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Silver Screen Historical Mystery #4
Death in the Palace
A proposal to die for . . . British widow Emma Blackstone gets mixed up in murder once again in this stunning 1920s historical mystery featuring New York high society, mobsters, and silent-movie stars!
November, 1924. Beautiful silent-movie star Camille de la Rose—Kitty, to her adoring fans—is amused to receive an unusual proposal from an extremely rich stranger. Clark Dexter offers her $50,000 if she will marry and then divorce him.
Young British widow Emma Blackstone, Kitty’s dog walker, companion, and dearest friend, is determined to talk her employer out of it. Emma might have been living in the topsy-turvy world of Hollywood for a year now, but she knows a bad idea when she hears one.
There are disturbing rumors about Mr. Dexter. And when the source of the rumors is found dead in mysterious circumstances, Emma soon finds herself plunged into a disturbing investigation that sees her mixing with New York’s high society, mobsters, and movie stars . . . and a ruthless killer, who’ll stop at nothing to see their evil plan through.
New York Times bestselling author Barbara Hambly brings the glamor, intrigue, and dark side of Hollywood to life in the Silver Screen Mysteries—a perfect choice for fans of female-fronted historical mysteries set in the roaring twenties.
November, 1924. Beautiful silent-movie star Camille de la Rose—Kitty, to her adoring fans—is amused to receive an unusual proposal from an extremely rich stranger. Clark Dexter offers her $50,000 if she will marry and then divorce him.
Young British widow Emma Blackstone, Kitty’s dog walker, companion, and dearest friend, is determined to talk her employer out of it. Emma might have been living in the topsy-turvy world of Hollywood for a year now, but she knows a bad idea when she hears one.
There are disturbing rumors about Mr. Dexter. And when the source of the rumors is found dead in mysterious circumstances, Emma soon finds herself plunged into a disturbing investigation that sees her mixing with New York’s high society, mobsters, and movie stars . . . and a ruthless killer, who’ll stop at nothing to see their evil plan through.
New York Times bestselling author Barbara Hambly brings the glamor, intrigue, and dark side of Hollywood to life in the Silver Screen Mysteries—a perfect choice for fans of female-fronted historical mysteries set in the roaring twenties.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2026
15 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Hambly
205 books1,605 followersaka Barbara Hamilton
Ranging from fantasy to historical fiction, Barbara Hambly has a masterful way of spinning a story. Her twisty plots involve memorable characters, lavish descriptions, scads of novel words, and interesting devices. Her work spans the Star Wars universe, antebellum New Orleans, and various fantasy worlds, sometimes linked with our own.
"I always wanted to be a writer but everyone kept telling me it was impossible to break into the field or make money. I've proven them wrong on both counts."
-Barbara Hambly
Ranging from fantasy to historical fiction, Barbara Hambly has a masterful way of spinning a story. Her twisty plots involve memorable characters, lavish descriptions, scads of novel words, and interesting devices. Her work spans the Star Wars universe, antebellum New Orleans, and various fantasy worlds, sometimes linked with our own.
"I always wanted to be a writer but everyone kept telling me it was impossible to break into the field or make money. I've proven them wrong on both counts."
-Barbara Hambly
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Amid the glamour and sins of the movie business in the roarin’ twenties, Emma (Duchess) Blackstone fills many roles — dog watcher, scene writer, starlet’s conscience/accomplice, and detective. When film star Darlene Golden is brutally murdered, Duchess has questions.
Death in the Palace is a masterclass in weaving history and fiction into a beautiful whole. The result is a story so seamless and sultry, it could be worn to the Oscars and appear on the best-dressed lists. So, yes, I loved this book.
The worldbuilding is so immersive, you’ll be thinking and speaking in quick-witted quips until you annoy your friends. Ms. Hambly didn’t just read about the time period and major historical events; she integrated the culture, food, clothes, nicknames, jealousies, mysteries, and motivations like they were lived experiences. It’s enough to drown in.
The dialogue is as rich as Lindy’s cheesecake. Groucho and Duchess could take the show on the road and make a killing. It’s fast, funny, and convincing.
Likewise, the character development is sublime. As a war widow, Emma’s husband, Jim, is never far from her mind. It affects her romantic relationships, how she understands others, and how she reacts to stories of cruel, abusive, or neglectful parents. There is a sharp contrast between the sins we associate with the twenties — smoking, drinking, and fornication — and those that aren’t as glamorous — controlling behavior, emotional abandonment, and the refusal to forgive. It makes you think.
The entire cast — Zal, Kitty, Darlene, Shakespeare Malone, Roxie North, the Marx brothers, and even Kitty’s trio of Pekinese pups — is well-drawn, varied, and authentic. It was such a brilliant move to provide readers with a guide who is not a leading lady, but, despite being something of an outsider, is still within the circle. We see the vices and victories up close, but through a window, not a door.
As the mystery unfolds, it becomes slightly difficult to follow in places. A line or two more clarifying the villain’s plan and motivations might help. That’s my only criticism — and I was able to sort everything out and enjoy the mystery.
Full marks for theme, style, and consistency. This is a gorgeous story ideal for historical mystery buffs who like a fast pace, don’t mind a little bathtub moonshine, and are resilient in the face of misogyny and prejudice — Death in the Palace is accurate on multiple fronts. Readers who enjoy classic Hollywood intrigue with emotional depth will be enthralled.
Thank you, Severn House, for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley, and I am writing this review voluntarily.
Death in the Palace is a masterclass in weaving history and fiction into a beautiful whole. The result is a story so seamless and sultry, it could be worn to the Oscars and appear on the best-dressed lists. So, yes, I loved this book.
The worldbuilding is so immersive, you’ll be thinking and speaking in quick-witted quips until you annoy your friends. Ms. Hambly didn’t just read about the time period and major historical events; she integrated the culture, food, clothes, nicknames, jealousies, mysteries, and motivations like they were lived experiences. It’s enough to drown in.
The dialogue is as rich as Lindy’s cheesecake. Groucho and Duchess could take the show on the road and make a killing. It’s fast, funny, and convincing.
Likewise, the character development is sublime. As a war widow, Emma’s husband, Jim, is never far from her mind. It affects her romantic relationships, how she understands others, and how she reacts to stories of cruel, abusive, or neglectful parents. There is a sharp contrast between the sins we associate with the twenties — smoking, drinking, and fornication — and those that aren’t as glamorous — controlling behavior, emotional abandonment, and the refusal to forgive. It makes you think.
The entire cast — Zal, Kitty, Darlene, Shakespeare Malone, Roxie North, the Marx brothers, and even Kitty’s trio of Pekinese pups — is well-drawn, varied, and authentic. It was such a brilliant move to provide readers with a guide who is not a leading lady, but, despite being something of an outsider, is still within the circle. We see the vices and victories up close, but through a window, not a door.
As the mystery unfolds, it becomes slightly difficult to follow in places. A line or two more clarifying the villain’s plan and motivations might help. That’s my only criticism — and I was able to sort everything out and enjoy the mystery.
Full marks for theme, style, and consistency. This is a gorgeous story ideal for historical mystery buffs who like a fast pace, don’t mind a little bathtub moonshine, and are resilient in the face of misogyny and prejudice — Death in the Palace is accurate on multiple fronts. Readers who enjoy classic Hollywood intrigue with emotional depth will be enthralled.
Thank you, Severn House, for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley, and I am writing this review voluntarily.
March 4, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for an advance copy.
Most readers are probably familiar with Barbara Hambly’s prolific sci-fi/fantasy series (Darwath, Winterlands, James Asher, etc), but I especially enjoy her fast and funny Silver Screen Historical Mysteries series. The setting is Hollywood during the interwar years, when the film industry is growing rapidly and ‘the movies’ are becoming the first choice in entertainment for the modern age. The main character, the refined, cerebral, wealthy Oxford archaeology grad Emma Blackstone, is a war widow who had also lost most of her family during the flu epidemic of 1919. Reeling from shock and grief when she is introduced in the first book, she gratefully takes a ‘companion’ position for her brother in law’s sometime wife, Hollywood starlet Camille de la Rose, popularly known as Kitty. She also looks after Kitty’s three adorable Pekingese, each with as much personality as Kitty and her network of Hollywood friends and hangers-on.
Out of the blue, Kitty receives a letter from a wealthy New Yorker who makes her an offer: if she agrees to marry and divorce him within a week, she will be paid $50,000, a healthy sum in the 1920s. Emma manages to persuade the adventurous Kitty to stay away from what sounds like a very risky development.
This installment, which can be read without the first three, switches the scene to New York City, now also a burgeoning film centre. The entourage, including a number of the studio employees, set out for the city to film a historical drama, a project that includes Kitty’s arch-rival, Darlene Golden. Emma continues her work as a ‘script doctor,’ mostly trying to make an anachronistic script meet some standard of historical accuracy. Cast and crew must deal with their own internal rivalries as well as bootleggers, gangsters, and such New York celebrities as the Marx Brothers.
In the midst of all this frenetic activity, Darlene is murdered. Is the crime related to the cash-for-marriage’ proposal? The logical and self-possessed Emma must once again consider the thin body of clues, multiple theories and multiple suspects, as she works to resolve this double mystery.
Hambly has a great deal going on in this bi-coastal novel, but she carries it off splendidly. As usual, even the language reflects common usage of the time, and attention to the style and glamour of the screen culture make it all seem very cinematic too. Emma even finds herself becoming romantically intrigued by cameraman Zal, the first time she shows some healing from the loss of her husband Jim. This is another Hambly story well worth immersing yourself in for a few hours.
Most readers are probably familiar with Barbara Hambly’s prolific sci-fi/fantasy series (Darwath, Winterlands, James Asher, etc), but I especially enjoy her fast and funny Silver Screen Historical Mysteries series. The setting is Hollywood during the interwar years, when the film industry is growing rapidly and ‘the movies’ are becoming the first choice in entertainment for the modern age. The main character, the refined, cerebral, wealthy Oxford archaeology grad Emma Blackstone, is a war widow who had also lost most of her family during the flu epidemic of 1919. Reeling from shock and grief when she is introduced in the first book, she gratefully takes a ‘companion’ position for her brother in law’s sometime wife, Hollywood starlet Camille de la Rose, popularly known as Kitty. She also looks after Kitty’s three adorable Pekingese, each with as much personality as Kitty and her network of Hollywood friends and hangers-on.
Out of the blue, Kitty receives a letter from a wealthy New Yorker who makes her an offer: if she agrees to marry and divorce him within a week, she will be paid $50,000, a healthy sum in the 1920s. Emma manages to persuade the adventurous Kitty to stay away from what sounds like a very risky development.
This installment, which can be read without the first three, switches the scene to New York City, now also a burgeoning film centre. The entourage, including a number of the studio employees, set out for the city to film a historical drama, a project that includes Kitty’s arch-rival, Darlene Golden. Emma continues her work as a ‘script doctor,’ mostly trying to make an anachronistic script meet some standard of historical accuracy. Cast and crew must deal with their own internal rivalries as well as bootleggers, gangsters, and such New York celebrities as the Marx Brothers.
In the midst of all this frenetic activity, Darlene is murdered. Is the crime related to the cash-for-marriage’ proposal? The logical and self-possessed Emma must once again consider the thin body of clues, multiple theories and multiple suspects, as she works to resolve this double mystery.
Hambly has a great deal going on in this bi-coastal novel, but she carries it off splendidly. As usual, even the language reflects common usage of the time, and attention to the style and glamour of the screen culture make it all seem very cinematic too. Emma even finds herself becoming romantically intrigued by cameraman Zal, the first time she shows some healing from the loss of her husband Jim. This is another Hambly story well worth immersing yourself in for a few hours.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of Death in the Palace. All opinions and comments are my own.
A proposal for a week of marriage, a gift of $50,000 followed by a quickie divorce? Sounds like the basis of a cheesy Tinseltown script, one that script “fixer” Emma Blackstone could probably whip out in her sleep. As she discovers in Death in the Palace, this is just one of the crazy shenanigans uncovered as she travels with her movie star sister-in- law and other studio notables as they head east to the Big Apple to film a Hollywood blockbuster.
This is another wild and whacky adventure for Emma and Kitty AKA Camille de la Rose, Hollywood’s brightest star, giving author Barbara Hambly the opportunity to throw a cast of veritable thousands into the mix. You might need a scorecard to keep track of everybody (Valentino! George S. Kaufman! Gangsters galore!), up to and including the Marx Brothers, who figure prominently in the plot, to the point of one of the brothers as a suspect for the killing of one of Kitty’s fellow actresses. Wade through all this, and you finally get to the why and wherefore, a very clever tale of an age-old reason for murder.
Emma is a resourceful character, a clever woman rising from an unhappy past who is increasingly finding her way. In amongst all the flotsam and jetsam of all the extras and settings, there’s a clever criminal here that requires some uncovering, and Emma is just the person to figure it all out and see justice done, enough to put some bright lights and big music behind the final title card “The End.”
A proposal for a week of marriage, a gift of $50,000 followed by a quickie divorce? Sounds like the basis of a cheesy Tinseltown script, one that script “fixer” Emma Blackstone could probably whip out in her sleep. As she discovers in Death in the Palace, this is just one of the crazy shenanigans uncovered as she travels with her movie star sister-in- law and other studio notables as they head east to the Big Apple to film a Hollywood blockbuster.
This is another wild and whacky adventure for Emma and Kitty AKA Camille de la Rose, Hollywood’s brightest star, giving author Barbara Hambly the opportunity to throw a cast of veritable thousands into the mix. You might need a scorecard to keep track of everybody (Valentino! George S. Kaufman! Gangsters galore!), up to and including the Marx Brothers, who figure prominently in the plot, to the point of one of the brothers as a suspect for the killing of one of Kitty’s fellow actresses. Wade through all this, and you finally get to the why and wherefore, a very clever tale of an age-old reason for murder.
Emma is a resourceful character, a clever woman rising from an unhappy past who is increasingly finding her way. In amongst all the flotsam and jetsam of all the extras and settings, there’s a clever criminal here that requires some uncovering, and Emma is just the person to figure it all out and see justice done, enough to put some bright lights and big music behind the final title card “The End.”
December 14, 2025
Thank you to Severn House / NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I haven’t read any of Barbara’s previous books, but this one immediately stuck out to me on NetGalley. 1920s Hollywood murder mystery? Sign me up!
The book focuses on a very wealthy widow (Emma) trying to figure out why a wealthy actor has proposed marriage to her sister-in-law (Kitty) for one week only before having it annulled, and unravelling a murder.
Despite it being third-person limited perspective, I found it a bit tricky to get a really good grip on Emma’s personality, presumably because I haven’t read the other books in the series. However, it was otherwise easy to jump into this book without reading the preceding novels.
My favourite character was Kitty, who’s frivolous, a little bitchy and ditzy, but with a very good understanding of people and how they operate - think Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. She serves as a great contrast to Emma, who’s more reserved, very observational, with a dry sense of humour.
In terms of Barbara’s writing style, I thought that she weaved descriptions, Emma’s thoughts, and dialogue together pretty effortlessly. It made it really easy to vividly imagine scenes and how each character speaks. Her dialogue, full of funny interjections and interruptions, is really fun to read.
I struggled with the more descriptive parts of the book that served the purpose of covering time passing, as they went on longer than I personally enjoy. I experienced a bit of a lull a few times, such as in the middle 20% of the book where I felt like I wasn’t learning much new.
I haven’t read any of Barbara’s previous books, but this one immediately stuck out to me on NetGalley. 1920s Hollywood murder mystery? Sign me up!
The book focuses on a very wealthy widow (Emma) trying to figure out why a wealthy actor has proposed marriage to her sister-in-law (Kitty) for one week only before having it annulled, and unravelling a murder.
Despite it being third-person limited perspective, I found it a bit tricky to get a really good grip on Emma’s personality, presumably because I haven’t read the other books in the series. However, it was otherwise easy to jump into this book without reading the preceding novels.
My favourite character was Kitty, who’s frivolous, a little bitchy and ditzy, but with a very good understanding of people and how they operate - think Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. She serves as a great contrast to Emma, who’s more reserved, very observational, with a dry sense of humour.
In terms of Barbara’s writing style, I thought that she weaved descriptions, Emma’s thoughts, and dialogue together pretty effortlessly. It made it really easy to vividly imagine scenes and how each character speaks. Her dialogue, full of funny interjections and interruptions, is really fun to read.
I struggled with the more descriptive parts of the book that served the purpose of covering time passing, as they went on longer than I personally enjoy. I experienced a bit of a lull a few times, such as in the middle 20% of the book where I felt like I wasn’t learning much new.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
i read this book in just three hours, and it was such an engaging and immersive experience from beginning to end. the plot unfolds with a beautiful sense of rhythm, blending mystery, glamour, and quiet tension in a way that keeps the story moving while still allowing the details to breathe. being part of a series really adds to its strength, as the world and its people already feel layered and lived-in, making every new development feel even more meaningful.
what i loved most was the way the characters were written and allowed to grow. emma, kitty, and the supporting cast feel emotionally real, with their ambitions, fears, and loyalties gently shaping the direction of the story. the themes of reputation, secrecy, and survival run softly beneath the surface, giving the narrative depth without ever feeling heavy-handed. although a few moments were slightly complex and required a little extra attention, they ultimately added to the richness of the storytelling rather than taking anything away from it.
the writing style itself is elegant and atmospheric, perfectly suited to the setting and tone of the book. it creates a vivid, almost cinematic reading experience that draws you in and keeps you there. i’m giving this book 4.2 stars — it was a truly enjoyable and rewarding read that i would happily recommend. thank you to barbara, severn house, and netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc; i thoroughly enjoyed it.
what i loved most was the way the characters were written and allowed to grow. emma, kitty, and the supporting cast feel emotionally real, with their ambitions, fears, and loyalties gently shaping the direction of the story. the themes of reputation, secrecy, and survival run softly beneath the surface, giving the narrative depth without ever feeling heavy-handed. although a few moments were slightly complex and required a little extra attention, they ultimately added to the richness of the storytelling rather than taking anything away from it.
the writing style itself is elegant and atmospheric, perfectly suited to the setting and tone of the book. it creates a vivid, almost cinematic reading experience that draws you in and keeps you there. i’m giving this book 4.2 stars — it was a truly enjoyable and rewarding read that i would happily recommend. thank you to barbara, severn house, and netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc; i thoroughly enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 rounded up to 5
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
I was intrigued when I started reading this series, as I was more familiar with the author's fantasy works, and the Benjamin January historical series.
The premise of a English war widow (Emma) ending up as, essentially, a PA to her slightly ditzy but good hearted movie star sister-in-law Kitty (and her Pekineses) during the roaring 20s in California just sounded like a fish-out-of-water story I could really enjoy. Add in some amateur murder solving, famous people from history and writing that allows you to smell the perfume AND the dust on the streets, and you have a winner!
Emma (and her boyfriend) and Kitty have gone to NYC because of a business deal that Kitty's studio has to film a movie on location. There are A LOT of problems with production that produce both tension and shenanigans, along with the Marx brothers, speakeasies, Christmas in NY, some 'mob business' and, oh yes, murder.
Hambly skilfully juggles all these disparate characters and situations and presents a fascinating novel - although I'm sure the protagonists will be very happy to return to Los Angeles!
Recommend to fans of well written/researched historical mysteries. This is book 4, and your enjoyment would benefit greatly from having read at least one of the other books in the series.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
I was intrigued when I started reading this series, as I was more familiar with the author's fantasy works, and the Benjamin January historical series.
The premise of a English war widow (Emma) ending up as, essentially, a PA to her slightly ditzy but good hearted movie star sister-in-law Kitty (and her Pekineses) during the roaring 20s in California just sounded like a fish-out-of-water story I could really enjoy. Add in some amateur murder solving, famous people from history and writing that allows you to smell the perfume AND the dust on the streets, and you have a winner!
Emma (and her boyfriend) and Kitty have gone to NYC because of a business deal that Kitty's studio has to film a movie on location. There are A LOT of problems with production that produce both tension and shenanigans, along with the Marx brothers, speakeasies, Christmas in NY, some 'mob business' and, oh yes, murder.
Hambly skilfully juggles all these disparate characters and situations and presents a fascinating novel - although I'm sure the protagonists will be very happy to return to Los Angeles!
Recommend to fans of well written/researched historical mysteries. This is book 4, and your enjoyment would benefit greatly from having read at least one of the other books in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Kitty (stage name Camille de la Rose) received a marriage proposal from a New York millionaire- Clark Dexter. Emma Blackstone, Kitty's sister-in-law and companion thought it a bit odd - being married for one week, then a divorce and a $50,000 check. But then the other leading lady on the film Shining Bright - Darlene golden - receives the same offer, Emma's suspicions are aroused. Especially when the filming of Shining Bright is moved to New York City and just happens to be on a property owned by Dexter Holding. In New York, the cast and crew worked on filming while also spending time at various nightclubs, the opera, hanging out with gangsters and the like. Typical 1920s NYC life. But then when a cast member is killed, things get much more serious and end with a dramatic shoot-out! A fun and exciting read that provides a flavor of NYC in the 1920s with speakeasies, vaudeville, Broadway, the Marx Brothers, and the like all playing a part.
Thanks Netgalley and Severn House for the chance to read and enjoy this title!
Thanks Netgalley and Severn House for the chance to read and enjoy this title!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Death in the Palace is the fourth in the Silver Screens series and is just as good as the previous three. Set in the 1920’s it has all the glamour of the golden age of Hollywood. This book has an amazing cast of characters from Mob bosses to the Marx Brothers and everything in between. Strange goings on when Kitty, a silent movie starlet, receives a proposal of marriage from New York millionaire, Clark Dexter, who wants to marry her, then divorce her and pay the handsome sum of $50000 for doing so. Too good to be true, well her companion Emma certainly thinks so especially when another leading lady is offered the same deal. The plot moves from Hollywood to Broadway and is so fast moving with everything 1920’s New York has to offer.
I really enjoyed this one, a real page turner.
I really enjoyed this one, a real page turner.
March 4, 2026
2 1/2 stars. Hambly really knows how to give the reader a sense of time and place in her historical novels. She delivers again in this Silver Screen Historical Mystery that takes place in 1924 that starts in Hollywood and then to New York where the filming of a movie takes places. There are plenty of real historical people in the story, including the Marx Brothers. But in this case, that is part of the problem. There are too many people to keep track of and the story takes a while to really get going. Once it does, there is plenty of action. Not my favorite in the series but I really do like the main characters.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another great entry in this series set in the 1920s film world. The change of action from Hollywood to New York City lets the author introduce new characters and aspects of the film industry, which makes an interesting change from the previous installments in the series. The plot is complex, but the author brings together the strands in a believable way. The main character and amateur detective, Emma Blackstone, is delightful, and her developing relationship with a studio cameraman gives the story real warmth. Somewhere between 4 and 5 stars so rounding up. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Severn House for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the fourth book in the Silver Screens Historical Mystery series. I didn’t read the first three but didn’t find it hard to read this one, though I think having read the previous books would have helped me with knowing the characters.
Silent movie star, Camille de la Rose (Kitty) is with het companion, dog walker and dearest friend,Emily Blackstone, when a devoted fan offers Kitty $50,000 to marry him (it’s 1924). When this suitor is later found dead, it’s off to the races to discover the murderer.
The strengths of this book are its character-driven plot and the marvelous descriptions and feel for 1920s and the glamour of the silver screen. This is a good fit for historical fiction mystery lovers.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me to read this ARC.
Silent movie star, Camille de la Rose (Kitty) is with het companion, dog walker and dearest friend,Emily Blackstone, when a devoted fan offers Kitty $50,000 to marry him (it’s 1924). When this suitor is later found dead, it’s off to the races to discover the murderer.
The strengths of this book are its character-driven plot and the marvelous descriptions and feel for 1920s and the glamour of the silver screen. This is a good fit for historical fiction mystery lovers.
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Really loved it! This stuck out to me because of the time period and details. And the murder mystery aspect was perfection. Written in third person limited, I loved the story and being transported to this time. Kitty was my favorite character, but it was a page turning and unforgettable story overall! The details and flow of the story really worked for me. Will definitely check out Barbara Hambly again! Highly recommend. 4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and author for this advanced copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and author for this advanced copy!
March 4, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Barbara Hambly for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death in the Palace coming out March 3, 2026. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I need to read the other ones. I love old Hollywood. I really love historical fiction. I thought the characters were interesting. I would check out other books by this author.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I need to read the other ones. I love old Hollywood. I really love historical fiction. I thought the characters were interesting. I would check out other books by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Action-packed and fun historical mystery with some great plotting and a fantastic historical mystery work. Would recommend this one quite a bit. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An action packed historical mystery featuring many stars of the silver screen! I have not read the first three books, but Hambly catches you up fairly well. At times, the amount of real people in one spot somewhat strains credulity but I enjoyed reading this and sped through it.
Want to read
February 23, 2026O
March 8, 2026
Another well-researched historical mystery set in 1925 Hollywood and New York. A good story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had not read the previous three books in the series, so I found some of the book confusing. I didn't know the backstories of the characters, particularly the prominent ones. Having said that, I did enjoy Death in the Palace. The plot presents an interesting look at the silent film era, which I knew nothing about. Most of the action takes place in New York City, with its gangsters, show girls, super wealthy, etc., and I found the atmosphere more intriguing than the actual mystery. Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC. Death in the Palace will release on March 3.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fourth in the mystery series set in 1920s Hollywood, the action in this one moves to New York, at the time a center of the film industry. Four famous vaudeville comedian brothers play semi-major roles.
Not great art, but enjoyable. This series keeps improving as it goes along.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Not great art, but enjoyable. This series keeps improving as it goes along.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews