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A Perilous Premiere
Gail Meath’s Perilous Premiere masterfully captures the glitz and grit of the 1930s Hollywood film industry, blending a spellbinding murder mystery with a rich historical backdrop. The story begins with a heart-stopping tragedy: Vivian, a fashion designer and boutique owner, witnesses her husband’s shocking murder just days before their first anniversary. Six months later, as she finally starts to believe justice has been served, fresh evidence shatters her fragile peace, revealing that the real killer still roams free. Determined to find the truth, Vivian follows a trail of elusive leads. As shocking revelations come to light, Vivian uncovers her husband’s shadowy secrets, including a link to a set of stolen, highly coveted coins that have painted a target on her back. Now, ruthless killers will stop at nothing to retrieve the coins.
Meath’s narrative flows with relentless pace and captivating tension. Her portrayal of 1930s Hollywood is vibrant yet sinister, highlighting the industry’s glamorous facade and the murky underbelly of power and deception. The plot, intricately woven and fast-moving, grips the reader from start to finish. While I believe the character development could have been more nuanced, it does not detract from the novel’s intense and thrilling storyline. Vivian and Preston’s evolving dynamic leaves much to anticipate in future installments, and there is plenty of promise for richer character arcs in upcoming books.
Meath deftly weaves historical facts into the fiction, making the story both enlightening and immersive. Her commitment to historical accuracy is underscored in a thoughtful disclaimer, enhancing the novel’s appeal to history enthusiasts.
Perilous Premiere is a dazzling opening to the Stone & Steel Mystery series, offering a thrilling dive into a bygone era brimming with suspense, secrets, and high-stakes drama.
Pages: 200 | ASIN : B0CZS3J93M
SONGBIRD
The Broadway scene in 1920s New York City has been rocked by the shocking news of a playwright’s untimely demise and the discovery of a missing manuscript. Enter Jax Diamond, a charming and sophisticated private detective who embarks on a journey to unravel the chaotic final weeks leading up to the playwright’s death. The list of suspects is long and includes the playwright’s wife, Patricia, who may have been seeking evidence for a divorce case, a potential scorned lover, and a suspected murderer on the loose. But, regardless of who is to blame, Jax Diamond is determined to get to the bottom of it all in Songbird by Gail Meath. Prepare for an immersive experience!
As I listened to the Songbird audiobook, I was transported into the room where the scenes were unfolding. Meath’s skill in creating period-driven dialogue and characters is evident throughout the book. The audiobook narrator also contributes to the immersive experience, making it feel as though you’re a part of the story. While this may not be the book for readers seeking challenging, hard-to-decipher mysteries, it is a delightful, light, and easy read/listen that allows you to unwind and relax. I personally enjoyed following along with the story while tending to my garden on a sunny afternoon.
Meath’s character-building is spectacular. The standout character in the novel is Jax Diamond. He is well-crafted and perfectly curated to fit the overall vibe and themes of the book. Diamond’s charming and relaxed demeanor sets the tone for a well-known private detective in the 1920s, and his dialogue throughout the novel is exceptional. If you’re a history buff, you’ll appreciate the small easter eggs that Meath includes in the book, such as Diamond’s homemade beer, which references the prohibition era. This is yet another example of Meath’s ability to fully immerse readers in Jax Diamond’s world.
Whether you’re a fan of the glamorous worlds depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald novels or the whodunit feel of an Agatha Christie story, you’ll love Songbird. It is a tantalizing mystery that I highly recommend.
Pages: 212 | ASIN : B09HMRCVCL
They Were my Therapy
Gail Meath Author Interview
The Perfect Sister follows a woman desperately trying to uncover the truth after her sister is killed and the suspected murderer may be innocent. What was the inspiration for the setup to this thrilling novel?
The novel takes place in my hometown of Rochester, NY and is based upon a true event involving a corrupt group of men who tried to gain a political monopoly over the city in 1904. I not only had easy access to the research, but the setting is in my back yard.
Katherine is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some ideas that guided her character development?
I wrote many of my books during a difficult marriage. They were my therapy. I could easily relate to her timid, browbeaten character while her father, in essence, represented my spouse’s behavior. Finding the strength within oneself is especially difficult when someone close to you is constantly critical.
I enjoyed the mystery at the heart of this novel. Did you plan it before writing or did it develop organically while writing?
With all my novels, I gather research around a true event, then begin building the plot as I go. It’s mostly the characters that move the story along as it depends upon how they would react in each scene or given situation and what they would do next.
What is the next novel that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have completed seven novels with the fifth one releasing in March 2020. The others available on Amazon and those forthcoming consist of medieval, western, suspense, thriller, and two murder mysteries.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![THE PERFECT SISTER by [Meath, Gail]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41FoI-qllDL.jpg)
After a beautiful socialite is murdered, her timid spinster sister must shed her fears and play a deadly game with corrupt politicians to prove the killer’s innocence. Rochester, New York 1904.
Katherine Mansford knows her father wishes she had died instead of her sister. She wishes that too. Lorraine was perfect…beautiful, sophisticated and engaged to a prominent lawyer. But she told Katherine a secret before her death, one that forces her to do the unthinkable…lie to her father and the sheriff.
On the day of the funeral, Katherine escapes to her secluded cabin down the beach only to discover Michael Johnston, the accused killer – her sister’s lover – hiding there. He insists he’s innocent and she begins to doubt his guilt; and her sister’s innocence.
As Katherine ventures on her own to seek the truth about Lorraine, she and Michael are dragged into a dangerous and vicious plot against her father and the city.
The Perfect Sister
![THE PERFECT SISTER by [Meath, Gail]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/410goP%2B5LfL.jpg)
The Perfect Sister by Gail Meath is the story of a young woman who desperately wants to protect the reputation and dignity of the sister she has recently lost to murder. Katherine wants to keep her secrets secret while figuring out the details of the crime. She gets swept up and is determined to prove the innocence of the man everyone else thinks is guilty.
Meath writes in a way that makes Katherine’s predicament relatable. She is devastated over the loss of her sister, but her father doesn’t make things better. She knows she was not her father’s favorite. She knows that her father would rather have lost her than her sister. She is made to feel deeply flawed and imperfect in comparison to Lorraine. Katherine knows her sister was a wonderful person, but she also knows that she wasn’t perfect and had things to hide.
Meath also gives us insight to a man who is presumed guilty instead of innocent. Michael plays an opposite role to the man Lorraine was to be married off to. Michael has worked hard to keep and grow his family farm. He definitely doesn’t fit into the affluent crowd that the sisters run with. None of this diminishes his character, but it makes him an easy target for the wealthy to pin sins on.
I think that everyone can relate to these characters in one way or another because everyone knows what loss feels like and what it feels like to be viewed as “less than”. Meath’s well-developed characters and fascinating plot will reel readers in from the very first page. I can’t relate to being rich. I can’t relate to being involved somehow in a murder. I can, however, relate to the farm life. I think there is some facet that virtually everyone can relate to within these pages.
The time period makes the story even more fascinating for me. It is set in 1904. Life was so different. Modern forensics would have likely exonerated Michael almost immediately. They didn’t have that luxury. They wouldn’t just believe his word either because of his social status. These things set the scene for a story that is even more mysterious and daunting.
Meath writes in a way that lures you in. The Perfect Sister is a real page-turner from the jump. The characters are so interesting, and the story is complex. Meath weaves together a story that is multi-layered without muddying the plot. I’d love to read more about these characters in different books.
Pages: 326 | ASIN: B07ZZHTCBX
LITERARY TITAN 