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Hollywood's Garden of Allah #5
Reds in the Beds
Have you ever wanted to climb into a time machine and visit Hollywood during its heyday?
Hollywood history is more than just colorful. It's dripping with red.
As World War II ends, a new boogieman emerges: the Red Menace. When a scandal accuses Tinseltown of being riddled with Communists, MGM writing department head Marcus Adler needs to keep his reputation beyond reproach. Unfortunately in Hollywood, nobody's past is spotless.
While the House un-American Activities Committee prepares to grill the brightest stars in town, gossip columnist Kathryn Massey is doing everything she can to shed the FBI informer mantle she carried during the war. Desperate to avoid tangling with a notorious mobster, Massey may have to take on J. Edgar Hoover himself to secure her freedom.
The war killed Gwendolyn Brick's dream of opening her own store, but valuable secrets can creep into the strangest of places. From behind the perfume counter at Bullocks Wilshire, Brick makes a shocking discovery that could revive her dream and change multiple lives for good.
In postwar Hollywood, there are reds in the beds, the sharks are circling, and it's feeding time.
"Reds in the Beds" is the fifth installment in the Hollywood's Garden of Allah saga, a series of historical novels set in Hollywood's heyday. If you like authentic and richly-detailed history, compelling and memorable characters, and seeing fiction and history seamlessly woven together, then you'll love Martin Turnbull's authentic portrayal of the City of Angels.
Flip through the pages to see Hollywood's history come to life before your eyes.
Hollywood history is more than just colorful. It's dripping with red.
As World War II ends, a new boogieman emerges: the Red Menace. When a scandal accuses Tinseltown of being riddled with Communists, MGM writing department head Marcus Adler needs to keep his reputation beyond reproach. Unfortunately in Hollywood, nobody's past is spotless.
While the House un-American Activities Committee prepares to grill the brightest stars in town, gossip columnist Kathryn Massey is doing everything she can to shed the FBI informer mantle she carried during the war. Desperate to avoid tangling with a notorious mobster, Massey may have to take on J. Edgar Hoover himself to secure her freedom.
The war killed Gwendolyn Brick's dream of opening her own store, but valuable secrets can creep into the strangest of places. From behind the perfume counter at Bullocks Wilshire, Brick makes a shocking discovery that could revive her dream and change multiple lives for good.
In postwar Hollywood, there are reds in the beds, the sharks are circling, and it's feeding time.
"Reds in the Beds" is the fifth installment in the Hollywood's Garden of Allah saga, a series of historical novels set in Hollywood's heyday. If you like authentic and richly-detailed history, compelling and memorable characters, and seeing fiction and history seamlessly woven together, then you'll love Martin Turnbull's authentic portrayal of the City of Angels.
Flip through the pages to see Hollywood's history come to life before your eyes.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2016
91 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Martin Turnbull
24 books244 followersMartin Turnbull has worked as a private tour guide showing both locals and out-of-towners the movie studios, Beverly Hills mansions, Hollywood hills vistas and where all the bodies are buried. For nine years, he has also volunteered as an historical walking tour docent with the Los Angeles Conservancy. He worked for a summer as a guide at the Warner Bros. movie studios in Burbank showing movie fans through the sound stages where Bogie and Bacall, Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, and James Cagney created some of Hollywood’s classic motion pictures.
From an early age, Martin was enchanted with old movies from Hollywood’s golden era–from the dawn of the talkies in the late 1920s to the dusk of the studio system in the late 1950s–and has spent many, many a happy hour watching the likes of Garland, Gable, Crawford, Garbo, Grant, Miller, Kelly, Astaire, Rogers, Turner, Welles go through their paces.
When he discovered the wonderful world of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs, his love of reading merged with his love of movies and his love of history to produce a three-headed hydra gobbling up everything in his path. Ever since then, he’s been on a mission to learn and share as much as he can about this unique time.
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Martin moved to Los Angeles in the mid-90s.
From an early age, Martin was enchanted with old movies from Hollywood’s golden era–from the dawn of the talkies in the late 1920s to the dusk of the studio system in the late 1950s–and has spent many, many a happy hour watching the likes of Garland, Gable, Crawford, Garbo, Grant, Miller, Kelly, Astaire, Rogers, Turner, Welles go through their paces.
When he discovered the wonderful world of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs, his love of reading merged with his love of movies and his love of history to produce a three-headed hydra gobbling up everything in his path. Ever since then, he’s been on a mission to learn and share as much as he can about this unique time.
Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Martin moved to Los Angeles in the mid-90s.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 1, 2017
By far, "Reds in the Beds" is the best in Martin Turnbull's Garden of Allah series...so far. There's a final book, "Twisted Boulevard", but I must admit that I'm not ready to let go of these characters just yet. This fifth volume leaps out of the gate in only the first few pages and really never lets up with the tension until the end. Set in the latter part of the '40s, we have all the components that Hollywood was notorious for during this era: Communism, blackmail, the Black Dahlia, J. Edgar Hoover, cross-dressing clubs, the FBI...Whooooo Nelly! This one packs a punch, with Marcus, Gwendolyn, and Kathryn reacting to the situations facing them through their characteristics, and not just because it's convenient for the plot. First class story-telling all the way.
February 18, 2016
This next installment of Martin Turnbull's Golden Age Hollywood series is a gem just like all the others. Action, drama, and surprising twists and turns make it a page-turner from start to finish. It's definitely part of an ongoing series, so I do not recommend starting with this book if you're just getting into this series. And while this book has a conclusion, it definitely leaves the story open for more.
Martin seamlessly weaves his fictional characters and incidents in with the real history, to a point where I've been driven to Wikipedia to find out if something in the book was fact or fiction. To me, this is historical fiction at its finest, to blend the two so perfectly. His portrayal of the world of Hollywood in general and the lives of his fictional main characters in particular is bold, believable, and rich with detail.
There were a few places in the book that tripped me up because of poorly-worded sentences. Also, there were several places where I felt that dialogue tags were either misused or underused, and I got a little confused about who was talking. These were very minor issues, though, and probably wouldn't be noticed by most readers. I tend to read with an editorial eye (since I myself am a writer, and have done some editing work before). These little incidents were not major enough to interfere with the story, though.
Another excellent book overall, and I almost wish I hadn't read it so quickly, because now I have to wait another year for the next book!
Martin seamlessly weaves his fictional characters and incidents in with the real history, to a point where I've been driven to Wikipedia to find out if something in the book was fact or fiction. To me, this is historical fiction at its finest, to blend the two so perfectly. His portrayal of the world of Hollywood in general and the lives of his fictional main characters in particular is bold, believable, and rich with detail.
There were a few places in the book that tripped me up because of poorly-worded sentences. Also, there were several places where I felt that dialogue tags were either misused or underused, and I got a little confused about who was talking. These were very minor issues, though, and probably wouldn't be noticed by most readers. I tend to read with an editorial eye (since I myself am a writer, and have done some editing work before). These little incidents were not major enough to interfere with the story, though.
Another excellent book overall, and I almost wish I hadn't read it so quickly, because now I have to wait another year for the next book!
February 3, 2016
I just adore this series! I've been obsessed with Classic Hollywood since I was 12 years old, and being a rather voracious reader, I will read any book that has anything to do with the subject. Martin Turnbull's Garden of Allah series allows readers to jump right into the old photographs that we all gaze at longingly, wishing we'd been born in an earlier time. Reds in the Beds is his latest offering in the series, and it's just as packed full of action, fun, and drama as the ones that came before it. Whenever I'm not reading one of Martin's books, I find myself wondering what's happening with Kathryn, Marcus, and Gwendolyn, and what sort of trouble they're going to get themselves into next. Reds in the Beds takes place during the Communist scare that swept through Hollywood (and the rest of the country) in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and Martin does a great job of depicting the fear and paranoia that even the biggest stars had to contend with in the hopes of holding onto their careers in the wake of the Hollywood blacklist. His descriptions of the people and places of old Hollywood really give you the feeling of having stepped back in time, and he brings the movie stars we all adore back to life and makes us feel as though we're sitting right there with them. I just finished Reds in the Beds last night, but I'm already impatient for the next book!
November 7, 2017
So Gwendolyn, Kathryn and Marcus continue living in a Hollywood filled with turmoil and whisperings of 'pinkos'. Gwennie still wants to open her dress shop, but as a regular working girl, the funding is hard to come by--or is it? Kathryn has mixed feelings about an FBI agent who forces her hand into spying on her famous friends. Does the name Bogie ring a bell? Marcus finally goes home after being thrown out by his close-minded father 20 years earlier. Happy reunion? Maybe--maybe not so much. The Garden of Allah saga continues in this book (#5) and it doesn't disappoint. Martin Turnbull's three main characters continue to mingle with the rich and famous, but they each have their own stories and motivations. Two things remains constant--their solid friendship and their residences at the Garden of Allah. Makes me wish I could have been there! Can't wait to start book 6, Twisted Boulevard.
October 9, 2019
Book 5 in the Garden of Allah Series follows the original 3 characters in their post-war lives:
Katherine is willing to do almost anything to get rid of her FBI informant role, but does not necessarily want to get rid of the FBI Agent who got her involved in the first place. A mis-sent dress may just be what she needs to make everything work out. Plus she has to deal with her bosses terrible decision making and fanatic anti-communist rhetoric,and Bugsy Siegel.
Gwendolyn has put her dreams of owning a shop on hold, but a surprise encounter with her boss leads her to a very interesting group of new clients who love her dressmaking work.
Marcus has a heartbreaking series of events due to the red-scare, and I hate how it all ended for him, but am so glad that he got some resolution from his family.
Katherine is willing to do almost anything to get rid of her FBI informant role, but does not necessarily want to get rid of the FBI Agent who got her involved in the first place. A mis-sent dress may just be what she needs to make everything work out. Plus she has to deal with her bosses terrible decision making and fanatic anti-communist rhetoric,and Bugsy Siegel.
Gwendolyn has put her dreams of owning a shop on hold, but a surprise encounter with her boss leads her to a very interesting group of new clients who love her dressmaking work.
Marcus has a heartbreaking series of events due to the red-scare, and I hate how it all ended for him, but am so glad that he got some resolution from his family.
May 5, 2017
The series just keeps getting better and better, and more complex, as do our wonderful friends Marcus, Gwendolyn and Kathryn.
Though the main substance of this book is the lead-in to Hollywood 10 and the HUAC hearings, and then up to the the development of the blacklistWas thrilled when costume designers entered the scene.
Martin has taught me a lot about the resistance to the impending doom of HUAC (eg The Alliance for the First Amendment), as well as the countervailing forces, the role of the studios (limp lettuce leaves) and of course the concurrent Mob events that were occurring (eventually these collide)
The car is starting to make its presence felt in Los Angeles, and the days of the red streetcars are numbered!
Though the main substance of this book is the lead-in to Hollywood 10 and the HUAC hearings, and then up to the the development of the blacklistWas thrilled when costume designers entered the scene.
Martin has taught me a lot about the resistance to the impending doom of HUAC (eg The Alliance for the First Amendment), as well as the countervailing forces, the role of the studios (limp lettuce leaves) and of course the concurrent Mob events that were occurring (eventually these collide)
The car is starting to make its presence felt in Los Angeles, and the days of the red streetcars are numbered!
October 22, 2021
Loving this series
Imagine yourself living during the beginning of the movie era- the 1920's. Now picture partying with the movie stars of that era and dishing with them on the latest news and gossip! The "Garden of Allah" series has been like a dream come true for someone like me, who absolutely adores the time periods(1920's -1959), The Golden Age of Hollywood! Mr Turnbull has the ability to make the reader feel like they are at the best party, premiere or promotion, seeing it through the eyes of a screenwriter, a newspaper columnist and a dress designer. I love these books and cannot seem
to stop reading them ! Thank you, Mr. Turnbull! Each
novel is a historical delight!
