Review by Booklist Review
When Greta Gatsby finishes her studies at finishing school, she plans to spend the summer with her older brother, Jay, at his West Egg estate, hoping to get better acquainted with her only surviving family member. But Jay's usual crowd is in attendance and moments alone are fleeting. Best friend Nick Carraway is there, and his decorous flirtations are not unwelcome, but hanger-on Jordan Baker is always in the way. And then there are the Buchanans, Daisy and Tom, temporarily lodging with Jay while their mansion across the harbor is renovated. Even a home the size of Gatsby's can't contain the interpersonal tensions that are exacerbated by the arrival of Tom's brother Edgar, and the odd behavior of the household staff. When Tom is found dead on Jay's yacht, Greta stands back, quietly observing, gathering and then impulsively pursuing clues to disprove the official theory of suicide. With an ambitious premise for a debut novel, Wheeler revises Fitzgerald's classic with reassuring authenticity and refreshing zest to deliver a thoroughly satisfying, coy murder mystery. F. Scott would approve.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Anderson-Wheeler debuts with a tepid murder mystery featuring characters from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Greta Gatsby, Jay's naive 21-year-old sister, has come to stay at his Long Island estate in West Egg for the summer. As usual, the country house is filled to the brim with Jay's glamorous friends, including wealthy brothers Tom and Edgar Buchanan, and Tom's ethereal wife, Daisy. Greta is initially enchanted by the lavish parties and sumptuous fashion, but she gradually senses unease beneath the shiny surface. When Tom is found dead on Jay's boat, the police rule it a suicide, allowing Jay and his guests to return to their amusements; Greta, however, is horrified and decides to delve deeper into the matter. After an excursion to the seedy side of town, she concludes that Tom was murdered and sets out to nail the culprit. Anderson-Wheeler is too deep in thrall to her famous characters to cast them in a new light, and the mystery takes too long to heat up. This disappoints. Agent: Grainne Fox, UTA. (Apr.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Wheeler's reimagining of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel has a twist. Greta "Gigi" Gatsby, Jay Gatsby's 21-year-old younger sister, returns to Long Island from finishing school. The infamous Gatsby characters are all present: Nick Carraway, Jordan Baker, and Daisy and Tom Buchanan. The story diverts from the original narrative, however, when Tom dies, supposedly by suicide, the night of Greta's return, but the facts just do not seem to add up, especially since all agree that it is out of character for Tom to take his own life. An avid mystery reader, Greta begins to piece together clues that indicate foul play. Was Tom murdered because of jealousy or something more nefarious? Through her investigation, Greta broadens her understanding of not only herself but her friends, family, and the societal injustices she failed to recognize in her youth. Key themes explored are racism, classism, and feminism and how they shaped the early 1920s. VERDICT This novel pays homage to the classic with a fresh point of view that will please Gatsby fans and mystery readers. Both Gigi and the novel are clever and breathe new life into one of the definitive novels of the 20th century.--Linsey Milillo
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The Gatsby legacy is explored again. Anderson-Wheeler's fiction debut revisits Jay Gatsby's legendary West Egg estate but, this time, the emphasis is on a previously unheard-of member of the Gatsby family: Greta. Known as Gigi to her older brother, Greta has just returned to Jay's sprawling Long Island property after completing her education, which was designed to allow her to rise from the ranks of the nouveau riche and exist comfortably among the "Mayflower types" who look down on Jay's background. Many personalities from F. Scott Fitzgerald's cast of characters appear: Tom and Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker, and Nick Carraway assume their previous roles and appear to be enjoying Jay's hospitality--until a dead body is discovered on Jay's docked sailboat. Unsettled by the unclear circumstances of that death, Greta is also troubled by other events at the estate, most notably the unexplained departure of Flora, a maid with whom she had formed a bond. With her bobbed hair and a "bohemian" wardrobe that includes a daring set of trousers, Greta endeavors to figure out what is going on at West Egg. Confronted by the realities of class privilege, wealth, and race-based disparities, Greta becomes more aware that her life and education have not prepared her for the tumultuous social changes happening before her eyes. Anderson-Wheeler delivers an account of the changing role of women in the early 20th century under the guise of a mystery by examining the lives and motivations of Greta, Daisy, Jordan, and the female staff members at West Egg. Featuring much of the glamour and sparkle of Fitzgerald's original, this reprise of Gatsby's cautionary tale also revisits the distressing realities behind the glitz. A mystery with a message (and some great jewelry). Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
