Dream A Little Death

Dreama Black #1

by Susan Kandel

Dreama Black is almost famous. The daughter (and granddaughter) of groupies who captivated L.A.’s biggest rock stars, and muse to her own Grammy-winning ex-boyfriend Luke Cutt, Dreama seems doomed to remain on the periphery of stardom.

 

All that changes when Dreama is hired by record producer Miles McCoy to arrange an epic wedding celebration for his beautiful fiancée, Maya Duran.  The theme of the party? A noir-style tour through L.A.’s most infamous locations and hidden gems. It seems like Dreama’s big break, until Maya is rushed to the hospital with a self-inflicted bullet wound. The police and everyone involved assume it’s an attempted suicide, but Dreama isn’t convinced. For one thing, how did the weapon just vanish? Why has Maya been using two names? And then there’s the mysterious check for $40,000 that shows up on Dreama’s doorstep—the exact amount of money reportedly laundered by her beloved L.A. police detective uncle, and also the exact amount Miles promised as payment for Dreama’s party-planning services.

 

Now Dreama is at the center of a mystery worthy of a classic film noir, and must road-trip across L.A. to piece together the clues—before she becomes the next femme fatale.

 

Genres: Mystery

325 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2017

About the author

Susan Kandel is the author of the critically acclaimed, L.A. Times-bestselling Cece Caruso mysteries, the most recent of which, DIAL H FOR HITCHCOCK (Harper, 2009) was named one of the five best mysteries of the year by NPR. Her upcoming book, DREAM A LITTLE DEATH, is the first in the Dreama Black series, and will be published by William Morrow's Witness Impulse in 2017.

Susan lives in West Hollywood, CA with her husband, Peter Lunenfeld, and her equally handsome dog, Cooper.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first introduction to this author. I am happy to report that first impressions were a success. I had such an enjoyable time reading this book and getting to know Dreama. I feel like I barely scratched the surface of just who Dream is and what makes her tick. Thus I can't wait to get to know her better. For example, did you know that Dreama has the honor to brag that she was the inspiration for a hit song "Dreama, Little Dreama".

Dreama is not the only one that I enjoyed meeting. Her friends were great too. They brought the energy and personalities. Great friends is what it is all about. The mystery in this book was a good one. Dreama kind of played the role of Nancy Drew. She was not as great ash she may have thought she was; just ask her uncle. I really had no idea how the story would play out. So, when it was revealed in the end I was happy with the outcome. I want more Dreama. Dream a Little Death will have you lost in time with this enjoyable read!

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mystery and the journey through the film noir of Los Angeles. Dreama is a well crafted character. I like how she accidentally gets caught up in a possible murder investigation and pursues the truth in her own bumbling way. Many of the characters lie to Dreama so she has to uncover layers of deceit. Her amateur investigation takes readers through the shady part of Los Angeles, visiting sophisticated strip clubs and encountering a number of thugs.
There are many references in the book to film noir, including quotes from the movies and places where action was filmed. People who love that genre of the film industry will find that aspect of the plot very interesting.
I found the promiscuity in the novel disconcerting. While there were no graphic descriptions of sexual encounters, I didn't like the frequent casual sex and references to previous encounters, Dreama's mother and grandmother included.
I recommend this novel to readers who would like a complex plot involving layers of lies and deceit and who don't mind a romp through the seedier part of Los Angeles. You'll learn quite a bit about film noir along the way.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreama Black is a third generation rock groupie and trying to find her place in the world. She runs a custom designed themed tours of LA. Raymond Chandler hires her to create a LA Noir themes tour. But Dreama finds herself in trouble when she witnesses a murder and finds herself in the middle of the investigation. But she is not going to let that slow her down. She is determined to figure out what is going on and solve the mystery. But this is LA and everyone has secrets that they are trying to keep and lies they freely tell. This is not going to be an easy investigation.

Dreama is a great character and has some amazing friends. She is determined to solve the murder and bumbles along through the dirty side of LA. She has her work cut out for her trying to figure out the truth behind all of the lies. But mixed in with this is all of the great movie quotes and history. I loved how this added to the story even as I fought with all of the promiscuity. But as much as that annoyed me to felt true with Hollywood.

This is a great introduction to a new mystery series with a great lead. I loved Dreama and can’t wait to find out what trouble she meets with next.

I received Dream a Little Death from Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have previously enjoyed earlier Susan Kandel mysteries. But this one features a different protagonist, one who is a groupie and promiscuous (and so is her mother and grandmother), so that is a little much to take.

But I think the most difficult part for me was the end. Dreama rather crashes a wedding party, claiming to be related to the groom, yet the groom never questions this. Then Dreama wanders off and when she returns, well, where has the wedding party gone? These people don't pack it in at an early hour--yet the room is empty and all the cleaning has been done. She was not gone that long. It is this inattention to detail that nags at my otherwise enjoyment of the story. Also, I just could not keep straight the three look-alike women, in fact, I only finished this yesterday, and I am struggling to remember their names. One was Lizeth (and I remember it because I can't pronounce it).

[Liz V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dream a Little Death is the first of a new series. Kendall's Cece Caruso series revolved around Cece's wip, biographies of such mystery experts as Alfred Hitchcock and Agatha Christie, with plenty of tidbits sure to be of interest to mystery fans. The new series focuses on noir books and films, a darker subject of less interest to me. Coupled with the theme of musicians and their groupies, a set of particularly dysfunctional and unattractive people, this book had less appeal, although there is much information about relevant sites in the Los Angeles area.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

DREAM A LITTLE DEATH by Susan Kandel
The First Dreama Black Mystery

Dreama Black is a third generation groupie and is known as the inspiration behind the hit song Dreama, Little Dreama as well as being the girl on the cover of the band's debut CD. Now, at age 28 Dreama is trying to make ends meet by giving specialized tours of Los Angeles when she gets a chance to make big money and pay down big bills by organizing a special tour for a famous record producer. But things get complicated quickly when one of her "uncles", a top ranking member of LAPD, tells her someone is framing him for laundering money...in the exact same amount she's being paid for her new job. Add a burlesque dancer fiancee with an unexpected ending to her act and this film noir buff has more questions, and possibly more problems than she ever thought possible.

I really had fun reading DREAM A LITTLE DEATH. Dreama's blend of confidence with self-deprecation is honest. While I can't imagine living in her world, I'm happy to spend time there vicariously, glad in the fact that my life is so different.

Many threads run through this story and readers must pay attention or be hopelessly lost. There are a lot of characters involved here and what seem to be numerous subplots, but in the end, as Dirk Gently once said, everything is connected!

DREAM A LITTLE DEATH is a complexly layered mystery filled with a mix of unique characters who epitomize LA. This first book in the Dreama Black series is a hit!

FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.

[Roslynne Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute little book and the beginning of a series by the author of "I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason." Easy, fun, nothing special.

[Deshay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I am way too old and too midwestern to fully appreciate and understand a book about all of the cool people in LA. Ha. The story moved quickly and I enjoyed it as a quick read.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in this great new mystery series about a woman event planner in L.A.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

[Kára · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's a murder mystery. A lot of rape mention and indication.

The rape is the main reason the character tries to solve a mystery.

She also gets threatened with rape.

[Jane Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dream A Little Death by Susan Kandel, the first book in the Dreama Black Mystery series, is a really good book. Let me tell you why.

There's a lot going on in Dream A Little Death. The main character Dreama, her mother, and her grandmother are fun and easy to like. I loved all the references to actors, rock musicians, and old movies.

I couldn't put it down, especially once the suspense ramped up! This clever mystery has a great setting and an intriguing premise. I didn't have the complex story all figured out, and enjoyed being surprised by whodunit. I really like how everything comes together at the end.

I recommend Dream A Little Death to all mystery/thriller fans, especially those who are also fans of film noir, Raymond Chandler, and the Cece Caruso Mysteries by Susan Kandel.

I really enjoyed Dream A Little Death by Susan Kandel, and hereby grant it Four Stars!


Note: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of Dream A Little Death. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

Originally published on my blog Jane Reads.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved her first series but....

I loved the CeeCee Caruso series and was excited when I heard about this new book. I enjoyed the references to the hardboiled mysteries and film noir but I did not enjoy the book. Stripped down to the story, it was a good story. It tried to be a hard boiled mystery and a light hearted cozy and I do not think fans of either genre will be pleased.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed Ms Kandel’s last series. This not so much. I couldn’t identify with any of the characters. Couldn’t relate to the story at all. I liked the bits of history and the mystery was developed well. But it was not worth the wait between books. This is not a cozy.