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Archer #3
Dream Town
1953 LA. Private investigator and World War II veteran Aloysius Archer intends to ring in the New Year with old friend, aspiring actress Liberty Callahan. Screenwriter Eleanor Lamb interrupts to hire Archer.
After events escalate—mysterious calls, the same car outside her house, and a bloody knife in her sink—Eleanor fears for her life. First a dead body turns up inside of Eleanor’s home . . . and Eleanor herself disappears.
To find both the murderer and Eleanor, Archer enlists Callahan and his partner Willie Dash. The investigation takes him from mob-ridden Las Vegas to glamorous Hollywood to the darkest corners of Los Angeles—a city where beautiful faces belong to cutthroat schemers, cops can be more corrupt than criminals . . . and powerful people who took his client will kill Archer on their trail.
After events escalate—mysterious calls, the same car outside her house, and a bloody knife in her sink—Eleanor fears for her life. First a dead body turns up inside of Eleanor’s home . . . and Eleanor herself disappears.
To find both the murderer and Eleanor, Archer enlists Callahan and his partner Willie Dash. The investigation takes him from mob-ridden Las Vegas to glamorous Hollywood to the darkest corners of Los Angeles—a city where beautiful faces belong to cutthroat schemers, cops can be more corrupt than criminals . . . and powerful people who took his client will kill Archer on their trail.
420 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2022
6366 people are currently reading
16571 people want to read
About the author
David Baldacci
219 books123k followersDavid Baldacci has been writing since childhood, when his mother gave him a lined notebook in which to write down his stories. (Much later, when David thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed that she’d given him the notebook to keep him quiet, "because every mom needs a break now and then.”)
David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996; the feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 52 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. David has also published seven novels for younger readers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.
In addition to being a prolific writer, David is a devoted philanthropist, and his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy programs in the United States.
A lifelong Virginian, David is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
David published his first novel, Absolute Power, in 1996; the feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 52 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers, and several have been adapted for film and television. David has also published seven novels for younger readers. His books are published in over 45 languages and in more than 80 countries, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.
In addition to being a prolific writer, David is a devoted philanthropist, and his greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation®. Established by David and his wife, Michelle, the Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy programs in the United States.
A lifelong Virginian, David is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia School of Law.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,822 reviews
May 4, 2022
2.5⭐
War vet turned PI, Aloysius Archer solves crime in Los Angeles with the help of his associates from book two A Gambling Man, including a friend and hopeful actress Liberty Callahan.
A change of pace for me, a detective novel set in 1953 Los Angeles. But personally, I enjoyed the first one in the series more because it was a small-town mystery in the midwest. If you're into a slower pace crime mystery with an old Hollywood glamour storyline then you'll probably enjoy this novel!
The narrators Edoardo Ballerini and Brittany Pressley were just swell! They were really the star and enhanced my enjoyment quite a bit.
War vet turned PI, Aloysius Archer solves crime in Los Angeles with the help of his associates from book two A Gambling Man, including a friend and hopeful actress Liberty Callahan.
A change of pace for me, a detective novel set in 1953 Los Angeles. But personally, I enjoyed the first one in the series more because it was a small-town mystery in the midwest. If you're into a slower pace crime mystery with an old Hollywood glamour storyline then you'll probably enjoy this novel!
The narrators Edoardo Ballerini and Brittany Pressley were just swell! They were really the star and enhanced my enjoyment quite a bit.
March 16, 2022
It is New Year's Eve 1952 in this riveting historical noir series by David Baldacci featuring PI Aloysius Archer, an ex-WW2 vet working for his experienced Bay Town ex-FBI mentor, Willie Dash, based in Bay Town, responsible for helping him hone his skills in his new profession. Archer has been spending more and more of his time with cases in Los Angeles, primarily because it allows him to see his good friend, the beautiful blonde and ambitious, Liberty Callahan, intent on carving a career as an actress in the cut throat Hollywood with its studio system. He is at a celebrity packed New Year's Eve celebration with Liberty when he meets screenwriter Eleanor Lamb, a woman afraid that someone is trying to kill her, as she relates worrying incidents. She wants to hire him but Archer feels she is keeping something from him. When he makes his way to Malibu later that night, he finds a dead man in her home, with no sign of Eleanor, and ends up being coshed and knocked out.
Archer accrues further injuries the same night when he encounters smugglers, it's one hell of a beginning to 1953 as he finds himself in a chillingly dangerous investigation that sees him immersed in the seedy, sordid, criminal and mob underbelly lying beneath the fantasy glamour of Hollywood and the gambling city of Vegas. He is helped by a Liberty becoming increasingly concerned for his safety, Willie Dash and a group of other PI's that provide necessary support for each other when required, including ex-PI Jake Nichols. The dead man turns out to be Cedric Bender, a PI with a good reputation, and Archer finds himself hired by the much in demand screenwriter, Cecily Ransome, to find the missing Eleanor. Archer's case highlights the misogyny of the time and in Hollywood, where little is as it appears to be, as he uncovers lies, secrets, blackmail, and deceptions, and mixes with Hollywood royalty, like the actress Samantha Lourdes.
The dangers that Archer faces end up testing his relationship and feelings for Liberty, his work is far from well rewarded and his life is at constant risk, yet when he considers the possibility of other better paying opportunities, it is clear that when it comes down to it, a PI is what he wants to be and nothing is going to change his mind. As the novel concludes, we find Dash informing Archer that he is now ready to stand on his own two feet, this leads him to establish his own PI agency in LA. This is my favourite Baldacci series, he atmospherically evokes the historical period with flair and style, and he has created a great central protagonist in the charismatic Archer, who is developing into quite the PI. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Archer accrues further injuries the same night when he encounters smugglers, it's one hell of a beginning to 1953 as he finds himself in a chillingly dangerous investigation that sees him immersed in the seedy, sordid, criminal and mob underbelly lying beneath the fantasy glamour of Hollywood and the gambling city of Vegas. He is helped by a Liberty becoming increasingly concerned for his safety, Willie Dash and a group of other PI's that provide necessary support for each other when required, including ex-PI Jake Nichols. The dead man turns out to be Cedric Bender, a PI with a good reputation, and Archer finds himself hired by the much in demand screenwriter, Cecily Ransome, to find the missing Eleanor. Archer's case highlights the misogyny of the time and in Hollywood, where little is as it appears to be, as he uncovers lies, secrets, blackmail, and deceptions, and mixes with Hollywood royalty, like the actress Samantha Lourdes.
The dangers that Archer faces end up testing his relationship and feelings for Liberty, his work is far from well rewarded and his life is at constant risk, yet when he considers the possibility of other better paying opportunities, it is clear that when it comes down to it, a PI is what he wants to be and nothing is going to change his mind. As the novel concludes, we find Dash informing Archer that he is now ready to stand on his own two feet, this leads him to establish his own PI agency in LA. This is my favourite Baldacci series, he atmospherically evokes the historical period with flair and style, and he has created a great central protagonist in the charismatic Archer, who is developing into quite the PI. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
June 1, 2022
I always enjoy a new Baldacci novel and I really like Aloysius Archer so I was looking forward to this one. I was not disappointed.
It is 1953 and Archer is in Los Angeles to visit friend and rising star, actress Liberty Callahan. Through her he meets script writer, Eleanor Lamb, who hires him to investigate who is threatening her life. Then she disappears, Archer trips over a corpse, and he is caught up in a wild investigation which includes Hollywood actors, gangsters, drugs, people smuggling and more.
The LA setting is wonderfully described and made it easy to visualise all the exotic cars and the beautiful homes of the Hollywood stars. There was plenty of name dropping too - so many greats were around in the early fifties. Highly recommended and no real need to read the earlier two books although it is probably more fun if you do.
I remember I complained that book 2 moved too slowly. That was not an issue with this one. Left to my own devices I would have read it in one sitting - sadly real life never seems to allow for that!
It is 1953 and Archer is in Los Angeles to visit friend and rising star, actress Liberty Callahan. Through her he meets script writer, Eleanor Lamb, who hires him to investigate who is threatening her life. Then she disappears, Archer trips over a corpse, and he is caught up in a wild investigation which includes Hollywood actors, gangsters, drugs, people smuggling and more.
The LA setting is wonderfully described and made it easy to visualise all the exotic cars and the beautiful homes of the Hollywood stars. There was plenty of name dropping too - so many greats were around in the early fifties. Highly recommended and no real need to read the earlier two books although it is probably more fun if you do.
I remember I complained that book 2 moved too slowly. That was not an issue with this one. Left to my own devices I would have read it in one sitting - sadly real life never seems to allow for that!
May 2, 2022
Mr. Baldacci gets his 1950s private eye shtick on with minimal results. 4 of 10 stars
June 23, 2022
'Dream Town' is the third exciting edition to David Baldacci's Archer series. I was fascinated by the 1950s setting and the fantastic detailed descriptions - with all the allure and mystique of that decade. Archer is a fantastically dynamic and smart PI with an adorably charming everyman persona. True to form, he is ethical and passionate in his quest to bring justice to the bad guys.
This book is action packed, exciting, and suspenseful. The characters - as always - are exceptionally well developed. The writing is tight and the plot is a terrific rollercoaster ride - with lots of stomach dropping free-falls.
Narration is performed by the very talented Edoardo Ballerini and Brittany Pressley They make a fantastic team and kept me glued to their voices from start to finish.
This book is action packed, exciting, and suspenseful. The characters - as always - are exceptionally well developed. The writing is tight and the plot is a terrific rollercoaster ride - with lots of stomach dropping free-falls.
Narration is performed by the very talented Edoardo Ballerini and Brittany Pressley They make a fantastic team and kept me glued to their voices from start to finish.
May 4, 2022
David Baldacci is back with another Aloysius Archer story that pulls the reader back to the early 1950s. A true gumshoe story that keeps the reader engaged and provides an entertaining tale of times when detective work was much simpler. Baldacci shows his versatility with this series, which is outside his usual style. Great narrative and strong plot makes for another successful addition to this series. Baldacci is on fire and shows no signs of fading.
As the clock ticks down towards 1953, Aloysius Archer makes his way to Los Angeles, where his friend, Liberty Callahan, awaits him. While they are getting comfortable and prepping for a lovely evening, one of Liberty’s acquaintances, Eleanor Lamb, calls to seek Archer’s assistance. While he hoped to have some quiet time, Archer won’t turn down detective work that may help bring in a little extra money.
A number of mysterious and creepy events have taken place, leaving Eleanor feeling as though she is being targeted. She wants to hire Archer to look into the matter as soon as possible. Sure there is more to the story, Archer reluctantly agrees to poke around, making plans to come by her home the following day. When he does, Eleanor is nowhere to be found, but there’s a body in the house, leaving Archer to wonder if she might have been responsible.
Archer wants nothing more than to solve this murder and brings Callahan on side to assist, as well as his partner, Willie Dash. As they investigate, things send Archer back to Vegas, where he has had some dust-ups in years past. Archer learns a little more about Lamb and her past, which includes rubbing elbows with some of the darker characters in town. When the investigation sends him to Hollywood, Archer is convinced he has a lead that could prove fruitful, all while Eleanor Lamb remains missing. Could someone have dealt with her as they did the body that started all this? Baldacci spins a tale that is both entertaining and captivating in equal measure.
In my two decades reading Baldacci novels, I have rarely been left feeling underwhelmed. Baldacci is just too great a story teller, no matter the topic or genre he presents. This is another example of that versatility, as he pens a story that is pulled right out of the gumshoe era, which differs greatly from many of his other series. There is so much going on and yet the reader can slide into a level of comfort easily, leaving them ready to learn more with every page turn.
Aloysius Archer has been a great character since he was first introduced. His backstory is always coming up, but it is the great character development that keeps the reader enthralled. The reader learns a little more about his interest in both detective work and as certain lucky lady, both of which come to a head by the closing chapters of this book. Archer remains down to earth and ready to impress, asking the right questions and yet always finding ways to get into just enough trouble to prove worrisome. I am eager to see where things are headed for him and how Baldacci will continue to shape Archer’s character in the years to come.
Many authors seem able to perfect a genre and work within it, even if they create a few series to keep readers entertained. Baldacci has done this and more, churning out great novels in a variety of sub-genres, all of which are of the highest caliber. I have loved many of them and contusion use to hope for more. This book has a strong narrative that left me feeling the pulse of the story from the opening pages. The plot advances effectively and finds ways of keeping me on my toes throughout, which can sometimes be a daunting task. Set seven decades i nthe past, there will always be interesting characters with which to contend and Baldacci finds ways of keeping them interesting until the very end. I see a number of loose ends left blowing in the wind and can only hope that Baldacci will address them before long, as my curiosity needs some sort of answer. While there is little chance Aloysius will have any crossovers with characters in Baldacci’s other series, I see a lot of great possible interactions as the series progresses.
Kudos, Mr. Baldacci, for this wonderful throwback piece. Keep them coming, as they offer a great contrast to much of what is in the genre nowadays.
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January 12, 2024
The Aloysius Archer series has progressed steadily from watching a raw ex-con solve a murder or two while on parole to working as a rookie private investigator under the tutelage of a seasoned professional. Now we’ve reached the 3rd book in the series, Dream Town, and Archer is virtually a solo PI taking on crime in L.A. It’s sink or swim time.
The year is 1952 and Archer’s in Hollywood to visit actress and good friend Liberty Callaghan. While at dinner they bump into professional script writer Elanor Lamb. When she learns that Archer’s a PI she hires him because she believes she’s being stalked and feels her life’s under threat. It doesn’t take long for the job to take a turn for the bizarre when Archer finds a man murdered in Lamb’s house and, to top it off, Lamb has disappeared off the face of the planet..
The case draws Archer deeply into the Hollywood set as he crosses paths with actors, set designers and studio execs. He discovers that there’s far more to be worried about than be impressed with in this lifestyle as he uncovers a brutal world of drugs, sex and blackmail. And then things get truly dangerous as it becomes uncertain whether Archer will be able to manage to escape with his life.
Once again, the 1950s are brought to life by Baldacci, this time in true Hollywood style. The fashions, the dialogue and the upbeat attitudes that define the times are captured and portrayed in vivid detail.
The personality and values that have made Archer such a likable and decent man continue to shine through. But he also continues to evolve and you can see him mature and toughen as he survives each close call he encounters.
The Aloysius Archer series continues as a strong PI series made even more enjoyable by the fact that it maintains its authentic look and feel. Just about every aspect about it gives a lot more than just a nod to the classic crime era in which it’s set.
The year is 1952 and Archer’s in Hollywood to visit actress and good friend Liberty Callaghan. While at dinner they bump into professional script writer Elanor Lamb. When she learns that Archer’s a PI she hires him because she believes she’s being stalked and feels her life’s under threat. It doesn’t take long for the job to take a turn for the bizarre when Archer finds a man murdered in Lamb’s house and, to top it off, Lamb has disappeared off the face of the planet..
The case draws Archer deeply into the Hollywood set as he crosses paths with actors, set designers and studio execs. He discovers that there’s far more to be worried about than be impressed with in this lifestyle as he uncovers a brutal world of drugs, sex and blackmail. And then things get truly dangerous as it becomes uncertain whether Archer will be able to manage to escape with his life.
Once again, the 1950s are brought to life by Baldacci, this time in true Hollywood style. The fashions, the dialogue and the upbeat attitudes that define the times are captured and portrayed in vivid detail.
The personality and values that have made Archer such a likable and decent man continue to shine through. But he also continues to evolve and you can see him mature and toughen as he survives each close call he encounters.
The Aloysius Archer series continues as a strong PI series made even more enjoyable by the fact that it maintains its authentic look and feel. Just about every aspect about it gives a lot more than just a nod to the classic crime era in which it’s set.
April 9, 2022
After two brilliant Aloysius Archer books, here comes a total let down. The plot is unnecessarily made to look complicated, the pace drags and to make things worse, Archer can't seem to put a foot right. It's OK for a PI to be occasionally bested by his enemies but to time and again end up in second position is not funny. Indicates a certain lack of competence. The characters are all equally despicable so one doesn't really care who will turn out to be the bad guys in the end.
Also the development of the personal equation between Archer and Callahan is a big let down. Basically the book is messed as there seems to be an underlying motive to try and get a film made from it.
Also the development of the personal equation between Archer and Callahan is a big let down. Basically the book is messed as there seems to be an underlying motive to try and get a film made from it.
March 27, 2022
PI Aloysius Archer returns for the 3rd book in this historical crime series and It might be my favourite so far. Set in the early 1950's in Hollywood, it has all the glitz and glamour of the era that I just loved. Archer is a character that I love to read about, a real gentleman and tough guy. He charms everyone he meets and he uses that to his advantage. If you haven't met Archer yet, you really need to change that.
NYE 1952. Archer travels to Hollywood to see in the new year with Liberty Callahan who is trying to hit the big time in the movies. Whilst having dinner with the big names in the business, they are approached by Elanor Lamb, a woman who believes she is being stalked and her life is in danger. Archer agrees to work for her. The next thing he knows, there is a dead man in Lambs house in Malibu and Lamb has disappeared.
This case will take Archer on a wild ride through the rich and famous, people who have the money and means to think they can et away with anything. But they do not know how determined this PI can be. It is dangerous work but he has been to war and prison so if anyone can handle it he can.
Thanks to MacMillan Australia for sending me this advanced copy to read. Dream Town by David Baldacci is out in Australia March 29th.
NYE 1952. Archer travels to Hollywood to see in the new year with Liberty Callahan who is trying to hit the big time in the movies. Whilst having dinner with the big names in the business, they are approached by Elanor Lamb, a woman who believes she is being stalked and her life is in danger. Archer agrees to work for her. The next thing he knows, there is a dead man in Lambs house in Malibu and Lamb has disappeared.
This case will take Archer on a wild ride through the rich and famous, people who have the money and means to think they can et away with anything. But they do not know how determined this PI can be. It is dangerous work but he has been to war and prison so if anyone can handle it he can.
Thanks to MacMillan Australia for sending me this advanced copy to read. Dream Town by David Baldacci is out in Australia March 29th.
May 29, 2022
Dream Town by David Baldacci, third book in the Archer series by the author. The books can be read individually, not an issue with that. Private investigator and World War II veteran Aloysius Archer heads to Los Angeles, the city where dreams are made and shattered, and is ensnared in a lethal case.
David Baldacci books are always written in a particular way which brings out the best of thriller and suspense aspects of a particular plot. The characters are super realistic and the book feels like you are watching a Tom Cruise movie.
The enjoyed reading this book but alas all his books and plots are pretty much main stream and would love if author would bring anything new to the table. Eleanor in this book was also super predictable and easily victimized as a character.
David Baldacci books are always written in a particular way which brings out the best of thriller and suspense aspects of a particular plot. The characters are super realistic and the book feels like you are watching a Tom Cruise movie.
The enjoyed reading this book but alas all his books and plots are pretty much main stream and would love if author would bring anything new to the table. Eleanor in this book was also super predictable and easily victimized as a character.
October 22, 2022
„Dream Town“ третата част от поредицата „Арчър“ предлага едно вълнуващо пътешествие към 50-те години на XX век със златната ера на Холивуд, красивите актриси и едно класическо детективско приключение. Книгата пресъздава отлично атмосферата от онова време и носи същото изживяване на приятен ретро трилър като втората част „A Gambling Man (Комарджията)“.
Действието протича 4 години след края на втората книга. Алойшъс Арчър продължава със своето увлекателно поприще на частен детектив, а Либърти Калахан вече е успешна актриса в Холивуд. И отново сюжетът е наситен с много динамичност в развитието си.
Единственото, което тук не ми хареса съвсем, е краят и решението на Арчър и Либърти около техните отношения, развитието им в края на втората книга ми допадна много повече, отколкото сега. Но както и да е, донякъде може и да се приеме, че е съвсем логично да бъде така…
Аудиокнигата също е изпълнена на висота. С гласовете на Edoardo Ballerini и Brittany Pressley, които успяват да придадат на всеки един от персонажите отделна индивидуалност, дарявайки ги със собствени отличителни гласове, историята оживява почти като филм.
Оценка: 4.45 ⭐
Определено тази поредица успява успешно да задържи интереса ми и ако има продължения със сигурност ще проследя и тях, заедно с първата книга „Едно добро дело“, която все още чака реда си… 😊
Действието протича 4 години след края на втората книга. Алойшъс Арчър продължава със своето увлекателно поприще на частен детектив, а Либърти Калахан вече е успешна актриса в Холивуд. И отново сюжетът е наситен с много динамичност в развитието си.
Единственото, което тук не ми хареса съвсем, е краят и решението на Арчър и Либърти около техните отношения, развитието им в края на втората книга ми допадна много повече, отколкото сега. Но както и да е, донякъде може и да се приеме, че е съвсем логично да бъде така…
Аудиокнигата също е изпълнена на висота. С гласовете на Edoardo Ballerini и Brittany Pressley, които успяват да придадат на всеки един от персонажите отделна индивидуалност, дарявайки ги със собствени отличителни гласове, историята оживява почти като филм.
Оценка: 4.45 ⭐
Определено тази поредица успява успешно да задържи интереса ми и ако има продължения със сигурност ще проследя и тях, заедно с първата книга „Едно добро дело“, която все още чака реда си… 😊
June 29, 2022
Onward to 1952 Hollywood, this third instalment of the Aloysius Archer adventures in Dream Town is by David Baldacci. Aloysius is a private investigator and returned WWII veteran, enjoying a meal on New Year’s Eve when he is offered a job. Whilst visiting her home to collect his fee and have the contract signed, he stumbles across a dead body before being knocked out. Despite the police being involved, Archer’s investigation sees him dealing with Hollywood stars and film studio executives, as he discovers secrets, more bodies and the seedy underworld at grave personal danger to himself. For those unfamiliar with this series, it is a masterful historic crime thriller, full of action and the usual masterful Baldacci storytelling. It captures the ambiance of 1950s America, with its nostalgic undertones making it a truly enjoyable tale with a five star rating and the promise of more tales to come.
April 27, 2022
Honestly got bored with all the twists and turns then repeats of the twists that 3/4 way through I gave it up because frankly at that point I didn't care 🙃
December 11, 2022
Вълнуваща и интригуваща и в превод. Дано да има още нови истории от тази поредица. Особено сега, след като Арчър се установи в Ел Ей, ще бъде доста интересно да се проследят още случаи, които той разплита – много готино му се развива кариерата на детектив. И след „Градът на мечтите“ най-после ще отделя необходимото внимание и на първата книга от поредицата и ще се запозная с първото приключение на Арчър (където не е частен детектив) и началото на цялата тази история. 🕵️♂️
[Предишно ревю]
Оценка: 4.45 ⭐
[Предишно ревю]
Оценка: 4.45 ⭐
May 22, 2022
New Year's Eve 1952 and Aloysius Archer, World War II veteran; former inmate; now private investigator, is heading to Hollywood to ring in the new year with his friend the hopeful actress Liberty Callahan. At dinner he is approched by a screenwriter named Elanor Lamb. She wants to hire him because she believes that someone is trying to kill her. After Archer and Liberty ring in 1953 Archer heads to Lamb's home in Malibu. There he stumbles over the body of a man and is knocked unconscious. Not wanting to answer a lot of a questions by the police he phones in a tip and heads to the beach to wait until the cops are finished with the crime scene. Only he runs into smugglers and almost gets killed. 1953 is not looking like a good year.
Hollywood is "Dream Town" filled with powerful people, money, sex, and schemers. Everyone lies and it is hard to find the truth but Archer is determined to find Lamb and a murderer. The story takes the reader from Hollywood to Las Vegas. From movie stars to the mob. Nothing is glamorous in Dream Town.
I have read many, if not most, books by David Baldacci. I have not enjoyed the Archer series as much as his other works. Archer is likeable but I am not sure how believable these stories are. It seems like everyone smokes, drinks, and is corrupt. I wasn't around in 1953 and I am sure there was more smoking and drinking at that time but again to me the stories don't ring very true. Still entertaining though. It will be interesting to see where the author takes Archer since this appears to be his new series.
Hollywood is "Dream Town" filled with powerful people, money, sex, and schemers. Everyone lies and it is hard to find the truth but Archer is determined to find Lamb and a murderer. The story takes the reader from Hollywood to Las Vegas. From movie stars to the mob. Nothing is glamorous in Dream Town.
I have read many, if not most, books by David Baldacci. I have not enjoyed the Archer series as much as his other works. Archer is likeable but I am not sure how believable these stories are. It seems like everyone smokes, drinks, and is corrupt. I wasn't around in 1953 and I am sure there was more smoking and drinking at that time but again to me the stories don't ring very true. Still entertaining though. It will be interesting to see where the author takes Archer since this appears to be his new series.
February 20, 2022
This is the third book in the Aloysius Archer series by author David Baldacci. Archer is a war veteran and now private investigator.
Set in 1952 Los Angeles, screenwriter Eleanor Lamb is convinced someone is trying to kill her and wants to hire Archer to protect her. Archer is soon in the thick of the action when on a visit to Eleanor Lamb’s house stumbles on a dead body and knocked unconscious. To make matters worse there is no sign of Lamb and he is now hired by one of Eleanor’s friends to investigate her disappearance.
This is well written and full of action and has Archer mixing with the rich and famous as well as the criminals. A good read but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous books in the series.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Set in 1952 Los Angeles, screenwriter Eleanor Lamb is convinced someone is trying to kill her and wants to hire Archer to protect her. Archer is soon in the thick of the action when on a visit to Eleanor Lamb’s house stumbles on a dead body and knocked unconscious. To make matters worse there is no sign of Lamb and he is now hired by one of Eleanor’s friends to investigate her disappearance.
This is well written and full of action and has Archer mixing with the rich and famous as well as the criminals. A good read but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous books in the series.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2022
After the second Archer book I told myself I was done with this series. I ended up giving this one a shot just because Baldacci is (was?) one of my favorite authors. Big mistake. Too many characters, too many descriptions, too much repetition, not enough plot or reason to make me give a hoot. Just plain boring. Archer is not for me and, Heaven forbid, this series continues, I won’t be wasting any more time on it.
June 18, 2022
For the last couple of years, Baldacci has been producing two and sometimes three books a year, focusing his attention on his popular characters of Amos Decker (Memory Man), Atlee Pine, Will Robie, and John Puller.
