards include: Leo B. Burstein Scholarship from the MWA-NY Chapter, NYFA grant to publish New York: Give Me Your Best or Your Worst, Eric Hoffer Award, Glimmer Train Awards Honorable Mention, two Grand prize, and five First prize Chanticleer Awards. Crowens writes multi-genre alternate history. Her Hollywood mystery Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles will be released in March 2024.

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Reviews

[Melisende · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love reading about old Hollywood and the characters in the book were more than familiar to me. And I loved the take on the Sherlock Holmes story "Hound of the Baskervilles" to provide the plotline. However, I am sorry to say that this one just did not engage with me. I could not get into the character of "Babs" and there was just too many "names dropped" to make this an even enjoyable read for me. As I mentioned in previous reviews of books from this author - the cramped narrative trips over itself. I will not be pursuing the next in the series.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new historical cozy series, and I had a lot of fun as it's witty and fast paced. There's a lot of historical details and I learned a lot about Golden Age Hollywood, the main stars, and the lifestyle.
Sherlock Holmes aka Basil Rathbone dog disappeared and Asta, the Twin Man dog, is missing too. Big rewards are offered for anyone who find them.
Enter Babs Norman and Guy Brandt, a couple of private detectives who badly need money, who will start investigating and trying to find clue about the dogs’ whereabouts. They will discover secrets and something more sinister than a dog missing.
This is a good mystery, unusual and entertaining.
The plot is a bit too complex at times and it alternates very fast parts with some slower and these issues made the storytelling less effective.
As it's the first in a series I'm sure the next one will surely be a very intriguing and the storytelling excellent
Cannot wait to read the next one as this one is compelling, witty and entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Level Books, Partners in Crime Tours, and Elizabeth Crowens this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Katreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

HOUNDS OF THE HOLLYWOOD BASKERVILLES by Elizabeth Crowens
The First Babs Norman Hollywood Mystery

Having left the world of acting and an abusive husband Babs Norman is trying to make it as a Hollywood PI. When she discovers that Basil Rathbone's dog, Leo, has gone missing Babs persuades the star that she is just the woman to find his canine friend. She and her business partner soon learn that Leo isn't the only Hollywood pup to pull a disappearing act. Asta, famed co-star of the Thin Man movies, is also missing and the studio is desperate to get him back. With the help of various film stars and studio workers Babs and Guy try to figure out who is behind the dognapping and why! Will they be able to catch a thief or will this case put them out of business?

I love dogs and many of the films of the 1930s and 40s so I was excited to see a mystery set around these themes. It was fun seeing memorable actors involved in a new fictional mystery, especially the sleuths, Sherlock Holmes and Nick and Nora Charles…well, their “real life” counterparts. Despite having tremendous backstory, somehow the characters seemed flat. Though interesting they came off as two-dimensional.

The pace was slow and Babs and Guy weren’t making much headway in their investigation. That is until the final showdown aboard the Queen Mary. Everything came together perfectly with fast paced action, laugh out loud scenes, and some shocking revelations. I'm still laughing at the play on that famous Marx Brothers scene in A Night at the Opera!

Missing dogs, Hollywood stars, and a woman PI, oh my! HOUNDS OF THE HOLLYWOOD BASKERVILLES brings together Hollywood legends and a new detective in a 1940s era mystery.

[Country Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great mystery read y’all! A little different from my normal modern mysteries, this one was set in the 1940’s and was centered around dogs and finding missing famous dogs. There are two characters that are the main characters in this book, one is Babs, our female MC who is a female PI. She has a partner named Guy and they try to solve mysterious and Hollywood centered cases.
The writing was fantastic and kept me engaged as a reader. I loved the authentic way that the author took time in learning how to have her characters talk and behave for the 1940’s in Hollywood. One of my favorite time periods in history is from the 1940’s-1960’s in America and especially Hollywood.
The story was engaging from the first page to the end of the book where you find out who was kidnapping the dogs and also there is another surprise thrown in! I, of course, will not spoil the book so you need to read it and find out yourselves!
I highly recommend this to all mystery readers
with an emphasis on the older days in Hollywood!

[Michael Rigg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable "romp" through Hollywood in 1940's, along with a star-studded cast of characters, both human and canine. Can't wait for the movie adaptation.

[Sterlingcindysu · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading some very serious books (A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them, James by Percival Everett and The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War, I needed something light! This was a EARC from Netgalley and was published on March 5, 2024 by Level Best Books - Historia.

Something I never saw before--in the intro pages, there's a statement, "Elizabeth Crowens (the author) asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work." Allrighty then!

So, I loved all the references to the golden age of cinema and actors. There was quite a bit of research here! While it focuses on some of the dogs that made the movies then (such as Asta from The Thin Man series and Bringing up Baby and Toto from The Wizard of Oz) of course all the human counterparts are also there.



In fact I got confused when characters were introduced that weren't movie stars, such as animal trainers. I think at times the author would use first names, and then other times last names so about halfway through I really couldn't keep track of anyone. One of the Private Investigators' names is Guy so I keep wondering who the "Guy" was before I realized that was his name. (At one point, he says he uses "Guy" because his real name was Gary Brandt, but he didn't want people to confuse him for Cary Grant--but I googled it and that wasn't Cary Grant's name anyway?)



Not too long ago I read The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, where there's a quote in one of the short stories about the "curious incident of the dog in the nighttime"--that's repeated here.

There's one scene here that I'm sure I've seen in a Marx Brothers movie.


One thing I've never seen in a work of fiction before was the use of dialogue written as in a play, such as:
Babs: blah blah blah
Lockwood: blah blah blah
Babs: blah blah blah
Either the writer is being lazy or editors didn't do their jobs!

Or, instead of a quote from a person in dialogue, the words "her reply: blah blah blah" used.

So, kudos for the great idea and background info on those classic movies...but demerits for too many confusing names, wardrobe changes and plot twists. That finale was really over the top!

[T.G. Wolff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is a comedic, cozy mystery. Babs Norman is a Hollywood stunner, but instead of gracing the silver screen, she’s gumshoeing it through the star-studded streets. Hollywood’s movers and shakers are reeling as canine stars and faithful companions alike are disappearing. Babs must mingle with Tinseltown’s elite to find the hand that holds the leash.

Bottom line: Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is for you if you like cozy-styled mysteries and fun-filled romps through the golden age of Hollywood.

Strengths of the story. One of the shining stars (ha!) of the story was the 1940 Hollywood setting. Crowens took us into the glitz and glamour of the parties, the mansions, and the sets. It was one of the most unique and detailed settings I think I have ever read. The depth of Crowens imagination is a remarkable as she brings a lost world back to life.

The characters surrounding the mystery are just as creatively detailed. Basil Rathbone of Sherlock Holmes fame and his Watson, Nigel Bruce. Myrna Loy and William Powell. Crowens takes what could have been cardboard cut outs of the icons and gives them family, relationship troubles, friends, and secrets – just like normal people. I don’t know how much research Crowens did or if the result was pure imagination, but it was a sweet result.

The character of Babs Norman and her partner Guy Brandt are a good, functional team. They were witty and engaging, but largely played the straight role to the Hollywood icons. I do look to see how much a detective drives the story. In the first half of the book, Babs goes about traditional Q&A which doesn’t yield much success. Then she decides to take a risk, grabbing control of the story and getting it moving forward.

This story has been classified as a cozy, won awards as a comedy, and listed as a historical. The steady pacing and clean storytelling style is a real treat.

Where the story fell short of ideal: When it came to the motive behind the dognappings, it was as solid as it was creative. But inside of that, there were elements that felt underplayed or inconsistent. The number of dogs missing and their fame increases but there is no outcry, it isn’t picked up in the press, etc. It was believable when it was two dogs, but as it grew, I felt like the story didn’t grow with it.

While it is critical that the detective drives their story, the logic of the actions also matters. There was a point where Babs had earned her big break in the case, and then the story took a doglegged turn. She abandoned her first success for a half-heard reference. I had issues with the sudden redirection that seemed to fly in the face of the evidence.

In the category of personal preference, I struggled with the breakdown of the chapters. There are 38 chapters, most of which are seven to ten pages. Then three of the last four chapters were over 20 pages each with subsections. It confused me as I read as I was conditioned to expect the short, quick hitting chapters.

All in all, this was a clean, fun read.

[Tierney Linton · Rating 3 out of 5]

When famous actor Basil Rathbone loses his dog, he brings in Babs Norman and Guy Brandt, young private detectives, to find it. But things are more than they seem in Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles by Elizabeth Crowens.

Babs and Guy are struggling in their business. But when Basil Rathbone asks for their help to find his dog, their fortunes seem to turn. As they investigate the dog’s disappearance, they discover other disappeared dogs, including Asta, the star of The Thin Man series. The more they discover, the more questions are raised, and a deeper plot comes to the surface.

