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Rosie Winter Mystery #1
The War Against Miss Winter
It's 1943, and the war escalating in Europe and the Pacific seems far away. But for aspiring actress Rosie Winter, the war feels as if it were right in New York City—what with food rationing and frequent blackouts . . . and a boyfriend she hasn't heard word one from since he enlisted in the navy. Now her rent is coming due and she hasn't been cast in anything for six months. The factories are desperate for women workers, but Rosie the Thespian isn't about to become Rosie the Riveter, so she grabs a part-time job at a seamy, lowbrow detective agency instead.
However, there's more to the Big City gumshoe game than chasing lowlife cheating spouses. When her boss turns up dead, Rosie finds herself caught up in a ticklish high society mystery, mingling with mobsters and searching for a notorious missing script. Maybe she has no crime-fighting experience—but Rosie certainly knows how to act the role. No matter how the war against Miss Winter turns out, it's not going to end with her surrender!
Evocative, entertaining, and wonderfully original, Kathryn Miller Haines's War Against Miss Winter introduces not only an unforgettable new sleuth but also an exciting new voice in the mystery genre, with a fast-paced tale of murder and deception that brings the World War II era vividly to life.
However, there's more to the Big City gumshoe game than chasing lowlife cheating spouses. When her boss turns up dead, Rosie finds herself caught up in a ticklish high society mystery, mingling with mobsters and searching for a notorious missing script. Maybe she has no crime-fighting experience—but Rosie certainly knows how to act the role. No matter how the war against Miss Winter turns out, it's not going to end with her surrender!
Evocative, entertaining, and wonderfully original, Kathryn Miller Haines's War Against Miss Winter introduces not only an unforgettable new sleuth but also an exciting new voice in the mystery genre, with a fast-paced tale of murder and deception that brings the World War II era vividly to life.
317 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
59 people are currently reading
1750 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Miller Haines
9 books137 followersKathryn Miller Haines is an actor, mystery writer, and award-winning playwright. She grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and received her BA in English and Theatre from Trinity University in San Antonio and her MFA in English from the University of Pittsburgh. She's a member of the Mary Roberts Rinehart Chapter of Sisters in Crime and has been a board member of the New York chapter of Mystery Writers of America. In addition to writing the Rosie Winter mystery series for HarperCollins, she's also written a young adult mystery series for Roaring Brook Press, a division of MacMillan, the first of which, The Girl is Murder, was nominated for 2012 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. In April 2017 she will publish her first standalone contemporary thriller, The Girl From Yesterday (Simon and Schuster). Kathryn is an adjunct faculty member for Seton Hill's MFA in writing popular fiction.
She lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, son, daughter and their two dogs.
She lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, son, daughter and their two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
November 14, 2010
I was hoping for another Maise Dobbs. Not even close. Almost gave up in the early pages because the 1940s slang was just overwhelming. Throwing in period slang in every sentence does not make it a "pitch perfect period novel" But maybe that's just me.
The mystery never really came together and in the end, it was a wee bit ridiculous. Not a series I'll be continuing with.
The mystery never really came together and in the end, it was a wee bit ridiculous. Not a series I'll be continuing with.
August 24, 2010
A superb book! I was thoroughly engaged in the mystery and I never figured out whodunit until the very end. I also love the heroine. She is witty, sarcastic, and her quips had me laughing, be they aimed at herself or at others.
The heroine, Rosie is an actress turned gumshoe. Her sidekick is her best friend and fellow actress, Jayne. The setting is New York City during world war II. The case: A much desired and very secretive play is missing. Numerous people are trying to find this play and some are willing to kill for it. Bodies are dropping left and right, including Rosie's boss. Is she next?
While trying to find the missing play and attempting to figure out who killed who, Rosie also has an acting career to maintain..
At the risk of revealing too much, I'm keeping this short. Love this book and looking forward to reading the rest of the series. My only regret is that I didn't pick this up sooner.
The heroine, Rosie is an actress turned gumshoe. Her sidekick is her best friend and fellow actress, Jayne. The setting is New York City during world war II. The case: A much desired and very secretive play is missing. Numerous people are trying to find this play and some are willing to kill for it. Bodies are dropping left and right, including Rosie's boss. Is she next?
While trying to find the missing play and attempting to figure out who killed who, Rosie also has an acting career to maintain..
At the risk of revealing too much, I'm keeping this short. Love this book and looking forward to reading the rest of the series. My only regret is that I didn't pick this up sooner.
May 27, 2022
DNF 20% Not really engaged with this, don't care about the characters, except maybe the cat.
April 2, 2017
At times, I read in phases. Recently I went through an urban fantasy phase; now and then I'll be stuck in a gaslight phase and wind up reading all of Anne Perry again. (Or avoiding Anne Perry in search of something new.) For a little while (as long as I could find books to fit it), thanks to James R. Benn, I was in a WWII phase. A Mortal Terror was an excellent murder mystery set in the midst of battle in Italy in 1943; Two O'Clock, Eastern Wartime, by John Dunning, was set in 1944 in New Jersey. When I finished that, after spending a few minutes marveling that there have been so few (if any -?) fantasies set in WWII – what could be more fun to write than a pack of werewolves on the front lines, or a wizard supporting the resistance? – and in fact that I have so little fiction at all set during WWII, I remembered receiving The War Against Miss Winter. I'm fairly certain this was featured on the Stop You're Killing Me site, and that on having a credit available on pbs I took a chance on it based on the SYKM review. 1943's WWII homefront, theatre, murder – sounded good.
It wasn't good. It was very good. It was so much more fun than I expected. I, in case I haven't been clear, really enjoyed it.
It took a minute. I had my doubts about an aspiring actress working as the secretary in a private eye's office – that strays into the world of the ludicrous – but by the time she found her boss, Sam McCain, hanged in his office I was hooked. The world-building, or world-recreation, feels thorough and genuine: Rosie's world is one very much at war, and the effects of that are everywhere. There has to have been a tremendous amount of painstaking research behind this – it shows, in every good way. The setting is everything I could have wanted – the Home Front of the War is utilized to the fullest.
Rosie's best friend Jayne reminded me of Stacy from Drop Dead Diva – all the appearance of being the beautiful dumb blonde and very little of the reality. Jayne broke my heart, made me scared for her, and was generally a terrific friend and terrific character. Rosie herself is flawed, and knows it; she's tough, as a girl has to be chasing a dream in New York in any era – but maybe a little too tough. She's not willing to let anything get through to her, and that takes in the good as well as the bad. The book is told in the first-person, and I don't think the line Rosie walks is easy to pull off in that voice – it's great work.
I kept expecting each of the men in the story to sweep Rosie off her feet and take her mind off Jack, the actor she had been seeing who abruptly went off to war, who left without saying goodbye. My money was on Al the bodyguard; I think most stories would have painted him as the initial impression he gives – a mob thug – and left the portrait there, with no depth at all. But he's kind of awesome too. In fact, nobody is simply what he (or she) first appears; there are first impressions, then second impressions, then the learned reality, and always room for surprises. Kathryn Miller Haines plays clichés like cheap violins (to coin a cliché). Oh, well, there's the girl who appears to be a bitch and really is; and that's wonderful too, because I kept expecting it to take a conventional turn and reveal her to have a heart of gold. Nope: she's a bitch. With some reasons, and occasional softer moments, but the latter are usually a trap: she's still a bitch.
The plot didn't go as might have been expected either. The mystery tangles around the mob and the theatre and extramarital affairs, and Rosie works her way through it while understudying in a true stinker of an avant-garde show. She never quite pushes the boundaries of what is believable of a young woman of her place and time and abilities – and she has a lot of help along the way. It's a lovely book, and a solid, hopeful start to a series.
It wasn't good. It was very good. It was so much more fun than I expected. I, in case I haven't been clear, really enjoyed it.
It took a minute. I had my doubts about an aspiring actress working as the secretary in a private eye's office – that strays into the world of the ludicrous – but by the time she found her boss, Sam McCain, hanged in his office I was hooked. The world-building, or world-recreation, feels thorough and genuine: Rosie's world is one very much at war, and the effects of that are everywhere. There has to have been a tremendous amount of painstaking research behind this – it shows, in every good way. The setting is everything I could have wanted – the Home Front of the War is utilized to the fullest.
Rosie's best friend Jayne reminded me of Stacy from Drop Dead Diva – all the appearance of being the beautiful dumb blonde and very little of the reality. Jayne broke my heart, made me scared for her, and was generally a terrific friend and terrific character. Rosie herself is flawed, and knows it; she's tough, as a girl has to be chasing a dream in New York in any era – but maybe a little too tough. She's not willing to let anything get through to her, and that takes in the good as well as the bad. The book is told in the first-person, and I don't think the line Rosie walks is easy to pull off in that voice – it's great work.
I kept expecting each of the men in the story to sweep Rosie off her feet and take her mind off Jack, the actor she had been seeing who abruptly went off to war, who left without saying goodbye. My money was on Al the bodyguard; I think most stories would have painted him as the initial impression he gives – a mob thug – and left the portrait there, with no depth at all. But he's kind of awesome too. In fact, nobody is simply what he (or she) first appears; there are first impressions, then second impressions, then the learned reality, and always room for surprises. Kathryn Miller Haines plays clichés like cheap violins (to coin a cliché). Oh, well, there's the girl who appears to be a bitch and really is; and that's wonderful too, because I kept expecting it to take a conventional turn and reveal her to have a heart of gold. Nope: she's a bitch. With some reasons, and occasional softer moments, but the latter are usually a trap: she's still a bitch.
The plot didn't go as might have been expected either. The mystery tangles around the mob and the theatre and extramarital affairs, and Rosie works her way through it while understudying in a true stinker of an avant-garde show. She never quite pushes the boundaries of what is believable of a young woman of her place and time and abilities – and she has a lot of help along the way. It's a lovely book, and a solid, hopeful start to a series.
October 15, 2010
Rosie is an actress. At least, that's what she'd like to be. But she hasn't had a part in ages. At least she has her job at the detective agency. Until her boss is found hanging dead in the closet. Now Rosie is really in trouble. But some of the agency's less than respectable clients are after her to continue her boss's investigation into a missing play. And now someone is willing to kill to find it.
I enjoyed this book, but some things about it bothered me. I liked Rosie and her roommate Jayne. The underworld angle worked, and so did the theatrical angle. But for some reason, the dialogue didn't work. Rosie didn't sound very authentic to me. Some parts of the plot seemed a little clunky. The writing just needs some work. However, I enjoyed it enough that I would like to try the second book, The Winter of Her Discontent.
I enjoyed this book, but some things about it bothered me. I liked Rosie and her roommate Jayne. The underworld angle worked, and so did the theatrical angle. But for some reason, the dialogue didn't work. Rosie didn't sound very authentic to me. Some parts of the plot seemed a little clunky. The writing just needs some work. However, I enjoyed it enough that I would like to try the second book, The Winter of Her Discontent.
April 2, 2009
This was a great take on the noir mystery, told from the point of view of the Dame. If Haines can figure out a less convoluted and more interesting plot, she'll have a winner series.
July 12, 2018
An amusing mystery with many thrills, three deaths and lots of theater talk, as well as plenty of WWII era slang. Good enough to want to read the second of the series.
September 4, 2021
A well-layered mystery with characters I loved. Rosie was an interesting, complex and fun lead character. I also enjoyed Jayne and Al. I couldn't stand Ruby, but she is also well-drawn. Complex and not just nasty. The author also does an excellent job with time and setting. Everything felt and sounded like 1940s New York. I look forward to the next book. My only disappointment stems from the fact that there are only four books in the series.
July 6, 2022
Weil ihre Schauspielkarriere nicht so richtig in die Gänge kommen will, arbeitet Rosie Winter als Sekretärin bei einem zweitklassigen Privatdetektiv. Doch dieser Job nimmt ein jähes Ende, als sie ihren Boss erhängt in seinem Büroschrank findet und kurz darauf ein merkwürdiger Typ in der Detektei auftaucht, der behauptet, der Dramatiker Raymond Fielding zu sein und ein verschwundenes Theaterstück zu suchen.
Rosie kommt das alles sehr seltsam vor. Aufgrund der Beweislage glaubt sie nicht, dass Jim sich selbst umgebracht hat und fragt sich, wer sonst dahinterstecken könnte und vor allem warum. Jims Frau? Deren unsympathischer Sohn, der nicht davor zurückschreckt, Rosie zu bedrohen? Was hat es mit Fielding und dem rätselhaften Theaterstück auf sich? Und wird sie jemals den Durchbruch auf der Bühne schaffen oder bleibt der ihrer biestigen Pensionsgenossin Ruby Priest vorbehalten?
Ich mochte das Setting im New York der 40er Jahre, wo der Krieg zwar geographisch weit weg, in den Köpfen aber doch stets präsent ist, nicht zuletzt durch die Abwesenheit von Rosies Freund Jack, der sich nicht mehr gemeldet hat, seit er beim Militär angeheuert hat, und mir gefiel auch die Grundidee der nicht auf den Mund gefallenen und um kaum eine Idee verlegenen Rosie als Ermittlerin. Der Spagat zwischen der vermeintlich glanzvollen Theaterwelt und dem abgebrüht-bodenständigen Detektivgeschäft gelingt ihr auch gar nicht so übel.
Allerdings erschien mir der Fall doch arg konstruiert und die Verstrickungen zwischen der Unterwelt, der Theaterszene und der High Society recht platt und gewollt, und der flapsige Tonfall, der in der Übersetzung von Kirsten Riesselmann ziemlich gut getroffen ist, nutzt sich mit der Zeit auch ziemlich ab und kippt vom Originellen ins eher Nervige.
Von dieser Serie hatte ich mir mehr erwartet, gebe ihr aber noch mal eine Chance, weil noch der 2. Teil auf meinem SUB liegt.
Rosie kommt das alles sehr seltsam vor. Aufgrund der Beweislage glaubt sie nicht, dass Jim sich selbst umgebracht hat und fragt sich, wer sonst dahinterstecken könnte und vor allem warum. Jims Frau? Deren unsympathischer Sohn, der nicht davor zurückschreckt, Rosie zu bedrohen? Was hat es mit Fielding und dem rätselhaften Theaterstück auf sich? Und wird sie jemals den Durchbruch auf der Bühne schaffen oder bleibt der ihrer biestigen Pensionsgenossin Ruby Priest vorbehalten?
Ich mochte das Setting im New York der 40er Jahre, wo der Krieg zwar geographisch weit weg, in den Köpfen aber doch stets präsent ist, nicht zuletzt durch die Abwesenheit von Rosies Freund Jack, der sich nicht mehr gemeldet hat, seit er beim Militär angeheuert hat, und mir gefiel auch die Grundidee der nicht auf den Mund gefallenen und um kaum eine Idee verlegenen Rosie als Ermittlerin. Der Spagat zwischen der vermeintlich glanzvollen Theaterwelt und dem abgebrüht-bodenständigen Detektivgeschäft gelingt ihr auch gar nicht so übel.
Allerdings erschien mir der Fall doch arg konstruiert und die Verstrickungen zwischen der Unterwelt, der Theaterszene und der High Society recht platt und gewollt, und der flapsige Tonfall, der in der Übersetzung von Kirsten Riesselmann ziemlich gut getroffen ist, nutzt sich mit der Zeit auch ziemlich ab und kippt vom Originellen ins eher Nervige.
Von dieser Serie hatte ich mir mehr erwartet, gebe ihr aber noch mal eine Chance, weil noch der 2. Teil auf meinem SUB liegt.
January 25, 2018
(Not a spoiler alert, but a swearing alert. I am so unbelievably angry right this minute.)
I had to go back and look up this quote, because I wanted to make absolutely sure I didn't get it wrong:
"Then some folks in Warsaw decided they weren't content with ghetto life and public interest in the case faded."
(page 315 in the kindle version)(in case you can't believe this quote exists either.)
jfc, that is the most cruel thing I've ever read. I already didn't love this book; I mean, it's a novel set during WWII in which the war seems to be happening despite what the characters are doing. This tipped it straight into the "avoid this series at all costs" files.
Jewish people "decided" they didn't like living in a ghetto. Sweet Jesus. At least 392,000 people died there, but they "decided" they didn't like living in a ghetto.
Son of a bitch. I don't even know what to do with that kind of casual approach to genocide.
I mean, I do: I am never ever reading this author again. Holy shit, that's hateful.
I had to go back and look up this quote, because I wanted to make absolutely sure I didn't get it wrong:
"Then some folks in Warsaw decided they weren't content with ghetto life and public interest in the case faded."
(page 315 in the kindle version)(in case you can't believe this quote exists either.)
jfc, that is the most cruel thing I've ever read. I already didn't love this book; I mean, it's a novel set during WWII in which the war seems to be happening despite what the characters are doing. This tipped it straight into the "avoid this series at all costs" files.
Jewish people "decided" they didn't like living in a ghetto. Sweet Jesus. At least 392,000 people died there, but they "decided" they didn't like living in a ghetto.
Son of a bitch. I don't even know what to do with that kind of casual approach to genocide.
I mean, I do: I am never ever reading this author again. Holy shit, that's hateful.
October 10, 2009
I grabbed this book on a whim at the library and I'm so excited that I did. I devoured this book- the language was engaging, the story was exciting, and the mystery kept me guessing almost until the end. Rosie Winter is a sassy lady, and rest assured she does not take crap from anyone about anything. Her snappy retorts to the people around her who would try to bring her down are thoroughly entertaining, and her voice as a narrative keeps the story moving at just the right pace. Plus, how can you not love statements like this one, where she's describing a snotty, obnoxious fellow actress's role in the play they've both been cast in:
Ruby played the saintly WAC, which was the best of the eight parts, though given the overall shortcomings of the play, that was a bit like being the whore with the nicest teeth.
Rosie Winter shines as a narrator and a protagonist, but the other characters are just as worthy of mention: Jayne, the best friend and, all too often, the voice of reason; Tony, Jayne's mobster boyfriend who may (or may not?) actually be a nice guy, Al, one of Tony's tough guys who really just wants to make his mom proud; Belle, the house mom at the boarding house where Rosie, Jayne, and Ruby live; Harriet, probably my favorite character, who's juggling a career as an actress with also being a budding political activist. Oh, and Churchill the cat!
The war is a constant presence in this book, and the author provides lots of period details that enhance the story on almost every page. Additionally, the author's experience in the theater world makes the setting and tone of the book very authentic, and makes the reader actually care about the resolution of the main mystery, that being who murdered Rosie's boss, and all the side mysteries that emerge along the way. Speaking of side stories, several of them, such as Rosie's relationship with Jack, her (maybe) fiance, Rosie's rollercoaster acting career, and her relationships with the other girls in the boarding house, leave lots of room for future books in the series. I know of two others, The Winter of Her Discontent and Winter in June, and I'll definitely be reading both of those and reviewing them here.
If you're looking for something different to read that's funny, engrossing, and completely satisfying, I highly recommend this book.
Overall Grade: A
Ruby played the saintly WAC, which was the best of the eight parts, though given the overall shortcomings of the play, that was a bit like being the whore with the nicest teeth.
Rosie Winter shines as a narrator and a protagonist, but the other characters are just as worthy of mention: Jayne, the best friend and, all too often, the voice of reason; Tony, Jayne's mobster boyfriend who may (or may not?) actually be a nice guy, Al, one of Tony's tough guys who really just wants to make his mom proud; Belle, the house mom at the boarding house where Rosie, Jayne, and Ruby live; Harriet, probably my favorite character, who's juggling a career as an actress with also being a budding political activist. Oh, and Churchill the cat!
The war is a constant presence in this book, and the author provides lots of period details that enhance the story on almost every page. Additionally, the author's experience in the theater world makes the setting and tone of the book very authentic, and makes the reader actually care about the resolution of the main mystery, that being who murdered Rosie's boss, and all the side mysteries that emerge along the way. Speaking of side stories, several of them, such as Rosie's relationship with Jack, her (maybe) fiance, Rosie's rollercoaster acting career, and her relationships with the other girls in the boarding house, leave lots of room for future books in the series. I know of two others, The Winter of Her Discontent and Winter in June, and I'll definitely be reading both of those and reviewing them here.
If you're looking for something different to read that's funny, engrossing, and completely satisfying, I highly recommend this book.
Overall Grade: A
September 11, 2011
I needed a fun, quick read right now, and Kathryn Miller Haines was just hanging out on my shelf begging to be read. I had unintentionally read the second book in the Rosie Winter series not too long ago and enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to going back to read #1 when I found a copy.
I think Haines grew as a writer between the two books, or maybe I just wasn't as into it this time as I was the first time I read about Rosie Winter. Things didn't tie up in a neat little bow this time; I'm not sure I would have wanted to read the second book if I had read them in order like I was supposed to, so maybe it was best that I did it backwards. This wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination - Rosie had just as much spunk and quirk that I enjoyed in the second book, but the characterizations felt more cardboard-y this time, not as fully fleshed, and a tad bit more cliched than I would have liked.
But it doesn't really matter - I wanted a fun, quick read, and that's what I got. I'm not turned off, I will read other Rosie Winter stories as I come across them. I will still mail this book to my mother since I sent her the second book - she hasn't read it yet, so I actually look forward to her reading them in the right order to see how that affects her opinion.
I think Haines grew as a writer between the two books, or maybe I just wasn't as into it this time as I was the first time I read about Rosie Winter. Things didn't tie up in a neat little bow this time; I'm not sure I would have wanted to read the second book if I had read them in order like I was supposed to, so maybe it was best that I did it backwards. This wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination - Rosie had just as much spunk and quirk that I enjoyed in the second book, but the characterizations felt more cardboard-y this time, not as fully fleshed, and a tad bit more cliched than I would have liked.
But it doesn't really matter - I wanted a fun, quick read, and that's what I got. I'm not turned off, I will read other Rosie Winter stories as I come across them. I will still mail this book to my mother since I sent her the second book - she hasn't read it yet, so I actually look forward to her reading them in the right order to see how that affects her opinion.
August 2, 2013
This story is more of a typical crime novel than the "cozy" mystery I was expecting. Rosie is tough and down and out. She reads pulp fiction and talks like a character from a bad pulp fiction novel or gangster movie. I had a hard time understanding all her slang words, even in context. I really could not muster up any sympathy for her. I found her annoying and whiny and downright rude at times. She's not the type of character I usually enjoy. I was more interested in a minor character who appears in scenes only to help direct Rosie's search. There isn't a traditional romance plot either though Rosie has a sort of boyfriend and a potential romance. The mystery kept me interested and reading way too late until the big reveal. Then I was completely confused by the convoluted story. None of it made sense and it will answer the question asked in the beginning of the book: "What would shock you?" It's so bizarre and impossible that it ruined the book. I would not recommend this series to fans of cozy mysteries and I will not be reading the rest of the series.
November 7, 2013
To be honest the rating I would give this book would be closer to 3 1/2 stars, while I enjoyed the book, I wouldn't go quite as far as to give it four stars. Let's start with the bad, I love books set in other time periods, past, future even occasionally the present, but I don't like feeling out of the loop. I think Kathryn tries really hard to make the setting authentic, but it actually worked against her. On the bright side, the book was surprising, I loved Rosie, the only thing I disagreed on with her was her love-hate relationship with Churchhill, being a fanatic feline-lover myself. Is it strange that I developed an attachment to Al, of all the numerous men in the cast? I debating if I should take up the next book or not...probably will.
February 20, 2014
I was really disappointed with this book. I read at least 1/3 of the book and felt no interest to continue, the story was going absolutely nowhere. The reason that I was so disappointed with this book was because I have read other books by Kathryn Miller Haines and always found them interesting and easy to get into. I may try to read this book again eventually but for now it is going back on my bookshelf.
September 9, 2010
If you liked Ginger Rogers in Stage Door, then this is the book for you. It is not a bad read, but the 1940's patter is a bit much and the plot is a little convoluted, making it confusing. However, the setting is superb, the automat, the nightclubs, the theatre, and the boarding house are beautifully rendered.
March 24, 2010
This is a very engaging mystery debut. I don't usually like historical mysteries, but this WWII setting is one of my favorites. The major character is well-developed and interesting. I was happy that I already had the second one in this series to start reading immediately.
September 30, 2017
Strike one against the book is that the writer too often evokes nostalgic events to prove they get the past; strike two is that it felt like the writer was also judging the past from a modern perspective; strike three was the plot line.
October 21, 2019
For me, tho mysteries are meant to be puzzles, whodunits, the better ones have true novel quality of character, description and interaction. This is the first one of Haines' mysteries I read. At first I was tickled by the authentic-to-the-era the dialog and backgrounds. The puzzle of who was killing the characters got more complicated. Seeking for the great play by a controversial "deceased" author, everyone has a motive to either cash in or destroy it. I don't know if that qualifies as a "MacGuffin" or not. It is the motivation for the plot.
When its determined where and/or what it is, the final scene plays out. I felt cheated a little by the solution, but the scene itself was a cute way to bring the crimes to a finish.
The background of theater was interesting, Haines herself being in the business kept the story real. Overall, better than the average mystery, but not up there with the top ones, three stars.
When its determined where and/or what it is, the final scene plays out. I felt cheated a little by the solution, but the scene itself was a cute way to bring the crimes to a finish.
The background of theater was interesting, Haines herself being in the business kept the story real. Overall, better than the average mystery, but not up there with the top ones, three stars.
September 28, 2020
Rosie Winter, struggling actress, has taken a file clerk job at Jim McClain's PI agency. When he is murdered and it appears that one case he was working on is the reason, Rosie gets involved. The investigation gets mixed up with the drama of life in the theater. It is laden with slang language of the 40s as well as society dames, mobsters and the background of WWII at home. Very different kind of mystery. I am interested in seeing what happens to these characters.
June 13, 2017
A struggling New York actress Rosie Winters stumbles upon her murdered PI boss and a missing mystery play during WWII. Interesting characters with a convoluted plot about whether or not the play even exists. The novel brings to life the time period of the early forties and the uncertainties on the homefront, while awaiting news from the frontlines.
October 4, 2021
3.75 stars! This was one of the most complicated cosy plot lines I’ve read in quite awhile. The ending seemed like a little bit of a mind dump, but I did enjoy the book. This author did a great job at maintaining the time-period dialogue throughout the book. It might be the best example of period-dialogue that I’ve read, to date. Hopefully I’ll be able to find the next book in this series!
July 29, 2017
This was a quick read. At first I was put off by the cheesy private eye way the main character talked but as I got further into the book I realized I didn't even notice it. There is more than one mystery to solve in this who dunnit and the writer takes the reader for a good ride.
June 1, 2018
Not the same as Maisie Dobbs, but very entertaining. Just what I was looking for. Quick, engrossing, and interesting read, with a likable and human female protagonist. Other characters are a bit larger than life/one-dimensional, but I didn’t really mind.
January 8, 2019
A lot of 1940s slang made for some awkward, slow reading, but I like the spunky protagonist and I love the scene. Having an author who really understands stage acting write a story about a stage actress lent an air of authenticity about the story. Looking forward to the next one!
November 14, 2021
Pretty good. A little too much slang (some of which I suspect does not belong in the 1940s) that seemed forced. For example, “we...ankled over to...” It’s annoying and sounds dumb while doing nothing to establish setting.
March 3, 2022
The first of a series featuring Rosie Winter, an actress in New York City during WWII. The mystery successfully captures the feel of life during WWII: government propaganda, the newspapers, the food shortages and slang. Rosie is sharp and talks back in the 1940s brassy gal tradition.
November 19, 2022
Rosie Winter is definitely fast on her feet when she's in a jam! I LOVE how the author stuck with the vernacular of the time. Well written & liked all the characters--well of course, except the bad guy *boo, hiss!* Already found book 2!
dnf
January 2, 2023DNFing my first book of 2023! 😅 I’ve had this on my bookshelf for over a decade but the writing is SO BAD — a cringeworthy attempt to emulate the diction of a working class 1940s New York girl — that I can’t bear to read past page 18.
October 26, 2024
I loved this - from all of the period language to the slap-him-in-the-face no-nonsenseness of Rosie Winter. I got all of the men confused, however. For me there were too many Jim’s, Edgar’s, Fitzgerald’s and sons or stepsons or no sons. But still 5/5 enjoyed this book! 😁
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