Scan barcode
katreader's review
5.0
THE GOLD PAWN by L.A. Chandlar
The Second Art Deco Mystery
It's 1936 and Mayor Fiorello La Guardia keeps his personal assistant, Lane Sanders, hopping. If he's not off chasing fires, he's adding fuel to the fires he makes with Tammany Hall and other enemies. His current concern though is a missing high powered banker and personal friend. In hopes of uncovering some secrets that may help the problems in New York, Lane decides it's time to travel to her childhood home in Michigan. But it's more than a missing banker and the resurgence of the Red Scroll Network; Lane is about to face her most dangerous enemy yet...her own inner demons.
The second Art Deco Mystery is filled with fantastic period details, from the clothing and the cars, to the cocktails (I want a Hilty Dilty) and more! This incredible research infuses the book with such an authentic atmosphere that as I read I felt as if I was actually in 1936. Despite all the fine trimmings, the heart of the book looks at darkness. Darkness, not only in the bad guys, but in the good ones as well.
THE GOLD PAWN is a gripping novel that had me glued to the pages whilst at the edge of my seat. It is an emotional rollercoaster filled with plenty of action, treachery, romance, and love. Lots of multilayered characters exist here, obvious villains, bad guys who may have some good, good people with foibles, and loved ones with secrets.Who will Lane trust? And ultimately, can she trust herself?
I absolutely loved this riveting book. There are plenty of laughs, but plenty of shocked gasps as well. THE GOLDEN PAWN is a fine mystery that probes much deeper into the human psyche, even as it entertains.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
The Second Art Deco Mystery
It's 1936 and Mayor Fiorello La Guardia keeps his personal assistant, Lane Sanders, hopping. If he's not off chasing fires, he's adding fuel to the fires he makes with Tammany Hall and other enemies. His current concern though is a missing high powered banker and personal friend. In hopes of uncovering some secrets that may help the problems in New York, Lane decides it's time to travel to her childhood home in Michigan. But it's more than a missing banker and the resurgence of the Red Scroll Network; Lane is about to face her most dangerous enemy yet...her own inner demons.
The second Art Deco Mystery is filled with fantastic period details, from the clothing and the cars, to the cocktails (I want a Hilty Dilty) and more! This incredible research infuses the book with such an authentic atmosphere that as I read I felt as if I was actually in 1936. Despite all the fine trimmings, the heart of the book looks at darkness. Darkness, not only in the bad guys, but in the good ones as well.
THE GOLD PAWN is a gripping novel that had me glued to the pages whilst at the edge of my seat. It is an emotional rollercoaster filled with plenty of action, treachery, romance, and love. Lots of multilayered characters exist here, obvious villains, bad guys who may have some good, good people with foibles, and loved ones with secrets.Who will Lane trust? And ultimately, can she trust herself?
I absolutely loved this riveting book. There are plenty of laughs, but plenty of shocked gasps as well. THE GOLDEN PAWN is a fine mystery that probes much deeper into the human psyche, even as it entertains.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
jenniferawilck's review
5.0
Fantastic book! This is the second in the series and it's amazing. You do need to read the first one--The Silver Gun--first, but it's a mystery series, so that's expected. The author paints a beautiful picture of NYC in the 1930s. Her characters leap off the page and I want to be friends with all of them! There's just enough history to be authentic, and plenty of creativity to keep you entertained. Seriously, go buy this book and read it ASAP!
_bookdreamer's review
4.0
I really really enjoyed this book. I find that with some historical fiction books the dialogue throws me off but this wasn't the case for this book. I actually really liked the characters! The story was amazing and the setting described so well. Thank you so much Kensington for the free book! I would definitely recommend this to anyone!
krisrid's review
4.0
I enjoyed book 2 of this series almost as much as book 1.
This series has a number of things making it a great read for me:
First off I love strong female characters, and Lane is most certainly strong. She's also resourceful, resilient, brave and just a bit reckless. All of which makes her a super-fun character to go on adventures with. And go on adventures we certainly do in book 2!!
This story continues the plot from book one, with more danger, intrigues and scheming on the part of the villains from the first book.
We also get to learn more about Lane's childhood in Michigan, and that is an aspect of this book and the first book, that was a particular draw for me. I grew up in Windsor Ontario, which is just across a river from Detroit, and my Mother was born and raised there, so many of the people, places and things - notably the Sanders candy company - that are mentioned when Lane goes back to Michigan are very familiar to me, and I loved the opportunity to revisit them through Lane's trip there to exorcise some of her familial demons.
We also get plenty of early 1900's New York history here, as Land is the [fictional] assistant to famous [real] New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, and New York as a setting, in almost any era always makes for a good read.
This book has gangsters and urchins, politital wrangling and long buried secrets. It also has an exciting, fast-paced story, and incredibly likable characters who are fun to get to know. I loved this and highly recommend it for readers of historical fiction. Do read the first book [The Silver Gun] first though, you need to, to understand what's happening in book 2.
This series has a number of things making it a great read for me:
First off I love strong female characters, and Lane is most certainly strong. She's also resourceful, resilient, brave and just a bit reckless. All of which makes her a super-fun character to go on adventures with. And go on adventures we certainly do in book 2!!
This story continues the plot from book one, with more danger, intrigues and scheming on the part of the villains from the first book.
We also get to learn more about Lane's childhood in Michigan, and that is an aspect of this book and the first book, that was a particular draw for me. I grew up in Windsor Ontario, which is just across a river from Detroit, and my Mother was born and raised there, so many of the people, places and things - notably the Sanders candy company - that are mentioned when Lane goes back to Michigan are very familiar to me, and I loved the opportunity to revisit them through Lane's trip there to exorcise some of her familial demons.
We also get plenty of early 1900's New York history here, as Land is the [fictional] assistant to famous [real] New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, and New York as a setting, in almost any era always makes for a good read.
This book has gangsters and urchins, politital wrangling and long buried secrets. It also has an exciting, fast-paced story, and incredibly likable characters who are fun to get to know. I loved this and highly recommend it for readers of historical fiction. Do read the first book [The Silver Gun] first though, you need to, to understand what's happening in book 2.
dianem18's review against another edition
4.0
This series is engaging and well written and I love the characters but the books are very long (13 hours on audio) so although I enjoyed it, I think this will be my last for now, maybe I’ll finish the third another time
More...