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Famous in Cedarville
From one of the most original writers in crime fiction comes a diabolical mystery wrapped in Hollywood tinsel.
When reclusive, retired silver screen actress Barbara Lace dies in her bed, only the young widower of Cedarville suspects a crime. But Samson Delaware has always been something of an outsider, and his wife’s death hasn’t exactly improved his reputation. In fact, the local gossipmongers think he might be losing his mind. Their bless-your-heart manners can’t disguise their distrust, which makes his amateur attempts at an investigation even more difficult.
When Lace’s assistant is found decidedly murdered, the town starts to change its tune, though, and soon Samson finds himself in the thick of an improbable chase. Hollywood hotshots and small-town law enforcement make strange bedfellows―especially when secrets are getting women killed.
When reclusive, retired silver screen actress Barbara Lace dies in her bed, only the young widower of Cedarville suspects a crime. But Samson Delaware has always been something of an outsider, and his wife’s death hasn’t exactly improved his reputation. In fact, the local gossipmongers think he might be losing his mind. Their bless-your-heart manners can’t disguise their distrust, which makes his amateur attempts at an investigation even more difficult.
When Lace’s assistant is found decidedly murdered, the town starts to change its tune, though, and soon Samson finds himself in the thick of an improbable chase. Hollywood hotshots and small-town law enforcement make strange bedfellows―especially when secrets are getting women killed.
266 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2019
19 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Erica Wright
18 books180 followersErica Wright is a poet and novelist. Her latest mystery
Hollow Bones
was called "an incredibly rich work of literature" in the Nashville Scene. Her essay collection
Snake
is part of Bloomsbury's Object Lessons series and was one of LitReactor 's Best Books of 2020. She’s over the moon to be releasing two books in 2026: the poetry collection
A Buyer's Guide to the Afterlife
and the mystery
The Museum of Unusual Occurrence.
She was the poetry editor at
Guernica Magazine
for more than a decade and currently teaches at Bellevue University. She lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 8, 2019
Muddled
Samson heard the gunshot ran up the stairs to find the body.
Where did the shooter go? Out a window? Down another stairway?
This book was confusing.
There was a good story to be told but the telling of it wasn't good.
A small town mystery of the death of a retired Hollywood starlet.
Well that sounds interesting but it didn't take long for the story to turn into a dog with fleas.
Samson, an antique appraiser, was creepy. Creeping around the dead starlets home looking to steal some prized antiques. His buddy Sheriff Bishop was dull and at times dumb. The rest of the small town characters were just as dry. Even reading the reviews of this book confused me. Skip it.
Samson heard the gunshot ran up the stairs to find the body.
Where did the shooter go? Out a window? Down another stairway?
This book was confusing.
There was a good story to be told but the telling of it wasn't good.
A small town mystery of the death of a retired Hollywood starlet.
Well that sounds interesting but it didn't take long for the story to turn into a dog with fleas.
Samson, an antique appraiser, was creepy. Creeping around the dead starlets home looking to steal some prized antiques. His buddy Sheriff Bishop was dull and at times dumb. The rest of the small town characters were just as dry. Even reading the reviews of this book confused me. Skip it.
September 15, 2019
Erica Wright’s Famous in Cedarville is a twisty and engrossing thriller, one of those rare page-turners that you have to force yourself to slow down and savor the lyrical prose and atmospheric scenes. Full of colorful, complex characters, old Hollywood allure and aging mafia types, it’s simultaneously a portrait of a small town and an exploration of how place and the past make us who we are. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve read it.
January 20, 2020
I am delighted to have discovered Erica Wright. She is a skilled writer and her novel,
Famous in Cedarville
, totally captured my heart. This author has the ability to create characters that we don’t always meet in our mysteries. Too often the novels we read are almost predictable in their adherence to certain patterns, which is not a bad thing. I mean, that is why I read mysteries and thrillers. I’ve come to expect a certain amount of familiarity with writing and storylines that I enjoy.
This novel begins with the death of a town‘s famous recluse. One of the men on hand to help with all matters that need doing is Samson Delaware. He is a joy to get to know even though he is suffering from the tremendous grief of losing his wife. I love the way that the author describes the her. We have no traditional ethereal darling who wastes away melodramatically (or heroically) as she bravely smiles for a bereft husband. Samson’s wife was a farmer, capable, big and loud and laughed from the belly. And he misses her desperately.
Samson is relatively new to the town meaning he hasn’t lived there since he was born and the townsfolk see him as a peculiar but relatively benign individual, delightfully peculiar. And part of the joy that seeps from the center of this novel is getting to know him better with the turn of each page.
Even the small-town politics have an original slant to them. There is the usual ‘nose in everybody’s business’, but the townsfolk also keep secrets on behalf of their own kind and there is a loving loyalty, sometimes misguided, that prevails in the town. Samson may not have been born there but he has no desire to live anywhere else.
The novel follows Samson’s amateur investigation into the mystery surrounding the death of Barbara Lace, a retired silver screen actress. I loved the revelations that appeared without warning in the novel.
This novel begins with the death of a town‘s famous recluse. One of the men on hand to help with all matters that need doing is Samson Delaware. He is a joy to get to know even though he is suffering from the tremendous grief of losing his wife. I love the way that the author describes the her. We have no traditional ethereal darling who wastes away melodramatically (or heroically) as she bravely smiles for a bereft husband. Samson’s wife was a farmer, capable, big and loud and laughed from the belly. And he misses her desperately.
Samson is relatively new to the town meaning he hasn’t lived there since he was born and the townsfolk see him as a peculiar but relatively benign individual, delightfully peculiar. And part of the joy that seeps from the center of this novel is getting to know him better with the turn of each page.
Even the small-town politics have an original slant to them. There is the usual ‘nose in everybody’s business’, but the townsfolk also keep secrets on behalf of their own kind and there is a loving loyalty, sometimes misguided, that prevails in the town. Samson may not have been born there but he has no desire to live anywhere else.
The novel follows Samson’s amateur investigation into the mystery surrounding the death of Barbara Lace, a retired silver screen actress. I loved the revelations that appeared without warning in the novel.
January 4, 2020
Twisty and Old Hollywood glamorous and beautifully written and genuinely surprising. I loved it!
December 15, 2019
Barbara Lace left Cedarville after high school for Hollywood and a life on the silver screen. Unlike most aspirants, she achieved a level of success. Returning to Cedarville, she became a recluse until her death at 73. The murder of her assistant shortly after her death raises questions as to her death Samson Delaware has lived in Cedarville his whole life, but is fascinated with the estate of Barbara Lace which leads to his involvement in figuring out her mysteries. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2019
Erica Wright's modern mystery transports you back to the not-so-Golden Age of cinema, with all the corruption, graft, and backstabbing that took place behind the scenes. It's a compelling story, complete with a flawed protagonist—and even more flawed supporting players—that makes you question who to root for in the ways the best crime novels do.
January 13, 2020
I'm not sure why this is getting so many 5-star reviews (in addition to the one that the author gave herself--bad form, I think). It starts out well and the set-up--a classic-era movie starlet dies in the small town where she retired, then her secretary is found murdered--is good. But the writing is muddled and the characterizations are weak. I was never clear when this was set (90s maybe?--given the movie star's age, it couldn't have been set in the present day, but time references are sloppy here). Details we should have known about the main character are artificially held back and lazily introduced. I'm not someone who needs only likeable lead characters, but I didn't really care about anyone here. I skimmed the last third. Meh.
March 31, 2020
Beautifully written and atmospheric mystery, infused with both small-town charm and Hollywood glamour.
December 19, 2019
This is a fun whodunit that is also a moving meditation on the meaning of success, fame, and friendship. I won't give away the ending, but it's a knockout. Highly recommended.
November 15, 2019
It did not hold my interest. The print was very small. The two story lines did not make a lot of sense to me. I finished it because I want to give any author their due. Wasted my time
November 5, 2019
Famous in Cedarville by Erica Wright, author of the acclaimed Kat Stone series, is a standalone novel and a diabolical mystery wrapped in Hollywood tinsel.
