ARC Review: “Grace in the Wings” (Grace Michelle Mystery #1) by Kari Bovee

“Grace in the Wings” (Grace Michelle Mystery #1) by Kari Bovee

Publishing Date: September 19, 2019

Genre; Historical Fiction, Mystery

Page Length: 256 pages (paperback edition)

Synopsis:

New York City, 1920. Grace Michelle has everything she wants: a home, a family, and a future career as a costume designer for famed showman Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.’s Ziegfeld Follies. Pretty good for a girl who once lived on the streets of New York City. But when her sister, Sophia, the star of the show, is murdered, Grace’s safe and protected life is shattered.

Battle-scarred by the war and emotionally scarred by his past, Chet Riker has made it a practice to keep his distance from others; love, after all, leads only to pain. But Chet has a problem–a big one: he’s become indebted to mob-boss Joe Marciano in an attempt to save his estranged mother’s life, and Marciano wants him to pay up or else. Desperate to get the money, he contacts former client Florenz Ziegfeld for work.

Soon, Chet finds himself playing bodyguard for introverted Grace, who has reluctantly agreed to be Ziegfeld’s new leading lady–on the condition that Ziegfeld promises to find Sophia’s killer. Upon meeting Grace, Chet quickly finds his hardened theory that love equals pain tested. Grace, meanwhile, is swept up in a life she never wanted as the Follies’ star, and as the pawn in a series of publicity stunts during a transcontinental train trip to California that puts her life at risk. Who would want her and Sophia dead? Together, she and Chet must confront publicity-hungry Florenz Ziegfeld, power-driven Joe Marciano, and their own pasts to find Sophia’s killer–and let themselves love once again. (description from Goodreads)

Review:

Set in the 1920s, the story follows Grace Michelle who is an aspiring costume designer and theyounger sister of access Sophia Michelle. Though the two sisters are very close, they couldn’t be more different. Sophia loves the spotlight and being the center of attention while Grace prefers to stay in the background.

When Grace’s sister dies, she is heartbroken and her world is flipped upside down. She is determined to get to bottom of her sister’s murder, but is shocked upon learning that her sister is not who she is seemed to be. On top of that, even though Ziegfeld acts as a father figure to her forces her into a life she doesn’t want as she is supposed to head his next big show. She feels conflicted about everything and wants to live life by her own rules.

Chet is Grace’s personal bodyguard and love interest in this novel. Though he is an intimidating man he also has a lot of wit, charm, and tenacity in his job as a PI. He is trying to moved towards a better life for himself and get away from the world of underground dealings. Grace and Chet come from two different worlds, but they are instantly drawn to each other’s spirit.

I was immediately drawn to the glitz and glamour of showbiz, but also the suspense and mystery in this novel. While this is a murder mystery, I did feel it was a bit lighter than similar novels that I read recently. However, the story become much darker towards the latter part of the book as readers get closer to the truth.

It was engrossing and enthralling. Reading this novel reminded me of watching Miss Fisher’s Murder Mystery episode due to the immersive reading experience. It’s very detailed down to each point and you can almost picture the Ziegfeld Theatre before your very eyes.

I admired Grace’s determination to get to the bottom of the mystery. So many people she thinks she can that are actually deceiving her. While this book highlights what it’s like to be in the spotlight it also showcases its darker side; greed, scandals, and the lengths people will go to be famous.

Any one who enjoys a god historical fiction mystery, will enjoy this book!

Final Verdict: