Review by Booklist Review
In this Prohibition-era mystery, Lola Woodby is looking forward to life as a rich widow after her cheating older husband, Alfie, conveniently dies. Then she learns that Alfie left her deeply in debt and that she is soon to be homeless. Swedish cook Berta joins her as they hide out in Alfie's New York City love nest. Handsome and charming PI Ralph Oliver seems to be investigating Lola and her family, while her in-laws are trying to take over her life. Desperate for cash, Lola takes a mysterious job trying to find a film reel in a friend's mansion, but the job proves difficult as the man who has the film disappears. Movie stars, gangsters, and other shifty types are no match for Lola and Berta as they struggle to get the film and make ends meet. Period details, including language and especially fashion, provide much of the appeal in this clever adventure, which will make a nice fit for fans of Australian flapper Phryne Fisher in Kerry Greenwood's popular series.--Alessio, Amy Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Chance ("Fairy Tale Fatal" series) here begins the "Discreet Retrieval Agency Mysteries," which promise to be rollicking good fun. Lola Woodby, a recently widowed society matron, suddenly finds herself penniless and embroiled in an enigma. If Lola and her trusty cook Berta can solve a crime and find a missing film reel they can finally have some financial independence-but then the man who has the reel is murdered. Full of twists and turns, witty dialog, and saucy characters, this puzzle will have readers laughing out loud and craving a highball. Narrator Suzy Jackson does a charming job as the ever-sassy Lola and has quite a convincing Swedish accent for Berta, the bumbling sidekick. VERDICT For fans of cozy mysteries, historical fiction, and the Roaring Twenties. ["This light and frothy historical...introduces a delightfully sweet protagonist": LJ 9/1/15 review of the Minotaur: St. Martin's hc.]-Erin Cataldi, Johnson Cty. P.L., Franklin, IN © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