For someone like me , Martin Turnbulls
Imagine yourself living during the beginning of the movie era- the 1920's. Now picture partying with the movie stars of that era and dishing with them on the latest news and gossip! The "Garden of Allah" series has been like a dream come true for someone like me, who absolutely adores the time periods(1920's -1959), The Golden Age of Hollywood! Mr Turnbull has the ability to make the reader feel like they are at the best party, premiere or promotion, seeing it through the eyes of a screenwriter, a newspaper columnist and a dress designer. I love these books and cannot seem
to stop reading them ! Thank you, Mr. Turnbull! Each
novel is a historical delight!
For someone like me , Martin Turnbulls
September 22, 2022
As in every review for this series, I absolutely love it. I love getting to experience Old Hollywood through these books, and I love the characters! I will say that although I loved the suspense and plot twists involved in this telling of the Red Scare, I felt like it didn’t go as far into it as I would’ve liked. I was expecting to see Walt Disney and his testifying make an appearance, and see more how things like that affected the industry. I’m assuming this wasn’t included potentially due to copyright or something with the Disney name. I’m sad to see the characters growing older, but I’m happy for them that they’re all going in a good direction for themselves. I’m halfway through the series now and excited to continue following where they’ll go.
September 20, 2021
Reds is a hit!
The Garden of Allah novels have been fun to read and Reds in the Beds is no exception! Martin Turnbull does an excellent job recreating post-war Hollywood and the Red Scare hysteria with HUAC. It interesting to contrast the First Amendment free speech arguments of today to that time. I think today's SJW's would be appalled to realize they're pretty much the same as HUAC circa 1947. Our three main characters continue to develop with all the mayhem around them. I like how Mr. Turnbull has progressed their story to include them realizing middle age. I look forward to the next installment!
The Garden of Allah novels have been fun to read and Reds in the Beds is no exception! Martin Turnbull does an excellent job recreating post-war Hollywood and the Red Scare hysteria with HUAC. It interesting to contrast the First Amendment free speech arguments of today to that time. I think today's SJW's would be appalled to realize they're pretty much the same as HUAC circa 1947. Our three main characters continue to develop with all the mayhem around them. I like how Mr. Turnbull has progressed their story to include them realizing middle age. I look forward to the next installment!
December 3, 2017
This is the best one of the Garden of Allah books yet. Turnbull has, so far, covered 20 years of Hollywood history and there in one more volume to go. I'm not going to lie to you, this is my favorite era in movies and MGM, that features in most of this series was the king of all studios. They not only had "all the stars in heaven" working under contract, but the best writers, costumers, and artists of every sort. Loving this and am not sure that I will be willing to let the characters go after the next book is done.
November 16, 2019
Not my favorite (3.5 stars)
I have noticed a trend that emerged in book 4 and continued more so in book 5. There are contemporary plot lines overlaid at a time when the central three characters would not have been so open-minded because cultural mores were not remotely close to acceptance. For example, there’s no way Gwendolyn would have become a dressmaker to crossdressers. Had that info ever gotten out, her dress shop dream would be kaput.
I find it ironic because the theme of this book was HUAC trying to ensure no communist plot lines. But, still a fun read.
I have noticed a trend that emerged in book 4 and continued more so in book 5. There are contemporary plot lines overlaid at a time when the central three characters would not have been so open-minded because cultural mores were not remotely close to acceptance. For example, there’s no way Gwendolyn would have become a dressmaker to crossdressers. Had that info ever gotten out, her dress shop dream would be kaput.
I find it ironic because the theme of this book was HUAC trying to ensure no communist plot lines. But, still a fun read.
September 3, 2017
REDS IN THE BEDS: ALLAH- BOOK 5
As hard as they tried, THE HUAC , entered their lives also. Meaning the three main characters of course! Each one having to deal with that particular problem in their own way. Some interesting things come out about Marcus past and Howard Hughes makes a special appearance! As always, excellent read 😁
As hard as they tried, THE HUAC , entered their lives also. Meaning the three main characters of course! Each one having to deal with that particular problem in their own way. Some interesting things come out about Marcus past and Howard Hughes makes a special appearance! As always, excellent read 😁
April 9, 2019
I got a little more tangled up with the story lines in this one re: Communists and Mobsters, but I always love to revisit these friends and find out what they're up to. And I miss them when I'm finished. But now that I'm over halfway through the series, I'll really have to pace myself because I don't want to see it end!
January 29, 2023
Martin Turnbull’s characters, writing style and plot twists have really come together! I fell in love with these characters In the first book and I’m happy to have gotten back to this series to finally finish it for their wit, loyalty, camaraderie, and his page turning, suspenseful plots! Thank you for writing such a charming, personal tour of old world hollywood!
March 30, 2023
I Feel Like I Know These People
After reading the first 5 Allah books I feel like I really know these characters and am rooting for them.
I particularly like the references to real Hollywood people woven throughout, giving historical context throughout.
I wish this could be made into a tv series.....
After reading the first 5 Allah books I feel like I really know these characters and am rooting for them.
I particularly like the references to real Hollywood people woven throughout, giving historical context throughout.
I wish this could be made into a tv series.....
August 1, 2017
Honestly, a bit unremarkable
The main cast is getting older, and the whole "golden age" of Hollywood is coming to a close. Nothing truly memorable but it feels like the cast is getting a second gen with Doris and Arlene which I hope gets explored....
The main cast is getting older, and the whole "golden age" of Hollywood is coming to a close. Nothing truly memorable but it feels like the cast is getting a second gen with Doris and Arlene which I hope gets explored....
January 29, 2018
I read two fantasy novels before continuing this series. I had forgotten how much time had passed in the story and was surprised that it had been twenty years since the main characters came to Hollywood. Reads like an historical novel.
September 11, 2018
#5 - garden of Allah series
Mr Turnbull is an author who paints a very vivid picture of happenings in the movie industry from silent days through the advent of talkies in Hollywood. I hope you will enjoy this book. The years that HUAC existed were horrible & damaging.
Mr Turnbull is an author who paints a very vivid picture of happenings in the movie industry from silent days through the advent of talkies in Hollywood. I hope you will enjoy this book. The years that HUAC existed were horrible & damaging.
April 5, 2022
Book 5 in the Garden of Allah Series, each book is better than the first. Garden of Allah was the best book I had ever read. All read fast for me probably because I can't put them down once I start them.
September 29, 2024
Book #5 has J Edgar Hoover and his boys causing deeply disturbing dilemmas for our three. Thank you for your words Martin Turnbull and Lance Roger Axt your superb eloquence, very much appreciated gentlemen (-:
August 18, 2017
My all time favorite series that gets better and better.
August 26, 2018
I couldn't get past the first chapters. No thanks.
September 26, 2018
Love this series. This particular time period is very interesting. Really enjoy these characters, they are fully developed.
July 31, 2019
Love this series,so entertaining
March 9, 2020
Enjoyable...on to the next book of the series
May 20, 2020
I am in love with this series. 20 years of Hollywood and still going. Quick reads, and fun history.
March 23, 2021
Read in FL on Kindle Paper White. Book 5 of 9.
December 12, 2022
I can’t imagine all the angst caused by the Red Scare in Hollywood. Fingers pointing everywhere. Another good installment in the series.
March 15, 2023
just keeps me enthralled!
One thing I really love about this series is the way the friends hold each other up. Life is a group effort.
One thing I really love about this series is the way the friends hold each other up. Life is a group effort.
Read
April 3, 2023Wonderful
Yet another great book in the Garden of Allah series!! I'm excited to start the next one. Very well written series that takes you through the golden age of Hollywood.
Yet another great book in the Garden of Allah series!! I'm excited to start the next one. Very well written series that takes you through the golden age of Hollywood.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews