by Sandra Murhpy
Details on how to win a copy of this book at the end of the review and links to purchase it.
In 1908, Los Angeles was booming. Jail cells were often overflowing with lawbreakers and homeless people looking for a place to sleep. Budgets didn’t stretch to food for all or even sanitary conditions. Before her disgrace, heiress Anna Blanc didn’t know about such things. Then she got involved in rescuing girls of ill repute, her engagement was broken, and her father disowned her. She’s now a Matron with the Los Angeles Police Department, in charge of “reforming delinquent juveniles and minding lady jailbirds.” Her duties include making sure they are fed, laundry is done, they’re sewing bedding for the inmates, and minding the sick.
➡ switch to KingsRiverLife.com for more articles ⬅
Considering she’s never done such work before, it’s a challenge. In addition, she’s fallen in love with police detective Joe Singer. It’s against the rules to be involved with him so sneaking away becomes part of her days. One such escape to the park for a bit of romance led to circumstances that will change her life.
Image Source Seventh Street Books |
Just as things are getting interesting with Joe, Anna spies a body. A young man has been shot and killed, a suicide at first glance. Anna says it was murder. She’s barred from working cases although Joe and another detective let her help as long as the top brass doesn’t find out. Anna’s able to follow leads to a hotel for working women—nurses, secretaries, and such. She believes it’s a front for nefarious crimes and sets out to prove it.
At the police station, floral arrangements begin to arrive. What is a bunch of pretty flowers is really a message, using each flower’s meaning to let Anna know, someone cares. Joe is quite jealous. Those flower arrangements focus Anna’s attention on more wrongdoing, this time closer to home.
When Joe seemingly chooses the job over Anna’s love as well as her judgement, she sets out to prove him wrong, even if it costs her his love. In typical Anna style, her investigation involves going undercover, a train trip, a crazy woman, a mule, a Gila monster, and disowning her father.
Anna is a delight with her intuition, attention to detail, and ability to avoid the hands-on work required for her job. She has a good heart, and is not above using her looks and her father’s wealth to get what she wants. Her attitude and lack of knowledge about sex adds a lot of humor.
This is the third book in the series, the first I’ve read, although now I plan on reading the first two. I had no problem following Anna’s story so readers can feel free to start here. The contrast between the haves and the have-nots is abundantly clear as Anna tries to live in both worlds. Highly entertaining and highly recommended.
To enter to win a copy of The Body in Griffith Park, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "griffith,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen September 21, 2019. US residents only. If entering via comment please include your email address. And if entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.
Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! This book will be featured in a podcast next year.
You can use these links to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:
Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She writes about eco-friendly topics, pets and wildlife for magazines and reviews mysteries and thrillers for KRL. A collection of her short stories, published by Untreed Reads, From Hay to Eternity: Ten Tales of Crime and Deception can be found at all the usual outlets. Each one is a little weird and all have a twist you won't see coming.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Sounds like an interesting historical fiction. Count me in!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance! JL_Minter(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteSounds like an excellent mystery. Thanks for the chance to win a copy! crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting series. I like to read about places I've heard of like Griffith Park. Thank you so much for this chance. pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThis is a new author to me. Would really like to read.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a terrific series, Thanks for your generosity. lindamay4852@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this Author. Sounds like I need to though...thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
We have a winner!
ReplyDelete