Eleanor and the South Beach Murders - (An Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery) by Ellen Yardley (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

For fans of Colleen Cambridge, S.K. Golden, Jacqueline Winspear, and Ashley Weaver, a brilliant 1950s Cold War historical mystery featuring the former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's indispensable assistant as an equally resourceful sleuth. As the duo become entangled in a deadly international mystery connected to famous performer Josephine Baker, can Kay trust her own instincts before it's too late?

Miami, 1951. With a flurry of UN engagements bringing Mrs. Roosevelt to vibrant South Beach, Kay Thompson is thrilled to escape the post-Christmas blues in Washington, DC--and distance herself from the sting of her recent breakup with private investigator Tim O'Malley. The dizzying sights and sounds of Miami reach their peak at the Copa City Club, where a late-night meeting with singer Josephine Baker reveals a troubling truth: Baker's bold stand against segregation has made her a target.

Josephine dismisses the threats. But Rosaleen--her cautious young assistant with big dreams--is deeply afraid. That's why it's a stunning shock when a dead man turns up in Josephine's dressing room and Rosaleen is the one arrested for his murder. Determined to exonerate her new friend, Kay realizes it will mean facing conspiracies and prejudices that reach into the darkest corners of American society still haunted by the horrors of World War II.

Now, tangled in a high-stakes murder case with lives and legacies on the line, Kay joins forces with Mrs. Roosevelt and her former flame to confront the sinister forces lurking just beneath Miami's glittering Art Deco surface. But when a killer's scheme comes into sharp focus, Kay must act swiftly in a quest for justice that proves far more dangerous than she ever bargained for . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Eleanor And The Cold War by Ellen Yardley:

"An exciting historical series launch featuring former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt...Yardley renders her beautifully: tested by loss and personal pain, politically savvy, and attuned to the suffering at the mystery's core, she's an unforgettable sleuth. This series is off to a strong start." --Publishers Weekly

"An engrossing story set in an era of communist hysteria." --Kirkus Reviews

"Smarty, twisty...[Yardley] balances Eleanor's wisdom with Kay's sometimes impulsive decisions and good instincts; the women make an entertaining crime-solving team. Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy Eleanor's (and Kay's) foray into detective work among D.C.'s elite." --Shelf Awareness

"The narrative captures attitudes and popular culture of the 1950s--the overriding concern for women to make a good match with a well-connected or wealthy suitor, the ease with which men slip into and out of relationships with women, the trappings of Alfred Hitchcock film storylines and heroines' actions." --Historical Novel Society

About the Author

Ellen Yardley is the pseudonym of a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose previous novels received the National Reader's Choice Award and the Colorado Award of Excellence. A mother of two, she finds tremendous inspiration in Eleanor Roosevelt. She lives in Ottawa, Canada.