It’s 1943. The war isn’t over, but in the US, they’re starting to see the possibility of victory in both Europe and Asia. Maggie is in Los Angeles at the request of her ex, John Sterling. John is in Hollywood working for Walt Disney helping to create war propaganda. Since his break with Maggie he’s become engaged, but tragically his fiance was found dead floating in the hotel pool where she was staying. John is convinced it was murder and he’s asked Maggie to investigate.
The setting in this the tenth book in the Maggie Hope series, is quite different from war-torn Europe. Everything is bright and sunny in California, but under the shiny exterior lurks the same evil Maggie faced in Europe. There’s glamour like Coconut Grove, but there’s also hatred and segregation, Nazis and the KKK. The author does an excellent showing the contrast between the surface and the darkness underneath.
I thought this was an excellent addition to the Maggie Hope story. Maggie is a terrific heroine. She’s brave, clever, and a caring person who wants to help her friends. I was delighted to see John back in Maggie’s life. I wasn’t happy when he took Disney’s offer to work in Hollywood. Sara is back also and working in the movies. A new character that added a great deal to the complexity of the story was Henri, a jazz musician.
If you’re a fan of Maggie Hope, this is a must read. If not, it’s a good time to get acquainted.
I received this book from Random House for this review.
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