The Girl Who Knew Too Much

by Amanda Quick

Amanda Quick, the bestselling author of 'Til Death Do Us Part, transports readers to 1930s California, where glamour and seduction spawn a multitude of sins . . .

When Hollywood moguls and stars want privacy, they head to an idyllic small town on the coast, where the exclusive Burning Cove Hotel caters to their every need. It's where reporter Irene Glasson finds herself staring down at a beautiful actress at the bottom of a pool . . .

The dead woman had a red-hot secret about up-and-coming leading man Nick Tremayne, a scoop that Irene couldn't resist - especially since she's just a rookie at a third-rate gossip rag. But now Irene's investigation into the drowning threatens to tear down the wall of illusion that is so deftly built around the famous actor, and there are powerful men willing to do anything to protect their investment.

Seeking the truth, Irene finds herself drawn to a master of deception. Oliver Ward was once a world-famous magician - until he was mysteriously injured during his last performance. Now the owner of the Burning Cove Hotel, he can't let scandal threaten his livelihood, even if it means trusting Irene, a woman who seems to have appeared in Los Angeles out of nowhere four months ago . . .

With Oliver's help, Irene soon learns that the glamorous paradise of Burning Cove hides dark and dangerous secrets. And that the past - always just out of sight - could drag them both under . . .

• ISBN10: 0349409455
• ISBN13: 9780349409450
• Publish Date: 9 May 2017 (first published 3 May 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
• Imprint: Piatkus Books
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 368
• Language: English

Reviews

[wyvernfriend]

Romance fell flat for me but the mystery kept me reading, secondary mystery also fell somewhat flat and was resolved very quickly at the end, almost as an afterthought.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Amanda Quick (Jayne Anne Krentz) always manages to pull me into her stories and THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH offered an interesting cast of characters. Irene Glasson is hiding a secret, and Oliver Ward is determined to discover it. As the two begin to investigate, they find themselves facing down danger and finding passion. I connected with Irene and admired her spunk and quick wits. She is tenacious and once she gets a hold of a story she just doesn't let go. Oliver was an interesting character, from his connections to the secret he carries that resulted in him walking with a limp. He protects those he cares about, and he quickly decides Irene needs his help.

Quick gives us two mystery threads. The first involves Irene and her former life. We are even privy to the thoughts of those who seek her. This was a dark thread that added suspense to an already interesting murder case that's connected to Nick Tremayne. I loved the different suspects and players involved. Quick did a great job of sharing their mindset, throwing down red herrings and providing twists. All of this allowed me to slip into the world and become involved.

I absolutely loved the setting and Quick easily captured the atmosphere, glitz, and glamor of the 1930s Hollywood scene. Her characters felt authentic, and the murder mystery threads offered surprises that kept me flipping the pages.

The romance that develops takes a backseat to the mystery plot, but we do get brief moments of passion and discovery. Their relationship felt genuine, and they worked well together, but for me, this was the weakest thread in the tale. There really wasn't enough page time to allow the romance itself to simmer, but Quick writes a compelling story that held its own, and I actually wouldn't mind meeting this couple in a future mystery.

Copy provided by the publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer