Sussex, 1938. Former Hollywood starlet Cora Clarke may be new to England, but she does know that visiting the seaside is supposed to be a soothing experience. The snowy white cliffs and foamy ocean are indeed idyllic, but when her great aunt’s employer insists someone is trying to murder her husband, Cora is whisked off to a house party with her pet bichon. When someone soon turns up dead, Cora discovers Sussex might possess scandals that exceed anything a Hollywood director might conjure for the silver screen.
Its 1938 and unemployed actress Cora Clarke has been invited by her Great Aunt to visit. Her Aunt who works for a Mrs Ivanov. On finding out that Cora has played a detective in films she employs her to find out who is trying to kill her husband. Tragedy strikes when he is found dead, but he is not the last. A lightweight cozy mystery which unfortunately I didn't really find any depth to the characters or find them interesting. A NetGalley Book
What a delightful cozy mystery! Just enough mystery and fun characters that will have you smiling as you turn the pages! Cora Clarke was a former child star and Hollywood actress who traveled to England to visit her great aunt who works at a seaside home. Of course, since Cora had once played a sleuthing teen on a TV show, everyone thought she was the real thing! (yes don't we do that with actors and actresses!) Her great aunts employer asked her to help find the person who was trying to kill her husband. What to do? Especially when he winds up dead anyway! What she finds is that all is not as it seemed for the murdered victim and with the help of various entertaining characters including a handsome investigator, the hunt is on! This story was so refreshing and looking forward to more in this series and by this author!!
I read this in a few hours, and can only say I found it amazingly charming and delightful! Bianca Blythe has set us up with a lovely protagonist who takes people unawares with her sleuthing abilities as they think her only a silver screen darling.
Cora Clarke is charming and real, I liked her flaws and quirks, and I enjoyed the voice Bianca has given her. I had not read book one in this series but found it wasn't necessary which I find to be a huge bonus when you pick up a book that seems up your alley.
The style is a bit reminiscent of Agatha Christie, a dinner party, no one else in or out which means its one of the guests or servants and it is a fun game of guess who. Some of you may find you'll know who did it right off the bat, but, she still provides enough twists and turns to divert you if you aren't sleuthing yourself for the real culprit. Overall if someone is not into grisly murder mysteries but want a good 'whodunnit' novel with some adorable romance... they'll find this one truly a delight, the sleuthing starlet is definitely a series I look forward to keeping an eye out for.
I read a free ARC of this that I accessed from Netgalley, I was not paid or enticed to give anything but an honest review.
Cora Clarke was a child star who didn't age quite fast enough; her voice is still high, she is a bit short to be a real leading lady. Everyone knows that she's older so audiences just aren't seeing her the same way. And she's not really sure she wants to be an actor anymore anyway. She's traveling in England and her great-aunt asks her to come visit. Her aunt is one of the maids for a woman who was married first to a wealthy man and now to a foreign prince. When the hostess of the house, Mrs. Ivanov, finds out who Cora is, she invites her to join the dinner party upstairs. But she has a problem that she wants Cora to figure out (since Cora played a girl detective); who is trying to kill her husband? Cora isn't really excited about that plan but she's delighted to find out one of the guests is her best friend, Veronica. Too bad someone kills Mr. Ivanov anyway. At least that means Cora gets to see investigator Randolph again. I wish this book had had about 80 more pages for a little more exposition. It was a nice, quick read but would have benefitted by a little more filler. The story was so pared down that I felt a little whiplashed by how fast the "ending" changed. It would have also served to make the ending a little less abrupt.
Cora was a child actress on the silver screen. She played a young girl detective. But, she got older and now she is simply a young lady.
She is in England, with her dog Archibald, and on her way to visit her Aunt Maggie. Maggie is a maid in a grand house. Cora has never met Maggie, but is looking forward to meeting someone who is family.
Strange things happen.
When Cora arrives at the mansion, the owner, Mrs Ivanov, presses her to come to the house party she is having. She wants Cora to investigate and find who is trying to kill her husband.
Cora is supposed to watch the other guests and see if she sees anyone or anything that is suspicious.
The guests are a mixed bag. An accountant and his wife, who are out of their depth. A West End producer and Cora’s best friend, Veronica, from Hollywood. Veronica may be starring in a West End play. Of course, Mr Ivanov is there as well as his sister, Natalia. Finally there is Mr Fawcett, an heir to the fortune of Mrs Ivanov.
Everyone has secrets. Everyone is sniping at one another. There are very few people among the guests who are likable.
When it is needed, Cora begins to investigate. She can’t help herself. She has a natural curiosity and a good mind for solving puzzles.
And when she most needs him, there appears a man she who is obviously interested in her, Cora is happy to see Randolph. He has secrets as well. Cora is curious about him, but she is willing to overlook them, for now.
This is during the time between the two world wars. There is a sense of unease. Germany has spread her wings and is absorbing other countries. Anarchists are running rampant in Europe. All in all, the world is an unsettled place.
Cora is intrepid. She makes a good girl detective. She believes in doing the right thing and being a good person.
Although this is second in a series, it is easy to follow the story and understand the action. This is a fun and entertaining book. I look forward to seeing more of Cora.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.
Child star from Hollywood, Cora Clarke, moves to England to find long-lost relatives or to look for a new life, as she is no longer can play a girl detective. She outgrew that role and was unable/did not want to get another. The reasoning was quite vague in the novel. The move was also quite ambiguous as some scandal in Hollywood was briefly mentioned. However, Danger on the Downs is a second book in the series, but haven’t read the first, I assume most of my questions were answered there.
The book is ok, a bit slow from the start, but picks up reasonably soon. I found it a bit hard to follow, as it seems that characters were jumping from conversation to conversation, from discussing one person to the other. Few parts I found quite hard to believe and/or lack of explanations. For instance, Cora always acted on impulse, she never considered rules of the house, and was in and out of the table as she pleased. Remembering Downtown Abbey and any other movies/series set in the same period of time, that kind of behavior seemed very rude toward the hostess.
I wish the author would elaborate more on the characters in the story and provided some kind of background. They were detached and hard to imagine.
I give the book three stars. I was into the sequences of events, but couldn’t connect to any characters and didn’t enjoy the flow.
Sussex, 1938. Former Hollywood child star Cora Clarke may be new to England, but she does know that visiting the seaside is supposed to be a soothing experience. The snowy white cliffs and foamy ocean are indeed idyllic, but when her great aunt Maggie’s employer Mrs Ivanov insists someone is trying to murder her husband, Cora is whisked off to a house party with her pet bichon Archibald. When someone soon turns up dead, Cora discovers Sussex might possess scandals that exceed anything a Hollywood director might conjure for the silver screen. This is the second book of the series & another enjoyable read. A good old fashioned whodunnit where the characters aren't likeable & their backstory isn't delved into so that you are left in the dark about the suspects & they are all suspects. There are twists & turns until the villain is revealed. I do like Cora & Randolph & hope their relationship continues to develop in later books. The pace of the story is good & my interest was held all the way through. I enjoy this type of murder mystery & it makes a welcome change from modern police procedural novels My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Former child star and Hollywood actress Cora Clarke is on her way to visiting her great aunt who works at a seaside home in England. This is the first time meeting and she is excited about the new adventure. Upon arrival, her great aunt’s employer insists that they have a chat over tea. Cora is told that someone is trying to kill the employer’s husband and she wants Cora’s help. While Cora played a sleuthing teen on a popular TV show, she doesn’t know the first thing about private investigating. Somehow Cora finds herself entangled in a murder mystery when the employer’s husband is in fact murdered.
Cora is a naïve but heartwarming individual who seems to get caught up in situations beyond her control. In this adventure, she gets the help of another actress and friend Vanessa along with once again bumping into the attractive Randolph. This is a delightful historical cozy mystery filled with a bit of intrigue, interesting historical facts, entertaining characters, and a murder that is not easy to solve.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cora still had a girly sounding voice, which made it essentially impossible for her to transition to more adult roles, after outgrowing her juvenile Gal Detective movie series roles.
With the threat of war with Germany looming on the horizon, Cora goes to visit he Aunt Maggie on the shore, and discovers a puzzle of a scene. Her Aunt work for a woman wed to a Bulgarian, near heir to that throne.
A manor and Folly on the cliffs, with the original great home nearby and a flock of murders make for a lively visit - perhaps better described as a deadly visit.
Cora did pick up some keen observational skills filming all those detective stories.
Too bad the folks at the manor did not put together the same puzzles, because some lethal misjudgments occur.
Brit historical cozy with a bit of Hollywood Screen and London Stage flair and characters thrown in.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I very much enjoyed this period mystery in which a "Gal Detective" from Hollywood tries to solve a baffling murder in the English countryside. The period tone is well maintained. At times I found the writing a little stiff and awkward, as if attempting an unaccustomed formality, but this is certainly better than the breezy anachronisms one often finds.
The house party includes three actresses including the hostess, an accountant and his wife, a detective writer, a West End producer, and some mysterious foreigners. Downstairs is not neglected either, and the first arrest is of a supposed anarchist among the staff. Suspicion flits from character to character until the penny drops for the heroine and she confronts the murderer... alone of course (why do they do that?)
There's a little mild romance that doesn't get in the way of the story. I'll definitely be looking out for more in this series.
This is the second book in the Sleuthing Starlet series. The stories take place in the late 1930s and are told from the perspective of Cora, who grew up as a child actor in Hollywood. Because she's American, she has a relatively neutral stance on Hitler, Germany and the British class system. I enjoyed seeing the world as she does, it was a nice change from other cozy mysteries. The politics of the time are prominent in this series, and intertwined in the actions of some of the characters, which was also interesting to me.
The story line is believable as are the characters. The pacing is good also, it doesn't stall or rush along. I recommend this book to anyone, of any age, who likes to read about different cultures and time periods.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Cora Clarke is a Hollywood starlet who moves to England to visit her Aunt Maggie. Mrs Ivanov, Aut Maggie’s employer, invites Cora to a house party and asks her for her help because she is afraid someone is trying to kill her husband. Because Cora had played a sleuth in her films, Mrs Ivanov believes she will be able to assist.
At the party, a murder does happen and Cora feels guilty for not having prevented it and she starts sleuthing. Although I figured out the plot fairly quickly, I did enjoy reading the story a lot.
The story is set in England just before WWII broke out and I really liked reading about the political sentiments of the time.
I will definitely read more books about Cora Clarke. I already tried to find the first one in the series, unfortunately, I have not been able to find it yet.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my review.
Cora Clarke is at it again, turning up at a place where at least one murder is going to happen. And wouldn't you know it, her friend Veronica makes an appearance, as well as the handsome and mysterious Randolph.
This time it's the hostesses husband who turns up dead, and Cora is guilt-stricken because the hostess had asked her to identify the would-be murderer before he could be killed. Come to think of it, Cora has a tendency to feel guilty about things that aren't really her fault.
It's fun to read as Cora mentally investigates each suspect before looking for evidence to support her theories, and then shares her suspicions with the chief investigator and Randolf (we learn more about him this time). Ultimately, she is naturally the one to solve the mystery, and it turns out, there are several.
A good cosy mystery! This is a Cosy Mystery with bit of a budding romance thrown in for good measure. It is set in 1938 and the main character is Cora Clarke who was a child starlet for 15 years. She is persuaded to try and prevent a murder and after the murder happens she attempts to solve it. The plot is well planned and it is nicely written. My only gripe is that I think it could have been a bit more condensed, but this is not really a bad point. Readers who enjoy a good cosy mystery will enjoy this book. I read an Advance Reader Copy of this story and my review is given voluntarily and is also unbiased.
This story takes place on the south coast of England. Cora Clarke is visiting her Aunt Maggie, who works in a grand house. When a murder takes Cora becomes involved in discovering who the murderer is. This all takes place against the background of rumours of war, distrust of foreigners and those who would work with the enemy. Cora also meets up with Randolph, she hasn’t seen him for several months, after sharing a passionate kiss with him. This is an entertaining read with several likely suspects . I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story takes place in Sussex in 1938 a well written story that I enjoyed reading it is the second of the A Sleuthing Starlet Mystery series and the first book that I have read in this series. Former Hollywood starlet Cora Clarke goes to visit with her great aunt Maggie while she is there a murder happens. Then another body is discovered. Who is murdering people? I liked the book and want to read again so I bought it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I did not read the first mystery in this series and I regret that since this is a very good series. No problem, I can catch up. This story is very good even without reading the first story. I was interested in the relationships and the interactions of characters immediately and have become quite attached to them. I am hoping for more in this series as Cora and her aunt are very likable characters. I very much recommend this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Danger on the Downs is the second book in the Sleuthing Starlet series. It tells the story of Cora Clarke who visits her Great aunt at the picturesque English seaside. I really liked that this was the setting, because I know the region very well because of past holidays. When someone is murdered, it's up to Cora to solve the mystery and find the killer. I really liked the story and the characters. I would definitely recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Our heroine, a child actress from the USA, did not become an adult movie star--- she is visiting family in England and becomes involved in a murder. Possible war with Germany looms so the possibility of espionage and spies is possible. It has an intricate plot with a startling finale and is very well plotted and developed. Very enjoyable, entertaining mystery
There was just too much of the Agatha Christie nature to the story.
I gave the book a 3 of 5 star rating for storyline. It's too much sleuth and no romance so I didn't care for the read. I received a complimentary copy of the book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of the story which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
I would like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Cora arrives in Sussex to visit her great aunt, only to find that the last of the house wishes her to investigate the threat to her husband's life. I read this as part of the boxset for the first three books in the series.
Cora is enjoying the reunion with her great aunt in the beautiful countryside, however, when warning of a possible murder attempt comes true, Cora enlists her friends to help her find the culprit. Danger on the Downs involved me into this period and I enjoyed the characters and mystery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
She is getting used to being in England when she is invited to a house party so she goes. She is told by her great aunt that someone is trying to kill her husband. A dead body soon arrives and she will try to find out who did it. Will she find the killer? Will there be more victims? See if she can stop the killer striking again
I liked this story. The main character (Cora) is becoming more familiar and is fun to read about. The writing is getting better and the plot is easily followed, despite the different misleading clues. That just adds to the interest of the story. I do recommend this book and the first one of the series.
An incredible mystery that will kept reading until the end... Surprising characters and twists... no boredom here, in this so idyllic cliffs... I'm looking forward to read the nest story in this series!
A good murder mystery with lots of suspects, an actress playing sleuth getting herself, her best friend and her dog into various situations. She also has a gallant gentlemen who play her white knight and always at the nick of time.
Elegant setting with notable characters. Exciting social interactions and touches of romance. Impossible to discern whodunit until the very last sentence of the scenes.
Very similar to Ryhes Brown ? Books. I don't think I have her name right. However, her books are getting to expensive for this old lady and this books is definitely on that level of great mystery book.