What do you think?
Rate this book
Hotel Hollywood #1
The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black
The story of two very different lives...and one Hollywood murder.
It's 2019 and Lily Jones is living her dream in L.A....sort of. It hasn’t quite turned out as she planned and instead of working as a movie producer, she is cleaning at the prestigious Beverly Hills Hotel. At least she gets to work in the renowned Paul Williams suite—site of the brutal murder of Honey Black 70 years ago, shrouded in rumor and dark glamor.
It's also 1949, and Honey Black is about to hit the big time. She may have started out a country girl from Hicksville, but now she's a star and Hollywood had better watch out!
After an accidental bump to the head, Lily finds herself in Old Hollywood, 1949. Like a dream come true, she's rubbing shoulders with Tinseltown's greatest...including Honey Black. Horrified, Lily realizes that the actress has only two weeks left to live before she will be murdered. Could this be why Lily has found herself in 1949? Can she find the killer and stop them before it's too late?
It's 2019 and Lily Jones is living her dream in L.A....sort of. It hasn’t quite turned out as she planned and instead of working as a movie producer, she is cleaning at the prestigious Beverly Hills Hotel. At least she gets to work in the renowned Paul Williams suite—site of the brutal murder of Honey Black 70 years ago, shrouded in rumor and dark glamor.
It's also 1949, and Honey Black is about to hit the big time. She may have started out a country girl from Hicksville, but now she's a star and Hollywood had better watch out!
After an accidental bump to the head, Lily finds herself in Old Hollywood, 1949. Like a dream come true, she's rubbing shoulders with Tinseltown's greatest...including Honey Black. Horrified, Lily realizes that the actress has only two weeks left to live before she will be murdered. Could this be why Lily has found herself in 1949? Can she find the killer and stop them before it's too late?
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2023
59 people are currently reading
854 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
December 8, 2023
2,5 🤔🤔⭐️s
While the premise was very promising and intriguing, the execution didn’t deliver.
The pace was a struggle for me. 🐌
There were some repetitions, like how many times did I have to read that Lily was in 1949 and didn’t have use of internet or mobile phone…
The depth was lacking and some characters were added to the cast just for the show and didn’t offer significance to the story.
Regarding the ending, its performance was beyond poor. It was abrupt and lacklustre.
You can’t go back in time, change the past and then return to the present as if nothing ever happened!!! 🤯
While the premise was very promising and intriguing, the execution didn’t deliver.
The pace was a struggle for me. 🐌
There were some repetitions, like how many times did I have to read that Lily was in 1949 and didn’t have use of internet or mobile phone…
The depth was lacking and some characters were added to the cast just for the show and didn’t offer significance to the story.
Regarding the ending, its performance was beyond poor. It was abrupt and lacklustre.
You can’t go back in time, change the past and then return to the present as if nothing ever happened!!! 🤯
August 24, 2023
I loved this book so much!! Give me a book set in the golden days of Hollywood anyway, throw in a murder and I am hooked!!
Lily is a cleaner at the famous Beverley Hills Hotel in 2019. After she bumps her head, She finds herself in the same hotel, but in 1949. It is 2 weeks before the actress, Honey Black, is murdered in the very same hotel. Lily feels her way back to her time is to save Honey, but how? All she knows is she is murdered in her hotel suite and the date.
I didn't want this book to end. I was transported to Hollywood back in the good old days. I love reading about Bing Crosby playing piano, a very young James Dean arriving in town and so much more. It was a time of glitz and glamour and so many scandals. Lily has a hard time keeping her knowledge of the future to herself which was entertaining.
I urge you all to pick up this book..It was so much fun. Step back in time with these characters that will get into your heart.
Thank you so much Hera Bokks and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. A very different book from Lisa Hall and I just loved it so much.
Lily is a cleaner at the famous Beverley Hills Hotel in 2019. After she bumps her head, She finds herself in the same hotel, but in 1949. It is 2 weeks before the actress, Honey Black, is murdered in the very same hotel. Lily feels her way back to her time is to save Honey, but how? All she knows is she is murdered in her hotel suite and the date.
I didn't want this book to end. I was transported to Hollywood back in the good old days. I love reading about Bing Crosby playing piano, a very young James Dean arriving in town and so much more. It was a time of glitz and glamour and so many scandals. Lily has a hard time keeping her knowledge of the future to herself which was entertaining.
I urge you all to pick up this book..It was so much fun. Step back in time with these characters that will get into your heart.
Thank you so much Hera Bokks and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. A very different book from Lisa Hall and I just loved it so much.
December 5, 2023
Thank you to Lisa Hall, Hera Books, and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of "The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black" in exchange for my honest review.
Lily Jones came to LA after the death of her mother to follow her dreams of being a movie producer, It is 2019 and Lily is working at the Beverly Hills Hotel as a maid. Lily is fascinated with the Paul Williams suite, where 70 years ago, actress Honey Black was murdered. Honey's death is fascinating to Lily as the murder was never solved. While cleaning the suite, Lily suffers a bump to her head and time travels back to 1949 where Honey Black is starring in her first major movie role and it two weeks until her death.
Lily befriends Honey in an attempt to prevent the murder from happening. Can she beat the ticking clock? Will Lily be able to return back to 2019?
This book had a lot of elements I love...murdery mystery, time travel, and Old Hollywood. There were times when the pace of the book was slow but still kept me interested to find out the ending. I would highly recommend this book to others. I look forward to reading future books in this series.
Lily Jones came to LA after the death of her mother to follow her dreams of being a movie producer, It is 2019 and Lily is working at the Beverly Hills Hotel as a maid. Lily is fascinated with the Paul Williams suite, where 70 years ago, actress Honey Black was murdered. Honey's death is fascinating to Lily as the murder was never solved. While cleaning the suite, Lily suffers a bump to her head and time travels back to 1949 where Honey Black is starring in her first major movie role and it two weeks until her death.
Lily befriends Honey in an attempt to prevent the murder from happening. Can she beat the ticking clock? Will Lily be able to return back to 2019?
This book had a lot of elements I love...murdery mystery, time travel, and Old Hollywood. There were times when the pace of the book was slow but still kept me interested to find out the ending. I would highly recommend this book to others. I look forward to reading future books in this series.
September 21, 2023
I think most lovers of psychological thrillers can agree the authors ‘between you and me’ is a defining book in the genre…so it is always with anticipation I start a new book by Lisa Hall
This book is magical, it is about Lily who in 2019 suddenly whilst cleaning a suite in The Beverley Hills Hotel finds herself in 1949 with the knowledge the Hollywood Star ‘Honey Black’ is to be murdered in 2 weeks
It plays seamlessly, real writing skill needed with the timelines but it is done so well and with a touch of humour too that was appreciated.
I loved the book being set in Beverley Hills and L.A. and adored the characters ( even the baddies ) and their portrayal, the descriptions of Hollywood in the late 40’s were amazing and you felt you were there with them all
Really really enjoyable book that scores top in everything it tried to do
Give this one a read, it’s different enough to become a favourite and shows just how this author can write different genres and write them so well.
Loved it.
This book is magical, it is about Lily who in 2019 suddenly whilst cleaning a suite in The Beverley Hills Hotel finds herself in 1949 with the knowledge the Hollywood Star ‘Honey Black’ is to be murdered in 2 weeks
It plays seamlessly, real writing skill needed with the timelines but it is done so well and with a touch of humour too that was appreciated.
I loved the book being set in Beverley Hills and L.A. and adored the characters ( even the baddies ) and their portrayal, the descriptions of Hollywood in the late 40’s were amazing and you felt you were there with them all
Really really enjoyable book that scores top in everything it tried to do
Give this one a read, it’s different enough to become a favourite and shows just how this author can write different genres and write them so well.
Loved it.
September 4, 2023
Did Honey Black die twice ? OR Was it a double murder ? Book's title immediately intrigued me to ponder over similar questions.
We get answers to them through Lily in this time slip mystery. She is a housekeeper in a hotel, who travels back 70 years to Golden age of Hollywood and tries to save her mother's favourite actress from an unfateful death.
Prologue throws the reader right into action witnessing the murder that needs to be solved or avoided. As we move forward there are casual references to Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Alfred Hitchcock and James Dean, probably an attempt to add a celebrity quotient. The setting up of Hollywood glamour has taken lot of space than the actual murder mystery.
I was able to guess the murderer by 35% mark in the book and rest of it felt like following a clueless Lily. Infact side character Tilda was more interesting than her. There is no explanation or reference to 'double death' (from title), it was what had got me excited in the first place. The time portal concept is poorly executed. It would have made more sense if there was some connection to the place being used as portal to the events in both timelines.
Epilogue would have been a good idea to explore the 'butterfly effect' (mentioned in on of the chapters) on how Lily's actions impacted things for various characters in future.
Recommended for fans of Historical fiction set in Hollywood or books by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Thank you Hera books and NetGalley for the ARC and an opportunity to share honest feedback.
We get answers to them through Lily in this time slip mystery. She is a housekeeper in a hotel, who travels back 70 years to Golden age of Hollywood and tries to save her mother's favourite actress from an unfateful death.
Prologue throws the reader right into action witnessing the murder that needs to be solved or avoided. As we move forward there are casual references to Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Alfred Hitchcock and James Dean, probably an attempt to add a celebrity quotient. The setting up of Hollywood glamour has taken lot of space than the actual murder mystery.
I was able to guess the murderer by 35% mark in the book and rest of it felt like following a clueless Lily. Infact side character Tilda was more interesting than her. There is no explanation or reference to 'double death' (from title), it was what had got me excited in the first place. The time portal concept is poorly executed. It would have made more sense if there was some connection to the place being used as portal to the events in both timelines.
Epilogue would have been a good idea to explore the 'butterfly effect' (mentioned in on of the chapters) on how Lily's actions impacted things for various characters in future.
Recommended for fans of Historical fiction set in Hollywood or books by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Thank you Hera books and NetGalley for the ARC and an opportunity to share honest feedback.
August 29, 2023
The idea behind this is so clever- a housekeeper gets sent back in time to save Honey Black, an actress murdered the night before her 21st birthday in 1949, and no one was ever arrested or convicted of the crime.
Lily Jones takes a while to adjust to her new time but ends up figuring out her purpose for being in the Golden Age. She meets all the cast of characters who might have reason to kill Honey - and there are many people who might resent her or want her off the production of the movie that's being filmed. Like her ex husband, her costar's wife, her director's assistant...
I loved the setting of 1949 and seeing Hollywood as it used to be (loved all the references to Clark Gable and Katherine Hepburn) but I have to confess -I didn't love Lily. She was kind of dumb. That or the writing/drawn-out plot didn't do her any favors because I had so much figured out before her.
I love a good mystery but this one wasn't compelling. It's hard to keep reading when you think you know who did it from the 30% mark. I found the story itself slow, though I enjoyed meeting Louis the bartender and his sister Tilda.
It ends pretty abruptly, and I would have liked a bit more resolution at the end. Lily changed history and there should be ramifications from that. Like if Honey did actually live, she would have had kids, been in movies, etc. The murderer didn't win any awards or go on to marry, so history was altered, maybe in big ways.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review!
Lily Jones takes a while to adjust to her new time but ends up figuring out her purpose for being in the Golden Age. She meets all the cast of characters who might have reason to kill Honey - and there are many people who might resent her or want her off the production of the movie that's being filmed. Like her ex husband, her costar's wife, her director's assistant...
I loved the setting of 1949 and seeing Hollywood as it used to be (loved all the references to Clark Gable and Katherine Hepburn) but I have to confess -I didn't love Lily. She was kind of dumb. That or the writing/drawn-out plot didn't do her any favors because I had so much figured out before her.
I love a good mystery but this one wasn't compelling. It's hard to keep reading when you think you know who did it from the 30% mark. I found the story itself slow, though I enjoyed meeting Louis the bartender and his sister Tilda.
It ends pretty abruptly, and I would have liked a bit more resolution at the end. Lily changed history and there should be ramifications from that. Like if Honey did actually live, she would have had kids, been in movies, etc. The murderer didn't win any awards or go on to marry, so history was altered, maybe in big ways.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review!
October 8, 2023
2.5 rounded up. I was sitting at a 3 star at the beginning and around the middle I thought maybe a 3.75 but the ending was so bad the rating dropped. I may change the rating to a two star if I stay as annoyed as I am. A full review will come later
Edit* I was still mad over two weeks later so my rating dropped to a 2
Full Review
The Mysterious Death of Honey Black by Lisa Hall had an amazing premise. Following Lilly Jones, a cleaning lady who bumps her head and gets sent back in time 70 years to solve the death of Honey Black, who had been murdered before her rise to fame. I wanted to love this book so badly, but it just didn’t deliver. I will start with the positives, I really enjoyed Honey Black’s character; she was very fleshed out and had many layers to her. Anyone with a dream can relate to her and her ambitions. The pacing was a little slow, but I think if it had been any faster it would have negatively affected the book and we wouldn’t have gotten such dynamic characters. The characters are the strongest point in this book.
The first thing that I found frustrating was how easy it was to figure out who the killer was. I was confident by 35% who it was, and I found myself getting super annoyed with our main character for not figuring it out when so much evidence had been presented to her. Even at the end when Honey Black (SPOILER COMING UP) muttered chess, she never thought about how much it rhymed with Jess!
The ending was also so abrupt and felt too open. I was leaning towards a 3.5 star, but the ending dropped to a 2.75 (rounded up). (SPOILER COMING UP) If this book ends up being a series where Lilly goes back in time and sees everyone again, I will revise my rating and bump it up.
If you like:
-Whodunit?
-Hollywood Golden age
-An easy mystery
You might enjoy this book!
Thank you NetGalley and Hera Books for this arc!
Edit* I was still mad over two weeks later so my rating dropped to a 2
Full Review
The Mysterious Death of Honey Black by Lisa Hall had an amazing premise. Following Lilly Jones, a cleaning lady who bumps her head and gets sent back in time 70 years to solve the death of Honey Black, who had been murdered before her rise to fame. I wanted to love this book so badly, but it just didn’t deliver. I will start with the positives, I really enjoyed Honey Black’s character; she was very fleshed out and had many layers to her. Anyone with a dream can relate to her and her ambitions. The pacing was a little slow, but I think if it had been any faster it would have negatively affected the book and we wouldn’t have gotten such dynamic characters. The characters are the strongest point in this book.
The first thing that I found frustrating was how easy it was to figure out who the killer was. I was confident by 35% who it was, and I found myself getting super annoyed with our main character for not figuring it out when so much evidence had been presented to her. Even at the end when Honey Black (SPOILER COMING UP) muttered chess, she never thought about how much it rhymed with Jess!
The ending was also so abrupt and felt too open. I was leaning towards a 3.5 star, but the ending dropped to a 2.75 (rounded up). (SPOILER COMING UP) If this book ends up being a series where Lilly goes back in time and sees everyone again, I will revise my rating and bump it up.
If you like:
-Whodunit?
-Hollywood Golden age
-An easy mystery
You might enjoy this book!
Thank you NetGalley and Hera Books for this arc!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2023
I liked this but I didn’t love it enough to want to pick it up and read. I struggled through this one because I felt the pacing wasn’t the best. For the majority of the book the plot of the murder mystery was not progressing very quickly (which I don’t necessarily have a problem with), but there wasn’t a lot of character development or character exploration going on to compensate for the pace. I really liked the idea of a book set in old Hollywood, but I don’t feel like the time period really shined. Other than the misogyny towards women and lack of iPhones (which was mentioned by the main character many times), I really couldn’t place the decade. I would have enjoyed a little bit more exploration in the scenery and culture of the 40s and old Hollywood. Overall a good read, and I feel people might enjoy this one more than I had, especially if you enjoy a time travel murder mystery.
Thank you to Netgalley, Hera Books publishing and Lisa Hall for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black was published on September 21 2023.
Thank you to Netgalley, Hera Books publishing and Lisa Hall for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black was published on September 21 2023.
February 28, 2024
Actually quite enjoyed this book! The ending was good, not absolutely groundbreaking, but I enjoyed reading this one.
May 14, 2025
I feel like the author wanted to write a story set in 1950s Hollywood and not a mystery. I feel like a lot more care was put into that than the mystery elements because I guessed all the plot twists early on and I’m not even that much of a mystery reader.
July 21, 2024
The cover illustration was stunning and a book based on my personal favourite era for fashion was the perfect choice for me.
It was a shame parts of the story wasn’t very well researched. I didn’t feel the 1940s atmosphere unfortunately. Victory rolls would be an elaborate hair style for anyone about to embark on a shift cleaning hotel rooms but it ticks that 1940s bingo sheet. Lily claimed the shoes were ugly and clumpy, crikey that’s a bit rude.
Honey’s face crumpled as she was putting on her corset… come on! Do any authors speak to corset makers before they decide they are restricting torture devices? Lily claimed to love the various actors and their films but didn’t recognise any of them in the flesh without being prompted.
Every chapter Lily refers to not having a phone, Google etc. We don’t need constantly reminding they didn’t have smart phones in the 1940s, it goes without saying.
I am not sure if I was suppose to take the story seriously or if it was going for a comedy aspect. It was quite daft but easy to get through. I already have the next one and finding it’s flowing a bit nicer already.
It was a shame parts of the story wasn’t very well researched. I didn’t feel the 1940s atmosphere unfortunately. Victory rolls would be an elaborate hair style for anyone about to embark on a shift cleaning hotel rooms but it ticks that 1940s bingo sheet. Lily claimed the shoes were ugly and clumpy, crikey that’s a bit rude.
Honey’s face crumpled as she was putting on her corset… come on! Do any authors speak to corset makers before they decide they are restricting torture devices? Lily claimed to love the various actors and their films but didn’t recognise any of them in the flesh without being prompted.
Every chapter Lily refers to not having a phone, Google etc. We don’t need constantly reminding they didn’t have smart phones in the 1940s, it goes without saying.
I am not sure if I was suppose to take the story seriously or if it was going for a comedy aspect. It was quite daft but easy to get through. I already have the next one and finding it’s flowing a bit nicer already.
September 23, 2023
The Mysterious Double Death Of Honey Black may be all about fathoming the unsolved murder for the title’s up and coming starlet but there is one massive question. What happened to Lily? Was it all a dream? Was she magically transported to 1949 to finding Honey’s killer?
As Lily adjusts to an LA of the past, she slips herself into the group surrounding the young Honey Black, making herself the starlet’s PA. Being in the inner circle surely must enable Lily to solve the murder that had remained a mystery for so long. But as she spends longer there she draws attention to herself and not just the good variety! She not only gets herself in trouble but also young Honey!
For me the glamour of 1940s Hollywood has been encapsulated. Hall seamlessly thrown in the contrast of a bygone era with the modern day with Lily’s experience of her real life. The blatant inequalities and chauvinistic attitudes of the day are brilliantly replicated (in my opinion) and Lily’s difficulties dealing with them are real.
Hall has curated a fabulous murder mystery with a twist. It’s the Golden Age brought in to the 21st century but taken back again if that makes sense! This is very different to my experience of Hall’s psych-thrillers but she has pulled it off brilliantly – I loved it!
PS: after the Acknowledgments, Hall has created a playlist to accompany the book which is well worth a listen. The mix of modern with the very familiar classics works so well.
As Lily adjusts to an LA of the past, she slips herself into the group surrounding the young Honey Black, making herself the starlet’s PA. Being in the inner circle surely must enable Lily to solve the murder that had remained a mystery for so long. But as she spends longer there she draws attention to herself and not just the good variety! She not only gets herself in trouble but also young Honey!
For me the glamour of 1940s Hollywood has been encapsulated. Hall seamlessly thrown in the contrast of a bygone era with the modern day with Lily’s experience of her real life. The blatant inequalities and chauvinistic attitudes of the day are brilliantly replicated (in my opinion) and Lily’s difficulties dealing with them are real.
Hall has curated a fabulous murder mystery with a twist. It’s the Golden Age brought in to the 21st century but taken back again if that makes sense! This is very different to my experience of Hall’s psych-thrillers but she has pulled it off brilliantly – I loved it!
PS: after the Acknowledgments, Hall has created a playlist to accompany the book which is well worth a listen. The mix of modern with the very familiar classics works so well.
December 28, 2025
This Is a murder mystery with rom-com/cosy vibes, albeit the comedy quotient is fairly low-key.
Lily works in housekeeping at The Beverly Hills Hotel, waiting for her chance to get into the movie business on the production side.
After a knock on the head while cleaning the prestigious Paul Williams suite, she wakes up in 1949, just before the murder of up-and-coming starlet, Honey Black.
Lily decides the only way for her to return to her own time is to prevent Lily’s murder.
Things get complicated when Lily realises she has more friends in 1949 LA than she does in her own time. There’s also a rather attractive barman and no vacancies in the friend zone.
This was a cute story that made for easy, entertaining reading. It was nicely narrated, with steady momentum and a pretty solid plot, although I did guess the identity of the murderer fairly early on.
It’s the first book in a series, and while it reads like a standalone, there are some loose ends at the close that I found mildly frustrating. (1/5 on the hot-flush-inducing scale.) I assume these threads will be picked up in the next instalment. Hence, a half-star deduction.
Which means 4.5 stars from me for The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black, which published on 1 December.
With big thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda audio for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Lily works in housekeeping at The Beverly Hills Hotel, waiting for her chance to get into the movie business on the production side.
After a knock on the head while cleaning the prestigious Paul Williams suite, she wakes up in 1949, just before the murder of up-and-coming starlet, Honey Black.
Lily decides the only way for her to return to her own time is to prevent Lily’s murder.
Things get complicated when Lily realises she has more friends in 1949 LA than she does in her own time. There’s also a rather attractive barman and no vacancies in the friend zone.
This was a cute story that made for easy, entertaining reading. It was nicely narrated, with steady momentum and a pretty solid plot, although I did guess the identity of the murderer fairly early on.
It’s the first book in a series, and while it reads like a standalone, there are some loose ends at the close that I found mildly frustrating. (1/5 on the hot-flush-inducing scale.) I assume these threads will be picked up in the next instalment. Hence, a half-star deduction.
Which means 4.5 stars from me for The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black, which published on 1 December.
With big thanks to NetGalley and Bolinda audio for the opportunity to read an ARC.
September 16, 2023
A timeslip story set mostly during 1949 in the golden age of Hollywood. Lily Jones has been transported from 2019 where she works as a maid at the Beverley Hills Hotel to the same hotel but 70 years previously, where she finds herself working for the glamorous actress, Honey Black. From what Lily knows, Honey is due to be murdered by person/persons unknown in two weeks time. Can Lily save Honey and change the course of history?
This is a fun mystery with some fascinating characters. The plot rolls along nicely and I loved that some of the peripheral actors are real life ones. The descriptions of Beverley Hills during the 1940s seems well done and researched, it’s easy to picture it in my mind. The razzle dazzle, the glamour and the excitement of Hollywood shines through. I worked out who the culprit was quite early on but this in no way detracts from the rest of the story. An entertaining and engaging read set in a bygone era. It should delight historical mystery/thriller fans. I certainly enjoyed it.
This is a fun mystery with some fascinating characters. The plot rolls along nicely and I loved that some of the peripheral actors are real life ones. The descriptions of Beverley Hills during the 1940s seems well done and researched, it’s easy to picture it in my mind. The razzle dazzle, the glamour and the excitement of Hollywood shines through. I worked out who the culprit was quite early on but this in no way detracts from the rest of the story. An entertaining and engaging read set in a bygone era. It should delight historical mystery/thriller fans. I certainly enjoyed it.
September 30, 2023
A bump to the head in the bathroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel whilst she is working as a chambermaid, transports Lily Jones from 2019 to 1949. The thing is she is in the Paul Williams Suite, the very room where upcoming Hollywood starlet Honey Black was found murdered 70 years before, the killer’s identity remaining a mystery. Events conspire to give Lily a new job as PA to Honey however Lily knows that in two weeks time, Honey will be dead – unless she can prevent it.
Lily certainly has a task on her hands, there is no internet, no Google, no mobile phones and in the short time she has, Lily could do with all three to assist her. There are no shortage of suspects – from the jealous and angry ex husband to the director of Honey’s current movie. Although I had my suspicions from early on, with all the misdirection and surprising turns, I was never quite sure who was the guilty party.
This was such a fun and entertaining read. Although it is a murder mystery I would regard it more as time slip cozy crime than hardcore and I enjoyed the concept of a murder mystery set in this period which name drops stars of the past. There are some fabulous characters here, not least Lily herself. She was a modern sassy young woman with her own personal difficulties unexpectedly thrown back to the 1940s where misogyny and restricted lives for women were the norm. Lily with her Converse and straight talking attitude certainly raised a few eyebrows. With references to #metoo and the indiscretions of former actors of that time, this is a thought provoking story highlighting the secrets and personal manipulation behind the glitz and glamorous facade of old Hollywood.
I loved the interaction between Lily and Honey – Honey was ambitious and would do whatever was necessary to be a star but also had a vulnerability about her which I found endearing. There is also a hint of romance and a well plotted thread connecting the past and the present. The amount of research involved both in the setting and the dramatic storyline is clear to see and the characterisations together with the pace are spot on.
I very much enjoyed meeting Lily and her friends and as this would appear to be the first book in a mystery series I look forward to reading more.
Lily certainly has a task on her hands, there is no internet, no Google, no mobile phones and in the short time she has, Lily could do with all three to assist her. There are no shortage of suspects – from the jealous and angry ex husband to the director of Honey’s current movie. Although I had my suspicions from early on, with all the misdirection and surprising turns, I was never quite sure who was the guilty party.
This was such a fun and entertaining read. Although it is a murder mystery I would regard it more as time slip cozy crime than hardcore and I enjoyed the concept of a murder mystery set in this period which name drops stars of the past. There are some fabulous characters here, not least Lily herself. She was a modern sassy young woman with her own personal difficulties unexpectedly thrown back to the 1940s where misogyny and restricted lives for women were the norm. Lily with her Converse and straight talking attitude certainly raised a few eyebrows. With references to #metoo and the indiscretions of former actors of that time, this is a thought provoking story highlighting the secrets and personal manipulation behind the glitz and glamorous facade of old Hollywood.
I loved the interaction between Lily and Honey – Honey was ambitious and would do whatever was necessary to be a star but also had a vulnerability about her which I found endearing. There is also a hint of romance and a well plotted thread connecting the past and the present. The amount of research involved both in the setting and the dramatic storyline is clear to see and the characterisations together with the pace are spot on.
I very much enjoyed meeting Lily and her friends and as this would appear to be the first book in a mystery series I look forward to reading more.
April 25, 2024
3.5, 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes but she kept writing Louis’s instead of Louis’ so she’ll have to accept a lower rating
August 14, 2024
I figured out who it was really early on so there was no surprise or twist really and the writing style wasn't that great but the plot was good. I wouldn't re read it
August 11, 2023
Firstly, I must mention the title The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black is such an intriguing title. Why a double death? What’s the mystery behind the death of Honey Black? So many questions that are deftly answered by Lisa Hall in this original glamorous, time-slip murder mystery set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. It’s 2019, and Lily is a cleaner at the famous Beverly Hills Hotel. It’s the where the actress Honey Black was brutally murdered and they did not catch her killer. After an accidental bump to the head, Lily finds herself in Hollywood but in 1949. Rubbing shoulders with Hollywood’s elite, including Honey Black. Lily realises that the actress has only two weeks left to live before her murder date. Can she unmask the killer before it’s too late? Can she alter Honey’s fate? And so begins a compelling and addictive read.
I normally like my crime thrillers to be full of blood and gore. The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black is more of a cosy murder mystery. It made a pleasant change and reminded me of a classic Agatha Christie book, where the tension lies in the ‘whodunnit’ rather than the crime itself. It’s obvious the author has researched the Hollywood of bygone days, the glamour, glitz, gossip and scandal. She brings the era to life with her stunning visual descriptions.
I like how the author misdirects you at every given opportunity. It certainly keeps you guessing. No sooner had I discounted one suspect another character took their place! Amateur sleuth Lilly is such a refreshing character. She’s determined, resourceful and considering her circumstances, she’s incredibly resilient.
The thing that makes this book so interesting is that, alongside Lilly’s investigations, we get transported back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. I loved the references to the real life stars before they became household names. In case you haven’t guessed, I loved the Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black. It’s clever and so original, it’s brilliantly plotted, with incredible characters. Highly recommend.
You can follow me and read more of my reviews at
Blog: https://thebookreviewcafe.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@reviewcafe
I normally like my crime thrillers to be full of blood and gore. The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black is more of a cosy murder mystery. It made a pleasant change and reminded me of a classic Agatha Christie book, where the tension lies in the ‘whodunnit’ rather than the crime itself. It’s obvious the author has researched the Hollywood of bygone days, the glamour, glitz, gossip and scandal. She brings the era to life with her stunning visual descriptions.
I like how the author misdirects you at every given opportunity. It certainly keeps you guessing. No sooner had I discounted one suspect another character took their place! Amateur sleuth Lilly is such a refreshing character. She’s determined, resourceful and considering her circumstances, she’s incredibly resilient.
The thing that makes this book so interesting is that, alongside Lilly’s investigations, we get transported back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. I loved the references to the real life stars before they became household names. In case you haven’t guessed, I loved the Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black. It’s clever and so original, it’s brilliantly plotted, with incredible characters. Highly recommend.
You can follow me and read more of my reviews at
Blog: https://thebookreviewcafe.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@reviewcafe
October 2, 2023
This was a fun read;a cozy mystery with a time travel element!
Lily Jones is fulfilling a life long dream when she comes to LA to get into the movie making business but while waiting for her break, the closest she can get to the stars is as a housekeeping assistant in the Beverly Hills Hotel that hosts many of them.
On a routine day, Lily is cleaning a suite where the murder of an upcoming starlet, Honey Black, took place in 1949.She finds herself inexplicably transported back in time to two weeks before the incident! Struggling to figure out how to cope, Lily decides the only reason she's traveled back is to save Honey Black from a terrible fate.
The story takes place in the Golden Age of Hollywood and it's fascinating to see film history as it happened through Lily's eyes and all the glamour and glitz of Hollywood at the time. Lily's attempts to find who wants to harm Honey Black without any of the technology and other help she is used to in her own time is interesting even as she tries hard not to reveal anything about a future that has not yet occurred.
The mystery part of the book was not complex and I figured out the 'who' very early on. It could be because reading a lot of thrillers means I suspect everyone and latch onto the little clues! However, the journey to Lily finding out was engaging and as cozy mysteries are more about the setting and characters, I still enjoyed the book.
Lily Jones is fulfilling a life long dream when she comes to LA to get into the movie making business but while waiting for her break, the closest she can get to the stars is as a housekeeping assistant in the Beverly Hills Hotel that hosts many of them.
On a routine day, Lily is cleaning a suite where the murder of an upcoming starlet, Honey Black, took place in 1949.She finds herself inexplicably transported back in time to two weeks before the incident! Struggling to figure out how to cope, Lily decides the only reason she's traveled back is to save Honey Black from a terrible fate.
The story takes place in the Golden Age of Hollywood and it's fascinating to see film history as it happened through Lily's eyes and all the glamour and glitz of Hollywood at the time. Lily's attempts to find who wants to harm Honey Black without any of the technology and other help she is used to in her own time is interesting even as she tries hard not to reveal anything about a future that has not yet occurred.
The mystery part of the book was not complex and I figured out the 'who' very early on. It could be because reading a lot of thrillers means I suspect everyone and latch onto the little clues! However, the journey to Lily finding out was engaging and as cozy mysteries are more about the setting and characters, I still enjoyed the book.
September 5, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Hera Books for a complimentary ARC of this novel!!!
Lily is a British young lady who has come to LA to make her dreams of becoming a movie producer come true. But so far, no such luck. So she ends up cleaning at the renowned Beverly Hills Hotel where 70 years ago Honey Black was horribly murdered in 1949 just before she was about to become famous. As Lily is cleaning the suite where Honey Black was murdered, she slips and hits her head. When she comes to, she realizes her surroundings aren’t what they were in her present day of 2019. She discovered she has awoken to 1949, a few weeks before the murder of Honey Black. She’s been transported back to 1949 to try and prevent Honey Black’s murder. With the help of a few friends, will Lily be able to find out who wanted Honey dead in time to stop her murder from happening? After all, the killer was never caught.
I really enjoyed reading this novel! The more I read, the more I wanted to keep going! I love the combination of classic movies, mystery, and time travel all wrapped up in one novel!!!
AVAILABLE September 21, 2023
Lily is a British young lady who has come to LA to make her dreams of becoming a movie producer come true. But so far, no such luck. So she ends up cleaning at the renowned Beverly Hills Hotel where 70 years ago Honey Black was horribly murdered in 1949 just before she was about to become famous. As Lily is cleaning the suite where Honey Black was murdered, she slips and hits her head. When she comes to, she realizes her surroundings aren’t what they were in her present day of 2019. She discovered she has awoken to 1949, a few weeks before the murder of Honey Black. She’s been transported back to 1949 to try and prevent Honey Black’s murder. With the help of a few friends, will Lily be able to find out who wanted Honey dead in time to stop her murder from happening? After all, the killer was never caught.
I really enjoyed reading this novel! The more I read, the more I wanted to keep going! I love the combination of classic movies, mystery, and time travel all wrapped up in one novel!!!
AVAILABLE September 21, 2023
November 4, 2023
Discover the locations in the novel here
this was a good adventure! Imagining working in a hotel and finding out about some scandal that happened there years earlier. Turns out the room you’re cleaning was once that of a star who was murdered in the chair at the opposite side of the room. You go into the bathroom, clean the bath and then bang your head knocking yourself out.
You come to and you appear to have been transported back to the time before that actress was murdered. Could you be the one to warn her, to stop the murder from happening?
Now this might seem fanciful, but it makes for a very compelling novel. The scene setting – from the 1940s/1950s – was very well done. Oh to be in Hollywood back then, with the glitx and glamour of the stars mingling in the Beverly Hilton Hotel. It was a treat to be inside the hotel and see the rooms, the goings on and feel, no smell the aroma of what it meant to be a star.
The murder mystery unfolds with ease as we follow Lily who tries to solve a crime before it has happened. So many clues and people to look at, so many red herrings. It was a treat to be in such a unique spot solving or pre-solving a murder.
It felt very Christie-esque in parts and golden age and well, it made me want to dress up in silk, put on gloves, grab a glass of champagne and swish down a very large staircase.
BookTrail Travel to Honey Black
March 13, 2025
While the premise was very promising and intriguing, the execution didn't deliver.
The pace was a struggle for me.
The depth was lacking and some characters were added to the cast just for the show and didn't offer significance to the story.
I was able to guess the murderer by 35% mark in the book and rest of it felt like following a clueless Lily.
Infact side character Tilda was more interesting than her. There is no explanation or reference to 'double death' (from title), it was what had got me excited in the first place. The time portal concept is poorly executed.
It would have made more sense if there was some connection to the place being used as portal to the events in both timelines.
It ends pretty abruptly, and I would have liked a bit more resolution at the end. Lily changed history and there should be ramifications from that. They mentioned the butterfly effect, so why was there no epilogue or anything to show what happened! Like if Honey did actually live, she would have had kids, been in movies, etc. The murderer didn't win any awards or go on to marry, so history was altered, maybe in big ways. I was disappointed to not be told what these were.
The pace was a struggle for me.
The depth was lacking and some characters were added to the cast just for the show and didn't offer significance to the story.
I was able to guess the murderer by 35% mark in the book and rest of it felt like following a clueless Lily.
Infact side character Tilda was more interesting than her. There is no explanation or reference to 'double death' (from title), it was what had got me excited in the first place. The time portal concept is poorly executed.
It would have made more sense if there was some connection to the place being used as portal to the events in both timelines.
It ends pretty abruptly, and I would have liked a bit more resolution at the end. Lily changed history and there should be ramifications from that. They mentioned the butterfly effect, so why was there no epilogue or anything to show what happened! Like if Honey did actually live, she would have had kids, been in movies, etc. The murderer didn't win any awards or go on to marry, so history was altered, maybe in big ways. I was disappointed to not be told what these were.
September 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the premise - a young girl getting transported back in time to 1949 and old Hollywood. I love Honey Black and her whole story, I think she must have been a very familiar character back in 1940’s Hollywood.. I found some of the things Lily did occasionally hard to believe but I really enjoyed the whole novel and didn’t want it to end.
I wanted Lily to forget all about the future and stay in 1949 forever. If you are a fan of glitz and glamour Hollywood and good crime novels then ‘The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black is for you’.
I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
I wanted Lily to forget all about the future and stay in 1949 forever. If you are a fan of glitz and glamour Hollywood and good crime novels then ‘The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black is for you’.
I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
March 1, 2024
This was lots and lots of fun. It was very well written and I didn't get bored once whilst reading it. Some of the references to things in 2019 felt a bit off and will likely feel dated in the future but I adored the whole time slip thing (even though the outcomes wouldn't fly realistically). Lily's character was great and I can't wait for the sequel.
October 23, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
November 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick easy read
October 6, 2025
4.4/5 stars 🌟
November 7, 2025
This is an interesting and intriguing time travel mystery, and we waited to see how there was a double murder of Holly Black? Lily having gone back in time to 1949, wants to save the life of Honey Black. Will Lily rewrite history? And even change the life of the perpetrator, who was rather too obvious. Whilst the story was entertaining and engaging, I am not sure the title fits. It was nonetheless an enjoyable audiobook, well-narrated
August 24, 2024
This could have been a great little mystery but the pace was so slow and there was little character development.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews