What do you think?
Rate this book
Lillian Frost & Edith Head #1
Design for Dying
This debut is the first in a series of riveting behind-the-scenes mysteries from Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Los Angeles, 1937. Lillian Frost has traded dreams of stardom for security as a department store salesgirl . . . until she discovers she’s a suspect in the murder of her former roommate, Ruby Carroll. Party girl Ruby died wearing a gown she stole from the wardrobe department at Paramount Pictures, domain of Edith Head.
Edith has yet to win the first of her eight Academy Awards; right now she’s barely hanging on to her job, and a scandal is the last thing she needs. To clear Lillian’s name and save Edith’s career, the two women join forces.
Unraveling the mystery pits them against a Hungarian princess on the lam, a hotshot director on the make, and a private investigator who’s not on the level. All they have going for them are dogged determination, assists from the likes of Bob Hope and Barbara Stanwyck, and a killer sense of style. In show business, that just might be enough.
Los Angeles, 1937. Lillian Frost has traded dreams of stardom for security as a department store salesgirl . . . until she discovers she’s a suspect in the murder of her former roommate, Ruby Carroll. Party girl Ruby died wearing a gown she stole from the wardrobe department at Paramount Pictures, domain of Edith Head.
Edith has yet to win the first of her eight Academy Awards; right now she’s barely hanging on to her job, and a scandal is the last thing she needs. To clear Lillian’s name and save Edith’s career, the two women join forces.
Unraveling the mystery pits them against a Hungarian princess on the lam, a hotshot director on the make, and a private investigator who’s not on the level. All they have going for them are dogged determination, assists from the likes of Bob Hope and Barbara Stanwyck, and a killer sense of style. In show business, that just might be enough.
317 pages, Hardcover
First published April 19, 2016
147 people are currently reading
2740 people want to read
About the author
Renee Patrick
6 books133 followersRenee Patrick is the pseudonym for married authors Rosemarie and Vince Keenan. Rosemarie is a research administrator and a poet. Vince is a screenwriter and a journalist. Both native New Yorkers, they currently live in Seattle, Washington.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
April 22, 2017
Rating: 3.5* of five
This was a fun romp, set in glamourous Olde Hollywoode, featuring some fun movie moments and some silly plot holes and nowhere near enough Edith Head. I would've loved a deeper peek into the mind and heart of the Queen of Fashion at golden age Paramount.
When the next one is cheap enough used, I'll get it and smile along. The perfect lethargic-afternoon entertainment.
This was a fun romp, set in glamourous Olde Hollywoode, featuring some fun movie moments and some silly plot holes and nowhere near enough Edith Head. I would've loved a deeper peek into the mind and heart of the Queen of Fashion at golden age Paramount.
When the next one is cheap enough used, I'll get it and smile along. The perfect lethargic-afternoon entertainment.
November 23, 2017
This is a light-hearted mystery that is set in 1930s Hollywood. It takes place as if it were inside one of the movies the characters star in: no hint of the next war looming over them or of the depression they are in the middle of. I wanted to read the book because Barbara Stanwyck makes an appearance--and that appearance was indeed a pleasure.
The book stars Lillian Frost as our wise-cracking heroine who works with the famed costume designer Edith Head to solve the murder of her former friend, Ruby Carroll (the friendship crumbled when Ruby stole a brooch that Lillian's late mother had given to her: that pretty much sums up Ruby's character).
The mystery takes a back seat to the characters and is a formulaic affair made enjoyable by those characters. About three-quarters of the way through I grew tired of the somewhat forced wit and had to push myself to continue. My interest picked up just as I was about to stop reading and the rest was fun, although the ending was predictable both in style and content.
On the whole, Design for Dying is a good read if you're a fan of the movies from the 1930s, as I am, and find the old-fashioned mystery format enjoyable.
The book stars Lillian Frost as our wise-cracking heroine who works with the famed costume designer Edith Head to solve the murder of her former friend, Ruby Carroll (the friendship crumbled when Ruby stole a brooch that Lillian's late mother had given to her: that pretty much sums up Ruby's character).
The mystery takes a back seat to the characters and is a formulaic affair made enjoyable by those characters. About three-quarters of the way through I grew tired of the somewhat forced wit and had to push myself to continue. My interest picked up just as I was about to stop reading and the rest was fun, although the ending was predictable both in style and content.
On the whole, Design for Dying is a good read if you're a fan of the movies from the 1930s, as I am, and find the old-fashioned mystery format enjoyable.
July 21, 2017
1937 Hollywood - the clothes, the movies, the movie stars, aspiring starlets, lavish parties, down-at-the-heals diners, crackling dialog, witty noir-lite writing, and a murder to be solved. Aspiring starlet, Ruby, is found slain in an alley in a gorgeous silk gown. Her former roommate, Lillian Frost, is at first suspected of stealing the gown from the department store where she works. But wait!!! Lillian recognizes the gown as from a recent movie, so the detectives take her to Paramount to meet the costume designer of said movie, Edith Head. Lillian and Edith fall into the role of sleuthing partners, helping the cops to figure out the who, how and why of how Ruby died. Of course the cops aren't always happy about their help, felt as interference, but Edith and Lillian persist! Walk on roles by many stars of the day, including Barbara Stanwyck with a small but important role towards the end of the book.
SO FUN!! I'm excited to see there is a second book in the series, Dangerous to Know!
SO FUN!! I'm excited to see there is a second book in the series, Dangerous to Know!
March 21, 2017
When Lillian Frost learns that her former roommate, Ruby, has been murdered, she is shocked. Then she recognizes what Ruby was wearing as a costume from a movie, which brings her into contact with famed costume designer Edith Head. Together, the two discover clues that could lead to Ruby’s killer. But can they piece it all together?
This book takes us back to 1937 Hollywood, and it is all fun. Real and fictional character rub elbows, and I loved it. Everyone came fully alive for me in these pages, as did the time and place (once I remembered just how much things would have changed in that time.) The mystery with strong with a couple of good twists. I love how the clues came together for the fun climax.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This book takes us back to 1937 Hollywood, and it is all fun. Real and fictional character rub elbows, and I loved it. Everyone came fully alive for me in these pages, as did the time and place (once I remembered just how much things would have changed in that time.) The mystery with strong with a couple of good twists. I love how the clues came together for the fun climax.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 16, 2018
I liked the old Hollywood backdrop of this, back when the major studios ruled and managed their talent from the way they dressed to who they dated. Lillian Frost made for a normal and likable heroine. I also liked all the quips that are common on those old movies from the silver screen era of Hollywood. The story had some really good ingredients but it never quite won me over. In these amateur sleuth mysteries it's always a challenge to explain and justify the involvement of said amateur sleuth. In this story I never felt like an acceptable reason was given, not for Lillian and even less so for Edith Head, who at this point in her career is still fighting to make a name for herself in Paramount's wardrobe department. I also don't understand why Edith bonds with Lillian so fast. Several characters also remark about the "high regard" the lead homicide detective, Gene Morrow, has for Lillian but I never saw that this relationship was well developed either. They spend so little time together on the page that how can anyone tell? If he's supposed to be a potential love interest, they're going to have to spend more page time together for me to care. Setting the superficiality of most of the relationships aside for the moment, the ultimate motive for the murder seemed underwhelming and it all felt like it went on a little too long. And don't even get me started on a homicide detective allowing a costume designer to lead the final summarization of facts to the gathered suspects. I know this is fiction but come on, lol.
May 30, 2017
A solid start to a series centered on Hollywood in the 1930s, Design for Dying was worth the read.
The characters were wonderfully different from each other. Lillian faced many of the same struggles all main characters face in books set in this era, however, her indifference to her problems was a wonderful change. Gene, Addison, and Edith, however, were my favorites. I really hope we get more about them in the next book. All three were vivid, yet there could easily be a book examining each of their backstories.
The mystery was good, but it honestly lacked the pizzazz I was expecting. I didn't expect the killer, but, because the book was set in Hollywood, I expected the reveal to be more glamorous or something. The setting was wonderful, I loved reading the descriptions of the movie sets, and I absolutely loved how the authors injected real former actors into the plot.
Overall a wonderful book, I will definitely be reading the next one. Recommend!
The characters were wonderfully different from each other. Lillian faced many of the same struggles all main characters face in books set in this era, however, her indifference to her problems was a wonderful change. Gene, Addison, and Edith, however, were my favorites. I really hope we get more about them in the next book. All three were vivid, yet there could easily be a book examining each of their backstories.
The mystery was good, but it honestly lacked the pizzazz I was expecting. I didn't expect the killer, but, because the book was set in Hollywood, I expected the reveal to be more glamorous or something. The setting was wonderful, I loved reading the descriptions of the movie sets, and I absolutely loved how the authors injected real former actors into the plot.
Overall a wonderful book, I will definitely be reading the next one. Recommend!
June 4, 2016
This was mildly interesting. Not really what I had in mind. It was kind of like those tongue in cheek murder mystery shows. It tried way too hard to be clever, and it went way overboard on cliches. I liked Lillian, Edith Head, and the romance between Lillian (narrator) and the Detective, which didn't develop much. Most of the characters were boring and convoluted, as was much of the story line.
May 9, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It was set in 1937 in Hollywood and I enjoyed all the cameos by stars of the day. The mystery had lots of twists and turns and I loved the Thin Man gathering of the suspects at the end. Totally had no idea who the murderer was. The only downfall was that there were sometimes too many characters and I had trouble remembering who some were. Overall a lot of fun and I hope to see Lillian and Edith teaming up again!
February 20, 2017
My parents are movie buffs, and I grew up knowing who Edith Head was, so I was intrigued to find a mystery series featuring her. The strongest aspect of Design for Dying are the characters, especially Lillian Frost, a young woman who went to Hollywood during the Great Depression to find fame and fortune, but instead learned she was an awful actress. She ends up working as a sales girl in an upscale department store, but she has many friends who are involved in the movie industry. The murder of one of these friends, found wearing clothes stolen from the Paramount Studios wardrobe department, gets Lillian and Edith Head introduced and involved in the case.
I enjoyed the story quite a bit, although I didn't find the mystery that difficult to figure out--sometimes new mystery authors take a book or two to become truly devious plotters. The dialog and characters, including some, like Edith Head, from real life (Barbara Stanwyck plays a small but crucial role) were well drawn and fun. I occasionally had trouble keeping track of who was who, which is odd for me when I read a book as quickly as I read this one, and I think that came from people often being referred to by only their first name; I had a terrible time remembering who Bill was. The story is told in first person by Lillian, and some of her thoughts were expressed with a little more literary panache than one would expect from a young woman who won a local beauty contest with a ticket to Hollywood. But these are small quibbles, and I will definitely read the next in the series when it comes out.
I enjoyed the story quite a bit, although I didn't find the mystery that difficult to figure out--sometimes new mystery authors take a book or two to become truly devious plotters. The dialog and characters, including some, like Edith Head, from real life (Barbara Stanwyck plays a small but crucial role) were well drawn and fun. I occasionally had trouble keeping track of who was who, which is odd for me when I read a book as quickly as I read this one, and I think that came from people often being referred to by only their first name; I had a terrible time remembering who Bill was. The story is told in first person by Lillian, and some of her thoughts were expressed with a little more literary panache than one would expect from a young woman who won a local beauty contest with a ticket to Hollywood. But these are small quibbles, and I will definitely read the next in the series when it comes out.
April 25, 2016
Witty dialog and just enough Hollywood circa 1937 atmospherics. Lillian Frost and Edith Head are both whip smart and fast talking which make them entertaining, but the book suffered from a proliferation of secondary characters -- who is Bill anyway and why is he always cropping up? I couldn't remember. Beyond Bill the cast includes Lillian's boardinghouse friends and their various beaus, a couple of cops beyond the central detective, the head of Paramount's security, Lillian's landlady (and her former landlady), a cat, a soon to be ex-boss plus a few other walk-ons with lines and that list includes none of the players involved with the crime that is neatly tied up by the end. For me, it was just too many people to keep track of in a light mystery.
While this was a decent set-up, I'd say skip this entry in this new series and wait for the next installment when, fingers-crossed, the husband/wife co-writers will tighten up the cast and plotting to more fully exploit the nicely drawn atmospherics.
While this was a decent set-up, I'd say skip this entry in this new series and wait for the next installment when, fingers-crossed, the husband/wife co-writers will tighten up the cast and plotting to more fully exploit the nicely drawn atmospherics.
August 26, 2016
A pretty good first book in a series. It drags a bit in the beginning - origin story, origin story, origin story, which is necessary (I guess) but can be dull if you are a lover of solving mysteries and outsmarting authors and their detectives. MGM was billed as having "more stars than there are in heaven" and that's the moxie of this book. While it had a large cast of fictional characters that were occasionally hard to keep track of, it also had a top billing of whose who of 1930s Hollywood, starting of course with Edith Head. Barbara Stanwyk and Bob Hope are major minor characters with an important part to play. About mid-way through, I really started to become engrossed by the "whodunnit." I think I like the murderer and ending I came up with in my head better than Renee Patrick's actual one, but hey - I didn't write the book.
August 13, 2017
Nancy Pearl enthusiastically endorsed this book on NPR; I thought it was just OK. Engaging descriptions of Hollywood in the '30s, but I wasn't really clear why you'd feature Edith Head as a character, instead of just basing a character on her. Also, a few too many over-the-top mystery metaphors—maybe the authors (a husband/wife duo writing under one pen name) wanted to sound Dashiel Hammett-y—and a few phrases and sentences that were just convoluted enough not to make sense.
July 1, 2016
Did not finish last hundred pages. Just lost interest.
November 6, 2018
What fun! Be warned this mystery is as addictive and delicious as a craft cocktail. (That's one of the interests of Vince Keenan, one half of Renee Patrick, who writes a column on cocktails for Eat Drink Films. His wife and co-author, Rosemarie Keenan, is a vintage fashion fan and her expertise is evident throughout the novel.) I read it in two nights, not because I wanted to--when I really enjoy a novel I want to spread out the joy--but because I couldn't stop reading.
The heroine, Lillian Frost, who came to Hollywood to become an actress but quickly realized she had no talent and got a job working at a department store instead, is plucky and smart. The mystery evolves naturally out of her relationship with other aspiring actresses, one of whom is found dead in an alley wearing a glamorous gown that Lillian recognizes as one she's seen in the movies. That leads her to Paramount Studios where she meets the costume designer Edith Head who becomes her collaborator in finding the killer.
As a reader I felt like I was transported to the late Thirties in LA, attending a fabulous party at a mansion with a swimming pool, being ushered into the back room of a club run by a gangster, hanging out at a boarding house full of wannabe actresses, even struggling to make a living in the lingerie department closely supervised by a harried manager. The characters were delightful, the dialogue witty, the language crisp, the plot twisty enough to fool me. At the end the revelation of the murderer felt both absolutely inevitable and surprising.
I'm eager to read the next book in the series, preferably with a craft cocktail in hand.
The heroine, Lillian Frost, who came to Hollywood to become an actress but quickly realized she had no talent and got a job working at a department store instead, is plucky and smart. The mystery evolves naturally out of her relationship with other aspiring actresses, one of whom is found dead in an alley wearing a glamorous gown that Lillian recognizes as one she's seen in the movies. That leads her to Paramount Studios where she meets the costume designer Edith Head who becomes her collaborator in finding the killer.
As a reader I felt like I was transported to the late Thirties in LA, attending a fabulous party at a mansion with a swimming pool, being ushered into the back room of a club run by a gangster, hanging out at a boarding house full of wannabe actresses, even struggling to make a living in the lingerie department closely supervised by a harried manager. The characters were delightful, the dialogue witty, the language crisp, the plot twisty enough to fool me. At the end the revelation of the murderer felt both absolutely inevitable and surprising.
I'm eager to read the next book in the series, preferably with a craft cocktail in hand.
May 31, 2020
I really liked this book set in 1937 Hollywood and featuring Edith Head. Lillian Frost is a sales clerk in a department store when she hears of the murder of a former roommate. The roommate, Ruby, was killed wearing a dress she had stolen from the wardrobe department of Paramount Studios.
July 4, 2017
This was a fun read, even if there were some big plot holes. Lillian was an engaging character, with a lot more on the ball than you might have expected from a girl who won a local beauty contest that included a Hollywood screen test. The test was a bust, but she stayed on in LA, taking a job selling lingerie at a department store. When her former roommate is murdered she gets involved in the investigation which takes her to Paramount Studios and a meeting with Edith Head. Ms. Head becomes a major player in the case and we have meetups with Bob Hope and Barbara Stanwyck, who plays a big role in part of the story. There is a lot of potential for this series and look forward to book #2!
April 7, 2017
A strong debut. Lillian Frost is a believable amateur sleuth in late 1930s Hollywood. The mystery is solid, although I had a good hunch who the killer was, but guess wrong about the motive. The language and imagery evoke the era and the movies! the movies! perfectly. And the fashion is a lot of fun, but not overdone.
June 10, 2017
This book was okay. It had its moments and I was engaged enough to finish it, but it wasn't as great as the description had led me to believe it would be.
The best thing about this book was the sense of place that it delivered. The early days of Hollywood, and all the colour and flavour that went with that is very well provided. The characters and their very snappy, clever, sarcastic lines are what I enjoyed more than anything else. This book is populated with smart, tough broads, suave, debonair leading men, rough and ready gangsters, hard-edged beautiful starlets, and hard-boiled cops. And every one of them have some very good lines.
The murder mystery I didn't love so much. I found it excessively convoluted and a little over-blown. Some of the things the people involved did were believable, but other things stretched my credulity a bit beyond its breaking point.
The Hollywood connection was fun, and there were brief cameos by a variety of golden age stars [Bob Hope has a fun scene that I quite enjoyed] but these were so quick that the personalities of these stars didn't have a chance to shine - more of a hit-and-run approach, name-dropping but not much more.
I was also disappointed at how minimal Edith Head's involvement was. The description really seemed like Edith would be a main character and deeply involved in the investigating of the murder, but she really came across as a minor character for most of the book. She had her moments, and when she was in a scene, she certainly shines as a big, bold personality, but I felt like she was under-utilized and could have been much more deeply involved in the story. Possibly, this will increase in future books, but I wanted more of her.
Lillian, who was really the main heroine in this book was a great character, and I liked her a lot. She is smart and sassy, and she doesn't hesitate to dive right in and do what needs to be done. She also has some of the best, funniest lines in the book. Lillian was the other thing I liked most about this story.
Overall, this had its moments, but I doubt I would read others in this series. It just didn't quite live up to what I was expecting from it.
The best thing about this book was the sense of place that it delivered. The early days of Hollywood, and all the colour and flavour that went with that is very well provided. The characters and their very snappy, clever, sarcastic lines are what I enjoyed more than anything else. This book is populated with smart, tough broads, suave, debonair leading men, rough and ready gangsters, hard-edged beautiful starlets, and hard-boiled cops. And every one of them have some very good lines.
The murder mystery I didn't love so much. I found it excessively convoluted and a little over-blown. Some of the things the people involved did were believable, but other things stretched my credulity a bit beyond its breaking point.
The Hollywood connection was fun, and there were brief cameos by a variety of golden age stars [Bob Hope has a fun scene that I quite enjoyed] but these were so quick that the personalities of these stars didn't have a chance to shine - more of a hit-and-run approach, name-dropping but not much more.
I was also disappointed at how minimal Edith Head's involvement was. The description really seemed like Edith would be a main character and deeply involved in the investigating of the murder, but she really came across as a minor character for most of the book. She had her moments, and when she was in a scene, she certainly shines as a big, bold personality, but I felt like she was under-utilized and could have been much more deeply involved in the story. Possibly, this will increase in future books, but I wanted more of her.
Lillian, who was really the main heroine in this book was a great character, and I liked her a lot. She is smart and sassy, and she doesn't hesitate to dive right in and do what needs to be done. She also has some of the best, funniest lines in the book. Lillian was the other thing I liked most about this story.
Overall, this had its moments, but I doubt I would read others in this series. It just didn't quite live up to what I was expecting from it.
May 3, 2016
This is such an enjoyable book!
As many girls of her age, Lillian Frost (Miss Astoria Park 1936) won a screen test along with her title. However, once in Hollywood she has the good sense to acknowledge she wasn't movie material, so she takes a job in the ladies' lingerie department of a trendy department store.
When her ex best friend is murdered, the police interrogate her, which leads to Lillian taking an active part in the search for the killer. In the course of the investigation she meets Edith Head (yes, the future Academy Award winner). They soon become friends and through her Lillian meets many of the big names in the studio: Bob Hope, Barbara Stanwick, Gracie Allen.
The style of the book is all 1930's. I thought I was reading a book written during those years. No detail is overlooked: the description, the dialogues, the food.
A lovely, pleasant book. Even if there's a murder it's light and fun. Waiting already for the second book in the series.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As many girls of her age, Lillian Frost (Miss Astoria Park 1936) won a screen test along with her title. However, once in Hollywood she has the good sense to acknowledge she wasn't movie material, so she takes a job in the ladies' lingerie department of a trendy department store.
When her ex best friend is murdered, the police interrogate her, which leads to Lillian taking an active part in the search for the killer. In the course of the investigation she meets Edith Head (yes, the future Academy Award winner). They soon become friends and through her Lillian meets many of the big names in the studio: Bob Hope, Barbara Stanwick, Gracie Allen.
The style of the book is all 1930's. I thought I was reading a book written during those years. No detail is overlooked: the description, the dialogues, the food.
A lovely, pleasant book. Even if there's a murder it's light and fun. Waiting already for the second book in the series.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2016
I tend to like reading books set during the Golden Age of Hollywood and I've always admired Edith Head's talent, so I looked forward to reading Design for Dying. For the most part, I was not disappointed (even though the attitude of some of the police officers toward women felt more like 2016 than 1937). The book suffered a bit from "too much middle" when the pace began to drag, and a few of the plot devices were easily guessed. (No, I'm not going to say what they were.)
But there were still surprises, and the book came to life with Lillian Frost's point of view and wit, Edith Head's talent, and the spotlight that shined on the inner workings of a movie studio in general and the wardrobe department in particular. Cameos by such luminaries as Preston Sturgis, Bob Hope, and Barbara Stanwyck added depth and humor to the story.
Lillian and Edith make a strong team, and I'm looking forward to their next adventure. Design for Dying is a light, fun read for anyone who isn't a stickler for all the details to be letter perfect in their historical mysteries.
But there were still surprises, and the book came to life with Lillian Frost's point of view and wit, Edith Head's talent, and the spotlight that shined on the inner workings of a movie studio in general and the wardrobe department in particular. Cameos by such luminaries as Preston Sturgis, Bob Hope, and Barbara Stanwyck added depth and humor to the story.
Lillian and Edith make a strong team, and I'm looking forward to their next adventure. Design for Dying is a light, fun read for anyone who isn't a stickler for all the details to be letter perfect in their historical mysteries.
June 4, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed this visit to "old" Hollywood, a place that has fascinated me even before Hollywood and I were old.
This is set in the days when studios ran, not only the industry, but also had great power in the almost-mystical land of Hollywood.
Edith Head makes a great detective with the help of the protagonist. I usually don't like real people as detectives in novels, but found myself fascinated by the authors' portrayal of Head. (My first trip to LA was in the late 60s and I bemoaned missing the really glamorous denizens, but actually saw Edith Head walking across the Universal when I was on a tour bus. This was still when it was a working studio and not a theme park.
Anyone who loves the Hollywood of the 30s and 40s and is a fan of the traditional mystery will find themselves enthralled. Can't wait for the next in the series.
This is set in the days when studios ran, not only the industry, but also had great power in the almost-mystical land of Hollywood.
Edith Head makes a great detective with the help of the protagonist. I usually don't like real people as detectives in novels, but found myself fascinated by the authors' portrayal of Head. (My first trip to LA was in the late 60s and I bemoaned missing the really glamorous denizens, but actually saw Edith Head walking across the Universal when I was on a tour bus. This was still when it was a working studio and not a theme park.
Anyone who loves the Hollywood of the 30s and 40s and is a fan of the traditional mystery will find themselves enthralled. Can't wait for the next in the series.
March 1, 2018
This one was a fun read akin to a watching an old black and white Hollywood whodunnit. If you love old movies and old Hollywood, you'll love this novel.
The author not only name drops old Hollywood icons, she writes some of them in as central characters.
The story is part detective novel, part noir, and part comedy with a dash of coming of age for hungry-to-be-someone starlets.
The characters were defined, each had their own voice. The dialog was sharp and the descriptions vivid.
I would have more to say if I had written this right after I read the book. But I do remember specific characters, so that speaks volumes.
While it's not a novel that I would consider deep, it was fun and well written. For its genre, it hit the mark.
I would consider reading more of these author's (as I recall, there were two).
The author not only name drops old Hollywood icons, she writes some of them in as central characters.
The story is part detective novel, part noir, and part comedy with a dash of coming of age for hungry-to-be-someone starlets.
The characters were defined, each had their own voice. The dialog was sharp and the descriptions vivid.
I would have more to say if I had written this right after I read the book. But I do remember specific characters, so that speaks volumes.
While it's not a novel that I would consider deep, it was fun and well written. For its genre, it hit the mark.
I would consider reading more of these author's (as I recall, there were two).
October 5, 2017
Super into this. I think part of it is the golden age of Hollywood setting. Part of it is definitely Lillian's right level of pluck - she takes the right amount of risks, but isn't, y'know, completely foolhardy. And I really enjoy the character work.
Edith and Lillian's friendship is a delight. I really enjoyed all the random actors and actresses dropping in.
I like Lillian's friends from her former boarding house. I like her landlady. I like that she's in Hollywood and loves movies, but doesn't want to be an actress.
And obviously, I enjoy Edith's dynamic with Gene. A lot.
So yeah, does it have its flaws? Maybe, but in the end, I really enjoyed it.
Edith and Lillian's friendship is a delight. I really enjoyed all the random actors and actresses dropping in.
I like Lillian's friends from her former boarding house. I like her landlady. I like that she's in Hollywood and loves movies, but doesn't want to be an actress.
And obviously, I enjoy Edith's dynamic with Gene. A lot.
So yeah, does it have its flaws? Maybe, but in the end, I really enjoyed it.
June 3, 2016
Enjoyed this thoroughly!
June 3, 2016
What a fun read, with amusing touchstones and cameo's using historical Hollywood movies and movie stars scattered throughout the plot. Noir with a light hearted twist.
July 31, 2020
This was a perfect mystery for me. I am a classic movie buff and loved this mystery set in 1937 Los Angeles. Lillian Frost, a salesgirl gets drawn into a murder investigation when her former roommate Ruby Carroll, an aspiring actress is found murdered wearing an Edith Head gown stolen from the Paramount lot. Lillian crosses paths with Edith and they join forces to try to solve the mystery. The dialog crackles like the rat-a-tat-tat of a tommy gun and the action moves like a lindy hop. Here's some examples of the sparkling prose -"He was either stout or portly, wealthy enough that a vocabulary had been designed to conceal his girth." "He was a tall man with hair cut like straw. His features clustered in the center of his face as if conspiring against his ears." The cast of characters is replete with a stalwart detective, who may be sweet on Lillian, a South American playboy, a shady private eye, a rotund millionaire, a lecherous director, a scrappy girl reporter(is there any other kind) and droves of beautiful actresses. Any mystery that has Bob Hope and Barbara Stanwyck helping our heros gets my vote. Highly original!
February 4, 2020
Almost a four-star, but it starts a little slowly for that. This debut mystery novel is set in 1930s Hollywood, and features Edith Head, the famous costume designer as a principal character. Lillian Frost, a transplant from New York, works in the lingerie department of an expensive speciality store, but aspired to a movie career, which she has determined is not for her.
The plot spins around the murder of Ruby Carroll, a beautiful and conniving young woman, whom Lillian knows from her former rooming house, and who was once her best friend...
There are lots of twists and turns, a possible Hungarian princess, a South American polo-playing playboy, a gangster, several detectives, and lots of stars of the time make brief entrances into the story. It's fun. Handled well, it could turn into a light and airy period movie with lots of cameo appearances.
The plot spins around the murder of Ruby Carroll, a beautiful and conniving young woman, whom Lillian knows from her former rooming house, and who was once her best friend...
There are lots of twists and turns, a possible Hungarian princess, a South American polo-playing playboy, a gangster, several detectives, and lots of stars of the time make brief entrances into the story. It's fun. Handled well, it could turn into a light and airy period movie with lots of cameo appearances.
December 18, 2019
More of a 2.5/5. This is a light-hearted 1930’s Hollywood mystery in which a shop clerk investigates the murder of her actress friend and rubs elbows with the rich and famous. Costume designer Edith Head assists her, along with a parade of famous cameos all introduced in ham-fisted ways with faux-pot-boiled dialog. The concept is interesting and is what drew me in; the execution is flawed and groan-worthy at times with occasional terrible writing, such as: “Bob Hope came bounding in, the Broadway and radio star preceded by his proboscis.”
April 20, 2017
Mon avis en Français
My English review
I did not really know about the series but with the release of the second volume I had the chance to to discover this first novel. The idea of investigations along with Hollywood during this period was very attractive and I was curious to see what the author was going to present us.
We discover Lillian Frost a young woman who works today in a clothing store. Her rather routine life is going to be completely upset down when she learns that her ex roommate and friend is found murdered. Suspect of the murder, she will try everything to innocent her name and discover what happened to Ruby. This young woman who enjoyed by life without hesitation, abusing it, has changed somewhat since her departure. This is how Lillian will team up with Edith, a friend of hers who is trying to understand the events as well and they both will try to clear up the mystery. But while Lillian discovers Ruby’s secrets, she will put herself in danger and discovering the killer will become indispensable!
I loved the idea of the novel, it is a very interesting mix and it was a pleasure to discover Lillian. She is a very fresh and dynamic woman who, despite what Ruby has made her endure, hopes to understand the truth. The plot is not badly conducted with many secrets, arrangements, and we gradually discover the stories of each character. I confess that I had not seen the end coming, especially about the culprit. The author makes us doubt, suspecting the characters, the one after the other and it is true that this mobile was far from what I could have imagined.
As I said, this novel was a good discovery and I am curious now to find the characters for a new story!
My English review
I did not really know about the series but with the release of the second volume I had the chance to to discover this first novel. The idea of investigations along with Hollywood during this period was very attractive and I was curious to see what the author was going to present us.
We discover Lillian Frost a young woman who works today in a clothing store. Her rather routine life is going to be completely upset down when she learns that her ex roommate and friend is found murdered. Suspect of the murder, she will try everything to innocent her name and discover what happened to Ruby. This young woman who enjoyed by life without hesitation, abusing it, has changed somewhat since her departure. This is how Lillian will team up with Edith, a friend of hers who is trying to understand the events as well and they both will try to clear up the mystery. But while Lillian discovers Ruby’s secrets, she will put herself in danger and discovering the killer will become indispensable!
I loved the idea of the novel, it is a very interesting mix and it was a pleasure to discover Lillian. She is a very fresh and dynamic woman who, despite what Ruby has made her endure, hopes to understand the truth. The plot is not badly conducted with many secrets, arrangements, and we gradually discover the stories of each character. I confess that I had not seen the end coming, especially about the culprit. The author makes us doubt, suspecting the characters, the one after the other and it is true that this mobile was far from what I could have imagined.
As I said, this novel was a good discovery and I am curious now to find the characters for a new story!
August 10, 2017
Picked this up as it was recommended by Nancy Pearl-librarian extraordinaire! Enjoyed this first installment in a new mystery series featuring Edith Head and Lillian Frost. Cozy mystery mixed with period details (1930's Hollywood) as well as cameos by movie stars of the period. *** 1/2 stars. Looking forward to the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews