Friday, April 22, 2022

Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood

 


Reviewed by Kristin

Willowjean “Will” Parker is no stranger to trouble, having spent the last few years traveling with a circus and evading the roughnecks who frequent such places. Will may be young, but she’s quick on her feet and handy with using knives and other weapons. For protection only, you understand. While she’s picking up a few extra bucks on guard duty at a New York City construction site one night, those skills prove to be exceptionally useful.

Lillian Pentecost is a bit of a rarity, a lady private investigator in the 1940s. She is brilliant and respected by most, even if the authorities sometimes wish she would just keep her nose out of their business. Ms. Pentecost is moving a little slower these days, and when she decides to take Will on as an apprentice, the situation certainly looks to be beneficial for them both.

Will narrates this tale from some point in the future, looking back at the adventures she and “Ms. P” had together. This particular case involves a well-to-do family, a psychic, a beautiful girl in a red dress, and a murder. Full of period atmosphere, the action flows along nicely as Will and Ms. Pentecost do their best to right wrongs and stand up for those in need.

As with most mysteries, I hesitate to give too much away—so I won’t. But I find this is a promising start to a series and I have the second book Murder Under Her Skin currently checked out on my library card. A third book, Secrets Typed in Blood, is promised by the end of 2022.

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