Review by Booklist Review
In a sharp departure from her Victorian social histories, Flanders applies what she learned about the development of the mystery genre in the Victorian era to a smart, action-packed thriller set in modern-day London. Fortysomething Samantha Clair Sam, to most is an editor at a publishing house. At work, she faces the dual challenges of having to reposition a subpar novel turned in by her best-selling novelist while shepherding the tell-all biography of a deceased Spanish designer from fashion journalist Kit Lovell through the libel lawyers before publication. She does not expect, however, to have her apartment burgled or to be questioned by Inspector Jacob Field, CID, after a messenger is killed in a hit-and-run. When Kit disappears, Field and Sam's mother, Helena, a chic dynamo of a barrister, join forces with Sam to find Kit and determine who is trying to sabotage her book. Flanders has applied skillful writing to her knowledge of the London publishing scene, serving up an enjoyable, intricate page-turner.--Muller, Karen Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The good news is that Flanders's humorous debut thriller about the perils of a British book editor is filled with wit and snarky comments, along with shrewd insight into London's apparently cutthroat publishing scene. The not-so-good news is that reader Duerden has a singsongy manner of speech that eventually detracts from the cleverness of the writing. Otherwise, her delivery-British, breathy, confidential-is a proper, pleasant enough match for Samantha "Sam" Clair, the self-effacing book editor who is the novel's often-imperiled protagonist and narrator. And Duerden suitably adapts her voice to fit Sam's glam, glib, razor-sharp corporate attorney mum; her eager and efficient goth assistant; an elderly, gentlemanly upstairs neighbor; and the blasé, slightly short-tempered Insp. Jake Field, who, in the course of searching for an author of Sam's who's gone missing, becomes her love interest. A Minotaur hardcover. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Even in the insular world of book publishing, murder has its place. British book editor Sam Clair has her routineshe gets up early to be in the office with her second cup of coffee before anyone else arrivesand she has her staple authors, those trusted to turn out best-sellers year after year. Kit Lovell, a feisty investigative writer deeply rooted in the fashion world, has just turned in one such manuscript, a book exposing the libelous inner workings of fashion giant Vernet, as well as evidence that the death of its head man, Rodrigo Alemn, was no accident. There are many people who would benefit from this never being published, and soon, a courier delivering the manuscript is dead. When Kit's apartment is broken into, followed by Sam's, it becomes clear that more than the manuscript's future is at stake, especially when Kit misses an important work lunch. Sam won't stand for her best author and good friend being kidnappedor worseand she steps in to investigate. Flanders creates a layered mystery in which fingers can be pointed in a variety of directions, from seedy lawyers to Alemn's own brother. Helping Sam are her spitfire mother, Helena, her sweet but isolated upstairs neighbor, Mr. Rudiger, and Detective Jake Field, with whom she ultimately starts a relationship (though their building attraction is curiously never shown). With so much to wrap up, especially as Kit's troubles are found to extend beyond his controversial reporting, the end result feels cluttered; in the rush to the finish line, delightful secondary characters get lost in the mix. The first novel by historian Flanders (The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens' London, 2014, etc.), though a bit frazzled, is full of charm and characters worth visiting again. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
