The Gatsby Gambit

by Claire Anderson Wheeler

A clever, transporting murder mystery, The Gatsby Gambit explores a world of class, money, glamour, and foul play—and reimagines some of America’s most beloved literary characters

Greta Gatsby has at last graduated from her stifling finishing school, is on the brink of turning twenty-one, and hopes to finally have her own legendary summer with her brother and guardian, Jay, at his West Egg mansion. Orphaned along with him some years before the war, Greta has seen her fortunes rise on the high tide of his entrepreneurship, even as she has remained in the shadows of his life—too young to join his late-night soirees or infamous summer parties and too shy to trade banter and barbs with his cadre of new friends.

Jay’s wish for her has been to shake off their new-money stain and gain a level of social acceptance he’s never quite enjoyed. She’s simply looking forward to reconnecting with him and embracing life as a modern young woman. She arrives at West Egg with a fresh and daring new bob hairdo to find Daisy and Tom Buchanan also summering at the mansion, along with Nick Carraway and Jordan Baker. And it’s hard to be noticed when the luminous and multifaceted Daisy Buchanan is in the same room. 

But when one of their guests is murdered, Greta turns sleuth as the veil is lifted on Gatsby’s household and its inhabitants, including its staff. Tightly plotted, with thrilling prose and sensuous detail, this homage to and reinvention of a world American readers have lionized for generations ultimately reveals the secrets and lies that perpetuate the romantic notion that being rich is the answer to all of life’s problems.

Like the Enola Holmes series and The Christie Affair, The Gatsby Gambit is designed to bring new readers into the world of the original, iconic novel, as well as delight fans with its clever secrets and reverence for all things Gatsby.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Retellings, Historical, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook

368 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2025

About the author

Claire Anderson-Wheeler is the author of The Gatsby Gambit, a murder mystery that pays homage to the world of The Great Gatsby. With a background in New York publishing and a lifelong passion for storytelling, Claire dreamed up The Gatsby Gambit as a tribute to two of her favorite writers: F Scott Fitzgerald and Agatha Christie. Originally from Ireland, Claire currently lives with her husband in Providence, Rhode Island, where trips to the Gilded Age mansions of Newport keep her Gatsby daydreams alive!

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a murder mystery set in the world of the famous novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Claire Anderson Wheeler does a very good job of writing an alternate version of the original.

The original main characters, Jay Gatsby, Daisy and Tom Buchanan, Nick Carraway and Jordan Baker, are all present and there is a new character - Jay's younger sister Greta, who has just finished her studies and come to live with her big brother. Greta is a smart girl and when a murder takes place on Jay's boat she attempts an investigation.

This was a very enjoyable read. The 1920's setting was well written and all the characters rang true. Even the ending, although disappointing for the very romantically inclined, was realistic. Recommended especially if you like your historical fiction spiced up with a touch of murder. Four stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: Apr. 1, 2025

Greta Gatsby, sister of the infamous Jay Gatsby, finally returns home to Gatsby Mansion in the West Egg after years spent aboard at finishing schools. Now a young adult who no longer needs the supervision of her older brother, Greta is looking forward to everything being home will bring to her, including being near Nick Carraway and even suffering the presence of Daisy Buchanan if need be. But almost immediately, Gatsby Mansion is thrown into chaos when Tom Buchanan, husband of Daisy, is found shot to death on Jay’s boat. Although the police are claiming its suicide, Greta is suspicious and she begins to investigate the events, even though she risks finding out startling truths about those she cares about.

“The Gatsby Gambit” is a debut novel by Claire Anderson Wheeler. A rich homage to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, with some Agatha Christie style mystery thrown in, and Wheeler has reinvented the elite, upper-class world of early twentieth century New York, re-introducing us to some much beloved characters.

Through Greta, readers learn a little more of her and Jay’s heartbreaking past, specifically the death of their parents. Jay’s promise to care for Greta is what encouraged him to become immersed in the world of high society, desperate to make money so that she had the care she needed. Now, both older versions of their childhood selves, they reunite under tragic circumstances but still hold the unbreakable love for each other.

Of course, Daisy Buchanan takes refuge at Gatsby Mansion and is just as admired by Jay as she was in “Gatsby”, if not more so. Her relationship with Tom takes centre stage for this novel, however, and it was intriguing and fascinating to get the intricate details of their dysfunctional marriage.

Wheeler’s writing is imaginative and flawless, easily transporting readers back to the Gatsby era. Each chapter was full of suspense with enough guess-who twists and turns to keep me guessing throughout. The mystery itself was quite predictable, but the “why’s” of the thing is what Wheeler managed to bring together cohesively, answering any questions that may have remained.

Creative, sharp and nostalgic, “Gambit” is a modern-day retelling of one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century to date. Wheeler has managed to create a new world, featuring the Gatsby Mansion and many of its characters, but has managed to leave the Fitzgerald masterpiece itself undamaged. For those who questioned what happened after the final pages of “Gatsby”, Wheeler has provided an interesting alternative that served to satisfy.

[megs 🎀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

♡ is it wrong to like this version of events more than the classic??? ♡

4/5 ⭐️

when i saw this book, i knew i had to pick it up."The Great Gatsby" is one of my all time favorite books and i just HAD to find out what happened here. i was hooked from page one and literally could not stop reading. its more of a slow burn mystery but once the plot picks up... it doesn't let back down!

📖 plot & pace: this story revolves around GiGi, Jays sister, and her search for the truth. the medium pacing had perfectly placed twists and a slow unraveling that kept the tension high throughout the story.

👥 characters: in this book, we have the characters from the original great gatsby as well as new characters. there are some slight changes to the original characters in terms of personalities, but nothing is drastic. they're still the same characters we know and love (or hate?? LOL) i absolutely love Greta's character. she's such a humble touch to the other high society characters.

🤩 tropes: high society, morally gray mc, rich people drama, murder mystery, classic retelling

you don't have to have read the original great gatsby to enjoy this one, but if you loved the original as much as i did, you HAVE to read this!!

[Karin Caporale · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title suggests, we are in the world of the roaring 20’s and hanging out with the iconic Jay Gatsby and friends. I found this cozy mystery delightful. I’m a big fan of this era with the emergence of feminist ideals mixed with high society and maids and butlers! The plot has good even pacing and the writing captures the dialog and sentiments of the era with a high degree of accuracy and deftly references the classic novel, The Great Gatsby. Greta, Jay Gatsby’s sister, is solving questions and sleuthing her way through the story, piecing together all the clues. Yes it is a bit slow and the ending won’t shock you but I still liked the way the author captures this era and the characters who wind their way through the pages.

[Kelsey Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️

This was a fun twist on a classic. I throughly enjoyed the true crime aspect mixed with the characters from the original story. The added bonus of Greta (Jay’s little sister) and the staff being such a vital part of the story was nice. I did think that the book itself was entirely too long, and it could have been about 100 pages shorter (some parts were just boring in my opinion). The Great Gatsby is my all time favorite book, so finding new retellings of the story is always fun for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in an exchange for an honest review.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars. Claire Anderson-Wheeler's cozy mystery takes us back to the Roaring 20s and Jay Gatsby's mansion in West Egg, Long Island, where Jay's little sister Greta is returning after completing finishing school. She hopes for some relaxation and time alone with her older brother but unfortunately several of his friends are already there visiting: Daisy and Tom Buchanan, Nick Carraway, and Jordan Baker, and Tom's brother Edgar will be joining them soon. She's also upset to learn that two of her favorites among the staff have left.

The next morning they are all to go sailing but things do not go as planned when one of the group is found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gun shot wound. That seems totally out of character and their doubts are proven correct when barbiturates are found during the autopsy. But that must mean there's a murderer in their midst!

Greta decides to follow her intuition to help solve the crime but maybe she's just putting herself and everyone else in danger as she closes in. Quite fun to see a bit more of Jay Gatsby and friends and hobnob with the uber-rich. As Anderson-Wheeler says, she's channeled a bit of both F. Scott Fitzgerald and Agatha Christie as her inspiration for her new mystery novel.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Rebekah Garber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant.
A beautiful expansion of Fitzgerald’s classic from the mirroring symbols to the murder mystery intertwined with the 1920s lifestyle to the honor of the original Gatsby characters.


“It has always looked so magical, so beautiful, the otherworldly flicker of some ever-receding dream.”

[Sophia Menidis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fun read that I was so excited for! As a lover of the original Great Gatsby (I have 35 different editions), I was very intrigued by the idea of returning to the Gatsby world for a new mystery to unfold.

Changing what we know from the original story, Jay doesn’t die and instead is best friends with Daisy and Tom as they all spend summer at Jay’s house. Jay also has a sister, Greta, who has just returned from finishing school and is excited to spend some time with her brother finally.

This time is quickly interrupted by a death. And while initially it is assumed that this was a terrible accident, Greta is always suspicious that it was in fact murder.

This is such a quick and easy mystery. Greta was a fantastic protagonist as she was so insightful and smart, only wanting the best for her brother and to discover the truth in amongst all the secrets everyone was telling.

Thank you Hachette AUS for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review

[Vishnu Brahmandam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book.

This was such a great read! Absolutely loved it.

The premise itself had me hooked. I enjoyed The Great Gatsby and I love Agatha Christie's mysteries. A combination of these things immediately caught my attention and I couldn't wait to get started. The characters themselves were fleshed out well and in my perspective, a good take on the original characters, under a new lens. I loved Greta's character and her sleuthing skills. Without a doubt, I can say that I'm eagerly waiting to read more about Greta Gatsby's adventures and see what more mysteries she'll solve.

[Addison Philabaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I just don’t really care for retellings of books I love originally lmao

[Fotini Batsios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a Gatsby-universe story, and especially a murder mystery at that!!! This was a fun read for sure 😌

[Molly Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and thankfully did not have to remember every detail of The Great Gatsby in order to do so! I watched the film, admittedly, and never read the book but I didn’t feel as though I was missing any background information on any of the crossover characters.

The time period within which the book is set is so well referenced throughout both the dialogue and descriptions. This only made me want to read more historical fiction!

The characters are all well established in their own right, without feeling as though this is a spin off story. The main character felt relatable, if not a little bit too good at connecting dots.

Greta seemed to slightly jump to conclusions in working through the mysterious murder which felt a tad extreme for a young girl straight out of finishing school. Though her intelligence and eye for detail was believable, her linking of clues felt a little too much like they merely kept the pace going. Saying that, I still found her to be a great main character and felt excited when she began to find the answers.

The hint at romance throughout the book could have been explored more for me. I enjoyed how it was in keeping with the era, but I never felt satisfied with the ongoing dynamic.

The mystery itself was very well done and had subtle hints weaved throughout, making the end incredibly satisfying.

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend and sincerely hope the author isn’t finished with these characters!

[Marie Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, this is a murder mystery — not a retelling or reimagined version of Fitzgerald’s classic. I had a few moments where I wondered why the author chose to set it in Gatsby’s universe instead of one of her own, but realized that’s the beauty of fiction: A story can be built on anything, so why not use something you truly love? Anderson Wheeler does a fine job of capturing Jay, Daisy, and the rest of the ill-fated cast from ‘The Great Gatsby’ while creating something new and intriguing. And it made me want to revisit the original, probably because I am a sucker for the melancholy and longing.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and fun repurposing of Fitzgerald’s iconic characters.

This is a really enjoyable read, but please be advised that this is not a prequel or a sequel to The Great Gatsby. It’s an original story that makes use of the characters and the setting of Fitzgerald’s novel and should be taken as such. Characters meet different fates here than in The Great Gatsby, making it a sort of permutation of the bones of the plot rather than something that is in dialogue with it directly.

That said, it’s fun to be back in such an incredible corner of the imagined world, and Claire Anderson Wheeler does a lovely job of paying homage to the sense of time and place that Fitzgerald so vividly created so long ago.

This isn’t a tragedy like Gatsby, it’s more of a caper/golden age-style mystery, and these things seem to harmonize perfectly with the world of Jay, his friends, and the protagonist, a newly-drawn younger Gatsby sibling, Greta. She’s just the kind of plucky heroine that a book like this needs, and overall this was a terrific way to pay homage to a beloved novel without trying to retell it or alter the canon appreciably. A fun, clever whodunit.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Jasmine Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great murder mystery, incorporating the main characters of F.Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The book introduced a new character, Jay Gatsby's younger sister, Greta who takes centre stage. This story provides an alternate narrative for the characters of The Great Gatsby and is in no way 'canon' with the original.

The story begins with Greta returning to the Gatsby home following completing her education, where she is reunited with Jay, Nick Carraway, Jordan Baker and Daisy and Tom Buchanan. They celebrate Greta's return and plan to rise early the next morning to go sailing. However, when morning comes one of the party does not appear...

I loved how the story unfolded and we learned alongside Greta the chain of events she unravels to reveal the murderer. I think the use of the Gatsby characters was fun as I love the setting, and the opportunity to experience another Great Gatsby party! However, I think you can easily read this book and enjoy it without having read The Great Gatsby as it is a fun murder mystery of its own.

I also really enjoyed the historical elements of the story, and appreciated the author offering more of the facts surrounding events within the story at the end of the book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. The Gatsby Gambit is an excellent murder mystery, which will be published April 3rd 2025.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun twist on characters we already know.

A murder mystery, a house of friends, a bumbling police force and Greta in the middle of it all. Greta is home and finally gets to take part in the fun parties her brother, Jay Gatsby, has. Daisy, Nick, Tom Buchanan - the whole crew is back. The murder mystery was a fun part of the story and I liked how Greta played within the rules of society but also pushed to know more. There were so many parts that I shook my head at Jay Gatsby and his love for Daisy, but it was so true to who we knew him to be that you can't really get mad at him.

It was a fun twist on the Gatsby story with an interesting murder mystery and fun twists and turns.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I have tried to read The Great Gatsby several times and never been able to get into it. Thanks to this book, I was able to go back and manage to finish it. I loved this adaptation although the characters still weren’t really likeable! Many thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this book.

[Maya Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who absolutely adores 'The Great Gatsby' and will take any opportunity to talk someone's ear off about it, it was a wonderful surprise to read Wheeler's debut murder-mystery and discover the same melancholic, almost dream-like spirit Fitzgerald infused into his 1925 novel.
Greta Gatsby was a wonderful addition to the original cast of characters, bringing out a little more depth in each of their personalities and enhancing their qualities in every interaction.

You can definitely tell that 'The Gatsby Gambit' was written with a lot of love for F. Scott Fitzgerald's Roaring Twenties in lines of dialogue or introspection throughout that only GG readers would have picked up on (boy, did I feel like such a fangirl, grinning every time I found a little easter egg).

Story-wise, I was drawn more to the characters than the actual murder-mystery per se, and I found the addition of the house staff cast played really well into its overall message around class divides, justice, one's quality of character and the pervasive 'American Dream' that continues to drive so much advancement and inequality in this century (although, not really for the better, thanks to Trump).

The epilogue chapter was my fave - there's a couple of pages towards the end that are super relevant, not only to America, but to the world as a society:

**minor spoiler below**

"She'd been anticipating only one kind of remedy for the injustice she kept seeing... [but] it wasn't protection that [they] needed most. It was community... That was the whole point of the Constitution after all, was it not? Freedom of association, freedom of speech; it was the freedom to unite, to draw strength from numbers...
'Speech might be free,' Greta thought, 'but to be heard cost money.'

I honestly think if you enjoyed the morally gray and widely introspective, melancholic musings of Nick Carraway in 'The Great Gatsby', then you'll enjoy the extra depth that this novel brings to its characters within its Agatha Christie-like mystery.
This book is targeted towards what feels like for me, a very niche audience, but it definitely delivers.

4 stars 🌟

Fun fact:
The Great Gatsby was originally published 100 years ago on the 10th of April 1925, which is why the publishing date for this book made me grin like a fool. A perfectly timed homage!!

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery set in a wealthy household in America.
The Gatsbys are not rich by birth, but rather through hard work and sheer grit. A brother and sister team, Jay and Greta now mix with the upper echelons of society, though there are always people not there who like to remind them they are not the same at the other monied families.
The story centers around a summer where Greta finally finishes all the schooling her brother provided, and she is looking forward to the future.
When she arrives, she is a bit disappointed to find the house already full of some of her brothers wealthy friends, apparently here to stay for a little while.
After accepting she is not getting time with her brother alone, first, she settles into her first day home.
Peace is not longlasting as the body of one of the guests is discovered, and what ensues is a journey to try and find the truth.
Was it suicide or murder?
I wasn't sure I would get into the story, initially, and it's quite a long book, however within a couple of chapters, i was hooked, and i read it all within three days!
I enjoyed the twists and turns as different pieces of evidence were unravelled, and I found myself doubting the character of several of the people. The final conclusion was not something I anticipated at all.
All in all, a jolly good read!

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claire Anderson Wheeler transports readers to the glitzy yet turbulent 1920s in The Gatsby Gambit, delivering a historical mystery that is both enjoyable and easy to read.

The richly atmospheric setting, is fun, glamorous and full of hidden intrigue, and perfectly complements a clever whodunnit plot inspired by real historical themes. The novel’s exploration of patriotism and the secret codes tied to it provides a fascinating backdrop for the central crime, grounding the story in historical authenticity while adding depth to the suspense.

The FMC, Greta, is a standout. She is sharp, engaging, and compelling, she brings a unique energy to the narrative and made me root for her as she unravelled the layers of the mystery. With every character acting suspicious, Wheeler kept me guessing right up to the end, deftly weaving red herrings and subtle clues into the plot. Although I don’t often read books like this, I found it refreshing, different, and thoroughly entertaining.

Whether you’re a fan of historical fiction or suspense, The Gatsby Gambit strikes a perfect balance between the two. It’s a light yet immersive read that offers an engaging mystery, a dash of 1920s charm, and a twisty plot that will keep you hooked until the final reveal.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jane Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know The Great Gatsby is my favourite book of all time (despite my insta handle) so when I saw The Gatsby Gambit on Netgalley I just knew I had to request it asap. I didn’t know how I’d feel about reading my first ever fictional spin off of it…but I really enjoyed it! It was exciting to return to the same old characters, enigmatic Jay, steadfast Nick…even the pesky Buchanans. This time were introduced to Gatsby’s sister, Greta (you see what the author did there 😉) who is a fiery character in herself, pushing boundaries and making her own. This is a perfect read for any fans of Gatsby, you don’t need to read the original first, it’s a completely different story. Just enjoy this one as much as the writing deserves.

[Zivorad “Z” · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting take on some of the themes that make The Great Gatsby such a classic. Claire Anderson Wheeler’s writing has a nice flow to it, and I liked the way she built the atmosphere and glamour around the story. There are some really striking passages, and I enjoyed the fresh angle she brought to such familiar territory.

The book moved at a steady pace and kept me engaged the whole way through. Some parts were stronger than others, but overall it worked well, and I appreciated how it balanced being inspired by Gatsby while still having its own voice.

I wouldn’t call it a new all-time favorite, but it was definitely a solid and enjoyable read. If you like modern spins on classic stories, this is one that’s worth checking out.

[Keri Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun whodunit murder mystery twist on The Great Gatsby. The plot was intriguing, and the characters were expertly portrayed. The plot twists kept me guessing, but there were definitely clues as to who it was. Greta was a very likable character, sort of like an Enola Holmes, and very well written. I was rooting for her to solve the mystery! If you like murder mysteries and classic literature, this is definitely up your alley, and you should give it a read.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I really enjoyed this book and the fact that I almost left this book at the bookstore…. I went for a copy of The Great Gatsby and ended up spotting this too and I had to grab it.

I’m seeing the play next month on Broadway and wanted to reread The Great Gatsby in preparation and I decided to read this first. What a fun spin on the world of Gatsby. I liked the mystery take on it and I loved getting to experience the characters again, this time in sort of a completely new look.

[Rebecca Lowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle school appropriate in content but interest level might make it more adult. Charming, witty, and bright but missing elements that made the source material a classic. How Gatsby avoided his death is never mentioned, nor is the mafia. Some of the historical details are new and fun. Ultimately, a fun beachy-sort of read.

[Anna Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting reworking of 'The Great Gatsby' through the eyes of his younger sister. Also worked pretty well as a cozy mystery, although it did get quite convoluted about halfway through. At one point I was actually thinking about how bad it was dragging along, so I can only rate it as 3 stars. Too many red herrings and misdirections, it was getting mildly irritating by the end.

[Claire Grove · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book; it had a good mix of wealthy estate life (think Downton Abbey on the eastern coast of America!) with a murder mystery thrown in. I kept thinking I had figured it out, only for there to be another twist or vital bit of information come to light which changed things again. I just thought the ending was a little long - all I wanted was to know if two of the characters had ended up together as I thought they should be!

[Tiffany E-P · Rating 5 out of 5]

The information about the APL feels especially important in light of what is happening in the USA right now. Especially the Justice Department officially putting an end to it and the ensuing rise of the KKK.

[Kindling the Fire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new story based on The Great Gatsby’s classic characters. Had to add an extra star just for creativity because I really feel like the author kept the personalities of the characters accurate.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

an unexpected rewrite,
attained a wishful glee;
keeps Gatsby plight,
project Nick to be;
off the tragic height,
lure of mystery sleight
...
generations of hindsight
broadened what Fitzgerald could see;
who the Great Gatsby
here is that She...