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The Silver Blonde
A historical mystery set in post-World War II America against the backdrop of Hollywood's film studios about a murder that threatens to unearth the ghosts of a young German immigrant's past.
Hollywood, 1946. The war is over, and eighteen-year-old Clara Berg spends her days shelving reels as a vault girl at Silver Pacific Studios, with all her dreams pinned on getting a break in film editing. That and a real date with handsome yet unpredictable screenwriter Gil. But when she returns a reel of film to storage one night, Clara stumbles across the lifeless body of a woman in Vault 5. The costume, the makeup, the ash-blond hair are unmistakable--it has to be Babe Bannon, A-list star. And it looks like murder.
Suddenly Clara's world is in free-fall, her future in movies upended--not to mention that her refugee parents are planning to return to Germany and don't want her to set foot on the studio lot again. As the Silver Blonde murder ignites Tinseltown, rumors and accusations swirl. The studio wants a quick solve, but the facts of the case keep shifting. Nothing is what it seems--not even the victim.
Clara finds herself drawn, inevitably, to the murder investigation, and the dark side of Hollywood. But how far is she willing to go to find the truth?
Hollywood, 1946. The war is over, and eighteen-year-old Clara Berg spends her days shelving reels as a vault girl at Silver Pacific Studios, with all her dreams pinned on getting a break in film editing. That and a real date with handsome yet unpredictable screenwriter Gil. But when she returns a reel of film to storage one night, Clara stumbles across the lifeless body of a woman in Vault 5. The costume, the makeup, the ash-blond hair are unmistakable--it has to be Babe Bannon, A-list star. And it looks like murder.
Suddenly Clara's world is in free-fall, her future in movies upended--not to mention that her refugee parents are planning to return to Germany and don't want her to set foot on the studio lot again. As the Silver Blonde murder ignites Tinseltown, rumors and accusations swirl. The studio wants a quick solve, but the facts of the case keep shifting. Nothing is what it seems--not even the victim.
Clara finds herself drawn, inevitably, to the murder investigation, and the dark side of Hollywood. But how far is she willing to go to find the truth?
400 pages, Hardcover
First published July 27, 2021
9 people are currently reading
796 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Ross
2 books102 followersElizabeth Ross's debut novel BELLE EPOQUE (Delacorte Press/Random House) was a finalist for the American Library Association's Morris Debut Award and the California Book Award. Her second novel, THE SILVER BLONDE is out July 2021. Visit her at www.elizabethrossbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
June 12, 2022
this was so good! i didn't go in with super high expectations since there aren't a ton of reviews, but i highly recommend this!! The Silver Blonde takes place in Hollywood, 1946, and follows Clara, a "vault-girl". Clara's life is upended when she discovers a body in the vaults. with the help of her friend (and crush 😙) Gil, she's determined to find the truth behind the body in the vaults.
this was genuinely a really good mystery - i totally didn't expect the ending - plus la romance was very well developed and good 👩🏻🍳💋
i definitely recommend! this is criminally underrated
this was genuinely a really good mystery - i totally didn't expect the ending - plus la romance was very well developed and good 👩🏻🍳💋
i definitely recommend! this is criminally underrated
June 6, 2021
Smart, stylish LA noir murder mystery that has plenty of 1940s Hollywood glamour, but also digs into the lives and work of the film editors, stand-ins, projectionists, vault archivists, and others behind the scenes. And off the studio lot, Ross explores the community of exiles and émigrés who fled Hitler in the 1930s and settled in Los Angeles.
This book has a lot going on, and every page is completely fascinating.
This book has a lot going on, and every page is completely fascinating.
February 6, 2022
This book was AMAZING. I picked it up at B&N a bit ago because I had a gift card from a friend. I enjoy B&N gift cards, but they are always so hard to spend!!! Too many options.
ANYWAYS... this book was so good. There are defiantly things to watch out for though. Attempted (1) and real murder (1). One of which is to the main character and we see the whole situation. This book also uses a lot of historical (WW2) references and does briefly mention and talk about concentration camps. Hitler is mentioned a lot. Sexism is very present because this book is set in the 1940s.
Such a good book. I want more so badly.
5 whole stars, if I could give more I would.
ANYWAYS... this book was so good. There are defiantly things to watch out for though. Attempted (1) and real murder (1). One of which is to the main character and we see the whole situation. This book also uses a lot of historical (WW2) references and does briefly mention and talk about concentration camps. Hitler is mentioned a lot. Sexism is very present because this book is set in the 1940s.
Such a good book. I want more so badly.
5 whole stars, if I could give more I would.
May 26, 2022
This is the book I’ve been waiting for, a classic love letter to old time Hollywood. I felt immersed in the American culture of the day without any of it feeling over the top; the historical details felt natural and believable. I couldn't put the book down and it was definitely a great one to get me out of my reading slump by the interesting setting and aesthetic. 4 stars!! ✨
August 5, 2021
Hoooooo boy did I love Elizabeth Ross' THE SILVER BLONDE. This alluring piece of post-World War II historical fiction is catnip for fans of Old Hollywood and film noir. The atmosphere and general vibe is an intriguing cross between Orson Welles' TOUCH OF EVIL and CITIZEN KANE with a healthy dose of AGENT CARTER season 2 thrown in for warmth and levity. So basically, it was the perfect read for me.
As someone who minored in Cinema Studies and has always had a fascination with classic Hollywood films and filmmaking, I couldn't get enough of the nitty gritty day-to-day life at the studio and all of the important roles the different characters played in the larger film studio machine. I also really enjoyed the interplay between all of the characters, although no one but the main heroine received all that much character development. (In fact, someone who I thought was set up to be a big deal essentially disappears from the book about halfway through, and is only referenced here and there in the second half.) There's a bit of a romance that weaves its way through the events of the novel that I also would've liked more of, but it strikes a good balance so as not to take away from the main mystery and driving forces of the story.
Interestingly enough, though it takes place in the late 1940s, one of the main driving forces of the story is World War II. In addition to driving the mystery, the war also informs many of the characters' personalities, relationships, and motives for why they act the way they do. But that all pales in comparison to the larger role it takes in the mystery itself. Some of it feels a bit ham-fisted a times and perhaps a bit over the top, but its overall presence is pretty effective.
As with most mysteries, there are some forced coincidences that help Klara, the main character, solve the murder and quite a few suspects that rotate through the realm of possibility. But it's also one of those books where it's a fun activity in itself to try to figure out whodunnit before our intrepid hero.
THE SILVER BLONDE is such an enjoyable ride from start to finish that will have you jonesing to watch an Old Hollywood film as soon as you finish. (And also, if you're like me, demand a sequel from Elizabeth Ross because you're not quite ready to say goodbye to this particular world or the main character.)
As someone who minored in Cinema Studies and has always had a fascination with classic Hollywood films and filmmaking, I couldn't get enough of the nitty gritty day-to-day life at the studio and all of the important roles the different characters played in the larger film studio machine. I also really enjoyed the interplay between all of the characters, although no one but the main heroine received all that much character development. (In fact, someone who I thought was set up to be a big deal essentially disappears from the book about halfway through, and is only referenced here and there in the second half.) There's a bit of a romance that weaves its way through the events of the novel that I also would've liked more of, but it strikes a good balance so as not to take away from the main mystery and driving forces of the story.
Interestingly enough, though it takes place in the late 1940s, one of the main driving forces of the story is World War II. In addition to driving the mystery, the war also informs many of the characters' personalities, relationships, and motives for why they act the way they do. But that all pales in comparison to the larger role it takes in the mystery itself. Some of it feels a bit ham-fisted a times and perhaps a bit over the top, but its overall presence is pretty effective.
As with most mysteries, there are some forced coincidences that help Klara, the main character, solve the murder and quite a few suspects that rotate through the realm of possibility. But it's also one of those books where it's a fun activity in itself to try to figure out whodunnit before our intrepid hero.
THE SILVER BLONDE is such an enjoyable ride from start to finish that will have you jonesing to watch an Old Hollywood film as soon as you finish. (And also, if you're like me, demand a sequel from Elizabeth Ross because you're not quite ready to say goodbye to this particular world or the main character.)
January 10, 2022
The Silver Blonde by Elizabeth Ross is easily one of my favorite 2021 releases. I'm so glad I just happened to stumble across it via Libby because that was such a pleasant surprise. It totally deserves so much more love. If you're a fan of YA post-WWII set historical fiction, the behind the scenes of Classic Hollywood, and noir-tinged mysteries, this novel is an absolute must read. I loved getting to know the characters and following the core mystery, but the real stand out here is the world-building. When I talk about world-building, I usually reserve that for sci-fi or fantasy rather than historical fiction, but Elizabeth Ross really sets the bar for bringing Clara's 1946 Hollywood to life. Overall, this novel is an absolute must-read and one of my favorites of the year. I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.
July 9, 2024
One thing I appreciate about a good historical fiction book is how I inadvertently learn about other areas of history and the world that I was clueless about or only vaguely familiar with before. Events in The Silver Blonde led me to reading outside information about Nazi influence over Hollywood and the censorship that arose from it. Previously, I knew on some level that happened but not to the extend of reality. I knew of the propaganda film, Triumph of the Will, but not about the key German director who was tied into it and other controversy around her.
The cast is complex and diverse in motivations and backgrounds. Clara shows such growth throughout the novel and a determination fitting to a young German girl trying to earn her way in post-WWII America. Connie serves the purpose of any young woman pushing to stand in her own feet and rise above her station in life. Gil is questionable and likeable at the same time, suffering through PTSD before anyone knew what it was. Getting inside his head would be intriguing but also would pull away from the curious nature of the story and Clara's journey to the truth. Baby Bannon is a huge propeller of the plot in the beginning and serves to teach the lesson that the public is fascinated with celebrities, not nobodies who go missing or wind up dead. I'd love to have gotten more from Max as Clara's new father figure. For the first half I trudged along out of mild curiosity, but once stakes were raised and emotions laid bare, I needed to know what happened. The tie-ins to real classic Hollywood movies was a great touch that the author explains well in her note.
The cast is complex and diverse in motivations and backgrounds. Clara shows such growth throughout the novel and a determination fitting to a young German girl trying to earn her way in post-WWII America. Connie serves the purpose of any young woman pushing to stand in her own feet and rise above her station in life. Gil is questionable and likeable at the same time, suffering through PTSD before anyone knew what it was. Getting inside his head would be intriguing but also would pull away from the curious nature of the story and Clara's journey to the truth. Baby Bannon is a huge propeller of the plot in the beginning and serves to teach the lesson that the public is fascinated with celebrities, not nobodies who go missing or wind up dead. I'd love to have gotten more from Max as Clara's new father figure. For the first half I trudged along out of mild curiosity, but once stakes were raised and emotions laid bare, I needed to know what happened. The tie-ins to real classic Hollywood movies was a great touch that the author explains well in her note.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2021
The Silver Blonde is a beautifully written and gripping tale that captures the spirit of Los Angeles in the 1940s. Kicking off with a murder at a movie studio that sets the book's young heroine on a quest to discover the truth, The Silver Blond is a real page-turner—part Raymond Chandler-esque noir and part historical fiction. Elizabeth Ross's lyrical prose and attention to detail, i.e. the way the light hits a windshield or the sounds of fluttering film reels, plus her ability to deftly incorporate a subplot around WW2 and Nazi Germany, is nothing short of artful. I loved the way she brought vintage LA to life so vividly on the page and felt as though I was watching all the events unfold on a big screen. Full of twists and turns and surprises, it's a fascinating story that will uncover a hidden side of Hollywood history. Five Stars! Highly recommend.
July 30, 2021
SO GOOD!!!! Brings in things I love, historical fiction, mystery and old Hollywood. I liked the elements of Clara's family being German immigrants to the United States and how she sometimes feels more American than German. Also really loved that she worked as a film archivist--filing away the film reels. I sometimes I have a hard time putting into words why I loved a book so much, and this is no exception.
August 11, 2021
First sentence from the prologue: Step into a picture house on a sunny afternoon, and you can suspend time.
Premise/plot: The Silver Blonde is a young adult historical novel--a mystery--set in Hollywood in 1946. Clara Berg, our heroine, begins off as a 'vault girl' at Silver Pacific Studios. Within a chapter or two, she's been moved to an assistant (perhaps assistant assistant) editorial job. She'll be learning how to edit film footage, and she's thrilled. Thrilled but also distracted....
For on her LAST day as a vault girl she makes a gruesome discovery in the vault. A blonde has been strangled! She's dressed up in the clothes of the film star, Babe Bannon, and at first that is what everyone thinks: the star of the current film in production has been murdered at the studio!!! DRAMA. SCANDAL. FOUL PLAY. EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT.
But the victim isn't Bannon...which begs about a million questions. Clara is fascinated by the case. True, she discovered the body. But her fascination goes beyond that...it becomes almost personal. Can Clara do a better job solving the case than the police?
My thoughts: I found The Silver Blonde to be a compelling read. I loved the Hollywood setting. It is set in 1946, World War II is fresh on everyone's mind--everyone is still so impacted/effected by the war. Including Clara's potential-potential love interest, Gil, a screen writer. I love that mental health is front and center in this one with so many of the characters. I love it as a mystery. I think the book does a good job of presenting five to eight potential suspects: the characters are fleshed out, clues are given, Clara AND READERS must put on their thinking caps. I feel there is depth and substance--in other words--LAYERS which is essential in any good mystery. It has in one of its layers a possible romance...but it isn't too much, too fast.
Premise/plot: The Silver Blonde is a young adult historical novel--a mystery--set in Hollywood in 1946. Clara Berg, our heroine, begins off as a 'vault girl' at Silver Pacific Studios. Within a chapter or two, she's been moved to an assistant (perhaps assistant assistant) editorial job. She'll be learning how to edit film footage, and she's thrilled. Thrilled but also distracted....
For on her LAST day as a vault girl she makes a gruesome discovery in the vault. A blonde has been strangled! She's dressed up in the clothes of the film star, Babe Bannon, and at first that is what everyone thinks: the star of the current film in production has been murdered at the studio!!! DRAMA. SCANDAL. FOUL PLAY. EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT.
But the victim isn't Bannon...which begs about a million questions. Clara is fascinated by the case. True, she discovered the body. But her fascination goes beyond that...it becomes almost personal. Can Clara do a better job solving the case than the police?
My thoughts: I found The Silver Blonde to be a compelling read. I loved the Hollywood setting. It is set in 1946, World War II is fresh on everyone's mind--everyone is still so impacted/effected by the war. Including Clara's potential-potential love interest, Gil, a screen writer. I love that mental health is front and center in this one with so many of the characters. I love it as a mystery. I think the book does a good job of presenting five to eight potential suspects: the characters are fleshed out, clues are given, Clara AND READERS must put on their thinking caps. I feel there is depth and substance--in other words--LAYERS which is essential in any good mystery. It has in one of its layers a possible romance...but it isn't too much, too fast.
December 23, 2021
This was one of my most anticipated books of 2021 and it certainly met my expectations in nearly every area. The only places I felt let down were in pacing; (the middle portion dragged on too long for me); and a seemingly out of character decision towards the end of the book from our heroine.
It is 1946 and 18-year-old Clara is working as a vault girl at Silver Pacific Studios hoping to stay at the Studio long enough to acquire the skills needed to one day become a film editor. When she transitions to a role as assistant to the film editor this is not the only aspect of her life that will shift. On her last night working as a vault girl she is returning a film reel when she stumbles across a body in one of the vaults. Her discovery will set off shock waves through the studio and everyone becomes a suspect as productions are halted. As the investigation continues to drag on, plucky Clara decides to take the case on herself, rather than have her opportunity to reach her goals be jeopardized.
There were so many aspects of this multi-layered story that I enjoyed with the first being how it explores the role of film in WWII and the visit of Leni Riefenstahl to Hollywood.
Elizabeth Ross’s attention to detail immediately transports the reader to the hum of activity that takes place on a film lot, and her incorporation of many of the roles needed to bring a film to full production educate the reader on the behind-the-scenes work that occurs.
If YA is not a genre you typically pick up I encourage you to give this one a chance!
It is 1946 and 18-year-old Clara is working as a vault girl at Silver Pacific Studios hoping to stay at the Studio long enough to acquire the skills needed to one day become a film editor. When she transitions to a role as assistant to the film editor this is not the only aspect of her life that will shift. On her last night working as a vault girl she is returning a film reel when she stumbles across a body in one of the vaults. Her discovery will set off shock waves through the studio and everyone becomes a suspect as productions are halted. As the investigation continues to drag on, plucky Clara decides to take the case on herself, rather than have her opportunity to reach her goals be jeopardized.
There were so many aspects of this multi-layered story that I enjoyed with the first being how it explores the role of film in WWII and the visit of Leni Riefenstahl to Hollywood.
Elizabeth Ross’s attention to detail immediately transports the reader to the hum of activity that takes place on a film lot, and her incorporation of many of the roles needed to bring a film to full production educate the reader on the behind-the-scenes work that occurs.
If YA is not a genre you typically pick up I encourage you to give this one a chance!
November 13, 2021
Atmospheric murder mysteries—especially those set in the past—are my jam, so I found the premise of THE SILVER BLONDE intriguing. The broody setting gives the novel a classic film noir feel, which adds to the story's intensity and suspense. 1940's Hollywood comes alive with vivid, authentic details, much of them gleaned from the author's own experience working in a movie studio. Although I've never cared much about Hollywood goings-on, I did find this insider's look at the industry interesting. Clara isn't a real stand-out heroine, but she's a likable one, especially since she's so devoted to finding out what really happened to a young woman everyone else sees as inconsequential. Her courage and compassion make her admirable. With a few exceptions, the rest of the characters are much less appealing, mostly conforming to tired Hollywood stereotypes. As far as plot goes, the action kept me engrossed and turning pages. Not FLYING through them, but reading steadily. Although the book's finale is pretty anticlimactic, I was surprised by the killer's identity, which is always nice in a mystery/thriller. Overall, then, I found THE SILVER BLONDE to be a decent, satisfying read. I enjoyed it.
FYI: Although this book is billed as a teen novel, it doesn't read like YA. It's cleaner than most adult crime stories, true, but it feels more like a story for adults than teens. Clara acts much older than 18 and none of the story takes place in any kind of teen-type setting/situation, so I'm really confused by its classification as YA...
FYI: Although this book is billed as a teen novel, it doesn't read like YA. It's cleaner than most adult crime stories, true, but it feels more like a story for adults than teens. Clara acts much older than 18 and none of the story takes place in any kind of teen-type setting/situation, so I'm really confused by its classification as YA...
September 14, 2022
I am not sure why this book has so few reviews on here because it is really fun and thrilling. Old Hollywood is the best backdrop for a thriller and I love how it pays tribute to and incorporates classic films. The intrigue and excellent and I liked how it weaves in WWII historical film and propaganda as well. I learned some cool things there. Overall this is historical fiction in the sense of like a period piece—it isn’t ground breaking or super eye opening— but it is really interesting, fun, and exciting. A great read if you love mystery and old Hollywood.
November 29, 2022
I was skeptical about this book because I don't love mystery stories. I read it as part of a book club and it was really good. The author does really good at setting up a red herring and the twist in the end was completely unexpected.
October 28, 2021
such a good mystery!!!!
November 16, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery set in post-World War II America against the flashy backdrop of Hollywood's film studios.
November 22, 2021
In 1946 Los Angeles, at Silver Pacific studios, eighteen-year-old Clara Berg finally gets promoted to apprentice editor. That same evening, instead of celebrating with her crush, screenwriter Gil, she stumbles upon a dead body. At first, the murdered woman appears to be film star Barbara Bannon, but the victim is actually Bannon’s stand-in, Connie Milligan. Although Clara didn’t know Connie, she feels a kinship to her—ambitious young women in the mostly male Hollywood world. When police struggle with the case, Clara does her own investigating, which requires her to remember and come to terms with her childhood in late 1930s Germany. Meanwhile, with the war over, her parents are planning to return to Germany, and they expect her to return with them. Will she have to give up her Hollywood dreams?
Ross has crafted an excellent mystery. Was Bannon the actual target of the murderer? Are there any ghosts in Connie’s past? Gil is an obvious suspect whom Clara doesn’t want to consider. The uncovering of Clara’s own history, and how she struggles to claim her identity as a German-American, comes about when she begins researching German film writer and director Leni Riefenstahl whose time in Hollywood may be linked to the murder. Information about film production and the movies from this era are fun and interesting. Ross’s author notes separate fact from fiction—and I learned a lot! This is marketed as “young adult,” but I see The Silver Blonde appealing to anyone over the age of fourteen.
Ross has crafted an excellent mystery. Was Bannon the actual target of the murderer? Are there any ghosts in Connie’s past? Gil is an obvious suspect whom Clara doesn’t want to consider. The uncovering of Clara’s own history, and how she struggles to claim her identity as a German-American, comes about when she begins researching German film writer and director Leni Riefenstahl whose time in Hollywood may be linked to the murder. Information about film production and the movies from this era are fun and interesting. Ross’s author notes separate fact from fiction—and I learned a lot! This is marketed as “young adult,” but I see The Silver Blonde appealing to anyone over the age of fourteen.
May 16, 2025
Having read Elizabeth Ross' first novel, Belle Epoque, several years ago (and liked it), I kept a look out for other books. Eventually I found this sophomore effort, which was published eight years after her debut. I've always been interested in "old Hollywood," so that combined with a classic-sounding whodunit seemed like a no-brainer combo for me. But is this post-WWII Tinseltown murder mystery truly applause-worthy?
The Silver Blonde by Elizabeth Ross, is a standalone YA historical fiction mystery set in post-WWII Los Angeles. Here, readers are introduced to Clara Berg, the daughter of German refuges, who aspires to become a film editor at Silver Pacific Studios. In the meantime, she works as a vault girl, shelving reels. When she makes a quick trip to the vault after hours, she stumbles upon the alleged body of famed movie star Babe Bannon. But who would murder the lovely but cantankerous actress? And why can no one give any straight answers? Clara is determined to edit fiction from fact - but it will mean delving into danger.
I hold mystery stories to a particular three-tier standard: they have to make sense, they have to keep me guessing, and they have to offer a satisfying denouement. Much to my surprise, this novel checks off all three with much aplomb.
For starters, the book itself is well-researched in both the basics of the movie-making process (from script to screen) and its specific period. It feels authentic to time and place and isn't the sort of historical fiction where characters act and talk like modern folks. Here, I felt I had been transplanted into 1940s L.A. and Hollywood's Golden Age, which probably wasn't as shiny as that moniker made it seem. This backdrop and its inherent shadowy side lends itself perfectly to a murder mystery involving a (fictional) silver screen icon
I liked Clara as a character and she makes for a good amateur sleuth. (Think a more grown up, slightly more jaded Nancy Drew.) She's smart, capable of reading between the lines, and honest, but she's not heartless and makes sure the victim's story isn't lost in the shuffle. Running parallel to Clara's involvement in solving the murder is her own personal tale where her parents prepare to return to Germany while Clara has her own plans. She wants to forge her own path but recognizes the past can teach valuable lessons about the present. When it comes to female-fronted mysteries, one unforgivable crime is turning the leading lady sleuth into a fainting flower or a hard-nosed feminist. Clara is neither as she possesses a good balance of intellect tampered by compassion and insight.
As mentioned earlier, there are attributes a mystery story has to possess in order for me to declare it a solidly-told tale. The first is the mystery itself has to make sense, meaning it becomes the highlight of the story, not merely a side quest (though this doesn't apply to books that aren't marketed as mysteries but contain a mystery slant). In this novel, the murder remains the central focus minus glaring plot holes, and the secondary plots function to either reveal clues or advance the story towards the murderer's reveal.
Second, a good mystery has to leave me guessing as to who committed the crime and their motive for doing so. Granted, I have a bad habit of figuring out plots ahead of time, and I sense that's because I've been a lifelong bookworm and I'm a writer myself. However, for me, if I can't deduce who a suspect is or figure out a twist ahead of time, then it's a good mystery. This novel delivered on both fronts: it contained a wide range of suspects, all with unique motives, and there were plenty of narrative curve balls to keep me guessing.
Lastly, for me, a good mystery needs a satisfying denouement that reveals the culprit and explains any danging story threads. Once more, the novel accomplishes this by providing an unexpected suspect and wrapping up the mystery's unsolved questions. Given the subject matter and setting, I wondered if this might turn into a soap opera-style story, filled with hysterics and melodramatics. Thankfully, the narrative maintains a level head that keeps its focus and keeps you guessing until the end.
I also appreciated the obvious tip of the hat to the noir genre, which Ross explains in her author's note was one of her inspirations. Not only is the signature noir feel present in the setting, it's also reflected in the novel's underlying themes regarding mistrust, guilt, cynicism, paranoia, and a sense of loss. Clara learns not to trust even the most well-intended person, which causes the reader to adopt the same mindset as the mystery progresses. There is also an underlying current of jadedness, especially when it comes to the world at large and whether any good people still populate it. Along these lines is the sense of "loss" or alienation injected into certain characters' plots. Clara is a German trying to assimilate into American culture, which sometimes makes her feel like an outsider. Other characters echo the same sentiments when it comes to trying to fit into the world, even if it's one of their own design, which sometimes comes with dissatisfying or even disastrous results. Thankfully, the novel doesn't delve too deep into depressing waters, as chapters offer a sense of relief for both Clara and readers.
So, given all my praise for this book, why is it four stars?
Because I'm stingy.
For me, a five star read is one that is both a great all-around story with well-crafted characters that also touched or deeply moved me. This novel didn't do that, but I wasn't expecting it to, as most mysteries aren't that profound. I wanted a solid mystery, and that's what I got, so I'm happy with that.
But if you want me to nitpick, I can find a few things. First, the second and third acts were slightly protracted, probably for the sake of building tension and increasing stakes. Likewise, some parts of Clara's backstory (chiefly depicting when she was a child in Germany) felt unnecessary but weren't glaringly out of place. However, they added an extra weight to the story that maybe didn't have to be there. Along these lines, some clues were stretching to make themselves fit, but not annoyingly so as they never asked too much of my suspension of disbelief. I never sensed characters were grasping at straws in this regard, but a few connections did come across as a tad coincidental.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't air this grievance: in the author's note, which is otherwise informative, Ross tries to make a not-so-subtle comparison between a *certain politician* and this person's rhetoric to Hitler and Nazi propaganda.
I don't get it.
(This little gripe of mine did not factor into my star rating because I judge a book by its story, not its author's comments. Ross is entitled to her opinion, and I'm entitled to mine. Thankfully, no modern political musings or metaphors appear in the novel itself, so my annoyance is confined strictly to the author's note, which ultimately isn't necessary for understanding or appreciating the story.)
Overall, The Silver Blonde is a gripping noir-style murder mystery that serves up clever clues and solid sleuthing. Fans of the genre, as well as of historical fiction set in the Hollywood Golden Age era or post-WWII America, should find much to enjoy here. Despite the word silver in its title, this book is a gold medal win.
Content:
Language - Sporadic PG-level profanities (chiefly d-mn) and religious exclamations occasionally crop up.
Violence - Despite this being a murder mystery, there is nothing in terms of anything graphic or gory. Clara stumbles upon a dead woman's body whose face has suffered bloody injuries. There is also some discussion of Nazi propaganda, concentration camps, and why some characters felt the need to flee Germany after Hitler seized control. Lastly, a character is cornered and almost killed but escapes.
Sexual Content - Essentially none. One character learns her boyfriend had a fling with a famous actress, but no details are given. A female character is given the nickname "Nazi pin-up girl." There are also rumors of affairs and scandals but no details are shared. Lastly, some characters exchange chaste kisses that lead to nothing further.
Substance Abuse - Clara (an older teen) consumes a few alcoholic beverages (not to excess), but this was not considered underage drinking in the 1940s.
The Silver Blonde by Elizabeth Ross, is a standalone YA historical fiction mystery set in post-WWII Los Angeles. Here, readers are introduced to Clara Berg, the daughter of German refuges, who aspires to become a film editor at Silver Pacific Studios. In the meantime, she works as a vault girl, shelving reels. When she makes a quick trip to the vault after hours, she stumbles upon the alleged body of famed movie star Babe Bannon. But who would murder the lovely but cantankerous actress? And why can no one give any straight answers? Clara is determined to edit fiction from fact - but it will mean delving into danger.
I hold mystery stories to a particular three-tier standard: they have to make sense, they have to keep me guessing, and they have to offer a satisfying denouement. Much to my surprise, this novel checks off all three with much aplomb.
For starters, the book itself is well-researched in both the basics of the movie-making process (from script to screen) and its specific period. It feels authentic to time and place and isn't the sort of historical fiction where characters act and talk like modern folks. Here, I felt I had been transplanted into 1940s L.A. and Hollywood's Golden Age, which probably wasn't as shiny as that moniker made it seem. This backdrop and its inherent shadowy side lends itself perfectly to a murder mystery involving a (fictional) silver screen icon
I liked Clara as a character and she makes for a good amateur sleuth. (Think a more grown up, slightly more jaded Nancy Drew.) She's smart, capable of reading between the lines, and honest, but she's not heartless and makes sure the victim's story isn't lost in the shuffle. Running parallel to Clara's involvement in solving the murder is her own personal tale where her parents prepare to return to Germany while Clara has her own plans. She wants to forge her own path but recognizes the past can teach valuable lessons about the present. When it comes to female-fronted mysteries, one unforgivable crime is turning the leading lady sleuth into a fainting flower or a hard-nosed feminist. Clara is neither as she possesses a good balance of intellect tampered by compassion and insight.
As mentioned earlier, there are attributes a mystery story has to possess in order for me to declare it a solidly-told tale. The first is the mystery itself has to make sense, meaning it becomes the highlight of the story, not merely a side quest (though this doesn't apply to books that aren't marketed as mysteries but contain a mystery slant). In this novel, the murder remains the central focus minus glaring plot holes, and the secondary plots function to either reveal clues or advance the story towards the murderer's reveal.
Second, a good mystery has to leave me guessing as to who committed the crime and their motive for doing so. Granted, I have a bad habit of figuring out plots ahead of time, and I sense that's because I've been a lifelong bookworm and I'm a writer myself. However, for me, if I can't deduce who a suspect is or figure out a twist ahead of time, then it's a good mystery. This novel delivered on both fronts: it contained a wide range of suspects, all with unique motives, and there were plenty of narrative curve balls to keep me guessing.
Lastly, for me, a good mystery needs a satisfying denouement that reveals the culprit and explains any danging story threads. Once more, the novel accomplishes this by providing an unexpected suspect and wrapping up the mystery's unsolved questions. Given the subject matter and setting, I wondered if this might turn into a soap opera-style story, filled with hysterics and melodramatics. Thankfully, the narrative maintains a level head that keeps its focus and keeps you guessing until the end.
I also appreciated the obvious tip of the hat to the noir genre, which Ross explains in her author's note was one of her inspirations. Not only is the signature noir feel present in the setting, it's also reflected in the novel's underlying themes regarding mistrust, guilt, cynicism, paranoia, and a sense of loss. Clara learns not to trust even the most well-intended person, which causes the reader to adopt the same mindset as the mystery progresses. There is also an underlying current of jadedness, especially when it comes to the world at large and whether any good people still populate it. Along these lines is the sense of "loss" or alienation injected into certain characters' plots. Clara is a German trying to assimilate into American culture, which sometimes makes her feel like an outsider. Other characters echo the same sentiments when it comes to trying to fit into the world, even if it's one of their own design, which sometimes comes with dissatisfying or even disastrous results. Thankfully, the novel doesn't delve too deep into depressing waters, as chapters offer a sense of relief for both Clara and readers.
So, given all my praise for this book, why is it four stars?
Because I'm stingy.
For me, a five star read is one that is both a great all-around story with well-crafted characters that also touched or deeply moved me. This novel didn't do that, but I wasn't expecting it to, as most mysteries aren't that profound. I wanted a solid mystery, and that's what I got, so I'm happy with that.
But if you want me to nitpick, I can find a few things. First, the second and third acts were slightly protracted, probably for the sake of building tension and increasing stakes. Likewise, some parts of Clara's backstory (chiefly depicting when she was a child in Germany) felt unnecessary but weren't glaringly out of place. However, they added an extra weight to the story that maybe didn't have to be there. Along these lines, some clues were stretching to make themselves fit, but not annoyingly so as they never asked too much of my suspension of disbelief. I never sensed characters were grasping at straws in this regard, but a few connections did come across as a tad coincidental.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't air this grievance: in the author's note, which is otherwise informative, Ross tries to make a not-so-subtle comparison between a *certain politician* and this person's rhetoric to Hitler and Nazi propaganda.
I don't get it.
(This little gripe of mine did not factor into my star rating because I judge a book by its story, not its author's comments. Ross is entitled to her opinion, and I'm entitled to mine. Thankfully, no modern political musings or metaphors appear in the novel itself, so my annoyance is confined strictly to the author's note, which ultimately isn't necessary for understanding or appreciating the story.)
Overall, The Silver Blonde is a gripping noir-style murder mystery that serves up clever clues and solid sleuthing. Fans of the genre, as well as of historical fiction set in the Hollywood Golden Age era or post-WWII America, should find much to enjoy here. Despite the word silver in its title, this book is a gold medal win.
Content:
Language - Sporadic PG-level profanities (chiefly d-mn) and religious exclamations occasionally crop up.
Violence - Despite this being a murder mystery, there is nothing in terms of anything graphic or gory. Clara stumbles upon a dead woman's body whose face has suffered bloody injuries. There is also some discussion of Nazi propaganda, concentration camps, and why some characters felt the need to flee Germany after Hitler seized control. Lastly, a character is cornered and almost killed but escapes.
Sexual Content - Essentially none. One character learns her boyfriend had a fling with a famous actress, but no details are given. A female character is given the nickname "Nazi pin-up girl." There are also rumors of affairs and scandals but no details are shared. Lastly, some characters exchange chaste kisses that lead to nothing further.
Substance Abuse - Clara (an older teen) consumes a few alcoholic beverages (not to excess), but this was not considered underage drinking in the 1940s.
December 21, 2021
My mom is a librarian and every time she gets new books, I always look over them. This book was in her newest pile of books and I was instantly drawn to the cover and the story. I enjoy historical mysteries and I loved the idea of a noir type of book. Overall, this book was beautifully written and I learned a lot about filmmaking post-WWII.
The mystery itself was good at first, but towards the end, it got too muddled. The main character, Clara had some personal stakes in the mystery that made the solution too coincidental. There were also a bit too many flashbacks that I felt weren't that important to the mystery. However, I understand that this book is aimed at YA and as a result, there needed to be some kind of "search for self" that all YA books have. I just think that without those aspects, the story could have been better.
Do I recommend this? Sure! I'm not sure if I will read it again, though.
The mystery itself was good at first, but towards the end, it got too muddled. The main character, Clara had some personal stakes in the mystery that made the solution too coincidental. There were also a bit too many flashbacks that I felt weren't that important to the mystery. However, I understand that this book is aimed at YA and as a result, there needed to be some kind of "search for self" that all YA books have. I just think that without those aspects, the story could have been better.
Do I recommend this? Sure! I'm not sure if I will read it again, though.
August 30, 2021
Satisfying and very well crafted historical mystery. Clara/Klara fled Nazi Germany with her parents in 1938. Now that the war is over, she's about to be promoted at the movie studio where she works when her parents announce they're about to return to Germany so her dad can take a professorship. Clara is devastated and angry at their obliviousness to her newly established life, complete with a budding friendship, and maybe more with Gil, a recently returned war veteran who is employed as a screen writer at the studio.
When Clara stays late one evening and sees blonde hair caught in a film vault door, it's the beginning of an intricate murder mystery that involves plenty of historical detail, many red herrings and a dandy climax at the end. It's a great choice for libraries where teens, and adults enjoy history and mystery blended together.
When Clara stays late one evening and sees blonde hair caught in a film vault door, it's the beginning of an intricate murder mystery that involves plenty of historical detail, many red herrings and a dandy climax at the end. It's a great choice for libraries where teens, and adults enjoy history and mystery blended together.
October 14, 2021
I loved being transported into the 40's. I felt like I was walking right there with Clara as she tries to figure out how and why certain things happened. The imagery was so vivid as some parts were dark, funny, cunning, so well written...the way the author describes certain images is what I also see but could never put into words. So satisfying. The mystery kept me reading but as I neared closer to finding out what happened I started reading slower and slower so that the book wouldn't end!
October 20, 2022
A great mystery set in old Hollywood during WW2. Clara is starting fresh in America after fleeing Nazi Germany. Her dream is to work in Hollywood. Finally she gets her chance as apprentice editor on a big film, but on her first day she stumbles upon a murder. Now she is caught in a murder investigation that has her digging into the movie studios dark past.
The book started slow but then the history sucked me in. There isn’t any mature content but I think the intended audience is grades 8+.
The book started slow but then the history sucked me in. There isn’t any mature content but I think the intended audience is grades 8+.
May 6, 2023
Overall the story was a good mystery. It was slow in the beginning. The romance element in this story was slim and incomplete for me. I also felt the story of her first kiss and reading the dairy of Connie’s out of place. I did appreciate the author’s notes at the end sharing what historical elements were used.
August 18, 2021
A different kind of Murder mystery but I had trouble believing the main character was better at solving the mystery than the detectives.
June 28, 2024
Meh! Just a so, so mystery. It sort of has a noire feeling to the read which was cool I guess but it didn't excite me. I don't think I'll read anything else from this author.
Audiobook
Audiobook
June 13, 2022
The Silver Blonde by Elizabeth Ross is a well-researched historical novel set in the years following World War II in Hollywood’s world of glamor, glitz, and power. Clara Berg is making a life for herself after her family fled Germany in the years before the war. Angry and betrayed, she struggled to find her footing, blaming her parents for the loss of the life she loved. Once she graduated from high school, she landed a job as a vault girl, the first step to earning her place as a film editor and a permanent spot in the world of the films that helped her weather her early days in the US. On the day before she steps into a promotion, she finds a dead body in the film vaults, triggering a studio-wide investigation that will target the man she can’t stop thinking about and jeopardize her own future. If Clara could leave the crime behind her, her life could still bloom into the one she wants, but the crime, its victim, and the shreds and scraps she is piecing together won’t let her move on. With each new discovery, however, her future and her life are threatened, and her strength and persistence are her only allies.
Ross’s characters are vivid and real, rounded with flaws and strengths, backstories and complexities. Each one is distinct and authentic whether hero or villain, and their “real-ness” lends the story suspense and intensity.
The plot is well-paced, interrupting the passages of intense action with quieter passages of background, romance, or friendship. Ross plants just enough information to make readers question everyone, even the characters they have grown to trust. As the story progresses, it is truly hard to put down, and each chapter adds to the rising stakes for Clara.
Ross leaves very few loose threads, and those that are left do not weaken the story. Some of Clara’s memories of Germany seem disjointed or unconnected to her development or to the story. Her friendships with a family of Hitler’s supporters seems to have deeply affected her, but the story doesn’t explain how or why. Similarly, she recalls shunning a Jewish friend in Germany, and her remorse is deep and understandable, but the story doesn’t absorb that memory or use it as Clara develops as a character. These underdeveloped ideas do not lessen the story’s tension or outcome, a sure sign that Ross’s plot is tightly crafted and her characters are genuine and believable.
The Silver Blonde will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, the films of the 1930’s and 40’s, or a richly schemed murder mystery.
Ross’s characters are vivid and real, rounded with flaws and strengths, backstories and complexities. Each one is distinct and authentic whether hero or villain, and their “real-ness” lends the story suspense and intensity.
The plot is well-paced, interrupting the passages of intense action with quieter passages of background, romance, or friendship. Ross plants just enough information to make readers question everyone, even the characters they have grown to trust. As the story progresses, it is truly hard to put down, and each chapter adds to the rising stakes for Clara.
Ross leaves very few loose threads, and those that are left do not weaken the story. Some of Clara’s memories of Germany seem disjointed or unconnected to her development or to the story. Her friendships with a family of Hitler’s supporters seems to have deeply affected her, but the story doesn’t explain how or why. Similarly, she recalls shunning a Jewish friend in Germany, and her remorse is deep and understandable, but the story doesn’t absorb that memory or use it as Clara develops as a character. These underdeveloped ideas do not lessen the story’s tension or outcome, a sure sign that Ross’s plot is tightly crafted and her characters are genuine and believable.
The Silver Blonde will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, the films of the 1930’s and 40’s, or a richly schemed murder mystery.
June 3, 2024
It took me forever to finish this book for a few reasons. One being it was kind of a slow start for me. We find the murder scene so fast and then spend the entire book solving it. That was shaping up to be a rough start to me. Well the killer was never even a suspect through the entire book. Which surprised me. So it threw ya for a loop for sure. It took until the halfway point for me or a bit passed to pick up and get interesting and start grabbing my attention. Through most of the book you’re torn between a few options as to what or who it could have been. And when you start really putting your focus on one avenue it creeps back in with another obvious option making you start questioning everything you have thought up to that point. Then you’re left trying to figure it out along with her and the detectives. You question the competency of the detectives here and there which is funny to me. Then it circles back around to the option you know in your heart of hearts it is, for it to be that yes, but with a big twist that comes out of nowhere. Like yea, you got it right, you’re in the right track and you’ve solved it…..BUT the actual person is wrong. So I liked that.
I LOVED all the nods at film noir. All of the movies mentioned and actors/actresses mentioned that I love watching.
I love that if you take the time to read the authors note at the end it goes into detail on the historical aspect of it and what actually happened with the nazi stuff mentioned and the war and this actress and what she knew from research and what was left unknown that gave her the creative outlet to build off of. So it was nice seeing the link between reality and fiction.
Overall, after I got passed the slow start, I really did enjoy it.
I LOVED all the nods at film noir. All of the movies mentioned and actors/actresses mentioned that I love watching.
I love that if you take the time to read the authors note at the end it goes into detail on the historical aspect of it and what actually happened with the nazi stuff mentioned and the war and this actress and what she knew from research and what was left unknown that gave her the creative outlet to build off of. So it was nice seeing the link between reality and fiction.
Overall, after I got passed the slow start, I really did enjoy it.
January 8, 2022
This was an impulse read from my library's Axis360 app. I felt drawn to it since my boyfriend and I have been ringing in the new year by replaying LA Noire.
The Silver Blonde is a film noir inspired mystery set in post-WWII LA, complete with Nazi name drops and a German refugee protagonist. Elizabeth Ross mastered the tone of noir perfectly and the mystery itself was pretty well plotted. I really enjoyed uncovering the clues along with Clara. One thing that bothered me about the novel, however, was that I felt very little chemistry between Clara and Gil and often felt myself forgetting the part Gil plays. I also wish that it was told to us upfront that he was Jewish, that detail added so late in the book felt like a last minute drop in to make Gil appear more interesting and give him an additional stake in the plot.
It's clear Ross did her research. However, the voice of the narration felt a bit too modern for my taste. In a historical fiction, I prefer for the narration to match the vibe of the time period. There was just something anachronistic about the framing of the narration. With that being said, it did accomplish something that I love when historical fiction makes me do: I became curious! I've already put a hold on a book about Leni Riefenstahl from my library! If a historical fiction novel propels me to do my own research, I consider that a win in the book's favor.
The Silver Blonde is a film noir inspired mystery set in post-WWII LA, complete with Nazi name drops and a German refugee protagonist. Elizabeth Ross mastered the tone of noir perfectly and the mystery itself was pretty well plotted. I really enjoyed uncovering the clues along with Clara. One thing that bothered me about the novel, however, was that I felt very little chemistry between Clara and Gil and often felt myself forgetting the part Gil plays. I also wish that it was told to us upfront that he was Jewish, that detail added so late in the book felt like a last minute drop in to make Gil appear more interesting and give him an additional stake in the plot.
It's clear Ross did her research. However, the voice of the narration felt a bit too modern for my taste. In a historical fiction, I prefer for the narration to match the vibe of the time period. There was just something anachronistic about the framing of the narration. With that being said, it did accomplish something that I love when historical fiction makes me do: I became curious! I've already put a hold on a book about Leni Riefenstahl from my library! If a historical fiction novel propels me to do my own research, I consider that a win in the book's favor.
July 4, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction mystery. This book was so good. It took me only a few days to read. I couldn't put the book down. It instantly caught my attention from the very beginning. If you like old Hollywood films, historical fiction, and mystery then this is the perfect book for you and I highly recommend it.
At the end of the war, eighteen year old Clara Berg keeps herself busy working as a vault girl shelving reels for Silver Pacific Studios. Unexpectedly one evening she stumbled upon a dead body in one of the vaults. Suddenly Clara's world is turned upside down. She not only is drawn to this murder investigation but also has to deal with the fact that her refugee parents may be making the move back to Germany. After her parents get word of the murder on the studio lot they urge her to stay away from the active murder scene. They are afraid she may be next.
Despite her parents wishes, she is bound and determined to figure who murder suspect is.
As you are reading the book you may have an idea of who the murder suspect is, but guess again because it will keep you guessing until the very end.
You must add this book to your to be read list as it was so good.
At the end of the war, eighteen year old Clara Berg keeps herself busy working as a vault girl shelving reels for Silver Pacific Studios. Unexpectedly one evening she stumbled upon a dead body in one of the vaults. Suddenly Clara's world is turned upside down. She not only is drawn to this murder investigation but also has to deal with the fact that her refugee parents may be making the move back to Germany. After her parents get word of the murder on the studio lot they urge her to stay away from the active murder scene. They are afraid she may be next.
Despite her parents wishes, she is bound and determined to figure who murder suspect is.
As you are reading the book you may have an idea of who the murder suspect is, but guess again because it will keep you guessing until the very end.
You must add this book to your to be read list as it was so good.
September 29, 2021
Clara (or Klara to her German speaking friends) just got a promotion from vault girl to editors apprentice on a movie studio lot. The night of her promotion a woman is found murdered in the vault. Everyone is a suspect. Clara takes the case into her own hands with the help of her friend a screenwriter named Gil. Can Clara connect the dots between a Nazi sympathizer and film star and a stand in for a Hollywood starlet? Can Clara convince her parents to let her stay in Los Angles and not move back to post World War II Berlin? Read and find out.
I really liked the setting of post war LA. I liked the setting of a film studio. I thought the plot was fast paced and super immersive. My one gripe (being a 25 year old and not 18 year old) is that I kept wanting to yell at Clara to save the sleuthing until after work or she’d loose her job! 😂😂😂😂 But sleuthing waits for no woman.
I really liked the setting of post war LA. I liked the setting of a film studio. I thought the plot was fast paced and super immersive. My one gripe (being a 25 year old and not 18 year old) is that I kept wanting to yell at Clara to save the sleuthing until after work or she’d loose her job! 😂😂😂😂 But sleuthing waits for no woman.
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