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Dame Alice Hits Hollywood: A Cozy 1930s Mystery Featuring Author-Turned-Sleuth Dame Alice Cartwright
April 1937: When Penelope Greenleigh, assistant at Ten Spot Press, learns she'll be heading to Hollywood to supervise script changes on the set of Lady Irwin's Diamonds , she should be thrilled. Who wouldn't want to mingle with movie stars in sunny California?
But there's a Penelope, 29 and from Cape May, New Jersey, has been asked to impersonate Dame Alice Cartwright, the world's bestselling mystery author, who's 47 and lives in Copley-on-the-Wold, England.
On the night Penelope arrives in L.A., Lady Irwin 's lead actress disappears and a Harry Winston necklace goes missing. Soon, gossip columnist Hattie Holiday threatens to expose Penelope's deception, mobsters are coming after the film's boozy director, and worst of all, Dame Alice's script has gone from murder mystery to Fred and Ginger-style musical!
The action unfolds at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Trocadero, and hotspot Chasen's as Penelope works to solve the crimes alongside a handsome detective and a hapless studio flunky. Can she find the diamonds, the actress, and survive a wild week in Hollywood?
But there's a Penelope, 29 and from Cape May, New Jersey, has been asked to impersonate Dame Alice Cartwright, the world's bestselling mystery author, who's 47 and lives in Copley-on-the-Wold, England.
On the night Penelope arrives in L.A., Lady Irwin 's lead actress disappears and a Harry Winston necklace goes missing. Soon, gossip columnist Hattie Holiday threatens to expose Penelope's deception, mobsters are coming after the film's boozy director, and worst of all, Dame Alice's script has gone from murder mystery to Fred and Ginger-style musical!
The action unfolds at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Trocadero, and hotspot Chasen's as Penelope works to solve the crimes alongside a handsome detective and a hapless studio flunky. Can she find the diamonds, the actress, and survive a wild week in Hollywood?
- GenresFiction
139 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2024
38 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 29, 2023
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Bestselling mystery author, Dame Alice Cartwright has one of her books, Lady Irwin’s Diamonds, being made into a movie and her presence has been demanded by the Hollywood powers that be for any rewrites necessary. Well, she has no intention to travel from Copley-on-the-Wold, England to California so her publisher makes arrangements with one of their employees to impersonate the Grand Dame. It’s not going to be as easy as the publisher thinks but 29-year-old Penelope Greenleigh, from Cape May, New Jersey will do her best to be as much like the British woman almost 20 years her senior as she can.
Penelope’s first night in L.A. is filled with all kinds of drama when the movie’s lead actress goes missing at the same time as a necklace from Harry Winston disappears. It also appears that Penelope’s impersonation is going to be revealed by gossip columnist Hattie Holiday. If that isn’t bad enough the movie’s director has decided to turn the production into a musical complete with song and dance numbers. The publisher and the real Dame Alice are going to be furious.
Penelope has her work cut out for her. Can she keep her identity hidden while trying to track down a missing actress and the diamonds? This trip sure isn’t anything like she thought is would be.
Hollywood 1937, the movies were in black and white, and Greta Garbo, Loretta Young, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and more were in the starring roles. Penelope Greenleigh hits the scene and tries to pull off her own acting job with the help of her friend Molly. Toby McBoil, a now-fired studio production assistant and tonic inventor gets involved when they try to find the missing actress and the diamonds. This leads to some wildly funny moments.
The story opens up further when the missing diamonds are linked to other missing items taken by the Beverly Hills Burglar. Penelope was doing whatever she could to keep her job, Molly had the Hollywood contacts, and Toby was the gullible guy, up for anything to get his job back. We also have gossip columnist Hattie Holiday, beer producer Barry King, and soup mogul, Morty La Coque. All the characters in this story are cleverly created and each is quirky in their own right.
The mysteries were well-plotted and all flowed with ease. Each has unique twists and turns. Whether it be missing diamonds, a missing person, a couple of shady producers, movie and beer, or the Beverly Hills Burglar all come together in a fun and entertaining way.
I really enjoyed traveling back to the old days in Hollywood and the name-dropping that was done. It was also great to take in all the old haunts of The Brown Derby and The Beverly Hills Hotel of yesteryear. Oh, and the clothes, detailed descriptions created wonderful images in my mind. The author captured the time period perfectly.
I love old movies, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, David Niven, Myrna Loy, William Powell, the list could go on and on. I remember watching the movies with my mom for years and now when I watch them I have such wonderful memories. This story invoked similar memories as it played out just like one of those old movies.
Dame Alice Hits Hollywood was an amusing and quick romp that I really enjoyed. Classic Hollywood and cozy mysteries make a great team. I am very excited for this series to continue. It looks as if Dame Alice and her new friends are headed to the south of France. I can’t wait to see what mischief these characters get caught up in next.
Bestselling mystery author, Dame Alice Cartwright has one of her books, Lady Irwin’s Diamonds, being made into a movie and her presence has been demanded by the Hollywood powers that be for any rewrites necessary. Well, she has no intention to travel from Copley-on-the-Wold, England to California so her publisher makes arrangements with one of their employees to impersonate the Grand Dame. It’s not going to be as easy as the publisher thinks but 29-year-old Penelope Greenleigh, from Cape May, New Jersey will do her best to be as much like the British woman almost 20 years her senior as she can.
Penelope’s first night in L.A. is filled with all kinds of drama when the movie’s lead actress goes missing at the same time as a necklace from Harry Winston disappears. It also appears that Penelope’s impersonation is going to be revealed by gossip columnist Hattie Holiday. If that isn’t bad enough the movie’s director has decided to turn the production into a musical complete with song and dance numbers. The publisher and the real Dame Alice are going to be furious.
Penelope has her work cut out for her. Can she keep her identity hidden while trying to track down a missing actress and the diamonds? This trip sure isn’t anything like she thought is would be.
Hollywood 1937, the movies were in black and white, and Greta Garbo, Loretta Young, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and more were in the starring roles. Penelope Greenleigh hits the scene and tries to pull off her own acting job with the help of her friend Molly. Toby McBoil, a now-fired studio production assistant and tonic inventor gets involved when they try to find the missing actress and the diamonds. This leads to some wildly funny moments.
The story opens up further when the missing diamonds are linked to other missing items taken by the Beverly Hills Burglar. Penelope was doing whatever she could to keep her job, Molly had the Hollywood contacts, and Toby was the gullible guy, up for anything to get his job back. We also have gossip columnist Hattie Holiday, beer producer Barry King, and soup mogul, Morty La Coque. All the characters in this story are cleverly created and each is quirky in their own right.
The mysteries were well-plotted and all flowed with ease. Each has unique twists and turns. Whether it be missing diamonds, a missing person, a couple of shady producers, movie and beer, or the Beverly Hills Burglar all come together in a fun and entertaining way.
I really enjoyed traveling back to the old days in Hollywood and the name-dropping that was done. It was also great to take in all the old haunts of The Brown Derby and The Beverly Hills Hotel of yesteryear. Oh, and the clothes, detailed descriptions created wonderful images in my mind. The author captured the time period perfectly.
I love old movies, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, David Niven, Myrna Loy, William Powell, the list could go on and on. I remember watching the movies with my mom for years and now when I watch them I have such wonderful memories. This story invoked similar memories as it played out just like one of those old movies.
Dame Alice Hits Hollywood was an amusing and quick romp that I really enjoyed. Classic Hollywood and cozy mysteries make a great team. I am very excited for this series to continue. It looks as if Dame Alice and her new friends are headed to the south of France. I can’t wait to see what mischief these characters get caught up in next.
July 23, 2023
DAME ALICE HITS HOLLYWOOD by Allie Mahoney
The First Dame Alice Mystery
When Farley Brothers studio request Dame Alice come to Hollywood to make script changes for their latest film, Lady Irwin's Diamonds, Ten Spot Press is on it. After all the British mystery author is their biggest client. The only problem, she refuses to leave the Cotswolds. Not one to give up, the publishing company sends assistant Penelope Greenleigh, a twenty-nine year old New Jersey native to impersonate the forty-seven year old tweed wearing British writer. What could go wrong? A missing actress, a stolen necklace, and a gossip columnist who just may expose her, that's what!
DAME ALICE HITS HOLLYWOOD is a fun romp in 1930s Hollywood filled with parties, jewelry heists, veiled and not so veiled references to stars of the time, and lots of misdirection, reinvention, and flim flam. Poor Penelope, forced to wear hot tweed and appear dowdy in sunny California, fearing exposure at any moment. She's a great protagonist, almost as great as...well, you'll see. She's lucky to be surrounded by great sidekicks, her best friend Molly and the effervescent Toby. I'm partial to Mr. Agra myself. Indeed it's not the stars, but the regular people that make the world go round, and help solve the mysteries.
The first Dame Alice Mystery gets into the spirit of this era. I really enjoyed the references to the popular people and places of the time, from eating at the Brown Derby, using the Marx Brothers as a ruse, to talking with Bing Crosby's maid. I love the interconnectedness, just how many people from New Jersey are there in Hollywood?!
Reminiscent of the screwball comedies of the time DAME ALICE HITS HOLLYWOOD is a fast paced entertaining mystery. Grab a cocktail and pretend to listen to The Beverly Hills Off-Duty Policeman's Jazz Quartet and settle in for a good time!
The First Dame Alice Mystery
When Farley Brothers studio request Dame Alice come to Hollywood to make script changes for their latest film, Lady Irwin's Diamonds, Ten Spot Press is on it. After all the British mystery author is their biggest client. The only problem, she refuses to leave the Cotswolds. Not one to give up, the publishing company sends assistant Penelope Greenleigh, a twenty-nine year old New Jersey native to impersonate the forty-seven year old tweed wearing British writer. What could go wrong? A missing actress, a stolen necklace, and a gossip columnist who just may expose her, that's what!
DAME ALICE HITS HOLLYWOOD is a fun romp in 1930s Hollywood filled with parties, jewelry heists, veiled and not so veiled references to stars of the time, and lots of misdirection, reinvention, and flim flam. Poor Penelope, forced to wear hot tweed and appear dowdy in sunny California, fearing exposure at any moment. She's a great protagonist, almost as great as...well, you'll see. She's lucky to be surrounded by great sidekicks, her best friend Molly and the effervescent Toby. I'm partial to Mr. Agra myself. Indeed it's not the stars, but the regular people that make the world go round, and help solve the mysteries.
The first Dame Alice Mystery gets into the spirit of this era. I really enjoyed the references to the popular people and places of the time, from eating at the Brown Derby, using the Marx Brothers as a ruse, to talking with Bing Crosby's maid. I love the interconnectedness, just how many people from New Jersey are there in Hollywood?!
Reminiscent of the screwball comedies of the time DAME ALICE HITS HOLLYWOOD is a fast paced entertaining mystery. Grab a cocktail and pretend to listen to The Beverly Hills Off-Duty Policeman's Jazz Quartet and settle in for a good time!
July 20, 2023
Oh, the good old days. When guys were guys, and dolls were dolls….oops, my love of musicals is showing. Dame Alice Hits Hollywood takes place in old Hollywood. 1937 to be exact. Dame Alice Cartwright’s books are selling like hotcakes, and Hollywood has gotten a hold of one. They’re turning it into a movie that’ll be exactly like the book….if only that’s the way Hollywood worked. Raise your hand if you think the book is always better. Me too. Nevertheless, Dame Alice has provided a script for the movie, and in typical Hollywood style, they want to make “some” changes. They need the author, but Dame Alice doesn’t want to leave England to travel to Hollywood.
Enter Penelope Greenleigh, professional impersonator. Kidding! Penelope is a 29 year old from New Jersey and is an assistant at Ten Spot Press. Poor Penelope has to impersonate a 47 year old British author! As you can imagine, madcap comedy and chaos ensues. The movie company wants all kinds of rewrites, and they want it to be a musical now! Then jewels go missing. People go missing! The show must go on….
Dame Alice Hits Hollywood hits the right notes with the characters, plot, mystery, and comedy. I loved the main characters. Their interactions and the situations that they get themselves into are so funny! They’ve got loads of personality, and I am excited to meet up with them in the next book! The author does a great job of describing the settings and the clothes! Don’t you love how they dressed in the 30s? And the actors from that era! I adore classic movies and musicals, so this was especially entertaining for me.
If you’re a fan of cozies, classic movies, musicals, and madcap comedy (and don’t mind a bit of language), you’ll be a fan of Dame Alice Hits Hollywood! I definitely recommend it and will read more of the series!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Enter Penelope Greenleigh, professional impersonator. Kidding! Penelope is a 29 year old from New Jersey and is an assistant at Ten Spot Press. Poor Penelope has to impersonate a 47 year old British author! As you can imagine, madcap comedy and chaos ensues. The movie company wants all kinds of rewrites, and they want it to be a musical now! Then jewels go missing. People go missing! The show must go on….
Dame Alice Hits Hollywood hits the right notes with the characters, plot, mystery, and comedy. I loved the main characters. Their interactions and the situations that they get themselves into are so funny! They’ve got loads of personality, and I am excited to meet up with them in the next book! The author does a great job of describing the settings and the clothes! Don’t you love how they dressed in the 30s? And the actors from that era! I adore classic movies and musicals, so this was especially entertaining for me.
If you’re a fan of cozies, classic movies, musicals, and madcap comedy (and don’t mind a bit of language), you’ll be a fan of Dame Alice Hits Hollywood! I definitely recommend it and will read more of the series!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
August 16, 2023
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Dame Alice Hits Hollywood by Allie Mahoney is a marvelous mystery with a fun and dangerous spin on old Hollywood.
Will Dame Alice figure out why people and jewelry keep disappearing?
Our Sleuths
English mystery writer Dame Alice Cartwright, publishing assistant Penelope Greenleigh, gal Friday Molly Lopez, and studio production assistant Toby McBoil are investigating the disappearance of Hollywood citizens and stolen jewels by the Beverly Hills Burglar. They aren't the group that you would expect to hang out together or solve a mystery together, and yet this is what they are doing. Our unlikely group seems to get the job done.
Dame Alice is from England, Penelope, and Molly are from New Jersey, and Toby is from Los Angeles. Their diverse backgrounds give them an angle into people others may not have. Dame Alice seems to know lots of people and is a known recluse. Penelope is doing what her boss tells her to do so she doesn't lose her job in New York. Molly does whatever she needs to make ends meet in Los Angeles. Although she is not an actress, she knows the actors and actresses and occasionally parties with them when she isn't handling their needs at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Toby works for a producer and at his family drug store. He is also working on numerous tonics to fix your ailments.
I quite enjoyed following our group around for the most part. They meet a few odd characters and see things the normal twentysomething wouldn't even consider. Adding Dame Alice into the mix gives them an edge that others don't have. She has traveled quite a bit and knows many wealthy people from all over the place.
The Mysteries
We have the diamond necklace stolen the first night Penelope dressed as Alice is in Los Angeles. A missing starlet and wife of the soup mogul, who was seen fornicating with a foreign tennis pro, who may or may not be from a rich Argentina family. Then we have a shady movie producer with a gambling problem and some collectors on his trail. Barry King, a beer producer steadily rising to fame and fortune, also goes missing for a few days. Then we have the elusive Beverly Hills Burglar, stealing from the Hollywood crowd. A tabloid columnist, also a mooch, doesn't tip and constantly demands more and more for free.
I loved all the twists and turns the author added to the posh Hollywood setting, and the different movie stars of the day. The story's backbone is the wealthy folks who head to Hollywood to reinvent themselves. I love the constant name-dropping and the people that keep all the powerful people happy.
Five Stars
My rating for Dame Alice Hits Hollywood by Allie Mahoney is five stars, and I recommend it too. This is a brilliant book, and I look forward to reading this group's next adventure in the South of France.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Dame Alice Hits Hollywood by Allie Mahoney. Check out the other stops and giveaway if you have time.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Dame Alice Hits Hollywood by Allie Mahoney is a marvelous mystery with a fun and dangerous spin on old Hollywood.
Will Dame Alice figure out why people and jewelry keep disappearing?
Our Sleuths
English mystery writer Dame Alice Cartwright, publishing assistant Penelope Greenleigh, gal Friday Molly Lopez, and studio production assistant Toby McBoil are investigating the disappearance of Hollywood citizens and stolen jewels by the Beverly Hills Burglar. They aren't the group that you would expect to hang out together or solve a mystery together, and yet this is what they are doing. Our unlikely group seems to get the job done.
Dame Alice is from England, Penelope, and Molly are from New Jersey, and Toby is from Los Angeles. Their diverse backgrounds give them an angle into people others may not have. Dame Alice seems to know lots of people and is a known recluse. Penelope is doing what her boss tells her to do so she doesn't lose her job in New York. Molly does whatever she needs to make ends meet in Los Angeles. Although she is not an actress, she knows the actors and actresses and occasionally parties with them when she isn't handling their needs at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Toby works for a producer and at his family drug store. He is also working on numerous tonics to fix your ailments.
I quite enjoyed following our group around for the most part. They meet a few odd characters and see things the normal twentysomething wouldn't even consider. Adding Dame Alice into the mix gives them an edge that others don't have. She has traveled quite a bit and knows many wealthy people from all over the place.
The Mysteries
We have the diamond necklace stolen the first night Penelope dressed as Alice is in Los Angeles. A missing starlet and wife of the soup mogul, who was seen fornicating with a foreign tennis pro, who may or may not be from a rich Argentina family. Then we have a shady movie producer with a gambling problem and some collectors on his trail. Barry King, a beer producer steadily rising to fame and fortune, also goes missing for a few days. Then we have the elusive Beverly Hills Burglar, stealing from the Hollywood crowd. A tabloid columnist, also a mooch, doesn't tip and constantly demands more and more for free.
I loved all the twists and turns the author added to the posh Hollywood setting, and the different movie stars of the day. The story's backbone is the wealthy folks who head to Hollywood to reinvent themselves. I love the constant name-dropping and the people that keep all the powerful people happy.
Five Stars
My rating for Dame Alice Hits Hollywood by Allie Mahoney is five stars, and I recommend it too. This is a brilliant book, and I look forward to reading this group's next adventure in the South of France.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Dame Alice Hits Hollywood by Allie Mahoney. Check out the other stops and giveaway if you have time.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book TroveJune 10, 2023
Fans of Agatha Christie will appreciate the references to the great mystery writer in this witty new novel. Set in glamorous 1930s Hollywood, the story follows 29-year old Penelope Greenleigh who finds herself among movie stars and moguls when she is sent from her New York publishing job to California to impersonate a tweedy British writer. She unexpectedly finds herself caught up in the search when an actress and a diamond necklace go missing. Allie Mahoney has created a sparkling cast of Hollywood characters and an intriguing (and not scary) mystery.
July 6, 2023
What a fun and intriguing read! Loved the glamorous 1930's Hollywood setting and the crazy characters. Can't wait to see what Dame Alice, Penelope, Molly and Toby do next!
October 22, 2024
over the top stupid
This mess exhibits Poor plotting, writing and worst of all unnecessary characters. Oh my
Not sure how this was even published.
This mess exhibits Poor plotting, writing and worst of all unnecessary characters. Oh my
Not sure how this was even published.
March 1, 2025
Fun
Plot was fine and most characters too. However the tone of endless exclamation points became draining. Typos were definitely offputting.
Plot was fine and most characters too. However the tone of endless exclamation points became draining. Typos were definitely offputting.
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