Dangerous to Know (Lillian Frost & Edith Head, #2)

by Renee Patrick

[MurderByDeath]

So far so good; this series continues to impress for atmosphere, characterisations and plotting.   Some of this, I know, is because of the inclusion of so many real life, prominent characters of the time - 1938 Hollywood, but the writers are faithful enough to each of the stars they include that I, at least, never felt like I wasn't reading about the real life actor.  Extra points go to the authors for including Hedy Lamarr; not for her acting accomplishments, but for her scientific ones.    The fictional characters hold their own too, although the authors struggle with romantic tension; introducing another love interest (which given the era doesn't feel quite as triangle-ish somehow) doesn't help either.  Although I sort of like the new guy better than the old guy.   The story didn't get the full five stars because it did drag just a little; the plot is a complex one that is intricately enmeshed with another, so that around the mid-book mark it felt like the story wasn't really getting anywhere - things were happening, but they didn't seem to mean anything to either the characters or the reader.  It all comes together in the end, of course, and it's so damn interesting I forgave the exercise in patience.   An author's note at the end takes the time to not only separate the fact from the fiction, but recommends several non-fiction books that go in-depth into the real life events borrowed for Dangerous to Know.  At least two of which, one about Hedy Lamarr and her work as an inventor - not an actress - and one about the Hollywood-funded spy ring in place to watch the Nazis, are definitely going on my list.   This was my Free Friday read (#3) and was 336 pages (including the author's note, which was a must read, in my opinion).