One Extra Corpse - (Silver Screen Historical Mystery) by Barbara Hambly

About the Book

May, 1924. When renowned film director Ernest Zapolya calls Emma Blackstone - companion to Hollywood movie star Kitty Flint - and demands to see Kitty at once, Emma's not surprised. Until, that is, he adds that lives depend on it. Emma and Kitty investigate, and after a shocking discovery, the lives on the line soon include their own...

Book Synopsis

Hollywood intrigue, glamor . . . and murder: Enter the roaring twenties in this thrilling Silver Screen historical mystery, starring two very different female sleuths.

"Excellent . . . Everything feels just right: the characters are abundantly human, the mystery is beautifully constructed, and the Hollywood milieu is vividly realized" Booklist Starred Review

May, 1924. It's been seven months since young British widow Emma Blackstone arrived in Hollywood to serve as companion to Kitty Flint: her beautiful, silent-movie star sister-in-law. Kitty is generous, kind-hearted . . . and a truly terrible actress. Not that Emma minds; she's too busy making her academic parents turn in their graves with her new job writing painfully historically inaccurate scenarios for Foremost Studios, in between wrangling their leading lady out of the arms of her army of amorous suitors.

So when one of Kitty's old flames, renowned film director Ernst Zapolya, calls Emma and tells her it's imperative he meet with Kitty that morning, she's not surprised. Until, that is, he adds that lives depend on it. Ernst sounds frightened. But what can have scared him so badly - and what on earth does cheerful, flighty Kitty have to do with it?

Only Ernst can provide the answers, and Kitty and Emma travel to the set of his extravagant new movie to find them. But the shocking discovery they make there only raises further questions . . . including: will they stay alive long enough to solve the murderous puzzle?

Review Quotes

A fine entry in impressive series-- "Booklist on House of the Patriarch"

A must-read-- "Booklist Starred Review of Lady of Perdition"

Exhilarating, exasperating, and dangerous . . . A sparkling series launch featuring Hollywood hijinks and a clever sleuth-- "Kirkus Reviews on Scandal in Babylon"

Outstanding . . . Hambly's masterful historical detail, scrupulous character portrayal, and psychological analysis of human frailties contribute handsomely to her storytelling-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of House of the Patriarch"

Riveting-- "Kirkus Reviews on Lady of Perdition"

This splendid romp is sure to win Hambly new fans-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Scandal in Babylon"

Emma feels fresh: not merely another flapper-era amateur sleuth, but rather a vibrant, intelligent woman with whom readers will enjoy spending time-- "Booklist on Scandal in Babylon"

Hambly's outstanding sequel to 2021's Scandal in Babylon showcases the author's wit and her compassion for the underdog-- "Publishers Weekly Starred Review"

About the Author

Barbara Hambly, though a native of Southern California, lived in New Orleans for a number of years while married to the late science fiction writer George Alec Effinger. Hambly holds a degree in medieval history from the University of California and has written novels in numerous genres.