The Silver Gun
by L.A. Chandlar
Kensington Books
Historical Fiction , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 29 Aug 2017  
 

Review

Any fan of historical mysteries will love The Silver Gun.  Set in New York City during the 1930s, it has the flavor of a city on the move, growing and changing.  Art Deco is at its height and the role of women in society and the workforce is changing.  It’s a vibrant time and The Silver Gun is a match for its brilliance.

Mayor Fio La Guardia is turning the city upside down in his attempts to root out corruption, revitalize the economy and put an end to mob control.  Lane Sanders,his 23 year old aide, has her work cut out for her.  It's a tough job but she loves it - and is willing to protect it when trouble comes, first in the form of an alleyway threat and then when she is pushed in front of a train.  Naturally Lane wants to know why she is being targeted.  With the help of her friends and family - and a mysterious and attractive stranger (cliche but extremely well done), Lane investigates the threat to Fio, herself and the city.  

Chandlar’s characters are vibrant figures depicted with depth and purpose.  Each is fascinating in his or her own way.  Even Finn Brodie, the man Lane quickly falls for, is far more than a sketch of a romantic ideal.  Normally I hate insta-love, but in this case the attraction between the two is palpable and easy to accept. Fio LaGuardia is a force of nature.  The plot is delectably complex with many exciting moments.  Between the absorbing plot, the electric setting and the vivid characters, I was glued to the page from beginning to end.  My only disappointment is that now I will have to wait for the next book in the series.

The Silver Gun is a must read for fans of historical mysteries.

5 / 5

I received a copy of The Silver Gun from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Description

New York City, 1936. In the midst of the Great Depression, the Big Apple is defiantly striving toward an era infused with art, architecture, and economic progress under the dynamic Mayor La Guardia. But those in City Hall know that tumultuous times can inspire both optimism and deadly danger . . .

It’s been six months since Lane Sanders was appointed Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia’s new personal aide, and the twenty-three-year-old is sprinting in her Mary Janes to match her boss’s pace. Despite dealing with vitriol from the Tammany Hall political machine and managing endless revitalization efforts, Fio hasn’t slowed down a bit during his years in office. And luckily for Lane, his unpredictable antics are a welcome distraction from the childhood memories that haunt her dreams—and the silver gun she’ll never forget.

When Lane gets attacked and threatened by an assailant tied to one of most notorious gangsters in the city, even the mayor can’t promise her safety. The corrupt city officials seem to be using Lane as a pawn against Fio for disgracing their party in the prior election. But why was the assailant wielding the exact same gun from her nightmares?

Balancing a clandestine love affair and a mounting list of suspects, Lane must figure out how the secrets of her past are connected to the city’s underground crime network—before someone pulls the trigger on the most explosive revenge plot in New York history . . .