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Girl Friday #1
Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man
Life as a secretary in New York just got tougher when Viviana Valentine's boss winds up dead in this debut historical mystery, perfect for fans of Susan Elia MacNeal and Frances Brody.
New York City, 1950. Viviana Valentine is Girl Friday to the city’s top private investigator, Tommy Fortuna. The clients can be frustrating, and none more maddening than fabulously wealthy Tallmadge Blackstone, who demands Tommy tail his daughter, Tallulah, and find out why she won’t marry his business partner, a man forty years her senior. Sounds like an open-and-shut case for a P.I. known for busting up organized crime—but the next day, Viviana opens the office to find Tommy M.I.A. and a lifeless body on the floor.
The cops swoop in and Detective Jake Lawson issues a warrant for Tommy’s arrest. Desperate to clear Tommy’s name, Viviana takes on the Blackstone case herself. When she goes out for a night on the town with the heiress, she begins to learn the secrets behind Tallulah’s life and loves—and discovers that the body in the office is none other than Tallulah’s betrothed. Meanwhile, Lawson is itching to solve his murder case, and continues harassing Viviana for answers—until she’s the victim of an attack by a group of goons hooked up with a gangster named Santino Napolitano, a.k.a. Tino the Conderoga. Tino’s connected to the death of Tommy’s brother, and now he’s trying to get to Tommy through Viviana.
But Tommy’s still missing, and Tino is still out for blood. As Viviana digs into the dirty history of the Blackstone empire, she suddenly realizes the true danger at hand. Now, it’s up to her to find her missing boss and make sure she doesn’t turn up D.O.A.
New York City, 1950. Viviana Valentine is Girl Friday to the city’s top private investigator, Tommy Fortuna. The clients can be frustrating, and none more maddening than fabulously wealthy Tallmadge Blackstone, who demands Tommy tail his daughter, Tallulah, and find out why she won’t marry his business partner, a man forty years her senior. Sounds like an open-and-shut case for a P.I. known for busting up organized crime—but the next day, Viviana opens the office to find Tommy M.I.A. and a lifeless body on the floor.
The cops swoop in and Detective Jake Lawson issues a warrant for Tommy’s arrest. Desperate to clear Tommy’s name, Viviana takes on the Blackstone case herself. When she goes out for a night on the town with the heiress, she begins to learn the secrets behind Tallulah’s life and loves—and discovers that the body in the office is none other than Tallulah’s betrothed. Meanwhile, Lawson is itching to solve his murder case, and continues harassing Viviana for answers—until she’s the victim of an attack by a group of goons hooked up with a gangster named Santino Napolitano, a.k.a. Tino the Conderoga. Tino’s connected to the death of Tommy’s brother, and now he’s trying to get to Tommy through Viviana.
But Tommy’s still missing, and Tino is still out for blood. As Viviana digs into the dirty history of the Blackstone empire, she suddenly realizes the true danger at hand. Now, it’s up to her to find her missing boss and make sure she doesn’t turn up D.O.A.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2022
98 people are currently reading
3979 people want to read
About the author
Emily J. Edwards
3 books93 followersEmily J. Edwards earned her degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College and took the long road to becoming an author, working for over a decade as a wine and spirits journalist, radio producer, and creator of the podcast, F*ckbois of Literature. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, and several quadrupeds. Pronouns: she/her/hers
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
November 20, 2022
I wanted a fast, entertaining audio, and “Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man” got some fun press, and I decided to give it a go. And I’m happy that I did!
What I enjoyed was the 1950’s vernacular. Viviana is a broad, calls women “Doll Face” and men “big golloots”. Because of the setting in the 1950’s, I decided to listen to the audio, narrated wonderfully by Stephanie Willing. Listening to Ms. Willing brought the images to my mind, and I saw the book as a movie.
The story takes place in New York, 1950. Valentine works for Tommy Fortuna, the best PI in the city for taking down organized crime. As the story opens, wealthy Tallmadge Blackstone demands Tommy to tail his daughter Tallulah because she refuses to marry a man 40 years her senior. After Tommy takes the case, Valentine finds a dead body in the office and a missing Tommy. Now Tommy is wanted for murder.
Valentine does not believe Tommy murdered the man and takes on the Blackstone case to clear his name. Valentine learns a bit more about Tallulah. She also learns more about the Blackstone business which doesn’t bode well for Tommy.
This is a fun romp of an audio. It’s over 6 hours of fun. Willing’s voice is absolutely pitch perfect for this period piece. This is book 1; I shall look for book 2. I like Ms. Valentine!
What I enjoyed was the 1950’s vernacular. Viviana is a broad, calls women “Doll Face” and men “big golloots”. Because of the setting in the 1950’s, I decided to listen to the audio, narrated wonderfully by Stephanie Willing. Listening to Ms. Willing brought the images to my mind, and I saw the book as a movie.
The story takes place in New York, 1950. Valentine works for Tommy Fortuna, the best PI in the city for taking down organized crime. As the story opens, wealthy Tallmadge Blackstone demands Tommy to tail his daughter Tallulah because she refuses to marry a man 40 years her senior. After Tommy takes the case, Valentine finds a dead body in the office and a missing Tommy. Now Tommy is wanted for murder.
Valentine does not believe Tommy murdered the man and takes on the Blackstone case to clear his name. Valentine learns a bit more about Tallulah. She also learns more about the Blackstone business which doesn’t bode well for Tommy.
This is a fun romp of an audio. It’s over 6 hours of fun. Willing’s voice is absolutely pitch perfect for this period piece. This is book 1; I shall look for book 2. I like Ms. Valentine!
February 26, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ 💫
This was an entertaining mystery for me. I’m very drawn to life in the 50’s. It reminded me of the old black and white movies with the private investigator and his secretary. Using slang from that time using words like dame, dollface, lookyloo. The book cover also was reminiscent of the 50’s that’s what drew me in!!
I will read the next book in this series it comes out in may!
People who enjoyed Madmen would probably like this.
This was an entertaining mystery for me. I’m very drawn to life in the 50’s. It reminded me of the old black and white movies with the private investigator and his secretary. Using slang from that time using words like dame, dollface, lookyloo. The book cover also was reminiscent of the 50’s that’s what drew me in!!
I will read the next book in this series it comes out in may!
People who enjoyed Madmen would probably like this.
January 4, 2023
Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man is a fun, fast-paced mystery set in 1950s New York. We follow Viviana, who works for Tommy Fortuna, one of the best private investigators in the city. Tommy received a new job from an extremely wealthy man, Tallmadge Blackstone, who wants to discover why his daughter, Tallulah, won't marry his business partner, 40 years her senior. But the next day, Viviana walks into the office to find Tommy missing, and a lifeless body on the floor. So now Viviana has to take on the case herself, and as she spends time with Tallulah, she starts realizing that nothing is as it seems.
The strength of this book is in its atmosphere and in the characters, for sure. I really enjoyed the setting and I liked seeing the characters navigate the situations they were in. Viviana is a determined and strong character and she was really fun to follow solving this mystery. I really enjoyed the side character as well, most of them were interesting and developed well, especially considering this wasn't too long of a novel. I did really like that the book also focused on friendship, and I enjoyed seeing Viviana and Tallulah become friends and also Vivivana's friendships with other girls at the boarding house she lives in.
The mystery itself was interesting, and it kept me wanting to know more for most of the book. I enjoyed how it gradually unfolded, but I have to say I didn't really like how convenient everything ended up being in the end. My biggest complaint here is that for most of the book, some things were intentionally ignored, even though they should've been clues and maybe pointers for where to look. But instead of Viviana or the police looking that way, they all just chose to look away. Fx Vivana's ex-boyfriend was literally threatening her in front of people, and when she was attacked in the dark, no one suspected him? Wouldn't that be your first suspect? And then, in the end, everything magically worked out even though they ignored all their leads.
Overall, this was a fun mystery and I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for something fast and entertaining (and if you can look over potential loopholes a bit). I will definitely be picking up the second book in the series, I'm excited to see where Viviana will go from here!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
The strength of this book is in its atmosphere and in the characters, for sure. I really enjoyed the setting and I liked seeing the characters navigate the situations they were in. Viviana is a determined and strong character and she was really fun to follow solving this mystery. I really enjoyed the side character as well, most of them were interesting and developed well, especially considering this wasn't too long of a novel. I did really like that the book also focused on friendship, and I enjoyed seeing Viviana and Tallulah become friends and also Vivivana's friendships with other girls at the boarding house she lives in.
The mystery itself was interesting, and it kept me wanting to know more for most of the book. I enjoyed how it gradually unfolded, but I have to say I didn't really like how convenient everything ended up being in the end. My biggest complaint here is that for most of the book, some things were intentionally ignored, even though they should've been clues and maybe pointers for where to look. But instead of Viviana or the police looking that way, they all just chose to look away. Fx Vivana's ex-boyfriend was literally threatening her in front of people, and when she was attacked in the dark, no one suspected him? Wouldn't that be your first suspect? And then, in the end, everything magically worked out even though they ignored all their leads.
Overall, this was a fun mystery and I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for something fast and entertaining (and if you can look over potential loopholes a bit). I will definitely be picking up the second book in the series, I'm excited to see where Viviana will go from here!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!
October 8, 2022
When Girl Friday Viviana Valentine's boss Tommy Fortuna goes missing, it is up to Viv to keep his private investigator business going and deal with a troublesome client. Millionaire Tallmadge Blackstone has hired Tommy to follow his eighteen-year-old daughter Tallulah and figure out why she doesn't want to marry his 57-year-old partner Webber Harrington-Whitley. Doesn't seem like a tough case to solve!
But as Viv follows and hangs out with Tallulah, she learns a lot about her and her family. Viv is also dodging an ex named Sandy who got a little too handsy and doesn't seem to have gotten the message that Viv was finished with him. After finding a gravely injured man in Tommy's office and being attacked a couple of times herself, Viv has a lot of incentive to solve the crime especially as Detective Jake Lawson seems to want to pin it all on her boss Tommy.
The story was filled with 1950s slang, fashion, and mores. It was an engaging and entertaining mystery with a great setting and wonderful characters. Viviana Valentine is one smart cookie, and I look forward to reading more of her adventures.
But as Viv follows and hangs out with Tallulah, she learns a lot about her and her family. Viv is also dodging an ex named Sandy who got a little too handsy and doesn't seem to have gotten the message that Viv was finished with him. After finding a gravely injured man in Tommy's office and being attacked a couple of times herself, Viv has a lot of incentive to solve the crime especially as Detective Jake Lawson seems to want to pin it all on her boss Tommy.
The story was filled with 1950s slang, fashion, and mores. It was an engaging and entertaining mystery with a great setting and wonderful characters. Viviana Valentine is one smart cookie, and I look forward to reading more of her adventures.
April 1, 2022
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book, there were many things I enjoyed, however I felt like the book did fall flat in other parts.
What I liked: Viviana’s personality and the supporting characters really made the book! I loved her as the protagonist and her relationship with a wide range of people throughout the book. The reveal at the end was also surprising and an interesting way to end the mystery.
What I didn’t like: The pacing of the book in the beginning was slow in my opinion and there were many parts that were dragged on that I didn’t care for. This made the first 50% of the book extremely slow and it was as if the focus of the story just shifted. There were times where I also felt the book went off track and although I do understand that it was needed at the end, getting through those parts required putting down the book and coming back a bit later because I was uninterested in the way it was portrayed.
What I liked: Viviana’s personality and the supporting characters really made the book! I loved her as the protagonist and her relationship with a wide range of people throughout the book. The reveal at the end was also surprising and an interesting way to end the mystery.
What I didn’t like: The pacing of the book in the beginning was slow in my opinion and there were many parts that were dragged on that I didn’t care for. This made the first 50% of the book extremely slow and it was as if the focus of the story just shifted. There were times where I also felt the book went off track and although I do understand that it was needed at the end, getting through those parts required putting down the book and coming back a bit later because I was uninterested in the way it was portrayed.
November 1, 2022
TITLE: Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man
SERIES: A Girl Friday Mystery
AUTHOR: Emily Edwards
PUB DATE: 11.8.2022 Now Available
I enjoy reading period piece mysteries like this, and also, just check out this gorgeous cover. Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man by Emily Edwards is a great start for the Girl Friday mystery series - with a great protagonist, a motley crew of characters, and an immersive writing capturing NYC in the 1950’s, this made for an enjoyable read. I thought the writing was engaging and entertaining, the pacing just perfectly set, with a nice twist, makes me eager to read the next episode coming in the spring 2023.
Pick this up for a proper and witty old fashioned mystery that is enjoyable and entertaining!
SERIES: A Girl Friday Mystery
AUTHOR: Emily Edwards
PUB DATE: 11.8.2022 Now Available
I enjoy reading period piece mysteries like this, and also, just check out this gorgeous cover. Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man by Emily Edwards is a great start for the Girl Friday mystery series - with a great protagonist, a motley crew of characters, and an immersive writing capturing NYC in the 1950’s, this made for an enjoyable read. I thought the writing was engaging and entertaining, the pacing just perfectly set, with a nice twist, makes me eager to read the next episode coming in the spring 2023.
Pick this up for a proper and witty old fashioned mystery that is enjoyable and entertaining!
February 16, 2023
I tried the first couple of chapters and wasn't in the mood for it. Though it was good, I'm just not in a mystery sort of mood. I'll come back to this later. Temporary dnf.
November 4, 2022
4.25*/5 Viviana Valentine is the Girl Friday for one of New York's greatest private investigators, Tommy Fortuna. When Tommy takes on a wealthy client who wants Tommy to find out why his daughter refuses to marry his business partner, it seems like a straightforward case. But when Tommy goes missing and a body is found in his office, Viviana has to step in to clear Tommy's name and solve the case, too.
I really enjoyed this book! Viviana is such a fun character and I appreciated how smart, funny, and capable she was throughout the story. I also loved that Viviana had such a strong support system and was considered a qualified investigator by her peers despite being a woman. The 1950s slang/references, funny quips from the characters, and twists throughout helped to make this a really strong start to the Girl Friday series.
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me an advanced readers copy of this book!
I really enjoyed this book! Viviana is such a fun character and I appreciated how smart, funny, and capable she was throughout the story. I also loved that Viviana had such a strong support system and was considered a qualified investigator by her peers despite being a woman. The 1950s slang/references, funny quips from the characters, and twists throughout helped to make this a really strong start to the Girl Friday series.
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me an advanced readers copy of this book!
November 13, 2022
The series revolves around an unlikely sleuth who steps in to help her PI boss when she disappears while working on a case. It's a beautiful novel with a strong female protagonist—Viviana Valentine—who overcomes sexism in the 1950s and a great supporting cast, from the subject to the setting in New York. Solid, compelling mysteries; satisfying resolutions. The novel's playful use of language, slang, and historical details added to the overall experience. Just one bit of dialogue provides suspense to the plot while revealing the character and the times with complete dexterity.
November 7, 2022
1950s comes to life in this debut novel, the first in A Girl Friday Mystery series. Viviana is the secretary for PI Tommy Fortuna. But when Tommy mysteriously disappears, Viviana must solve two mysteries: who is the unconscious man found in her boss’ office, and why does a wealthy businessman want Tommy and Viv to follow his socialite daughter.
This was a fun book reminiscent of an old black & white detective movie. Viviana is a spunky, streetwise young woman out to make her mark on the world rather than settling for status quo. She is aided by a handsome young detective and a delightful cast of quirky young women who all reside at a boarding house in Chelsea.
While not intensely suspenseful, the characters are likable and the story moves along at a good pace. It’s the perfect cozy read to curl up with this fall.
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours & Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy of this book.
This was a fun book reminiscent of an old black & white detective movie. Viviana is a spunky, streetwise young woman out to make her mark on the world rather than settling for status quo. She is aided by a handsome young detective and a delightful cast of quirky young women who all reside at a boarding house in Chelsea.
While not intensely suspenseful, the characters are likable and the story moves along at a good pace. It’s the perfect cozy read to curl up with this fall.
Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours & Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy of this book.
November 13, 2022
This was a fun escape into 1950s New York. I love a detective story, and this was a great read to cozy up with on a sleepy Saturday.
Edwards paints a vivid setting, full of frothy frocks, dashing gents and fab parties. The boarding house matched the stories my grandmother told of her early 20s, and I was charmed by Viv and her world.
I hadn't *quite* worked out all of the details in this who-and-why-dunnit by the end. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Edwards paints a vivid setting, full of frothy frocks, dashing gents and fab parties. The boarding house matched the stories my grandmother told of her early 20s, and I was charmed by Viv and her world.
I hadn't *quite* worked out all of the details in this who-and-why-dunnit by the end. I look forward to the next book in the series.
July 8, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
Viviana Valentine works for the city's top P.I. Tommy Fortuna as his Girl Friday. His current case is to tail young socialite, Tallulah Blackstone, for her father to see why she hasn't accepted the marriage proposal from his business partner who just happens to be 40 years older than she is. This should be an easy case. Both Viviana and Tommy are at a party where Tallulah makes an appearance. But the next day Tommy fails to show up at the office and Viviana finds an unconscious man in his office.
When the cops arrive they quickly pin Tommy to the top of the suspect list and Detective Jake Lawson issues a warrant for Tommy’s arrest. With no idea where her boss is Viviana knows she needs to find Tommy but Tallmadge Blackstone wants answers. Detective Lawson is on her tail as well thinking she will lead him to Tommy. So Viviana makes friends with Tallulah at the same time she is working to get a lead on Tommy. When she starts uncovering some dirty deals her life is on the line. Can she keep herself safe and bring Tommy home or will she die trying?
_______
Ms. Edwards catches the 1950s perfect with slang, idioms, fashion, the heat of the city, and all the situations the characters get involved in. It was like watching an old black-and-white movie.
The characters really came to life off the pages. Viviana Valentine is one smart cookie with a determination to find the truth and her boss. I really enjoyed the way she became friends with Tallulah Blackstone. All the girls at the boarding house are friends too. They all cared about each other and worked together to help Viviana. Tommy may be her boss but there is more there too. The author has introduced a nice cast of core characters with a real friendship theme and they developed so nicely over the course of the story.
The mystery was filled with secrets and lies. I enjoyed following along with Viviana and she worked through the clues but took time to have a little bit of fun too. She really took on the life of a private investigator searching out alternate suspects with the right motive. It really was a complicated mystery with a lot of moving parts. I loved when all the clues fell into place and Viviana called a meeting of all the interested parties to out the killer. Again just like an old gumshoe movie.
I appreciate the way the author tells a story and sets the scenes making her readers feel like they are in the middle of the action. Vivianna is a formidable woman an quite a sleuth with a lot on her plate but she doesn't ever give up.
Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man was a delightfully entertaining read with a strong female protagonist. Ms. Edwards' words easily allowed me to escape to 1950s New York and I can't wait to return soon. I have moved Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River up on my TBR stack so I will be ready when Viviana Valentine and the Ticking Clock comes out in November.
Viviana Valentine works for the city's top P.I. Tommy Fortuna as his Girl Friday. His current case is to tail young socialite, Tallulah Blackstone, for her father to see why she hasn't accepted the marriage proposal from his business partner who just happens to be 40 years older than she is. This should be an easy case. Both Viviana and Tommy are at a party where Tallulah makes an appearance. But the next day Tommy fails to show up at the office and Viviana finds an unconscious man in his office.
When the cops arrive they quickly pin Tommy to the top of the suspect list and Detective Jake Lawson issues a warrant for Tommy’s arrest. With no idea where her boss is Viviana knows she needs to find Tommy but Tallmadge Blackstone wants answers. Detective Lawson is on her tail as well thinking she will lead him to Tommy. So Viviana makes friends with Tallulah at the same time she is working to get a lead on Tommy. When she starts uncovering some dirty deals her life is on the line. Can she keep herself safe and bring Tommy home or will she die trying?
_______
Ms. Edwards catches the 1950s perfect with slang, idioms, fashion, the heat of the city, and all the situations the characters get involved in. It was like watching an old black-and-white movie.
The characters really came to life off the pages. Viviana Valentine is one smart cookie with a determination to find the truth and her boss. I really enjoyed the way she became friends with Tallulah Blackstone. All the girls at the boarding house are friends too. They all cared about each other and worked together to help Viviana. Tommy may be her boss but there is more there too. The author has introduced a nice cast of core characters with a real friendship theme and they developed so nicely over the course of the story.
The mystery was filled with secrets and lies. I enjoyed following along with Viviana and she worked through the clues but took time to have a little bit of fun too. She really took on the life of a private investigator searching out alternate suspects with the right motive. It really was a complicated mystery with a lot of moving parts. I loved when all the clues fell into place and Viviana called a meeting of all the interested parties to out the killer. Again just like an old gumshoe movie.
I appreciate the way the author tells a story and sets the scenes making her readers feel like they are in the middle of the action. Vivianna is a formidable woman an quite a sleuth with a lot on her plate but she doesn't ever give up.
Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man was a delightfully entertaining read with a strong female protagonist. Ms. Edwards' words easily allowed me to escape to 1950s New York and I can't wait to return soon. I have moved Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River up on my TBR stack so I will be ready when Viviana Valentine and the Ticking Clock comes out in November.
November 27, 2023
Could read no further than page 60, because if I read one more "dame", "mug", or "toots"I believe I would have lost it. What I read was trite and almost comedic in its effort to read like a dime store murder mystery, a la Sam Spade.
September 10, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc copy of this book.
I absolutely loved the main character Viviana. From the get-go, she was sassy, powerful, and dynamic. I just thought she was great. I also really enjoyed her interactions with the other characters, and everything in this sense felt like it had a purpose.
The plot was slow to start, and I felt like I spent the first 50% of the book trying and waiting for things to pick up and get interesting. Once things began to pick up, I definitely enjoyed what I was reading more. But I don’t think how the plot played out can make up for the slow start.
The thing that made me not enjoy this book was the writing. Too many things fell flat, even when the plot started to pick up, it never picked up enough to make me fall in love with the story. The pacing was awkward, and I don’t know how to describe it, but it just felt off the entire time. Also, the dialogue didn’t always flow right, and there were sometimes weird pauses in conversations or trains of thought.
Overall while I found the main character interesting, the slow plot and weird pacing really prevented me from thoroughly enjoying this book.
I absolutely loved the main character Viviana. From the get-go, she was sassy, powerful, and dynamic. I just thought she was great. I also really enjoyed her interactions with the other characters, and everything in this sense felt like it had a purpose.
The plot was slow to start, and I felt like I spent the first 50% of the book trying and waiting for things to pick up and get interesting. Once things began to pick up, I definitely enjoyed what I was reading more. But I don’t think how the plot played out can make up for the slow start.
The thing that made me not enjoy this book was the writing. Too many things fell flat, even when the plot started to pick up, it never picked up enough to make me fall in love with the story. The pacing was awkward, and I don’t know how to describe it, but it just felt off the entire time. Also, the dialogue didn’t always flow right, and there were sometimes weird pauses in conversations or trains of thought.
Overall while I found the main character interesting, the slow plot and weird pacing really prevented me from thoroughly enjoying this book.
November 5, 2022
I loved this book so much! Edwards is amazing at making a fun mystery, weaving in so many characters and so many storylines to make a fun novel. I loved that there were layers of guessing, that I could guess some of the mystery, but never all of it. The plotting was perfection, and had enough red herrings to make everything feel new and fresh. I honestly can't wait to read the next ones.
That leads to the characters. Viviana is such a treat! She is so fun to learn about and I loved the way she could take everything in stride in such a realistic way. I loved the characters Edwards built and how each person felt fleshed out and interesting. I also very much enjoyed all the historical context in this novel. We learn so much about the food and fashion of the 1950s. It's a great time and a perfect novel for a fun mystery.
That leads to the characters. Viviana is such a treat! She is so fun to learn about and I loved the way she could take everything in stride in such a realistic way. I loved the characters Edwards built and how each person felt fleshed out and interesting. I also very much enjoyed all the historical context in this novel. We learn so much about the food and fashion of the 1950s. It's a great time and a perfect novel for a fun mystery.
March 17, 2022
This clever, highly enjoyable debut is a love letter to the old-school private eye, starring a street-smart secretary who finds herself suddenly tasked with solving the cases of New York's rich and famous. With a stellar cast of supporting characters and a 1950s setting that drips with life, Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man unfolds a fun, twisty mystery before sticking the landing for a satisfying final reveal. This firecracker of a series opener will leave readers ready for more Viv! Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy.
February 13, 2024
Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man is a fast-paced PI mystery where a plucky secretary contends with an investigation on her own. Viviana discovers a man injured and unresponsive in their office after her boss disappears on a job. At first, she sticks to her normal duties, preparing things for Tommy's return. But when the cops suspect him of committing the crime and a wealthy client summons Viviana for an update on their latest case, she can't help but step in and use all the skills she's picked up to investigate on her own.
I appreciated the way the book brings 1950 New York City to life, a time period I don't read enough about. From the lingo to the details of setting the scene, the author helps you picture our characters' realities. There are also nods to historical events that are current to our characters, though I felt these references lacked nuance or critical thought at times. For example, Viviana's client made his money in diamonds after inheriting money from cotton. And while she's critical of the wealth gap he exacerbates, we're not going to talk about race? Especially with those particular industries? Ok. Discussions about conflict in SE Asia say nothing about colonialism, instead keeping things vague about what a "mess" everything is. And who's fault is that exactly? There's also a touch of conversation about gay experiences at the time with reference to the lavender scare, but it feels a bit stilted like checking a box. One area that felt more natural was the author's embedded emphasis on New York's cultural and ethnic diversity as Viviana meets all kinds of people on her adventures.
I appreciate the book's lack of infodump, but sometimes a plot point or character lacked depth in important moments, presumably to keep things fast-paced. The plus side of the speed is that it keeps you from dwelling too much on any particular clue that could spoil the mystery. The lack of character depth was a particular disappointment for me as it concerns Viviana and the other girls in the boarding house where she resides. Their bonds are a bright spot in the book, and I would have liked to feel like I know them all a bit better and got to see more of their dimensions. The hinted future romance between Viviana and Tommy was less impressive, but at least it's not a major factor, what with Tommy galavanting off-page for most of the book.
This book is a fun period mystery with a vivacious setting and a fun heroine. What it lacks in depth it makes up for in fast pacing and a satisfying conclusion. I would continue the series just to see how things develop between Viviana and her fellow boarders/impromptu investigators. Thanks to Crooked Lane for my copy to read and review!
I appreciated the way the book brings 1950 New York City to life, a time period I don't read enough about. From the lingo to the details of setting the scene, the author helps you picture our characters' realities. There are also nods to historical events that are current to our characters, though I felt these references lacked nuance or critical thought at times. For example, Viviana's client made his money in diamonds after inheriting money from cotton. And while she's critical of the wealth gap he exacerbates, we're not going to talk about race? Especially with those particular industries? Ok. Discussions about conflict in SE Asia say nothing about colonialism, instead keeping things vague about what a "mess" everything is. And who's fault is that exactly? There's also a touch of conversation about gay experiences at the time with reference to the lavender scare, but it feels a bit stilted like checking a box. One area that felt more natural was the author's embedded emphasis on New York's cultural and ethnic diversity as Viviana meets all kinds of people on her adventures.
I appreciate the book's lack of infodump, but sometimes a plot point or character lacked depth in important moments, presumably to keep things fast-paced. The plus side of the speed is that it keeps you from dwelling too much on any particular clue that could spoil the mystery. The lack of character depth was a particular disappointment for me as it concerns Viviana and the other girls in the boarding house where she resides. Their bonds are a bright spot in the book, and I would have liked to feel like I know them all a bit better and got to see more of their dimensions. The hinted future romance between Viviana and Tommy was less impressive, but at least it's not a major factor, what with Tommy galavanting off-page for most of the book.
This book is a fun period mystery with a vivacious setting and a fun heroine. What it lacks in depth it makes up for in fast pacing and a satisfying conclusion. I would continue the series just to see how things develop between Viviana and her fellow boarders/impromptu investigators. Thanks to Crooked Lane for my copy to read and review!
December 31, 2023
3.5 Stars
*A solid start to a new historical mystery series inspired by the golden age of mysteries*
In New York City, 1950, Viviana Valentine works as a secretary to private investigator, Tommy Fortuna. But when her boss does missing and she finds a dead body in the office, Viviana feels she has no choice but to get to the bottom of the case.
Classic gumshoe-style mystery but didn't have that noir style or the fast-paced banter that I associate with it. Lots of period vernacular was thrown in though sometimes it felt like Edwards was trying a little too hard to set the time period. But the story did have a certain jazz to it even if it was no The Maltese Falcon.
But the plot kept me engaged, and the story had a memorable cast of characters. Hopefully some of the side characters get more development in the sequel, because they have potential.
While Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man wasn't anything groundbreaking, it did provide an entertaining escapade with a female lead full of gumption, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 4 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 2 Stars
*A solid start to a new historical mystery series inspired by the golden age of mysteries*
In New York City, 1950, Viviana Valentine works as a secretary to private investigator, Tommy Fortuna. But when her boss does missing and she finds a dead body in the office, Viviana feels she has no choice but to get to the bottom of the case.
Classic gumshoe-style mystery but didn't have that noir style or the fast-paced banter that I associate with it. Lots of period vernacular was thrown in though sometimes it felt like Edwards was trying a little too hard to set the time period. But the story did have a certain jazz to it even if it was no The Maltese Falcon.
But the plot kept me engaged, and the story had a memorable cast of characters. Hopefully some of the side characters get more development in the sequel, because they have potential.
While Viviana Valentine Gets Her Man wasn't anything groundbreaking, it did provide an entertaining escapade with a female lead full of gumption, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 4 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 2 Stars
January 25, 2025
"Viviana Valentine gets her man" is a fun private eye novel with a twist, the investigation is conducted by the detective's secretary. The main character is a street wise young lady who has plenty of spunk, never afraid to poke her nose into areas it doesn't belong. The characters are rather types rather than real people, but perhaps that was what the author intended. The P.I. (Tommy Fortuna) is apparently a good, if sloppy, detective but he disappears very early in the novel forcing Viviana to carry on alone. The police are not much help, even though they hang around a lot. Not to worry, Viviana solves the mystery and serves the bad guy to the police in a Poirot style reveal. I like mysteries,even ones that are lighthearted, but had a hard time with this novel. Viviana tells the story, and I grew tired of her snappy street wise comments. For me, a little of that goes a long way. The way Fortuna disappeared seemed rather odd, after all they did have long distance telephone calls in 1950. The police actions seemed unbelievable at times, especially when they handcuffed a millionaire on the word of a secretary who gave them no evidence. Oh well, it was still a nice story.
July 16, 2023
This was so much fun. Viviana was great, spunky and smart, and the cast of characters were all nicely fleshed out. The actual friendships between Viviana and Mrs. K's girls were fantastic; we need more female friendships in historical fiction! The mystery itself was fine, but I felt a little lost sometimes as it suddenly ran ahead with finding things out; but maybe that was just Viviana's personality running away from me. I was put off by the writing in 1950s noir-style at first but I quickly got used to it and even started loving it (I love it in the movies). The time period and setting felt authentic and immersive, and I can't wait to read the next book once I get through the rest of my borrowed novels.
December 22, 2022
Viviana Valentine might only be seen as a secretary to the people coming to her detective boss Tommy Fortuna for help and the various harassing cops who hope to collar Tommy for the body found in his office.
Despite the odds against her and the tight timeline, Viviana discovers who and what is really behind Tommy’s latest case (snooping on a local, wealthy industrialist’s daughter who refuses to marry a wealthy old man). Viviana crisscrosses the city, talking herself into and out of situations, getting attacked and persevering, and roping her friends in the women’s’ boarding house she lives in for insight, and a little breaking and entering when necessary.
I loved Viviana’ energy, smarts, moxie, fast-talking and good sense. She was a blast to spend time with, and I cannot wait to read about her next case.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Despite the odds against her and the tight timeline, Viviana discovers who and what is really behind Tommy’s latest case (snooping on a local, wealthy industrialist’s daughter who refuses to marry a wealthy old man). Viviana crisscrosses the city, talking herself into and out of situations, getting attacked and persevering, and roping her friends in the women’s’ boarding house she lives in for insight, and a little breaking and entering when necessary.
I loved Viviana’ energy, smarts, moxie, fast-talking and good sense. She was a blast to spend time with, and I cannot wait to read about her next case.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Read
March 27, 2024I DNF'd this at 56%. I am usually a huge fan of cozy mysteries but I just could not connect to these characters. I genuinely did not care about them and that is usually hard for me to do - I am easily attached to fictional characters. Also, while the author did a fantastic job researching the time period and adding the language to give the readers a truly immersive experience, I was not alive in the 1950s and therefore I was confused more often than not. It is less than 300 pages and it took me over a week to just get this far, which is very abnormal for my reading speed.
I am counting this as read because I read over 50% but I will not be rating it.
I am counting this as read because I read over 50% but I will not be rating it.
February 20, 2024
This is an excellent story that, although set in 1950, reads like a hard-boiled detective story of an earlier age. In this story, Viviana, who is an assistant to a private investigator, stumbles upon the body of a man in her boss's office, when the boss is out of town. The man turns out to be barely alive but is comatose and can provide no answers to who tried to kill him. There are lots of things going on that make the plot more complicated, such as a wealthy heiress who takes an interest in Viviana, who doesn't know whether to trust the heiress or not. This is a very satisfying mystery.
June 25, 2024
This is exactly the mystery I was looking for - and I'll make it 4.5 stars for the audiobook because the reader was fantastic. She blended all the '50s slang into a set of New York accents so strong they made me believe it. Dames abounded. I loved it.
More than anything I loved Viv's strong personality. She could tell me a story about her commute home from work or her Saturday errands and I'd listen. She's so smart and scrappy.
More than anything I loved Viv's strong personality. She could tell me a story about her commute home from work or her Saturday errands and I'd listen. She's so smart and scrappy.
February 9, 2024
Viviana is the secretary to a PI in New York in 1950. And 1950 was 73 years ago so I guess it's (gulp) "historical"? Anyway it's cute and moves right along but the book is not written at a high level. And a couple of minor points for the editor: Americans listen to the radio, not the wireless and cops raid cat houses, not can houses. 2 stars.
November 28, 2022
Revamp Sherlock, Agatha format in a witty parlance to fit in the time and location, works well!
The denouement serves the benefits of the heroine(s), but a twist on Alan makes me look forward to a sequel unfolding more between Tommy and Viv.
The denouement serves the benefits of the heroine(s), but a twist on Alan makes me look forward to a sequel unfolding more between Tommy and Viv.
April 21, 2023
Aggressively average.
June 18, 2024
This was fun! It was a neat take on a pulpy 1950s mystery, lots of great slang and moodsetting. And Viviana was a fabulous lead character - smart, strong and a real girl's girl.
July 26, 2024
Fun, quick read with sassy Viviana Valentine walking the shots. Good thing there’s another book in the series already!
November 7, 2022
I am always on the lookout for a new historical mystery series so this one was a must read for me. I wasn't disappointed. Set in 1950 New York City in Hell's Kitchen, we meet Viviana Valentine. She is the Girl Friday for a PI named Tommy Fortuna. Her job takes a sudden detour when she arrives at the office to find a body on the office floor and her boss missing. When the police want to track down Tommy and arrest him, Viv decides to turn gumshoe and not only take over the case he was working on but find him in the process. The case he was working on was for a wealthy man who wanted Tommy to follow his very young daughter and figure out why she refuses to marry his 57 year old business partner. Do the math, Dad.
Viv gets involved in more ways than she anticipated and it gets her assaulted and in the hospital. In true mystery/detective fashion there is more to this case than meets the eye. With Viv on the case the answers will be found.....but will Tommy, as well?
After enjoying this debut mystery I'm ready to read the next in the series, Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River (5/2/2023). My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Viv gets involved in more ways than she anticipated and it gets her assaulted and in the hospital. In true mystery/detective fashion there is more to this case than meets the eye. With Viv on the case the answers will be found.....but will Tommy, as well?
After enjoying this debut mystery I'm ready to read the next in the series, Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River (5/2/2023). My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
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