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Missy LeHand Mystery #1
Shirley Temple Is Missing
America’s sweetheart has been kidnapped!
It’s 1935, and Shirley Temple is the most popular film star in the world, a symbol of hope for millions in the midst of the Great Depression. When the little girl disappears from a train en route to San Francisco, President Roosevelt’s multi-talented private secretary, Missy LeHand, joins forces with FBI Agent Corey Wainwright to recover her—in one harrowing weekend! A devious newspaper reporter, the Irish-American crime boss of San Francisco, members of the Italian underworld, the most notorious madam in the city, and the bombastic head of Shirley’s movie studio, Darryl Zanuck, all have roles to play in this fast-paced mystery.
Kelly Durham, author of eight thrillers set against the backdrops of World War II and the Golden Age of Hollywood, and Kathryn Smith, author of Missy LeHand’s biography THE GATEKEEPER, team up in this debut Missy LeHand Mystery.
It’s 1935, and Shirley Temple is the most popular film star in the world, a symbol of hope for millions in the midst of the Great Depression. When the little girl disappears from a train en route to San Francisco, President Roosevelt’s multi-talented private secretary, Missy LeHand, joins forces with FBI Agent Corey Wainwright to recover her—in one harrowing weekend! A devious newspaper reporter, the Irish-American crime boss of San Francisco, members of the Italian underworld, the most notorious madam in the city, and the bombastic head of Shirley’s movie studio, Darryl Zanuck, all have roles to play in this fast-paced mystery.
Kelly Durham, author of eight thrillers set against the backdrops of World War II and the Golden Age of Hollywood, and Kathryn Smith, author of Missy LeHand’s biography THE GATEKEEPER, team up in this debut Missy LeHand Mystery.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2018
11 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Smith
7 books10 followersKathryn Smith is a journalist and writer with a life-long interest in FDR and his circle. Her curiosity about Marguerite LeHand arose when she read fleeting mentions of the enigmatic secretary in books about FDR and wondered, “Who was she? What was she like?” Three years and hundreds of hours of research later, she had her answer.
Smith has lived all her life in Georgia and South Carolina, and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Georgia. She worked as a daily newspaper reporter and editor, and has been the book columnist for the Anderson Independent Mail for twenty years. Her specialization in health care reporting led to the establishment and management of a charity for cancer patients in her hometown of Anderson, S.C.
Smith also has a special interest in polio through her long membership in Rotary International. (She was one of the first women inducted into Rotary in the late 1980s.) She has been involved in Rotary’s worldwide effort to eradicate polio, called PolioPlus, and she has lectured and spoken on FDR’s leadership in the polio arena. Smith is the author of an oral history of World War II told by living veterans and civilians called A Necessary War. (From author's website)
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. Please use four (4) spaces between the first and last name to file under this author.
Smith has lived all her life in Georgia and South Carolina, and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of Georgia. She worked as a daily newspaper reporter and editor, and has been the book columnist for the Anderson Independent Mail for twenty years. Her specialization in health care reporting led to the establishment and management of a charity for cancer patients in her hometown of Anderson, S.C.
Smith also has a special interest in polio through her long membership in Rotary International. (She was one of the first women inducted into Rotary in the late 1980s.) She has been involved in Rotary’s worldwide effort to eradicate polio, called PolioPlus, and she has lectured and spoken on FDR’s leadership in the polio arena. Smith is the author of an oral history of World War II told by living veterans and civilians called A Necessary War. (From author's website)
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. Please use four (4) spaces between the first and last name to file under this author.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 26, 2019
This is a fun book, a little thriller about Fascists kidnapping Shirley Temple. In my opinion, the best parts are the real-life characters. The authors capture the essence of those real-lifers, or at least what we expect from them. Set in the middle of the Great Depression, it's desperate times for a lot of folks, and there are hints that the world is flirting with another World War. The FBI are in the beginning of their golden age. . . busting up gangs, taking down big gangsters, and J. Edgar Hoover always looking to bolster the image.
March 25, 2018
Entertaining quick read. Wouldn't say it's a Missy LeHand mystery. Wasn't really either.
August 1, 2019
Nice book with a good mystery and suspense. Well-written, but some moments look not good enough, so I gave this book 4 stars.
February 19, 2021
A fun read, mostly about gangsters!
March 13, 2021
Enjoyed this author's presentation on Gertie Legendre through Greenville Chautaugua. Always like discovering local authors whose passion is historical fiction.
March 14, 2024
Amusing
November 10, 2025
‘Shirley Temple is Missing’ was fascinating. The plot was filled with suspense, tension, a little action, an FBI investigation, some intrigue, and tying up some loose ends. Overall, I liked the fast-paced narrative.
It was an interesting read. I enjoyed the historical aspects of the Italian consul and Il Duce, as well as the FBI's intrigue and the highlighting of the Roosevelt years. I enjoyed the novel!
It was an interesting read. I enjoyed the historical aspects of the Italian consul and Il Duce, as well as the FBI's intrigue and the highlighting of the Roosevelt years. I enjoyed the novel!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews