The Silver Blonde by Elizabeth Ross takes a murder mystery, gives it a nostalgic Hollywood backdrop, entwines some history, and gives it a coat of noir. Net-net, it is great and it totally works. This is young adult fiction that feels grown-up without many of the tropes and stereotypes found in fiction aimed at that age demographic.
It is refreshing to have a grounded heroine. Eighteen-year-old Clara works in the film editing department; it is novel to have a heroine that isn’t an aspiring actress in Hollywood. Clara has some serious Nancy Drew-drive and keeps turning over rocks to find answers. There is a hint of romance on the side, but make no mistake, this story is all about the mystery and finding the answers. The historical aspects are gravy.
An appreciated bonus are the notes at the end that provide some of the movies that inspired the author, so readers now have a movie watch list to get their noir-fix. Highly recommended young adult mystery!
Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Delacorte Press
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 8 religious exclamations; 7 mild obscenities; 1 religious profanity; 2 derogatory names.
Violence/Gore: Character comes upon a murder victim, with some detailed description of the body and scene, mention of blood; character recalls some of his experience in WWII (non-detailed); character threatened at gunpoint; character taken against their will, struggle resulting in injury; character bound and fire lit with intent to kill; character learns of neighbors that perished in Auschwitz.
Sex/Nudity: Character wants another to kiss her upon a few separate occasions; characters kiss (3 separate occasions); kiss on forehead; reference to C-cup (bra); female character reports that a male has “hands everywhere” (unwanted attention by female); brief reference to a prostitution ring where girls were movie star look-alikes; character watches a couple flirting; speculation if characters were having an affair; love affair discovered; characters hold hands.
Mature Subject Matter:
Murder, WWII, holocaust, racism, prejudice, sexism.
Alcohol / Drug Use:
Characters drink socially with meals, at parties, and at bars; characters smoke.
