The Roaring Twenties are in full swing as socialite Julia Kydd parties with Fitzgerald and Dreiser. Here, Julia meets Eva Pruitt, a nightclub singer and a soon-to-be published author. The two women instantly strike up a friendship, and Julia soon learns that Eva is actually a light-skinned African American woman. Through her burgeoning friendship with Eva, Julia's eyes slowly open to her own privilege and the struggles that Eva and other black people face. Eva is hoping that the book money will allow her and her partner to escape to Paris. This plan is dashed when the owner of the nightclub is killed and Eva is the prime suspect. Using her societal connections, Julia vows to clear Eva's name and find the real killer VERDICT As in the first book in this series (Relative Fortunes), Benn has clearly done her research into the time period. Unfortunately, in both books, the research is clumsily inserted into the story, which slows down the narrative's pace. Still, readers who liked the first book and enjoy mysteries set in the 1920s will enjoy the return of the spirited and independent Julia and hope for her appearance in a third book.� Lynnanne Pearson, Skokie P.L., IL
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