Erica Wright, creator of the Kat Stone series, has written her first standalone novel with Famous in Cedarville. Whereas the Stone books are about a former cop turned private detective working in New York City, her new work gives us a central character who serves as an amateur sleuth. She combines a small-town, southern-set murder mystery with a twisted tale of envy and obsession that has its roots in the bygone years of Hollywood. The plot brings two disparate worlds together in an interesting way, and Wright tells the story with an admirable blend of concision and leisureliness.
It all begins in Cedarville, home to a former film actress named Barbara Lace. Town resident Samson Delaware, a recent widower in his 40s who is known not to be a regular churchgoer, gets a phone call from another local guy one Sunday morning to help with a job that needs to be done. That job turns out to be the removal of Barbara Lace’s body from her home; Cedarville’s sole celebrity—who left town years ago at age 18, went west, and made a name for herself in Hollywood—has died peacefully in her bed.
Along with the sheriff and the area undertaker, Samson attends to the sad task and watches the body get driven away. But instead of going home afterward, as you think he would, Samson returns to the actress’s abandoned house and starts poking around. Samson loves antiques and old household objects of all sorts and is a man in mourning, grieving for his deceased wife. So we’re inclined to forgive him in his slightly unbalanced state, a minor trespass.
But then, Samson discovers a second woman inside the house. She claims to have been Barbara Lace’s executive assistant. Her presence there is odd enough, and as far as Samson is concerned, something about the way the actress died seems peculiar. When, in short order, the assistant is shot dead, Samson is certain that his hunch about Lace’s death was correct. She could not have died from natural causes. Read Scott Adlerberg's full review on our blog!
Erica Wright, creator of the Kat Stone series, has written her first standalone novel with Famous in Cedarville. Whereas the Stone books are about a former cop turned private detective working in New York City, her new work gives us a central character who serves as an amateur sleuth. She combines a small-town, southern-set murder mystery with a twisted tale of envy and obsession that has its roots in the bygone years of Hollywood. The plot brings two disparate worlds together in an interesting way, and Wright tells the story with an admirable blend of concision and leisureliness.
It all begins in Cedarville, home to a former film actress named Barbara Lace. Town resident Samson Delaware, a recent widower in his 40s who is known not to be a regular churchgoer, gets a phone call from another local guy one Sunday morning to help with a job that needs to be done. That job turns out to be the removal of Barbara Lace’s body from her home; Cedarville’s sole celebrity—who left town years ago at age 18, went west, and made a name for herself in Hollywood—has died peacefully in her bed.
Along with the sheriff and the area undertaker, Samson attends to the sad task and watches the body get driven away. But instead of going home afterward, as you think he would, Samson returns to the actress’s abandoned house and starts poking around. Samson loves antiques and old household objects of all sorts and is a man in mourning, grieving for his deceased wife. So we’re inclined to forgive him in his slightly unbalanced state, a minor trespass.
But then, Samson discovers a second woman inside the house. She claims to have been Barbara Lace’s executive assistant. Her presence there is odd enough, and as far as Samson is concerned, something about the way the actress died seems peculiar. When, in short order, the assistant is shot dead, Samson is certain that his hunch about Lace’s death was correct. She could not have died from natural causes. Read Scott Adlerberg's full review on our blog!
October 23, 2019
Erica Wright’s FAMOUS IN CEDARVILLE is a twisting thriller that follows Samson Delaware’s amateur investigation into the death of semi-famous Hollywood actress Barbara Lace and the brutal murder of her assistant. After turning her back on fame and fortune in Hollywood, Barbara returned to her small hometown in Tennessee and lived a reclusive life until she passed away. Much like Barbara, Samson is also an outsider and a mystery to the people of Cedarville. Samson’s motivation to find out what really happened to Barbara Lace was a bit vague throughout the novel, and I frequently found myself questioning why he cared so much. Everything made a lot more sense after Samson traveled to Los Angeles and more of his backstory was revealed. FAMOUS IN CEDARVILLE is a very complex mystery with numerous plots and subplots merging together. Yes, the mystery of what happened to Barbara Lace and her assistant is the main plot, but the unraveling backstory of Samson Delaware almost overshadows it. He is a very compelling character, and the more the reader learns about him, the more interesting he becomes.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
November 2, 2019
A well written and well crafted mystery, gripping and entertaining.
I loved the complex plot, full of twists and turns, the well thought cast of characters and the well researched historical background.
it was an excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I loved the complex plot, full of twists and turns, the well thought cast of characters and the well researched historical background.
it was an excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
August 13, 2019
I love old Hollywood so when I saw that this was a mystery in Hollywood I was sold. I'm glad I did because it was really good, I had a great time reading this as it's what I was looking for in a mystery.
October 8, 2020
I'm not sure I ever got what was going on. The main character turns out to have a whole past that's relevant to the mystery in ways you're not told about until halfway through the book. Not sure the author was ever in control of story. Gave up at the 50-yard line.
September 4, 2019
Famous in Cedarville is a fantastic mystery with interesting and wonderful characters. Well written and I would read more by this author.
October 23, 2019
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Reading this book made me think of that overused 90's-era sitcom line: Who are you, and what have you done with Erica Wright? Famous in Cedarville and its protagonist, Samson Delaware are so far removed from Kat Stone and her world, it's hard to believe they come from the same mind. That said, as much as I want to see more of Kat Stone, if Wright's going to give us more like this? I won't complain too loudly.
I'm getting ahead of myself, we should start with the beginning when Samson Delaware joins some fellow citizens of Cedarville, TN to carry the body of Barbara Lace from her home. Lace left her small town home at a young age to pursue fame and fortune in Hollywood. She found it, too—she wasn't a superstar, she didn't reach the heights of fame or craft; but she was someone that people all over the country knew. And the only person from Cedarville that anyone not from the area knew was alive. After decades in California, she retired from film and television and basically became a recluse.
Delaware is a carpenter and probably the area's antiques expert. He appraises pieces, advises buyers, in addition to buying and restoring pieces to sell. While in Lace's home, he can't help himself from looking around more than he ought. While it's nowhere near his expertise, something doesn't seem right about the scene to him, and he starts to think that Lace didn't die peacefully in her sleep.
A few days later, Lace's personal assistant is murdered (no ambiguity about that one), leading Delaware to step up his unofficial investigation—which soon becomes official, as the local authority (note the singular, Cedarville is just that small) and State investigators are both stymied. The sheriff is desperate enough to grant official status to anyone who can help.
Looking into Lace's murder takes Delaware on a journey through time and space—the key to it has to be in Lace's past (she saw so few people recently, it has to be in the past). And Lace's past is in Los Angeles, so Delaware heads out to L.A. to do some footwork and talk to those who knew the actress during her heyday (and after it, too).
Delaware's own investigation pulls double duty—not only will it hopefully bring the community some answers about their favorite daughter, but it also distracts him from the all-consuming grief following his wife's death. More than once, he has to wrestle with the question of whether he's pursuing justice for justice's sake or if it's because it helps him not deal with his wife's death.
As its protagonist looks into a by-gone era of film, the novel takes on the feel and atmosphere of that era while retaining a feeling of fresh and contemporary. Don't ask me how Wright does that, but it's great to see it done. Beyond that, there's a depth to the emotion and characters that you don't see every day. It'd be easy to argue that Delaware coming to grips (in whatever way he does) to his current state, how he got there and where he's going is more important to the novel than showing what happened to Lace and her assistant (it'd be easy to argue against it, too, but that's my point).
I'm not doing a good job describing how different this book comes across—not just from Wright's previous work, but from most of what's out there in the genre at the moment. Hopefully, others can articulate it—I'm confident any reader will feel what I'm getting at.
There were two distinct "What the ---!?!" moments (there are a few more surprises, but two that you won't forget soon). One of which, technically, is the result of Wright cheating. But it's such a cool development and Wright reveals it so deftly that I couldn't complain. The other one was completely honest and caught me completely flat-footed. Far from clearing everything up, both of these added layers and complexity to this already intricate plot.
A complex mystery, rich characters (I don't have time to talk about Lace's long-time agent or the people of Cedarville), a nostalgic yet timely feeling novel that looks to Hollywood's glamorous past and the very human, very real present. Wright knocks this one out of the park and will earn herself some new fans with this one.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Polis Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
---
Reading this book made me think of that overused 90's-era sitcom line: Who are you, and what have you done with Erica Wright? Famous in Cedarville and its protagonist, Samson Delaware are so far removed from Kat Stone and her world, it's hard to believe they come from the same mind. That said, as much as I want to see more of Kat Stone, if Wright's going to give us more like this? I won't complain too loudly.
I'm getting ahead of myself, we should start with the beginning when Samson Delaware joins some fellow citizens of Cedarville, TN to carry the body of Barbara Lace from her home. Lace left her small town home at a young age to pursue fame and fortune in Hollywood. She found it, too—she wasn't a superstar, she didn't reach the heights of fame or craft; but she was someone that people all over the country knew. And the only person from Cedarville that anyone not from the area knew was alive. After decades in California, she retired from film and television and basically became a recluse.
Delaware is a carpenter and probably the area's antiques expert. He appraises pieces, advises buyers, in addition to buying and restoring pieces to sell. While in Lace's home, he can't help himself from looking around more than he ought. While it's nowhere near his expertise, something doesn't seem right about the scene to him, and he starts to think that Lace didn't die peacefully in her sleep.
A few days later, Lace's personal assistant is murdered (no ambiguity about that one), leading Delaware to step up his unofficial investigation—which soon becomes official, as the local authority (note the singular, Cedarville is just that small) and State investigators are both stymied. The sheriff is desperate enough to grant official status to anyone who can help.
Looking into Lace's murder takes Delaware on a journey through time and space—the key to it has to be in Lace's past (she saw so few people recently, it has to be in the past). And Lace's past is in Los Angeles, so Delaware heads out to L.A. to do some footwork and talk to those who knew the actress during her heyday (and after it, too).
Delaware's own investigation pulls double duty—not only will it hopefully bring the community some answers about their favorite daughter, but it also distracts him from the all-consuming grief following his wife's death. More than once, he has to wrestle with the question of whether he's pursuing justice for justice's sake or if it's because it helps him not deal with his wife's death.
As its protagonist looks into a by-gone era of film, the novel takes on the feel and atmosphere of that era while retaining a feeling of fresh and contemporary. Don't ask me how Wright does that, but it's great to see it done. Beyond that, there's a depth to the emotion and characters that you don't see every day. It'd be easy to argue that Delaware coming to grips (in whatever way he does) to his current state, how he got there and where he's going is more important to the novel than showing what happened to Lace and her assistant (it'd be easy to argue against it, too, but that's my point).
I'm not doing a good job describing how different this book comes across—not just from Wright's previous work, but from most of what's out there in the genre at the moment. Hopefully, others can articulate it—I'm confident any reader will feel what I'm getting at.
There were two distinct "What the ---!?!" moments (there are a few more surprises, but two that you won't forget soon). One of which, technically, is the result of Wright cheating. But it's such a cool development and Wright reveals it so deftly that I couldn't complain. The other one was completely honest and caught me completely flat-footed. Far from clearing everything up, both of these added layers and complexity to this already intricate plot.
A complex mystery, rich characters (I don't have time to talk about Lace's long-time agent or the people of Cedarville), a nostalgic yet timely feeling novel that looks to Hollywood's glamorous past and the very human, very real present. Wright knocks this one out of the park and will earn herself some new fans with this one.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Polis Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
March 21, 2021
This story had potential, but seemed to fall apart. The first part of the book started off quite slowly, with the Samson Delaware, the lead character sharing his observations of the events as he saw them. Delaware, an art restorer, has been asked to help remove the body of Cedarville's most famous citizen, actress Barbara Lace (aka Barbara Sussennox). After doing so, he re-enters the house only to have an encounter with a woman who was "out of her mind." The encounter makes little sense, as he was just in the house with others to remove the body and the woman never revealed herself. Of course, after he returns with the sheriff to investigate this woman, she is dressed professionally and establishes a reason to be there.
Many of the characters had secrets, which, in many stories, can lead to an intriguing mystery. However, it all seemed rather garbled in this case. It was rather confusing to me why Delaware is required to become so involved in the investigation, when he clearly has no detective skills or training. It's also not clear until much later, why he would even want to become so involved. It seemed like Delaware changed half-way through the book and all of a sudden recovered his memories after suffering amnesia. However, that wasn't actually part of the plot at all. He's investigating this mystery as if he has limited knowledge of the players, when he actually has a great deal of knowledge and isn't using it.
Another issue I have with this story is the budding romance. Delaware is so in love with his deceased wife through most of this story that he doesn't take care of himself. So, the love interest angle doesn't really work for me either. Having Brigit as a good friend who helps him to reconnect with others is admirable, but the potential romantic relationship is just too rushed. Unfortunately, the twists are just too twisty to make sense. Although the concept of this story was appealing, I left this book feeling disappointed in its execution.
Many of the characters had secrets, which, in many stories, can lead to an intriguing mystery. However, it all seemed rather garbled in this case. It was rather confusing to me why Delaware is required to become so involved in the investigation, when he clearly has no detective skills or training. It's also not clear until much later, why he would even want to become so involved. It seemed like Delaware changed half-way through the book and all of a sudden recovered his memories after suffering amnesia. However, that wasn't actually part of the plot at all. He's investigating this mystery as if he has limited knowledge of the players, when he actually has a great deal of knowledge and isn't using it.
Another issue I have with this story is the budding romance. Delaware is so in love with his deceased wife through most of this story that he doesn't take care of himself. So, the love interest angle doesn't really work for me either. Having Brigit as a good friend who helps him to reconnect with others is admirable, but the potential romantic relationship is just too rushed. Unfortunately, the twists are just too twisty to make sense. Although the concept of this story was appealing, I left this book feeling disappointed in its execution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2019
I love a small town mystery, with shadowy characters and creeping uneasiness and Famous in Cedarville delivers. Samson’s grief over the loss of his wife is palpable and puts a pall over his life. The book begins as Samson helps the undertaker move Barbara Lake’s body from her home. Barbara was a longtime Hollywood character actress who’d come back home to Cedarville when she retired. She lived as a hermit upon returning to Cedarville, avoiding reporters and attention, and the town was protective of her. Samson believes Barbara’s death is more than it appears and takes it upon himself to investigate when it’s clear no one believes him. Then a woman who’d claimed to be Barbara’s assistant is shot to death in Barbara’s home. This only increases Samson’s certainty that both deaths are murder.
The novel feels almost dream-like, with Samson, lost in grief, floating through life, memories and his own mind as he investigates the deaths with a focus on Barbara. Barbara is a fascinating character with a fascinating history steeped in old Hollywood, making Samson’s investigation interesting to follow, in Cedarville and beyond. I believe readers who enjoy noir, mysteries and Hollywood will enjoy Famous in Cedarville.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #FamousInCedarville #mystery
The novel feels almost dream-like, with Samson, lost in grief, floating through life, memories and his own mind as he investigates the deaths with a focus on Barbara. Barbara is a fascinating character with a fascinating history steeped in old Hollywood, making Samson’s investigation interesting to follow, in Cedarville and beyond. I believe readers who enjoy noir, mysteries and Hollywood will enjoy Famous in Cedarville.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #FamousInCedarville #mystery
November 20, 2019
I've read other books by Ms. Wright and they are always very engaging and entertaining. This one doesn't disappoint either! Famous in Cedarville falls technically in the mystery genre, but I felt as strongly, if not more strongly, connected to the characters, their histories and how their life stories intertwined with the murder that sets everything and everyone into motion. And the author really nails describing the titular locale of Cedarville - so much so, that the small town becomes an integral part to understanding the story as a whole.
The main character Samson Delaware, is reeling from his beloved wife's untimely death when he learns that local celebrity and former B movie actress Barbara Lace has died. He's puzzled by what others are assuming is a natural death and soon he's like a dog with a bone with his theory that it was actually murder. Samson is a bit of an enigma and I love the way the author drops little breadcrumbs along the way, providing the reader with clues and insights into his character, other secondary characters and the murder as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to more.
The main character Samson Delaware, is reeling from his beloved wife's untimely death when he learns that local celebrity and former B movie actress Barbara Lace has died. He's puzzled by what others are assuming is a natural death and soon he's like a dog with a bone with his theory that it was actually murder. Samson is a bit of an enigma and I love the way the author drops little breadcrumbs along the way, providing the reader with clues and insights into his character, other secondary characters and the murder as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to more.
February 20, 2021
There’s lots to enjoy in this small-town/big-city mystery—old Hollywood glamour, the intricacies (and eccentricities) of Southern culture, a couple of plot twists, and an unlikely heroine. What I appreciated most, though, was author Erica Wright’s sensitive and observant portrayal of grief.
When murder rears its head in tiny and generally sleepy Cedarville, resident middle-aged widower Samson Delaware latches onto the investigation. Piecing together clues allows Samson to move forward, but he has no intention of moving on from his wife’s death. “What did that even mean?” Samson wonders about the ubiquitous “moving on” phrase. “Going someplace else? He didn’t think it was a coincidence that the same language was used for dying. They’ve passed, they’ve gone, they’ve moved on.”
Speaking of head rearing, snakes make a spooky appearance in this novel, and Snake is also the title of Wright’s most recent book—an essay collection created in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic. I look forward to checking out Wright’s other work, both slithery and not-slithery.
When murder rears its head in tiny and generally sleepy Cedarville, resident middle-aged widower Samson Delaware latches onto the investigation. Piecing together clues allows Samson to move forward, but he has no intention of moving on from his wife’s death. “What did that even mean?” Samson wonders about the ubiquitous “moving on” phrase. “Going someplace else? He didn’t think it was a coincidence that the same language was used for dying. They’ve passed, they’ve gone, they’ve moved on.”
Speaking of head rearing, snakes make a spooky appearance in this novel, and Snake is also the title of Wright’s most recent book—an essay collection created in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic. I look forward to checking out Wright’s other work, both slithery and not-slithery.
November 26, 2019
3.5 stars
Quirky mystery about faded Hollywood actress Barbara Lace who ended up back in her home town of Cedarville, TN. The story begins when the main character, Samson Delaware, helps the local undertaker carry Lace's body out of her home after her death. Delaware is an interesting character -- he has not recovered from his young wife's death, and is just managing to get through each day by staying busy at his antique and refinishing business.
There are lots of secrets in this novel and much reference back to earlier Hollywood days. Samson gets sucked into helping investigate when Lace's assistant is found murdered shortly after Lace's death. He has some help from a possible new love interest but he's still a bit too emotionally paralyzed to start a relationship. For a while the action shifts to California when he flies to L.A. to ask questions of Lace's friends and co-workers there.
We find out more about Delaware as the story unfolds and there are lots of plot twists and turns. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Quirky mystery about faded Hollywood actress Barbara Lace who ended up back in her home town of Cedarville, TN. The story begins when the main character, Samson Delaware, helps the local undertaker carry Lace's body out of her home after her death. Delaware is an interesting character -- he has not recovered from his young wife's death, and is just managing to get through each day by staying busy at his antique and refinishing business.
There are lots of secrets in this novel and much reference back to earlier Hollywood days. Samson gets sucked into helping investigate when Lace's assistant is found murdered shortly after Lace's death. He has some help from a possible new love interest but he's still a bit too emotionally paralyzed to start a relationship. For a while the action shifts to California when he flies to L.A. to ask questions of Lace's friends and co-workers there.
We find out more about Delaware as the story unfolds and there are lots of plot twists and turns. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 5, 2021
This book is from one of my older acquisitions, and as I am working through the backlist, I finally got around to it. It was a surprising read, to say the least.
It begins innocuously enough in a small town where the lead protagonist is called to help in a capacity that I did not fully understand when the local star is found dead (of apparent natural causes). In bits and pieces, more things are added to the picture. We find out about the colours of the town, the facets of Samson Delaware, which are extremely surprising. The author lulls you into thinking the book is going one way when suddenly it makes a complete turn into a whole other territory. It kept me on my toes, trying to predict the next jump.
Given the 'different' storyline, the possibility of a mystery and a very personal obsession, I expected a lot more to happen. If not for that ending, I may not have liked the book overall! The conclusion matched the feel of the first part of the book when the story began.
It was an interesting experience, and since it is not a very large volume, I would still recommend it to anyone who finds the blurb attractive. Film buffs might enjoy the tie-ups where every chapter is preceded by a script or scene, or storyline of a movie.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
It begins innocuously enough in a small town where the lead protagonist is called to help in a capacity that I did not fully understand when the local star is found dead (of apparent natural causes). In bits and pieces, more things are added to the picture. We find out about the colours of the town, the facets of Samson Delaware, which are extremely surprising. The author lulls you into thinking the book is going one way when suddenly it makes a complete turn into a whole other territory. It kept me on my toes, trying to predict the next jump.
Given the 'different' storyline, the possibility of a mystery and a very personal obsession, I expected a lot more to happen. If not for that ending, I may not have liked the book overall! The conclusion matched the feel of the first part of the book when the story began.
It was an interesting experience, and since it is not a very large volume, I would still recommend it to anyone who finds the blurb attractive. Film buffs might enjoy the tie-ups where every chapter is preceded by a script or scene, or storyline of a movie.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
November 4, 2019
The first half of this book sort of lumbered along and I wasn't quite sure what it was about Sampson that didn't ring true. Then suddenly - wait - what?! - and it was as if he was a whole new character. This worked in some ways for me and in some ways - not. Throughout the book, Sampson seemed to talk like a much older person than he was (my perception). The 'hokiness' of Cederville seemed a bit overdone at times.
The characters were well done and vivid but the narrative had so many plot lines it felt like a 3-ring circus at times. Still - an enjoyable enough read.
The characters were well done and vivid but the narrative had so many plot lines it felt like a 3-ring circus at times. Still - an enjoyable enough read.
November 8, 2019
I would give the first half of this book 5 stars and the second half 3 so I'm averaging it to 4. The first half of the book, set in Cedarville is a wondrous thing. It was no surprise to read that the author is also a poet. The character's come to life. The protagonist's wrestling with grief and his place in the world are very authentic.
After the book changes locations and a big plot twist takes place, the book becomes a more conventional semi-noir mystery. It's fine but the first half was so exceptional, it was a let-down.
After the book changes locations and a big plot twist takes place, the book becomes a more conventional semi-noir mystery. It's fine but the first half was so exceptional, it was a let-down.
December 3, 2019
(2 1/2). A little Noir, a little California, a little complicated; this little book packs a pretty good punch. A couple of big twists and reversals towards the end really drives this one, along with a great protagonist with a great name, Samson Delaware. We sort of have good guys and bad guys along with a duality of love interests as well. Not the best thing I have read lately, but awfully engaging and very well stylized. Good stuff.
February 22, 2020
A recent widower is still a stranger in the small town of Cedarville after living there happily with his beloved wife for many years when a local aged movie star , famous in Cedarville is found dead. A page turner to be read slowly and enjoyed. You find that everyone has secrets of their own that lead back to past lives, old Hollywood, the glamour and betrayals-to an ending you may or may not see coming. One of the most creative mysteries I have read in a while. Well done Erica!
December 19, 2019
Serviceable mystery/thriller about a grieving widower in a (very) small Tennessee town who regains his interest in life when he begins to investigate the death of the local celebrity, a woman who’d run away to Hollywood as a teenager and achieved a decades-long career as a B list actress in the movies before returning to her hometown and becoming a recluse. A few interesting twists.
May 13, 2021
At first I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book, but the characters and the search for the truth got me hooked. There were a couple of minor points that seemed off kilter early in the investigation, but the end result was totally worth the read!
August 3, 2021
Not what I was expecting. I thought it would be a straight forward murder mystery but read like a very, very long CSI/Criminal Minds -like episode and not in a good way. Lots of filler in between that was not needed.
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