The Blurb
New York City, 1936. In the midst of the Great Depression, the Big Apple is defiantly striving toward an era infused with art, architecture, and economic progress under the dynamic Mayor La Guardia. But those in City Hall know that tumultuous times can inspire both optimism and deadly danger…
It’s been six months since Lane Sanders was appointed Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia’s new personal aide, and the twenty-three-year-old is sprinting in her Mary Janes to match her boss’s pace. Despite dealing with vitriol from the Tammany Hall political machine and managing endless revitalization efforts, Fio hasn’t slowed down a bit during his years in office. And luckily for Lane, his unpredictable antics are a welcome distraction from the childhood memories that haunt her dreams — and the silver gun she’ll never forget.
When Lane gets attacked and threatened by an assailant tied to one of most notorious gangsters in the city, even the mayor can’t promise her safety. The corrupt city officials seem to be using Lane as a pawn against Fio for disgracing their party in the prior election. But why was the assailant wielding the exact same gun from her nightmares?
Balancing a clandestine love affair and a mounting list of suspects, Lane must figure out how the secrets of her past are connected to the city’s underground crime network — before someone pulls the trigger on the most explosive revenge plot in New York history…
It’s been six months since Lane Sanders was appointed Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia’s new personal aide, and the twenty-three-year-old is sprinting in her Mary Janes to match her boss’s pace. Despite dealing with vitriol from the Tammany Hall political machine and managing endless revitalization efforts, Fio hasn’t slowed down a bit during his years in office. And luckily for Lane, his unpredictable antics are a welcome distraction from the childhood memories that haunt her dreams — and the silver gun she’ll never forget.
When Lane gets attacked and threatened by an assailant tied to one of most notorious gangsters in the city, even the mayor can’t promise her safety. The corrupt city officials seem to be using Lane as a pawn against Fio for disgracing their party in the prior election. But why was the assailant wielding the exact same gun from her nightmares?
Balancing a clandestine love affair and a mounting list of suspects, Lane must figure out how the secrets of her past are connected to the city’s underground crime network — before someone pulls the trigger on the most explosive revenge plot in New York history…
The Silver Gun by L.A. Chandlar
Series: An Art Deco Mystery, #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: August 29, 2017
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1496713419
ISBN-13: 978-1496713414
File Size: 783 KB
ASIN: B01MQSAJO7
Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks | BookBub
Series: An Art Deco Mystery, #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: August 29, 2017
Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1496713419
ISBN-13: 978-1496713414
File Size: 783 KB
ASIN: B01MQSAJO7
Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Google Play | iBooks | BookBub
The Review
The setting of The Silver Gun is New York City, in 1936. Author L.A. Chandlar's love for her city and the Art Deco movement is readily apparent, and also her fondness for Mayor LaGuardia, one of the stars of this book.
Chandlar has incorporated some actual deeds, antics, and achievements of LaGuardia into her novel, which increased my interest and enjoyment of The Silver Gun. It's a very fun read that's almost impossible to put down.
The action is told in first person by Lane Sanders, the protagonist. I love Lane's voice, her personality, her spunk. Here are four mini-excerpts as examples.
"I've got a thought, Lane," said Aunt Evelyn, with her arms crossed and leaning on the table. "I was talking with Ellie last week, and she and I have come up with a couple of people we should take a look at."
"You briefly mentioned her last week. Which Ellie is this, Aunt Evelyn? Do I know her?" I asked.
Roarke dropped his spoon in a surprised clatter. "Eleanor?" he exclaimed. Mr. Kirkland chuckled. "Not… You mean the first lady? Eleanor Roosevelt?"
I whipped my head toward Aunt Evelyn. "What? All this time I thought Ellie was some little old lady from the art gallery meetings."
~~~
You know how all the women in movies try to go for the slap on the face of the man who just made them angry? And the guy always sees it coming, and he grabs her wrist before she can slap and then gets that maddening grin? I hate those scenes, one again proving that I see far too many movies.
Anyway, I stepped up and made a big show of drawing my left hand back for a mighty slap, and I could tell Weasel was going to react just like I expected and grab my wrist with pompous aplomb. But before he could, I quickly stepped with my left foot and drove with the power of my right shoulder and right fist as hard as I could into his unsuspecting stomach, resulting in a great big, "Oooof!"
It took everyone by surprise as he doubled over, giving Roarke and me a precious couple of seconds to scramble away.
~~~
He took my hand, and we walked out onto the dance floor. It was nice. We talked about his job, he asked me about mine. He made me laugh. I started to relax and found him interesting. I was finally enjoying myself.
As I was singing along to the song, I said, "This is a great song, Tucker." He smiled like he was hiding something. "What?" I asked, suspicious.
"Well…" He was really trying to hide a smile now.
I chuckled, knowing what he was going to say. "Spit it out."
"The song is 'The Way You Look Tonight.' " He started to crack up in earnest now.
"Aw, shoot. I always get it wrong."
"But Lane, you weren't even close. 'To wave a book in sight'?"
~~~
I'd only had the guts to wear trousers to work a few times, but thanks to Hollywood actresses Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn, who had been making trousers more acceptable, especially with professional women like myself, I had tried them out a few times. I got a few disgusted looks from people who clearly thought dresses and skirts were the only appropriate attire for ladies, but… my trousers saved the day. A dress would have encumbered my tackle.
There you have it. Four little glimpses into Lane's life. Are you intrigued? Amused? Ready to find out more? I hope so.
The Silver Gun has humor, excitement, mystery, danger, romance, lots of great characters, and more! Action-packed rescues (yes, more than one!), thrilling climaxes (yes, more than one!), and trumpet fanfares! I really like the twist at the very end. It's quite a teaser for the next book in the series. I am eagerly awaiting the release of The Gold Pawn, Book #2, in September. I can't wait to read it. I will definitely continue with the Art Deco Mysteries!
I highly recommend The Silver Gun, especially to those who live, work, or vacation in the Big Apple, and to cozy readers who like their mystery mixed with history. I think you'll really enjoy it. The Silver Gun has earned our highest rating of Five Kitties — it's amazing!
Five out of five kitties
Note: I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of The Silver Gun.
All opinions shared are 100% my own.
The Character Guest Post
I’m Valerie, Lane’s best friend. We share an office with the mayor of New York city, Fiorello LaGuardia. Lane and I love the fast pace of the city and our jobs. Women are really starting to get some better jobs in the work force in 1936! In fact, the first issue of the new Life magazine comes out in November and the cover photo is by a female photo journalist! The last fifteen years have been crazy exciting. You’ll never see a decade with more change than in the Twenties. Especially for us women. Just think of it, for literally centuries, women have been wearing long skirts and long hair. After we got the vote just sixteen years ago, our hemlines went up and so did our hair. In fact, in The Silver Gun I get to wear shorts when Lane and I go to Central Park for a picnic. It wasn’t that long ago that I’d have been arrested for such a “scandalous” display.
I like my author. Laurie gave me the thousands of little freckles that she actually has. She also gave me her favorite funny and embarrassing moment stories. She has a lot. And all of us characters occasionally snort when we laugh like she does. Laurie likes positive people but I also think she likes depth. That’s why I have something very intriguing coming up in the third book.
You see, I’m kind of a sunshine and roses person. But something no one knows about me, is that I’m hiding a few things about my family. And about myself. The sunshine and roses disguise some things that I hate — that I can’t get myself out of. Eventually I get tired and can’t hide it anymore. The great thing is, I get some help from my friends and one very unexpected source! It’s pretty darn exciting.
I really like Lane, our protagonist. She has some of the personality that I wish I had. But I do learn from her. I do show some grit in Silver Gun when I go marching into a very dangerous person’s office to find some answers to our mystery. I’m looking forward to a lot more. Lane usually gets the adventure scenes. For cryin' out loud, she and her sleuthing partner Roarke certainly get into a lot of scrapes. But I will get my own.
And ooh do I love our clothes and how we get to go dancing a lot! What an era. In fact, in book 2 coming out September 25th we all get to wear ball gowns to a very famous ball at the holidays. The guys look pretty darn yummy in their tuxes. My own dress is scrumptious, but no one knows how I come up with such a great dress. Lane ends up borrowing a dress from her artsy and eclectic aunt, Evelyn. But I have my own. The mystery of that remains to be seen.
I hope you come and join us in the adventurous romp through New York in The Art Deco Mystery series! The city life, the history we are all part of, the clothes, the art… it is a very special story. Come and be part of it. See you then!
You see, I’m kind of a sunshine and roses person. But something no one knows about me, is that I’m hiding a few things about my family. And about myself. The sunshine and roses disguise some things that I hate — that I can’t get myself out of. Eventually I get tired and can’t hide it anymore. The great thing is, I get some help from my friends and one very unexpected source! It’s pretty darn exciting.
I really like Lane, our protagonist. She has some of the personality that I wish I had. But I do learn from her. I do show some grit in Silver Gun when I go marching into a very dangerous person’s office to find some answers to our mystery. I’m looking forward to a lot more. Lane usually gets the adventure scenes. For cryin' out loud, she and her sleuthing partner Roarke certainly get into a lot of scrapes. But I will get my own.
And ooh do I love our clothes and how we get to go dancing a lot! What an era. In fact, in book 2 coming out September 25th we all get to wear ball gowns to a very famous ball at the holidays. The guys look pretty darn yummy in their tuxes. My own dress is scrumptious, but no one knows how I come up with such a great dress. Lane ends up borrowing a dress from her artsy and eclectic aunt, Evelyn. But I have my own. The mystery of that remains to be seen.
I hope you come and join us in the adventurous romp through New York in The Art Deco Mystery series! The city life, the history we are all part of, the clothes, the art… it is a very special story. Come and be part of it. See you then!
The Author
About L.A. Chandlar
with Kensington Publishing featuring Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia and a fresh take on the innovation and liveliness of 1930s New York City. Her debut novel, The Silver Gun released August 29, 2017, and the sequel, The Gold Pawn, will release September 25th, 2018. Laurie has been living and writing in New York City for 16 years and has been speaking for a wide variety of audiences for over 20 years including a women’s group with the United Nations. Her talks range from NYC history, the psychology of creativity, and the history of holiday traditions. Laurie has also worked in PR for General Motors, writes and fund-raises for a global nonprofit is the mother of two boys, and has toured the nation managing a rock band.
Find Laurie on the web at
The Giveaway
Follow the tour, to read other reviews and Guest Posts, plus Interviews!
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
April 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 11 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
April 12 – Valerie's Musings - REVIEW, GUEST POST
April 13 – Babs Book Bistro – GUEST POST
April 14 – Brooke Blogs - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
April 15 – Ruff Drafts - AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 16 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
April 17 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW
April 17 – A Blue Million Books - GUEST POST
April 18 – Jane Reads - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
April 19 – Laura's Interests - REVIEW, EXCERPT
April 20 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
April 21 – Island Confidential - CHARACTER INTERVIEW
April 22 – Mysteries with Character - AUTHOR INTERVIEW
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