Murder at the Flamingo (A Van Buren and De Luca Mystery)

Murder at the Flamingo (A Van Buren and DeLuca Mystery by Rachel McMillan 485 pages

 

I love the cover of this book; it is what enticed me to read it. Set in 1937 in Boston, author McMillian paints a vivid picture of what Boston mut have been like, If only we could time travel!

 

Hamish DeLuca, originally from Toronto, has made his way to Boston to work with his cousin, Luca Valari, in the opening of the nightclub, the Flamingo. I can’t help it, when I hear flamingo used with a nightclub, I think Las Vegas, not Boston, so that was a stumbling block for me throughout the entire book.

 

Hamish was top in his class at law school and, thanks to his father, was set on a brilliant career path. Unfortunately, Hamish suffers from crippling anxiety and can barely make it through the trials he has been assigned. When he learns that his father got him the job as a “favor,” he heads to Boston to visit his favorite cousin. Luca takes him on as Hamish has a great head for business.

 

Meanwhile, Regina “Reggie” Van Buren has come to Boston to escape the humiliation of a marriage proposal she had no inclination of accepting. She also goes to work for Luca as his secretary and right-hand man, although she has no experience in either profession.

 

Hamish develops a love-interest in Reggie as the two learn to navigate a world where they are no longer rich and have servants to wait on them and Boston’s underbelly.

 

Reggie was my favorite character. She is a fan of the Nick & Nora/Thin Man detective series and is constantly referencing them.

 

The book gets off to a slow start and stays that way. There is too much detail. It’s more of a romance/cozy mystery, but I had to finish in order discover the murderer. This is a two-book series, but I won’t be reading the second volume.

Murder at the Flamingo (A Van Buren and DeLuca Mystery) gets 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

Fool Moon (Book 2) The Dresden Files

Fool Moon  (Book 2) The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher     432 pages

Like a juicy episode of True Blood, everybody is fighting everybody.    Who knew there were so many different types of Werewolves?   And not all werewolf packs play well together.   Matter of fact Harry is the focus of most of the packs wrath.    Gangsters, Alphas are all in the mish-mash mix of the feral kind and once the sun goes down LOOK OUT.   Some alien types are afoot and Harry is covered up in women wanting to take care of him when they aren't trying to kill him that is.   Good book.   In the genre of Charlaine Harris who's Sookie Stackhouse series I miss desperately, this book feeds that need.    If you  are a fan of the macabre, the fanciful and aren't turned off by the occasional half-eaten body, this book is for you.   I highly recommend the series.   On to the third volume.

The Fame Thief

The Fame Thief by Timothy Hallinan  (Book 3 in the Junior Bender series)   352 pages

Is every book now part of a series?   I am beginning to think so.   I get it - get your reader hooked on the characters they love and they will return.   O.K. Timothy Hallinan, you've got me.   I really like your characters so I will be looking up the other books in your series.   From old hollywood with a delicious mix of truth, fiction and paranormal activity this story is captivating.   Readers will enjoy the story, the trip through old hollywood and so many true names of actors, actresses, and gangsters that actually are telling hollywood tattles that are now known facts to be true.  Some of the characters the author tells us were based on real people just fictionalized enough to likely keep from getting sued for defamation of character.  The stories are juicy, the characters spicy and it is an excellent blend of just a little of this and a touch of that the reader in my opinion will love it.   I think middle school to octogenarians will enjoy time tripping to when we were young and the world was innocent or so we thought.  Man were we naive!   Great story.   Gangsters, Ghosts and Greta Garbo, Junior Bender you are a marvel!   Very fun read.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Handsome Johnny: The LIfe and Death of Johnny Rosselli: Gentleman Gangster, Hollywood Producer, CIA Assassin

Handsome Johnny:The Life and Death of Johnny Rosselli: Gentleman Gangster,  Hollywood Producer, CIA Assassin by Lee Server      544 pages

If you are a fan of gangster biographies, you will not be disappointed.  This true story of the life of Handsome Johnny Rosselli tells the stories, names names - JFK, Sinatra, Joe Kennedy, Sr., mobsters all across the United States and goings on behind the scenes in other countries as well.   The author reveals how Rosselli was recruited by the CIA to assassinate Castro.    So many things come out and no one is shielded behind a veil, Lee Server puts it all out for everybody to see and read.   This book is historical, and action packed as well as biographical.    I enjoyed it from beginning to end.   It is like watching Good Fellas, Casino, the Godfather, every epic gangster/mob film you have ever experienced only with words painting the images in your mind.   Great book.    Fascinating Sopranos like view into the inner dealings behind what life as a made man is like.   I highly recommend this book to anyone with interest into the workings of the likes of John Gotti types.    Fascinating stuff here.  And many reveals!