I realized early on that while this book advertises itself as a “Humorous Mystery,” it was very much a Cozy Mystery, but I was ready to give it a chance as I enjoy an old Hollywood setting. My reservations quickly became deep concerns as the book continued. It felt like the author was a huge fan of old Hollywood and wanted to flaunt her knowledge by bringing in everyone working in Hollywood at that time.

The story went in a million different directions, and multiple sections felt utterly disconnected and unnecessary to the plot. Not only that, but the plot went from zero to sixty in one chapter flat. We go from dog kidnappings to Nazis and a hostage situation. It didn’t make sense.

The characters were classic, cozy characters. The main character, Babs, is beautiful without even trying. All the men are attracted to her. She is the cleverest person, and even if she does something that would leave most people considering her a horrible person, it all works out in her favor, and everyone loves her. What bothered me most was how the author wrote Ouida Rathbone. Like most of the characters in this book, Ouida was an actual person, and the way Crowens wrote her was downright disrespectful. She wrote her as a jealous, rude witch who didn’t deserve Basil and who treated Babs horribly because of her own insecurities. If an author wants to create their own character like that, fine. I don’t think it is a good way to demonstrate women supporting women, but that is the author’s prerogative. But to take a real person and disrespect them in that manner was unforgivable.

Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is a callback to Hollywood’s “golden age” and a classic cozy mystery that fans of the genre may enjoy.

[Luis Nuñez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The name and the cover art for this book intrigued me, so I dove right in without knowing much about it.

Right away I was so pleasantly surprised to read that Basil Rathbone was one of the characters, and that was just the beginning…William Powell, Myrna Lloyd, and a slew of actors from the golden era were supporting characters to the protagonist Babs, who is a female private detective. Guy Brandt is her partner, and per tradition, they are barely making it until an important case falls into their lap: Finding Leo, Basil Rathbone’s dog, along with Asta, of The Thin Man movie stardom, and Toto, of The Wizard of Oz fame.

I so enjoyed reading this book, which was full of Hollowood glitz and glamour, intrigue, twists and turns by the minute, Nazis, and missing dogs!

It was so enjoyable to be able to laugh at so many mishaps and funny situations that are described…and there was not a murder in sight!

In the end everything was resolved positively, and the bad guys got their punishment, so I was very satisfied.

Author Elizabeth Crowens did so much research for this book…I tried fact-checking at the beginning and found no contradictory information, so I just let her narrate all the events and historical facts, and enjoy them. At the end she mentions that this is a work of fiction, but that she tried to depict historical facts as best as possible. I congratulate her on doing such an outstanding job of including an immense number of details that added so much to the plot.

I am already looking forward to reading her next book BYE, BYE, BLACKBIRD, featuring Humphrey Bogart and the cast of The Maltese Falcon…it will be a hoot, no doubt.

Thanks to Net Galley and Level Best Books for allowing me to read and advance copy of this book in return for a personal review.

[T K Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can not express how much I wanted to like this book. I was so disappointed.

Set in old Hollywood, a struggling female detective, Babs, is offered a hefty fee to find both Basil Rathbone’s personal pet and also, Asta, dog star of the Thin Man films. This was a golden opportunity for great storytelling. But everything went downhill quickly.

The mystery is overshadowed by an abundance of male stars of the time. Rathbone, William Powell, Dashiell Hammett, Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power. So much supposedly clever banter between the Hollywood types. It very much felt like the author was trying to replicate witty movie dialog from the era rather than conversations between adults.

The final scene..er, chapters, aboard the Queen Mary were exhausting. So much going on with the reader left to figure what is important to the story and what is just attempting to represent films of the day. As Babs and cohorts try to catch the crook, they required a map to find their way around the ship. Sadly the reader is not so lucky to have one and didn’t stand a chance of comprehending where characters were among the many decks and engine rooms fore and aft. Let’s pile on because, why not?, the Marx Brothers show up and things get ridiculous. I’m guessing the author was going for the essence of “madcap” but it was pages that weren’t necessary. An elegant party devolves into a swashbuckling sword fight in the ballroom. And the dogs. Every dog who appeared in movies of the era was mentioned.

I appreciate how much research a historical novel requires but the author -and editors- need to realize how and when to tone down the “oh look what else I know!” bits and pieces of trivia. References that had nothing to do with the story were constant making what should have been an enjoyable book tedious.

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fan of old classic movies? Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is a fun, cozy mystery with cameos from some of 1940’s biggest Hollywood stars. It’s nostalgic, humorous, and full of twists. There’re a lot of cute famous dogs too!

After an abusive marriage & dreams of being an actress fizzled, Babs Norman started her own detective agency with her friend Guy Brandt. When she meets Basil Rathbone star of the Sherlock Holmes movies offering a reward for his missing dog, she begs to be put on the case. But, Basil’s dog isn’t the only one missing, Astra from the famous Thin Man movies, Toto from the Wizard of Oz, and others have been dog napped too. It’s up to Babs, Guy, and Basil, taking on his Sherlock Holmes role, to find the suspects.

This book was really quite unique. I love old movies and so it was fun to see so many stars from that era in the story including Myrna Loy, William Powell, Nigel Bruce, Errol Flynn, the Marx Brothers, and even Humphrey Bogart. The author did a fantastic job capturing their on and off screen personalities.

The mystery is far deeper than a simple dog napping. At times, it was a bit confusing with all the storylines going on at once. There are a host of suspects and red herrings. It all comes down to a nail biting conclusion on the Queen Mary.

Definitely a fun, unique start to a new cozy mystery series. It’ll be fun to see what Elizabeth Crowens comes up with next. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author via Partners in Crime Tours. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 3-3.5 stars

CW: Mild, infrequent swearing & innuendo.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is an engaging light historical Hollywood PI mystery featuring a female in the lead role written by Elizabeth Crowens. Released 24th March 2024 by Level Best, it's 266 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a fun light cozy investigation set in 1940s Hollywood. It's full of dognapping, skullduggery, studio politics, and lots and lots of name-dropping 1940s cinema icons. The writing is competent, and the author does a good job with the characters and settings. The dialogue sometimes falls a bit short, with a little too much witty repartee, but it's not egregious, and it doesn't yank the reader out of their suspension of disbelief.

The mystery plot is well engineered and the action driven plot moves along to a satisfying denouement and resolution. It's supposed to the first book in a series featuring the same protagonist, updated publishing info hasn't been released yet.

Three and a half stars. Light, easy to follow, and enjoyable.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[pawsreadrepeat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Elizabeth Crowens and Partners In Crime Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.

Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles is the first in the Babs Norman Hollywood Mystery series. I love a good cozy mystery and old Hollywood and was drawn to the premise of this book. In this book, Asta, the dog from the popular Thin Man series, has vanished without a trace and his production on his next film is pending. MGM needs to find Asta, NOW! They offer a huge reward. Insert Babs Norman and Guy Brandt, owners of a sinking private investigation business who need this money to save their business. Celebrity dognapping is a growing trend. After being mocked by the police and city pound, Basil hires the B. Norman Agency to find his missing cocker spaniel.

I love dogs and love that this book’s main character is a dog. The characters are also cleverly written with each personality playing well off the others. The scenes are well written and kept me engaged from start to finish. The antics are hilarious and had me laughing throughout. I also loved the Hollywood glam style and era. The author does an excellent job of building suspense while keeping the reader laughing out loud.

I look forward to reading more of this series and seeing how the characters develop. I highly recommend this book to all cozy mystery and dog lovers!

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mystery steeped in the 1940s world of Hollywood. Many of the stars of the day make an appearance and there are many references to movies of the time. Babs is an unusual PI, getting into all kinds of trouble trying to find the missing dogs. She manages to alienate her partner then get him back. She is relentless in her bumbling investigation, however, leading to a suspenseful final confrontation.

The plot contains many layers as more than one mystery is included. The story line wanders a bit between the missing dogs and other possible nefarious deeds of war so the narrative becomes a bit confusing. Readers learn some about animals in movies and how they are trained along with many interesting facts about movies and the books upon which they are based.

Crowens' writing style requires concentration as the dialogue is frequently a bit unusual and the plot movement is sometimes fragmented. I often wondered how a scene fit in to the overall movement of the action. I was impressed with the amount of research that must have done to provide all the references to period people, movies and events.

This is a novel for readers who appreciate an unusual mystery set in the golden time of Hollywood movies. Readers of Sherlock Holmes will also like this historical romp.

I received a complimentary egalley through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Mark Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

The year in 1940, and Babs Norman and Guy Brandt have set up a detective agency. But it is struggling to bring in any money, which is why Babs has just been evicted from her apartment. But the potential for positive cash flow comes when they learn that Hollywood isn’t going to the dogs since their dogs are disappearing. Basil Rathbone’s dog has been kidnapped as has the dog that plays Asta in the Thin Man movies. Since a new Thin Man movie is supposed to start production soon, the studio is desperate to get their canine star back. Can Babs and Guy figure out what is going on?

The draw for this book is old Hollywood, and it is fun spending time with the stars. They are an active part of the plot and at times outnumber the fictional characters. Sadly, the plot is uneven with too much time spent on the antics of the stars. While it does reach a satisfactory conclusion, the plotting is clunky with elements introduced roughly. And there’s a subplot that feels forced and isn’t really resolved. While most of the book felt right historically, I did find a blatant historical error early on. The writing kept us at arm’s length, making the characters thin. This is a book to read for the old stars. If you want a good mystery, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

FINALLY FINISHED.

I was so excited when I read the description of this book. Mystery novels, dogs and Old Hollywood are 3 of my most favorite things. Unfortunately, this was an overly long snoozefest.

There are too many side quests and meaningless scenes. The interrogations are repetitive. There are WAY TOO MANY characters to keep straight: various dog trainers and kennel workers and dog owners. Hollywood stars William Powell, Myrna Loy, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce decide to try their hands at being Nick and Nora Charles and Holmes & Watson in the real world. Various other stars like Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power, the Marx Brothers and Humphrey Bogart show up for...reasons. Dashiell Hammett and Lillian Hellmann are here, too. And we haven't even gotten to the Nazis and dogfights.

Another problem with the book is the pacing. The boring parts where Babs is stumbling her way through trying to solve the mystery drag on forever, but the action parts end way too soon. The ending was abrupt and wrapped up with few stakes. I also had to side-eye how all the women characters automatically hated any women characters they ran into. Such cattiness! (What did Basil Rathbone's wife do to the author, good lord she's painted as a horrible bitchy shrew.)

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read about a female detective and her partner trying to make it in Hollywood as private detectives. There is an insidious plot seemingly going on of someone kidnapping famous dogs. So they leap into the investigation as they partner up with Basil Rathbone of the Sherlock Holmes movies and William Powell of the Thin Man movies. There is a lot of witty banter and references to other stars of 1940. By the end, lots of stars have made their appearances including the Marx Brothers and Errol Flynn.

The plot gets a bit convoluted and becomes a bit farcical, but I still enjoyed the story and setting and would happily read a second entry in this new series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

[Leslie Blatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! I love the 1940s and the movies from that era so this book was perfect for me!
The name dropping of the stars became a game - match the star with their movie!
The premise of the story is famous actors dogs disappearing by a dog napping ring . Asta, the famous dog who belonged to Myrna Loy and William Powell (from the Thin Man) was missing as was Basil Rathbone's dog as well as several other dogs of famous actors. Rathbone took on his Sherlock Holmes on screen persona and works with the private detectives hired to find the dogs.
Loved the dropping of famous names as suspects and their motives. In a way it was like watching a movie, the CONSTANT moving of searching for the dogs was fun. The addition of questions at the end was great for book clubs. I read the book in a day and cannot wait for the sequel: Bye, Bye Blackbird.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed most of this book and was going to rate it a solid 4 stars until they got on the boat. Then the scenes and plot got terribly disjointed.

The female detective Babs and her side-kick Guy are very likable and believable and I appreciated all the movie film references and the research done in writing the book. But the author started to cram too much into the latter part of the book. It was hard to follow how the detectives determined the subsequent facts and it seemed all chance and confusion. The author was trying too hard to be funny - the famous Marx brothers sketch only works visually in the movies!

Maybe the author's second book in this series will be better! I obtained an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love old movies from the 30s and 40s. The Thin Man series is a personal favorite. So I was excited to read this story
Hollywood dog stars are going missing. Including Asta. Young private investigators Babs Norman and Guy Brandt are hired to solve the case with the help of Basil Rathbone in the role of the iconic Sherlock Holmes the three set out to find the dognapers and the reason for this criminal activity.
There lots of laughs and zany interactions with many old time Hollywood stars making an appearance from Myrna Loy, William Powell to the Marxs Brothers.
This was a fun mystery and I enjoyed the references to old Hollywood and seeing old movie stars in a new and different story.
What a fun book and story

[M.C.V. Egan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hobnobbing With Hollywood Stars from the 1930s

An ingenious plot beautifully woven in a personable manner. In this unique 1940 Hollywood mystery the stars of the era become approachable.
The use of historical data both from the political and cinematographical makes the book as entertaining as it is informative.
Clever twists, I don't do spoilers, but of course an era rife with espionage and international intrigue, which Hounds of the Hollywood Baskerville uses brilliantly.
If you are a fan of black and white films from the 1930s and 1940s this book is a must.
So well written that it can also be a fun gateway to that historical era for readers that aren't familiar with the films.
Loved it!!!

[Mike Kanner · Rating 2 out of 5]

You cannot fault Crowens for not researching her era. However, just because you find a fact doesn't mean it needs to be included.

While the basic story (a stolen dog that leads to a spy ring) has potential, the author's inclusion of details that are largely irrelevant slows the narrative. For example, knowing the history of the Los Angeles Library building does not add to the story. Similarly, since the probable audience is fans of 1930s films, there is really no need to include the filmographies of Basil Rathbone, Myrna Loy, and others, as they are distractions.

I bought this when I had only started the second book in the series. I should have waited since I was disappointed in that book as well.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hounds of Hollywood Baskervilles by Elizabeth Crowens is a fantastic read! It is full of drama, fun, and mystery. Private detectives barely doing well until a celebrity contact them about a missing dog. There are plenty of suspects. Each with a possible motive. I love the dark mysterious atmosphere and the hunt for the truth from the detectives. I also enjoyed the Hollywood drama perspective. Readers who love exciting, yet suspenseful stories will enjoy this novel as much as I have. The plus side is it is a historical cozy mystery. Historical mysteries are always the best. The whodunnit is huge in this read.

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Aurelia Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This new cozy mystery pays homage to the Sherlock Holmes story "Hound of the Baskervilles". It was interesting to have “stars” from Hollywood “Golden Age” as both the investigator and the client.

It was a bit old Hollywood, with a sprinkle of Sherlock and a dash of Indiana Jones. There was enough mishaps and mayhem to keep my interest and it will be interesting to see where the series is headed from here; will the characters stay the showrunners or will a spotlight on another Holmes adventure take us in a different direction? I’d be happy with either.

Thank you to Level Best Books and Elizabeth Crowens for this ARC that was provided for me to read and review.

[Lata · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weak writing coupled with a meandering plot with numerous tangents that could have been much more tightly edited, or removed altogether, make this mystery a slog to get through. I had hoped for something fun and fast, but Babs Norman and her partner Guy Brandt bumble and stumble their way through the story, never really convincing me that they knew what they were doing, or that the clues that they found were nothing more than accidents. Couple that with Babs picking suspects based on her jealousy about their wealth and I lost my interest in her and her detective agency pretty fast.

On the plus side, Sir Henry was the standout of the story.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting premise, but the author attempted to add too many different plot swings and twists that left it confusing and hurried. The main storyline would have interesting by itself, without adding the other lines. I also found the inclusion of so many Hollywood stars and some of the byplay they engaged in, led to confusion and unnecessary side stories, Overall, it was disappointing, but some may find it enjoyable.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Craig Kingsman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asta, the dog from the Thin Man movies is missing and Babs Norman is hired to solve the case. But, being a female private eye in the 1940s isn't easy. Police laugh at her. Suspects are dubious. However, Babs is determined to find Asta. Along the way, she discovers the Asta has been dognapped by a dognapping ring. Also missing is Toto, Basil Rathbone's personal dog, and many more. There is a who's who of Hollywood stars making appearances in the story. This was a delightfully fun read. HIGHLYRECOMMENDED. I can't wait for the sequel.

[Holley Desigio · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun if overlong novel

Was able to win a copy of this novel through goodreads. Enjoyed Babs and Guy as characters and their dynamics. As a lover of mysteries, enjoyed that this one was pretty non-violent with dog napping at the heart of it. The mix of historical fiction was interesting, but I felt the mystery could’ve been explained/wrapped up neater. There were a lot of pop culture references which were fun, but not all necessary. The first half was a bit slow, but the second half went much faster. Overall a fun read and an enjoyable popcorn mystery.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Elizabeth Crowens, Level Best Books and Netgalley for access to the advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fun story which involves Hollywood celebrities of the early 1940’s in a mystery involving stolen dogs. Definite vibe similar to the Thin Man books and movies and I was also reminded of Stuart M. Kaminsky’s many books. I enjoyed the story and the involvement of people from classical Hollywood.

#HoundsoftheHollywoodBaskervilles

[Lori D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollywood 1940's

A delightful start to a new series full of movie stars galore and an engaging premise!

B Norman Agency is struggling for business and Babs and Guy are happy to help find a couple of missing Hollywood dogs! What could be easier?

Entertaining and fun with the name drops, Looking forward to more in this series!