However, back in 2019, Baldacci introduced a new character – World War II veteran Aloysius Archer – in “One Good Deed” and opened readers up to a different historical era, that of post-war, 1949. I greatly enjoyed reading that change of pace set in the past, as well as Archer’s chivalrous character. Last year, Baldacci brought Archer back for his second outing – “A Gambling Man” – which continued his journey into California during 1950 and solving another mystery. This year, Archer returns for his third adventure – “Dream Town” – that focuses on murder and mystery set against the backdrop of developing Hollywood.
The book starts off with Archer heading up from Bay Town to Hollywood to spend New Years eve 1953 with Liberty Callahan, actress trying to make her mark as an actress and his best friend. Their potential romance is still simmering as they spend the evening out on town with some of Hollywood’s most famous stars and sites. That is until they run into one of Liberty’s acquaintances, Eleanor Lamb, a successful screenwriter who comes across as very nervous and scared.
When Eleanor discovers Archer is a private eye, she hires him on the spot to help her. She describes getting mysterious calls during the night, an unknown blue car parked across the street from her house, and someone breaking into house and leaving a bloody knife in her kitchen sink. Eleanor is afraid, thinking her life is in danger, hoping that Archer can discover the cause of what’s happening to her.
Although Archer senses that she’s not telling him the whole truth, her takes her case. Wanting to know what she’s holding back is just the beginning of Archer’s ringing in the new year. Before the next 24 hours are over, Archer finds a dead body in Eleanor’s home, gets attacked, stumbles into a probable smuggling ring, and finds his client has disappeared.
Archer’s takes him behind the scenes of the Hollywood power elite, the dark sides of Los Angeles, and the glitzy world of Las Vegas, as he tries to piece together the connection between the dead body and Elanor’s disappearance. He finds himself going up against a dangerous mobster killer in Chinatown, power wielding movie producers and directors, untrusting and hard-edged county police investigators, and numerous suspects hiding secrets and relationships that hinder Archer from finding a killer and solving his case, as well as its impact on his personal relationship with Liberty.
Archer is definitely out of his element, and if a murderer or the mob doesn’t kill him first, Hollywood certainly will…
As for Aloysius Archer’s third outing, there is both good and bad to report on, but the good stuff
generally outweighs the bad.
First, the good things. Let’s be honest. Writing an historical novel is not easy. Let alone a mystery that is focused on noir crime fiction, in which the protagonist is often tragically flawed, the themes and subject matter involve darkness, there is usually a mixture of violence and sex, and right and wrong are not clearly defined. It’s a sub-genre that Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett created and established classics with. So, let’s admit, jumping into their world and successfully delivering an interesting read is a very tough challenge, to say the least. But somehow, Baldacci has done his homework and research, delivering some good things in this Archer mystery.
Baldacci really focuses on Hollywood and Los Angeles, making the physical world a major character in this novel. He describes the setting and history constantly throughout, using interesting anecdotes that strongly sarcastic and satirical. But he gets it right most of the time, understanding that early 1950’s is far from today’s world, which is full of technology, tools, and devices. He describes that era’s scenery, dress styles, transportation vehicles, weapons, restaurants, food, prices, movies, actors, actresses – you name it. He certainly enables you to feel like are there and experiencing it with all of your senses. Baldacci adds in the proper political and social norms, and enough details from post-World War II to provide the depth and quality needed to portray the true historical context. For example, Baldacci uses the social and legal inequality between men and women in that time period to propel and strengthen his story. My only criticism on that is the same one that I had with the last book. Every flipping character smokes constantly. I understand that smoking was a widespread social custom, but seriously, not every single person was a chain driven smoker. It’s overkill.
As for Baldacci’s other key elements - characters and plotline – the multiple mystery storylines were up to his usual high standards of delivery. He has an almost effortless, rhythmic writing style that involves the James Patterson short chapter approach to move the plot forward. He connects his plot, characters, and style together like the lyrics of a good Eagles hit song that you just sing along with and get lost in the music. His books are a smooth and fluid read. There are no disruptions or hiccups in the flow of words. His language is descriptive, but focused on moving the story forward with mystery driven elements, action sequences, and moments of discovery along the way.
Now the for not so good stuff. First, there is a fairly large cast of characters in this one, so a mental scorecard is needed to keep track of everyone. In addition, there’s a lot going on. Every character has a secret or more, connecting them to other characters and connecting all of the dots got, quite frankly, almost a bit overwhelming. Talk about six degrees of Baldacci… There was gambling problems, secret marriages, blackmail, mob associations, communist affiliations, drug dealing, and human trafficking to name a few. It felt like he threw in everything including the kitchen sink. Sometimes that works and other times a little less is better. For me, it felt like less would have been more. That’s my two cents.
My other complaint relates to a specific writing style habit, which was something that really annoyed the heck out of me, and it got worse throughout the book. That was his use of colorful metaphors. I know this was the noir detective fiction, but some of the metaphors were way over the top, even for him.
Let’s share a few examples to show how annoying they were. A man had the neck of a water buffalo. His brow furrows were so deep they could hide paperclips. A woman’s face that compared to an axe blade. Women working like dutiful bees. A young man listening to words as serious as Moses did with God. A woman looking at a man like he was an item to purchase at a Farmers market. Hopefully, you did not find that to be as irritating and distracting as I did. And yes, I will probably find myself in the minority on this one, but that’s okay. I really enjoy reading Baldacci, even with the criticism.
Overall, “Dream Town” is an enjoyable journey back in time when things were different and America was recovering and rebuilding following the devastation of World War II, and unfortunately men and power ran the world. I considered this an enjoyable and interesting read. For me, the good stuff outweighed the bad things, and I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars rating.
I am also interested in more Archer PI adventures to come, especially with how this one ended. Watching Baldacci talk about Archer in his interviews, something tells me he feels the same way…
However, back in 2019, Baldacci introduced a new character – World War II veteran Aloysius Archer – in “One Good Deed” and opened readers up to a different historical era, that of post-war, 1949. I greatly enjoyed reading that change of pace set in the past, as well as Archer’s chivalrous character. Last year, Baldacci brought Archer back for his second outing – “A Gambling Man” – which continued his journey into California during 1950 and solving another mystery. This year, Archer returns for his third adventure – “Dream Town” – that focuses on murder and mystery set against the backdrop of developing Hollywood.
The book starts off with Archer heading up from Bay Town to Hollywood to spend New Years eve 1953 with Liberty Callahan, actress trying to make her mark as an actress and his best friend. Their potential romance is still simmering as they spend the evening out on town with some of Hollywood’s most famous stars and sites. That is until they run into one of Liberty’s acquaintances, Eleanor Lamb, a successful screenwriter who comes across as very nervous and scared.
When Eleanor discovers Archer is a private eye, she hires him on the spot to help her. She describes getting mysterious calls during the night, an unknown blue car parked across the street from her house, and someone breaking into house and leaving a bloody knife in her kitchen sink. Eleanor is afraid, thinking her life is in danger, hoping that Archer can discover the cause of what’s happening to her.
Although Archer senses that she’s not telling him the whole truth, her takes her case. Wanting to know what she’s holding back is just the beginning of Archer’s ringing in the new year. Before the next 24 hours are over, Archer finds a dead body in Eleanor’s home, gets attacked, stumbles into a probable smuggling ring, and finds his client has disappeared.
Archer’s takes him behind the scenes of the Hollywood power elite, the dark sides of Los Angeles, and the glitzy world of Las Vegas, as he tries to piece together the connection between the dead body and Elanor’s disappearance. He finds himself going up against a dangerous mobster killer in Chinatown, power wielding movie producers and directors, untrusting and hard-edged county police investigators, and numerous suspects hiding secrets and relationships that hinder Archer from finding a killer and solving his case, as well as its impact on his personal relationship with Liberty.
Archer is definitely out of his element, and if a murderer or the mob doesn’t kill him first, Hollywood certainly will…
As for Aloysius Archer’s third outing, there is both good and bad to report on, but the good stuff
generally outweighs the bad.
First, the good things. Let’s be honest. Writing an historical novel is not easy. Let alone a mystery that is focused on noir crime fiction, in which the protagonist is often tragically flawed, the themes and subject matter involve darkness, there is usually a mixture of violence and sex, and right and wrong are not clearly defined. It’s a sub-genre that Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett created and established classics with. So, let’s admit, jumping into their world and successfully delivering an interesting read is a very tough challenge, to say the least. But somehow, Baldacci has done his homework and research, delivering some good things in this Archer mystery.
Baldacci really focuses on Hollywood and Los Angeles, making the physical world a major character in this novel. He describes the setting and history constantly throughout, using interesting anecdotes that strongly sarcastic and satirical. But he gets it right most of the time, understanding that early 1950’s is far from today’s world, which is full of technology, tools, and devices. He describes that era’s scenery, dress styles, transportation vehicles, weapons, restaurants, food, prices, movies, actors, actresses – you name it. He certainly enables you to feel like are there and experiencing it with all of your senses. Baldacci adds in the proper political and social norms, and enough details from post-World War II to provide the depth and quality needed to portray the true historical context. For example, Baldacci uses the social and legal inequality between men and women in that time period to propel and strengthen his story. My only criticism on that is the same one that I had with the last book. Every flipping character smokes constantly. I understand that smoking was a widespread social custom, but seriously, not every single person was a chain driven smoker. It’s overkill.
As for Baldacci’s other key elements - characters and plotline – the multiple mystery storylines were up to his usual high standards of delivery. He has an almost effortless, rhythmic writing style that involves the James Patterson short chapter approach to move the plot forward. He connects his plot, characters, and style together like the lyrics of a good Eagles hit song that you just sing along with and get lost in the music. His books are a smooth and fluid read. There are no disruptions or hiccups in the flow of words. His language is descriptive, but focused on moving the story forward with mystery driven elements, action sequences, and moments of discovery along the way.
Now the for not so good stuff. First, there is a fairly large cast of characters in this one, so a mental scorecard is needed to keep track of everyone. In addition, there’s a lot going on. Every character has a secret or more, connecting them to other characters and connecting all of the dots got, quite frankly, almost a bit overwhelming. Talk about six degrees of Baldacci… There was gambling problems, secret marriages, blackmail, mob associations, communist affiliations, drug dealing, and human trafficking to name a few. It felt like he threw in everything including the kitchen sink. Sometimes that works and other times a little less is better. For me, it felt like less would have been more. That’s my two cents.
My other complaint relates to a specific writing style habit, which was something that really annoyed the heck out of me, and it got worse throughout the book. That was his use of colorful metaphors. I know this was the noir detective fiction, but some of the metaphors were way over the top, even for him.
Let’s share a few examples to show how annoying they were. A man had the neck of a water buffalo. His brow furrows were so deep they could hide paperclips. A woman’s face that compared to an axe blade. Women working like dutiful bees. A young man listening to words as serious as Moses did with God. A woman looking at a man like he was an item to purchase at a Farmers market. Hopefully, you did not find that to be as irritating and distracting as I did. And yes, I will probably find myself in the minority on this one, but that’s okay. I really enjoy reading Baldacci, even with the criticism.
Overall, “Dream Town” is an enjoyable journey back in time when things were different and America was recovering and rebuilding following the devastation of World War II, and unfortunately men and power ran the world. I considered this an enjoyable and interesting read. For me, the good stuff outweighed the bad things, and I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars rating.
I am also interested in more Archer PI adventures to come, especially with how this one ended. Watching Baldacci talk about Archer in his interviews, something tells me he feels the same way…
April 21, 2022
4 stars
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a really good historical fiction mystery/thriller. I must admit, I read the first book in this series One Good Deed and did not enjoy it very much. In fact, I couldn't even finish it! This really surprised me, because I normally really enjoy David Baldacci's books. I'm so glad that I revisited the series because this book was so good.
It's New Year's Eve in 1953 and Archer is in LA to spend the night with his friend, aspiring actress Liberty Callahan. They are at a fancy schmancy party with the Hollywood elite when a screenwriter Liberty's knows, Eleanor Lamb, approaches them and asks to hire Archer because she feels that her life is in danger. They make a plan to meet the next day, but later in the evening Archer decides to check on Lamb's safety and discovers a dead body in her house and Lamb missing. This sets Archer on a path to find the killer, and Lamb, and pits him against dangerous LA gangs, mobsters in Vegas, and the seedy side of Hollywood.
The book starts off slowly, and continues to build tension until the crazy end. The more Archer investigates, the more complicated the problem gets. Baldacci does a great job of snowballing Archer's situation, adding more and more nefarious villains as the book progresses. Most of the minor characters are your stereotypical bad guys, but I didn't mind, as it was still fun to read. The book shines a light on the darker side of Hollywood and fame during that time period, particularly the studio contracts that used to bind actors to studios and dictate pretty much their whole life, which I've read about in other books and was pretty awful to women.
If you're looking for an old fashioned complicated mystery, this is the book for you. While this book is part of a series, it's written as a standalone and you don't have to read the other books to enjoy this one. There is enough exposition in it to fill you in on the back story of the characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. All opinions are my own.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This is a really good historical fiction mystery/thriller. I must admit, I read the first book in this series One Good Deed and did not enjoy it very much. In fact, I couldn't even finish it! This really surprised me, because I normally really enjoy David Baldacci's books. I'm so glad that I revisited the series because this book was so good.
It's New Year's Eve in 1953 and Archer is in LA to spend the night with his friend, aspiring actress Liberty Callahan. They are at a fancy schmancy party with the Hollywood elite when a screenwriter Liberty's knows, Eleanor Lamb, approaches them and asks to hire Archer because she feels that her life is in danger. They make a plan to meet the next day, but later in the evening Archer decides to check on Lamb's safety and discovers a dead body in her house and Lamb missing. This sets Archer on a path to find the killer, and Lamb, and pits him against dangerous LA gangs, mobsters in Vegas, and the seedy side of Hollywood.
The book starts off slowly, and continues to build tension until the crazy end. The more Archer investigates, the more complicated the problem gets. Baldacci does a great job of snowballing Archer's situation, adding more and more nefarious villains as the book progresses. Most of the minor characters are your stereotypical bad guys, but I didn't mind, as it was still fun to read. The book shines a light on the darker side of Hollywood and fame during that time period, particularly the studio contracts that used to bind actors to studios and dictate pretty much their whole life, which I've read about in other books and was pretty awful to women.
If you're looking for an old fashioned complicated mystery, this is the book for you. While this book is part of a series, it's written as a standalone and you don't have to read the other books to enjoy this one. There is enough exposition in it to fill you in on the back story of the characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. All opinions are my own.
August 8, 2022
Dream Town by David Baldacci is as usual easy to read due to the wonderful way the author has with the language. Although I found it to be not as good as the two first books in this series it still captivates and has lots of fun chapters. I hope Baldacci will continue this series since I have alway been a fan of the hardboiled and noir detective genres and we need more books set in a time that is not the present.
April 25, 2023
Страхотна поредица!
April 24, 2022
Going the Full Marlowe
Review of the Grand Central Publishing audiobook edition, released simultaneously with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover (April 19, 2022)
[4.5]
Dream Town (2022) continues the journey of Baldacci's late 1940's/early 1950's hardboiled detective character Aloysius Archer who was introduced in One Good Deed (2019) with a follow-up in A Gambling Man (2021).
Although he is still based in the fictitious Bay City, California and working for Willie Dash's detective agency, the case in Dream Town takes Archer into full-blown Chandler / Marlowe territory in Los Angeles and Hollywood. He is at first hired by screenwriter Eleanor Lamb while he is out on a New Year's Eve 1952 date with his actress friend Liberty Callahan. Lamb suspects that she is in danger and asks Archer to investigate. Soon he finds a dead body at Lamb's residence and has himself knocked out.
The case takes him further into the depths of Hollywood with vicious drug smuggling & human trafficking gangs, Chinese BDSM clubs, corrupt LA cops, and various film directors, screenwriters and actresses, many of them turning out to be more hard-boiled than Archer suspects at first. I pretty much lost count of the number of femme fatales involved.
I call this the "Full Marlowe" as this is very much Raymond Chandler territory in an old familiar setting and Baldacci is able to completely capture that ambiance. He even (perhaps intentionally?) mimics Chandler's sometimes confusing plotlines. The only thing keeping this out of 5 star territory is that Baldacci's similes and metaphors don't quite hit the peaks of Chandler's noir poetry, but then who will ever be able to do that?
The narration by Edoardo Ballerini (all male voices) and Brittany Pressley (all female voices) was excellent.
Review of the Grand Central Publishing audiobook edition, released simultaneously with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover (April 19, 2022)
[4.5]
Dream Town (2022) continues the journey of Baldacci's late 1940's/early 1950's hardboiled detective character Aloysius Archer who was introduced in One Good Deed (2019) with a follow-up in A Gambling Man (2021).
Although he is still based in the fictitious Bay City, California and working for Willie Dash's detective agency, the case in Dream Town takes Archer into full-blown Chandler / Marlowe territory in Los Angeles and Hollywood. He is at first hired by screenwriter Eleanor Lamb while he is out on a New Year's Eve 1952 date with his actress friend Liberty Callahan. Lamb suspects that she is in danger and asks Archer to investigate. Soon he finds a dead body at Lamb's residence and has himself knocked out.
The case takes him further into the depths of Hollywood with vicious drug smuggling & human trafficking gangs, Chinese BDSM clubs, corrupt LA cops, and various film directors, screenwriters and actresses, many of them turning out to be more hard-boiled than Archer suspects at first. I pretty much lost count of the number of femme fatales involved.
I call this the "Full Marlowe" as this is very much Raymond Chandler territory in an old familiar setting and Baldacci is able to completely capture that ambiance. He even (perhaps intentionally?) mimics Chandler's sometimes confusing plotlines. The only thing keeping this out of 5 star territory is that Baldacci's similes and metaphors don't quite hit the peaks of Chandler's noir poetry, but then who will ever be able to do that?
The narration by Edoardo Ballerini (all male voices) and Brittany Pressley (all female voices) was excellent.
June 14, 2022
The best of the 3 in the series which isn't saying much. So much crossing, double crossing going on my eyes were crossing and the booze glaze and smoke haze didn't help much.
August 15, 2022
Had a terrible time staying with this book. I do not care for the Archer series. Thought I would warm up to it by now but . . . Not! This is not Balcacci's best genre. Things seem contrived and listening to it on audio makes it even worse. Sounds more like a bad joke than a good novel. Too many characters, locations, and plot twists. Yes, it wrapped up at the end but getting there was painful.
July 5, 2022
This book was ridiculous with so many characters it was hard to keep them straight. I’ve read so many books from this author but I found myself shaking my head while listening to this book, wondering why I was finishing it.
June 24, 2022
OY!! Too many characters, too much plot, not enough interest. Fuhgeddaboudit!
April 1, 2022
"Being alive and living were also two distinct things, he had come to realize. The former being strictly biological; the latter was everything else." Aloysius Archer
Anyone who knows me well, knows how much I love the 1950s era. The clothes, the cars, the movies, all of it. If I could go live in one decade, the 1950s would be it. When I read the synopsis for this book, I just knew that I was going to enjoy it and boy did I ever! I was not aware that this was a series but was able to read it as a stand-alone. I know that this is definitely a series I will be picking up.
Aloysius Archer is a private detective, ex WW2 vet working out of Bay Town, California. At the moment, most of his work takes place in L.A. where he also spends time with Liberty Callahan, a friend but definitely someone he'd like to be more with. The book opens on New Year's Eve, 1952. Liberty has invited Archer to attend a fabulous party to ring in the new year. While there a mousy woman named Eleanor Lamb approaches Archer with a shocking accusation that someone is out to kill her, and she'd like to hire Archer to find out who it is and what they want. From the get-go, Archer is on his guard, he believes Lamb is not telling all she knows about who might want her dead. Later that night, he goes to her house to check on her only to discover a dead body there and Lamb nowhere to be found.
1953 opens with a bang! After discovering the body, he stops at the beach on and is accosted by some stranger and nearly killed. Archer quickly finds himself smack dab in the middle of the L.A. mob, drug running, and the very seedy underbelly that is the backbone of Hollywood. Archer is taken on a wild ride through the very rich and famous of Hollywood. Meeting daring women for the time and seeing things not common for the era. Can Archer find Lamb, figure out who killed the man in her house and stop the local drug den from continuing business before it's too late?
I loved this book! The characters are fantastic and well thought out. I can really tell the author did his research on the era taking me on a journey through this fantastic historical era. His descriptions were so good, I felt like I was really there. The chapters are short and there is so much action that I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. I am very much looking forward to more of PI Archer. I received this book free from Novel Suspects and Grand Central Publishing for an honest review.
Anyone who knows me well, knows how much I love the 1950s era. The clothes, the cars, the movies, all of it. If I could go live in one decade, the 1950s would be it. When I read the synopsis for this book, I just knew that I was going to enjoy it and boy did I ever! I was not aware that this was a series but was able to read it as a stand-alone. I know that this is definitely a series I will be picking up.
Aloysius Archer is a private detective, ex WW2 vet working out of Bay Town, California. At the moment, most of his work takes place in L.A. where he also spends time with Liberty Callahan, a friend but definitely someone he'd like to be more with. The book opens on New Year's Eve, 1952. Liberty has invited Archer to attend a fabulous party to ring in the new year. While there a mousy woman named Eleanor Lamb approaches Archer with a shocking accusation that someone is out to kill her, and she'd like to hire Archer to find out who it is and what they want. From the get-go, Archer is on his guard, he believes Lamb is not telling all she knows about who might want her dead. Later that night, he goes to her house to check on her only to discover a dead body there and Lamb nowhere to be found.
1953 opens with a bang! After discovering the body, he stops at the beach on and is accosted by some stranger and nearly killed. Archer quickly finds himself smack dab in the middle of the L.A. mob, drug running, and the very seedy underbelly that is the backbone of Hollywood. Archer is taken on a wild ride through the very rich and famous of Hollywood. Meeting daring women for the time and seeing things not common for the era. Can Archer find Lamb, figure out who killed the man in her house and stop the local drug den from continuing business before it's too late?
I loved this book! The characters are fantastic and well thought out. I can really tell the author did his research on the era taking me on a journey through this fantastic historical era. His descriptions were so good, I felt like I was really there. The chapters are short and there is so much action that I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. I am very much looking forward to more of PI Archer. I received this book free from Novel Suspects and Grand Central Publishing for an honest review.
April 24, 2022
Rich, gritty, and menacing!
Dream Town is a mysterious, gripping tale that takes us back into the life of Aloysius Archer as he decides to head down to the City of Angeles, where his friend Liberty is just starting to make her mark on Hollywood and where his PI skills will once again come in handy when a writer who is afraid for her life suddenly goes missing and the trail to find her is littered with dead bodies, corruption, smuggling, drugs, blackmail and gangsters.
The prose is vivid and smooth. The characters are loyal, determined, and brave. And the plot is a well-paced, twisty whodunit full of red herrings, sleuthing, suspicious personalities, deduction, attraction, coercion, danger, mayhem, mischief, and murder.
Dream Town is the third book in the Archer series, and if you love mysteries set in the glitz and glamour of 1950s Tinseltown, this one won’t disappoint. It’s an intricate, tight, satisfying read by Baldacci, and I can’t wait to read whatever this steadfast gumshoe gets himself tied up in next.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Dream Town is a mysterious, gripping tale that takes us back into the life of Aloysius Archer as he decides to head down to the City of Angeles, where his friend Liberty is just starting to make her mark on Hollywood and where his PI skills will once again come in handy when a writer who is afraid for her life suddenly goes missing and the trail to find her is littered with dead bodies, corruption, smuggling, drugs, blackmail and gangsters.
The prose is vivid and smooth. The characters are loyal, determined, and brave. And the plot is a well-paced, twisty whodunit full of red herrings, sleuthing, suspicious personalities, deduction, attraction, coercion, danger, mayhem, mischief, and murder.
Dream Town is the third book in the Archer series, and if you love mysteries set in the glitz and glamour of 1950s Tinseltown, this one won’t disappoint. It’s an intricate, tight, satisfying read by Baldacci, and I can’t wait to read whatever this steadfast gumshoe gets himself tied up in next.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2022
I plunged right into Baldacci's PI series featuring Aloysius Archer, WWII vet, set in Hollywood in the 50s. 'It was a town that took every single dream you had and then merrily ran it right through the world's biggest meat grinder.'
There was no problem starting with this third book in the series. The atmosphere of the plot is very LA noir with lots of smoking, shooting, deception and general misbehaving. Archer cleverly works his way through the many layers of this mystery, almost getting killed more than once. Being a private investigator is a dangerous business and 'even good guys can make bad choices when things get desperate.'
I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NG in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them for the opportunity.
There was no problem starting with this third book in the series. The atmosphere of the plot is very LA noir with lots of smoking, shooting, deception and general misbehaving. Archer cleverly works his way through the many layers of this mystery, almost getting killed more than once. Being a private investigator is a dangerous business and 'even good guys can make bad choices when things get desperate.'
I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NG in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them for the opportunity.
September 7, 2022
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Арчър е вече изпечен частен детектив, който е запазил близостта си с красавицата Либърти от предишния му роман, където се сдоби и със страхотната си кола. Покрай момичето, която се бори да пробие в Холивуд, той опознава и двете страни на монетата на славата, а скоро се оказва и заплетен в опасна интрига. В дома на една сценаристка, която му е казала, че се страхува за живота си и иска да го наеме, той попада на труп, а собственичката се оказва безследно изчезнала. Пътем се натриса на контрабандисти на наркотици, а следите го отвеждат до зловещ клуб в Чайнатаун, където безмилостен и недосегаем за закона убиец върти мръсен бизнес, в мрежите на който са уловени красавици, по които мечтаят милиони.
Издателство Обсидиан
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Арчър е вече изпечен частен детектив, който е запазил близостта си с красавицата Либърти от предишния му роман, където се сдоби и със страхотната си кола. Покрай момичето, която се бори да пробие в Холивуд, той опознава и двете страни на монетата на славата, а скоро се оказва и заплетен в опасна интрига. В дома на една сценаристка, която му е казала, че се страхува за живота си и иска да го наеме, той попада на труп, а собственичката се оказва безследно изчезнала. Пътем се натриса на контрабандисти на наркотици, а следите го отвеждат до зловещ клуб в Чайнатаун, където безмилостен и недосегаем за закона убиец върти мръсен бизнес, в мрежите на който са уловени красавици, по които мечтаят милиони.
Издателство Обсидиан
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/g...
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