Rochelle Staab’s Behaving Badly takes readers into the glamorous, gritty, and frequently dangerous world of 1932 Los Angeles, where Hollywood celebrities rub shoulders with gangsters, crooked cops, and ambitious newspaper reporters. At the center of the story is Tess Hammond, a sharp, determined crime reporter for William Randolph Hearst’s Los Angeles Examiner. Still grieving the death of her detective husband, Johnny, Tess is struggling to reclaim her place in the newsroom when she’s assigned to investigate the disappearance of Merilee Lockwood, the teenage daughter of a wealthy banker. What initially looks like a straightforward missing-person case soon draws Tess into a tangled world of Hollywood secrets, organized crime, and questionable loyalties. Staab wastes little time establishing the stakes, and Tess’s personal connection to the criminal underworld gives the investigation an emotional weight that makes it more than another mystery to solve.

The book has a wonderfully detailed depiction of Depression-era Los Angeles. Staab clearly knows the city’s history, and she brings its streets, restaurants, movie studios, and speakeasies to life without making the historical details feel like a lecture. The contrast between Hollywood extravagance and the desperate poverty of the Great Depression is especially effective. Wealthy socialites attend lavish parties while ordinary families struggle to survive, creating an atmosphere where money and influence can determine whose troubles receive attention. Familiar historical figures, including gossip columnist Louella Parsons and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, add another layer of authenticity. The dialogue is lively, sprinkled with period slang that gives the characters personality, and Tess’s first-person narration is full of dry humor and pointed observations. Her friendship with photographer Max Grady is particularly enjoyable. Their teasing exchanges provide some welcome levity amid the violence and growing tension.

Fans of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe mysteries, particularly The Big Sleep, will recognize some familiar territory here. Both authors explore a Los Angeles where respectable appearances conceal corruption, powerful people protect their interests, and following the truth can put an investigator in serious danger. Staab shares Chandler’s appreciation for colorful characters, shadowy establishments, and the complicated relationship between crime and privilege. But Tess brings a different energy to this familiar landscape. As a female journalist working in the early 1930s, she must navigate professional expectations and personal judgments that shape how others respond to her questions. Her determination is convincing because she’s capable, stubborn, occasionally impulsive, and deeply human. Her grief over Johnny also remains a meaningful part of the story. It influences her decisions, complicates her relationships, and gives her search for answers a deeply personal urgency. Like Chandler, Staab understands that a compelling detective story depends as much on the person conducting the investigation as on the mystery itself.

Behaving Badly is a substantial mystery, with an expanding cast of suspects, witnesses, detectives, Hollywood personalities, and underworld figures. Keeping track of their connections occasionally takes some attention, especially as the investigation branches into several overlapping threads. Still, Staab keeps things moving through confrontations, unexpected discoveries, and Tess’s refusal to leave troubling questions unanswered. Some of the most engaging moments are surprisingly ordinary: conversations over coffee, newsroom banter, and Tess driving across Los Angeles while trying to make sense of conflicting information. These scenes give the story texture and make its dangerous encounters feel more immediate. What stayed with me most was Tess herself, a woman trying to rebuild her confidence and her life while doing a job she genuinely loves. Behaving Badly should appeal to readers who enjoy historically grounded mysteries, Hollywood lore, strong female protagonists, and crime fiction with a distinctly noir atmosphere. It’s an entertaining, character-driven novel that makes 1930s Los Angeles feel like a fascinating place to visit, even if you wouldn’t want to get caught in its criminal underworld.

Pages: 311 | ASIN : B0GZ1ZZTHC