A Marvelous Murder

by David S. Pederson

Hollywood, 1939.

When film director Orland Orcott is found dead in his locked study, police rule it a suicide. However, movie star Victor Marvel believes otherwise and sets out to investigate, aided by his handsome boyfriend, Griffin, and Eve Spellman, Victor’s smart, young costar.

Suspects include Orland’s son, Tab, an aspiring actor who was blacklisted after his father found out that he’s gay, and Sheila, a former mistress of Orland’s, tossed aside when he took up with a new starlet. Added to the list are William Taylor, a has-been that Orland delighted in humiliating, William’s daughter Lydia, who may have slept with Orland to get her father a movie role. Agatha Mudd, a gossip columnist with a secret past is also a suspect, and Orland’s long-suffering wife, Marjorie.

Was it suicide or murder? The trio is on the case to find the truth, but suspects and grudges abound. With so many motives for murder, finding the killer won’t be easy. But no one else cares as long as Orland Orcott is dead.

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Historical, Fiction

216 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

David S. Pederson has written multiple mysteries, all featuring LGBTQ+ characters. He’s a two-time finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Mysteries. His second book, Death Goes Overboard, was selected by the GLBT Round Table of the American Library Association for the 2018 Over the Rainbow book list. Two of his poems, “My Candle” and “I Never Knew” were used in the 2024 OCTC stage production of “Love Notes Cabaret of Words & Music.”
In 2024 he was invited by a local bookstore to conduct a workshop on writing mysteries, with twelve students in attendance.
In 2025 he was asked to write a short mystery to be included in an anthology, “Crime Ink: Iconic — Where Queer Icons Meet Killer Stories”, a collection of crime stories inspired by queer icons.

He’s passionate about mysteries, old movies, ocean liners, and reading.
He, his husband, and their sweet rescue cats reside in the sunny Southwest.
Website: http://www.davidspederson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidSPeders...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dave.pederson/

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely 1939 Hollywood murder mystery. A gay movie star, his boyfriend and his best female friend solve the case, amateur-style. After all they played detectives in the movies.

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous as always, darling!

At an all-star event in Hollywood, 1939, Director Orland Orcott is found dead in his study. This looks like suicide, but with plenty of people in attendance who also have motive for murder, film star Victor sets out to discover the truth.

I always enjoy David’s stories because they are always delivered with such elegance you can only get for the periods they are set in. This one, holds true to all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in 1939, and the characterisation of everyone fits profiles and manners of the period so well. Victor was a most curious fellow but smart too, and he was putting together the pieces so quickly he knew Orcott had been murdered right from the start. With his boyfriend, Griffin, and friend and costar, Eve helping out, they want to know what happened but secretly they are glad that Orland is dead.

They themselves almost had a motive for the way he had treated them. I quickly ruled them out as they did themselves because there was no way they would have done something like that then wanted to investigate. And for once I suspected the right person, but only because Victor and his friends were finding the clues and I agreed and followed their logic and reasoning. Victor was thorough in exploring and explaining his theories for each person who could have been the suspect and then the one at the top of this list, but there was always a hint of humour surrounding their discussions and theorising that made this even more fun.

I had a great time reading this and can’t wait for David’s next story.

[Megan Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this, and the first chapter had me excited for both the murder of a WILDLY inappropriate man as well as the solving of said crime. Unfortunately, things quickly took a turn into underdeveloped suspects, predictable motives, and the most stilted dialogue I have ever read. Every character sounded exactly the same no matter if they were talking to a stranger or the love of their life. That is, unless two or more women were gathered. Then all of a sudden everyone was acting real catty like we're on the set of Desperate Housewives. What adult woman is going to care if another adult woman wears heels or not? Eve is supposed to be someone we root for and yet the way she mercilessly went in on Sheila was too over the top. And if that wasn't enough, we get this from good ol' Eve: "I'm not just a pretty face with big boobs and a nice behind." LITERALLY WHAT WOMAN TALKS LIKE THIS???? Speaking of ridiculous dialogue, don't forget when our guy Victor is talking to a police detective who is talking about how difficult the job is, and Victor says (as out of touch as a movie star can be) "Believe me, being a movie star isn't all it's cracked up to be, either." NOBODY ASKED YOU, VICTOR.
I love things set during the "Golden Age" of Hollywood, yet it felt like it was only utilized for random and disconnected name drops. Where are my random cameos from Joan Crawford or Errol Flynn? I needed more!
Overall, I'm glad I gave this book a shot, but I will not be picking up any others from this series unless some serious differences are made.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Kristy Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

This story takes place in 1939 Hollywood and follows actor Victor Marvel who has been cast along with his boyfriend, Griffin, and their friend, Eve Spellman, in a film directed by Orland Orcott. In the opening, the director very quickly displays his odious nature in such a way that I wanted to murder the man preemptively. During a house party attended by the cast, family, and a who’s who in the business, Orcott’s body is found locked in his study. The police surmise the death to be a suicide, but Victor and his cohorts aren’t convinced, and they have a houseful of party guests for suspects.

This is my sixth read by this author. I find his historical mysteries to be consistently entertaining. Hollywood seems to be a reading theme for me this year although it’s not normally a subgenre that necessarily appeals to me and perhaps that bias is why I didn’t care for this one as much as some of the others. I found it to be a clever (and literal) “locked room” mystery with plenty of suspects and motives. The writing is dialogue heavy with a formal cadence apropos of the time period but can read a bit stiff.

Recommended to serious fans of historical locked room mysteries and the Golden Age of Hollywood.

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Marvelous Murder, set in 1939 Hollywood, is awash with studio intrigue, gossip columnists, lecherous directors, closeted movie stars, a heckuva closed room murder and a robust cast of suspects.

Victor Marvel, a movie star gracefully aging into co-starring roles, his handsome boyfriend and leading man, Griffin Fenwick and fellow actor, Eve Spellman (think Carole Lombard) are all cast in Icon Pictures' latest picture The Lady Screeched, directed by Orland Orcott, the lecherous director found murdered in the locked library in his estate during a star-filled party.

Author David Pederson gives us the elegance of a midnight black double-breasted tuxedo and lunch at the legendary Brown Derby as well as the seedy underbelly of studio gossip and casting couches as Victor and Eve try to solve the mystery.

The setting of this novel is well-researched and described in detail. Although at times character dialog is a bit stilted and unfocused, and I would have liked more character development for Griff, the end product is a mystery that is entertaining and enjoyable. 4 stars.

I received an ARC from the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Maryann Kafka · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s Hollywood in the year 1939 and the world was still suffering with the Big Depression that started in 1929. The Icon Picture Studio was still making movies, but not so much in color. It was bad enough with the 1927 talkies that many actors lost their jobs because their voice didn’t fit with the film.

Victor Marvel, now forty-nine is a veteran actor, had gotten a part of PI Axel Beaumont. He left home at the age of sixteen for Hollywood, by 1922 at the age of twenty-nine he signed a contract at forty dollars a week with Icon Studio. He’d been in the business for many years and seemed to know the world of show business really well. He was a courteous actor and was always willing to help anyone who wanted to get into the business. But he was sad about it too, because he knew not everyone would make it in the business. He helped Eve Spellman in 1929 when she was seventeen and then Griffin Fenwick in his twenties, both got parts in the movie “The Lady Screeched”. Griffin got the lead part of Jasper Crockett the other PI. In fact, Eve, Griff and Victor kept a very guarded secret. William Taylor was another older actor in the also got a part in this film.

The Director of the film, Orland Orcott, was not a very nice person. In fact, he is disgustingly mean. Orcott is condescending, humiliates everyone, ridicules and embarrasses anyone and everyone. He’s especially a womanizer. The book that was written by a woman and used to write the screenplay was very successful. But the screenplay written by Sydney Coe Howard was not and Orcott took privileges with changing what was written in the book and that was a mistake. Eve believed the screenplay should have been written by a woman also. But Orcott’s bad decisions had the actors disgruntled and he still did it his way. Orcott still took to insulting everyone and referred to Victor as “Griff’s baggage”. He also gave William Taylor a difficult time even though he was recovering from an illness. Actors even with contracts took a hit with what they earned, but not Producers or Directors. Orcott still didn’t care and verbally abused the actors anyways.

Before Victor, Griff and the other actors left the studio Orcott made a demand. They were all to attend his wife, Marjories, birthday party. He demanded they not be late and bring a gift and had no shame threatening anyone. The party brings lot’s of controversy and a tragedy with Orland Orcott’s death.

With Orcott’s death and Victor in attendance at the party, he starts to gather information. In fact, he starts his own investigation. He used his experience and research from what he learned from Detective Steve Garnett of the West LAPD. Victor had gotten a particular part in a prior film playing a Detective Hart for the “Harts and Clubs” series.

Marvel had his hands full with suspects; Marjorie Orcott, Tab Orcott, William Taylor and his daughter Lydia, Sheila Burton, Agatha Mudd and Tony Bolt. He didn’t share all the information he found out, but Griff and Eve were never failed to help him. As his questioning gets dangerous Marvel has to eventually go to Det. Garnett and fill him in. Although, Garnett tells Marvel to stay out of it, will he be able to let go before he winds up dead?

David S. Pederson creates a fact/fiction novel with “A Marvelous Murder”. For me, it actually gives the feel as if you are watching an old black and white classic detective movie from the 1920’s and 30’s era. He has colorfully described the fashions from the era. He also, brings back some of the words like “wowzer” and phrases from the era. “A Marvelous Murder” mentions many famous actors, singers, directors, movies and places from the time period: Tyrone Power, Erroll Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters and of course Oscar Wilde and many more.

Mr. Pederson uses his creativeness for Victor Marvel to be a man for all times, with his intelligence, suaveness and courteous actions and how he cared about others. It was also a time where even Hollywood was homophobic. He shares heart-rending information on the two major players, Victor Marvel and Griffin Fenwick, and who their characters were patterned after, with “Mystery History” at the back of the book. I highly recommend reading “Mystery History” it is very informative.

By the time the crime is solve Germans had bombed several cities in Poland.
The Nazi’s had passed a law that forbade Polish Jews to travel on trains. Soon the United States would be getting involved in a war.

David S. Pederson also has two outstanding series from the mid 1940’s:
“Heath Barrington Mysteries” and “Mason Adler Mysteries”. These mysteries are entertaining and worth reading over again. There’s not much I can say but David S. Pederson is outstanding with his writing and creating novels that combine fact/fiction.

[DAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Marvelous Murder by David S Pederson is a full trunk of goodies offered up in a book. And it's done with some sleight of hand, where you're (or at least I was) so focused on the story you (I) almost miss the goodies (nay, gems) embedded. The friendly mind-f*ck starts right with the title: a 'marvelous' murder (?) 🤔

Once into the story, I realized the narration was actually being done primarily in dialogues, to the extent I've only read before in plays. (David, maybe consider a staged performance?)

And this being 1939 Hollywood, the conversations were spiced with plenty sharp cattiness, dishy zingers and dark innuendo. Subtle (and not-so) wordplay is found even in some of the names, like gossip columnist Agatha Mudd. Then, when the party has morphed into a roiling whodunit someone exclaims "you're not a dick - you're a movie star!" (Kof-kof!)

Given how it seems everyone except the cat has (ahem) 'motives', we're kept on our toes as "inquisations" (my term) are made, denials hurled back and even HPTS (horizontal personal training sessions) are offered.

And while (SPOILER!!!) >>> we learn what makes the murder 'marvelous', we (or I) don't really get why,<<< leaving at least something to ponder after the credits roll. Maybe I should sift back through the aforementioned embedded goodies.

Regarding the credits: A detailed listing of the historical references in the story appears after the end, followed by a brief but enlightening bio about the author.

As with any good Hollywood output, this book was great entertainment value for the investment!

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical tones, plenty of mystery and detective work, a nice setting of Hollywood circa 1939, a background of homosexual relationships and the cover up that was so necessary at the time make up for this easy going read.

Set against the enactment of a film, the obnoxious director disliked by all even his girlfriends whom he has forced into bed with him is found shot in a room in the classic all doors windows locked. The police detectives are quick to rule it as suicide though many are skeptical how such a selfish man could do such a thing. Victor Marvel an almost has been takes it upon himself to investigate further and brings a trail of suspicion on him. Unearthing clues as he goes along, he solves it and presents it to the Police as a fait accomplie.

Detailed and descriptive this was a pleasant read.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure whether I've gotten fussier or this author has gotten sloppier, but either way, I think this will be the last book of his I read. I love historicals, and I love mysteries, so this should have been 100 percent my cup of tea, but... from the opening scene in which I found pretty much every character intolerable through the interminable "As you know, Bob" dialogue to the uninspiring wrap-up (with some weird head-hopping along the way and far too little interaction or sparks between the MCs), I kept asking myself why I was reading this. The author clearly does his research, but at this point I'm forced to accept that his style is not to my taste. Oh well!

My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of A Marvelous Murder is deeply interesting - a Hollywood director dies, and while the police rule it a suicide, the lead cast of the movie believes that he was murdered. So begins their investigation, and there is no shortage of people who would want Orland Orcott dead. While I typically enjoy mysteries, this one fell flat for me. I found some of the characters to come across as caricatures, although perhaps I don't enjoy historical books set in this time period. I found that the story dragged for me and I had a hard time with the book being written more like a film than a book,
That doesn't mean that this is a bad book, just that this isn't one for me.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and the Publisher for the arc.

[Milyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty enjoyable read. The first chapter, however, had me worried, as it just dragged on and on. I understand that the author was trying to set up the murder motives and possible suspects, but chile, I was ready to throw in the towel.

I wish there had been more romance wise, as Griffin often felt like a very very secondary character(which I guess he was). I love strong women characters, but Eve was truly insufferable with the way she treated Sheila. And Victor was just there watching and not saying anything, ugh.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of my honest review .

[Peter Burnash · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Marvelous Murder is another in Dave Pederson’s long line of top-tier murder mysteries. It was truly enjoyable and one that you may want to devour in one—or just a few—sittings. The plot centers around Orland Orcott’s death while a party is going on at his house. He’s found in a locked study, but actor Victor Marvel is sure that foul play is involved. As evidence is slowly uncovered, you will change your mind at least a few times, trying to determine who it is that killed Orcott. You may also be glad that Orcott met his maker. You will find yourself rooting for Vic and his handsome boyfriend, Griff as they unravel the mystery. I highly recommend A Marvelous Murder.

[Jeanne M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore David S Pederson’s Murder Mystery's! They are always filled with intrigue, a suspenseful plot, and snappy dialogue. “ A Marvelous Murder” was no exception. Set in 1939, the author brilliantly captures the elegance and glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood amid the backdrop of the Great Depression. I especially enjoyed the ‘Mystery History’ in the end as it brings great historical context into the mix. From a cat lover’s perspective, Chowder the ‘cat’ was also a fun addition to the story. Can’t wait to see what David comes up with next!

[Ines · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Marvelous Murder has a great vintage Hollywood vibe and I really appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation in a 1930s setting. The mystery itself is clever with plenty of suspects, but I found the pacing quite slow in the first half, and the dialogue sometimes felt a bit too heavy-handed. The characters didn’t fully grab me either, which made it harder to stay engaged. I liked the concept more than the execution—solid, but not a favorite.

[Booknook Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 13th mystery of Mr. Pederson's. By far, this is my favorite, though they've all been terrific reads, and I have read them all.

I loved the 1939 time period, and he seems to get all the little details just right. It was like watching an old movie. In fact, this would make an excellent movie! The characters were well developed and fun, and the murder was not easy to figure out.

I highly recommend this! Can't wait for his next book!

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A vintage murder mistery with queer representation,

Actors
Drama
Gay rep
Classic movies .

This book is a short book about what happen when a producer appear death and the actors need to try to solve the mistery . The plot is kinda easy to predict and you can guess what’s gonna happen next . I feel this book as an introduction for a series and I hope to see more of the characters .

[Brent McCollister · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun mystery set in the golden age of Hollywood. It did deal with more serious topics like queer actors having to be closeted and be in lavendar relationships/marriages but that only enhanced the story. There was a bit of a stereotypical "cat fight" between two actresses that was a bit unnecessary in my opinion but, overall, this was a fun book.

[Library-Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this locked room mystery and wasn’t able to guess the answer until close to the end. So many interesting and fun characters. Reading it gave me the feel of watching a 1930s B&W movie. Well done!

[David Van Horne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful story by David Pederson full of believable, strong characters.

[James O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had me guessing who the murderer was the whole way through.

[Madison Chapel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic Whodunit starring the cast of a Hollywood movie, its film director, the film director’s wife, son, and former mistress, a gossip columnist and a daughter of one of the cast. Set in 1939 in the midst of the Great Depression and barrelling down the doors of WWII, the still very opulent lives of the rich and famous and their indiscretions create a never ending list of suspects. Our main character, Victor Marvel, sets himself on the case with the help of his co-stars, one of whom is his boyfriend and the other is his beard.

This book is short and sweet, as I believe all mystery books should be. While this book didn’t really have any twists, the overwhelming hatred people had for the deceased film director helped eat up the empty space around the plot. The amount of clues the author leaves for the ultimate perpetrator makes this a good task for readers to try and solve the crime before you get to the final chapters.

The only things that I wish had been changed is that the majority of this book is a lot of long conversations and a lot of telling and not showing when something major happens in the plot. This definitely made the first third of the book crawl as the plot is being set up, and we are introduced to our cast of characters. But the more you get into the book, the more the book flies by to get to a satisfactory conclusion.