A review by judithdcollins
The Beautiful Strangers by Camille Di Maio

5.0

Check out my Q&A Elevator Ride with Camille and learn the inspiration behind this fascinating novel and fun facts about the author!

One of my favorite authors, Camille Di Maio returns following The Way of Beauty with her latest "THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGERS".   Set in the legendary iconic Hotel Del Coronado in Southern California between the timeline of 1892 and 1958, the author masterfully blends fact and fiction.  

From the real-life Kate Morton (a resident ghost and a real woman whose body was found on the steps of the Hotel del Coronado 1892) to Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and the movie set of Some Like it Hot.  I Loved this book!  

Kate Morgan helps her family at their struggling restaurant.  Her granddad, George is suffering from Dementia. Times are tough and little time for big dreams. She and her grandfather share a love of movies.  

He has requested she sell her grandmother’s ring and travel to the San Diego hotel and find THE BEAUTIFUL STRANGER.  He wants her to get a job at the hotel and the movie set. He discloses no other information.  

With limited money and a family desperate for her assistance, she risks it all to follow her dream and her granddads.  Her family does not approve. However, things soon go south, and she is guilt-ridden from letting her family down.  However, she is desperately trying to honor her grandfather’s wishes.  She must earn enough to buy back the ring she left at the pawn shop. 

There is something from her granddad’s past, and she must find a way to connect the dots. At the same time, she meets someone on the ferry who helps guide her, and she befriends the enigma surrounding Marilyn Monroe and slowly unravels the secrets of the past. 

Switching back and forth, we meet another Kate Morgan who died at the hotel years ago.  Her death was not as it appeared.  She still lives at the hotel watching and waiting.  Searching.  How are these two women connected to her grandfather?

From a mysterious death, and a determined young girl with love for a better life and a promise to her granddad, she will stop at nothing until she has her answers.

A timeless classic with—history, intriguing setting, well-drawn characters, mystery, suspense, and romance, making this a Top Books of 2019!   It has it all!  Filled with humor and emotion, family and loyalty - Camille di Maio adds her own signature style to make this a "must-read" book for the spring and summer. (what a great beach read). 

What is not to LOVE?