Review of "A Perilous Premiere: A Stone & Steele Mystery" by Gail Meath

 

This launch of the 'Stone and Steele'' mysteries, set in old Hollywood, has the discordant detective team working together for the first time.

*****

It's the mid-1930s, and fashion designer/boutique owner Vivian Steele.....



.....and her banker husband George Ramsay are strolling down Hollywood Boulevard, talking about their upcoming anniversary dinner. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes.



George steps into a drugstore for a pack of cigarettes, and is shot dead by a man in black.



The police don't catch the killer, and Vivian makes up her mind to avenge the crime herself. Six months later, Vivian thinks she knows who murdered her husband.



However, things aren't as they seem, and the truth involves corruption in the police department and the mayor's office.



After George's death, Vivian moves into the apartment above her boutique, where she lives with her little Boston terrier Bella.



Some of Vivian's friends are her boutique assistant Nora - who's learning the ropes of the fashion industry;



Vivian's neighbor Maria - who sometimes babysits Bella;



and actress Carole Lombard - who's outgoing, witty, and lots of fun.



Vivian agrees to go to Carole Lombard's garden party, despite the fact Carole invited Hollywood playboy Preston Stone. Vivian is angry at Preston for breaking her sister's heart, but Preston is popular in California circles, and Vivian can't avoid him.



Still, Vivian is surprised to see Preston again a few days later, at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Vivian is there to meet an anonymous woman who phoned her, claiming to have important information. In the lobby, Vivian sees Preston Stone, and they both appear to be headed for the same hotel room.



When Vivian and Preston get to the hotel room, they find a beautiful woman shot dead. There's also a photograph - taken some time ago - of the woman being cozy with Vivian's (now deceased) husband George. Vivian realizes George was an unfaithful sleazeball, and she wonders if this is connected to his murder.



As things play out, Vivian sees Preston AGAIN shortly afterwards. Vivian receives a ticket to a movie premiere at the Liberty Theatre, which she assumes is for 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' starring her acquaintance Olivia De Haviland.



When Vivian gets to the theatre though, the only other person there is Preston Stone. And the movie turns out to be a homemade short in which two characters who look like Vivian and Preston are killed.



By now Vivian and Preston realize someone is threatening them, and they'd better figure out who and why before they end up dead. The twosome agree to investigate together, and both Vivian and Preston 'have skills' and 'know people'. Thus it's pretty clear Vivian is more than a clothing designer and Preston is more than a playboy.



There's plenty of action and suspense in this cozy thriller, including speeding cars, gunplay, abductions, and chicanery of various kinds. Add in a surprise climax, and the book is lots of fun.



I enjoyed this entertaining mystery, which is chock full of Hollywood celebrities from the classical era. Additional characters include cops, politicians, thugs and a sweet 160-pound Saint Bernard called Boris, who likes to swim.



At the end of the book author Gail Meath explains she's a big fan of Carole Lombard, and includes a mini-biography of the actress. Meath also notes the police and mayoral corruption depicted in the novel are based on real events, and she gives examples.

I'm looking forward to further exploits of Stone and Steele

Thanks to Netgalley, Gail Meath, and BooksGoSocial for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars