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Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
A famous novelist becomes involved with a real murder while weekending at Hearst Castle in the thrilling whodunit novel, Dashiell Hammett and the Hearst Castle Mystery by Gregory Urbach. Just before leaving for a weekend at Hearst Castle, a well-known thug requests that mystery writer Dashiell Hammett hold a priceless necklace for him. Not having a safe place to stash the diamonds, Dashiell decides to bring along the mysterious jewels. After dinner, while the host and his guests are watching a movie, one of their numbers is killed. Hearst, wanting to avoid the notoriety of another death linked with his name, requests that Dashiell looks into the matter. With the suspects being famous actors, actresses, important studio executives, and Nazi officers, Dashiell must tread carefully. How are the diamonds involved? Can Dashiell unmask the killer without being exiled from Hollywood?
Dashiell Hammett and the Hearst Castle Mystery by Gregory Urbach is a riveting novel set in the 1934 Hollywood scene. I am truly impressed with Mr. Urbach's research; I instantly became his fan. The realistic portrayal of the actors brought his characters to life and drew me irrevocably into his story world. Being a fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood, this novel is a delightful take on the actors from some of my favorite movies. Filled with suspense and intrigue, the story comes to a climactic end and I was completely surprised with the outcome. At the beginning of every chapter, stunning pictures and photos set the tone for the following scene, drawing the reader even further into the story. This novel is a beautiful tribute to Dashiell Hammett's writing, his characters, and the actors who were from the era. I cannot recommend this novel enough to those that enjoy an excellent mystery. It will appeal to sleuth enthusiasts and fans of The Thin Man.
