The Golden Pawn
The Gold Pawn by L.A. Chandlar Kensington Books Historical Fiction Pub Date 25 Sep 2018
Review
L.A. Chandlar’s historical thrillers continue to be amongst the best of the genre. Chandlar’s fiction deftly weaves historical events and people into the main plot, allowing them to interact with the central characters - making the novels “feel real”. While you don’t have to read the books in order, I strongly recommend you do, in order to understand the longer term aspects of the plot.
In The Golden Pawn, L A Chandlar reveals more about the Red Scroll organization, its links to Lane’s family, and its potential for causing more bloodshed. Rex Ruby may be gone, but someone is trying to take over as his heir. Lane faces some major challenges, as she returns to the home where her parents were killed and tries to cope with the feelings that arise. Finn is in England under cover, and much of her support is in New York City rather than Rochester.
In New York City, Fio is trying to discover where his friend, a respected bank manager has disappeared to. The main clue is that he received notes in red envelopes before his disappearance.
Old enemies and new friends come to the forefront in The Golden Pawn. While emotion is at the forefront, never fear - there are plenty of breathtaking action sequences, comic moments, and cinematic confrontations. The 1936 of L.A. Chandlar is richly imagined and breathtakingly alive. If you like historical mysteries, you will greatly enjoy L.A. Chandlar’s novels, particularly The Golden Pawn.
5/5
I received a copy of The Golden Pawn from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
-- Crittermom
Description
November 1936. Mayor La Guardia’s political future buckles under a missing persons case in New York City. Simultaneously, Lane unravels devastating secrets in the outskirts of Detroit. As two crimes converge, judging friends from enemies can be a dangerous game . . . Finally summoning the courage to face the past, Lane Sanders breaks away from her busy job at City Hall to confront childhood nightmares in Rochester, Michigan. An unknown assailant left Lane with scattered memories after viciously murdering her parents. However, one memory of a dazzling solid gold pawn piece remains—and with it lies a startling connection between the midwestern tragedy and a current mystery haunting the Big Apple . . . Meanwhile, fears climb in Manhattan after the disappearance of a respected banker and family friend threatens the crippled financial industry and the pristine reputation of Lane’s virtuous boss, Mayor Fiorello “Fio” La Guardia. Fio’s fight to restore order leads him into more trouble as he meets a familiar foe intent on ending his mayoral term—and his life . . . Guided by overseas telegrams from the man she loves and painful memories, only Lane can silence old ghosts and derail present-day schemes. But when the investigation awakens a darker side of her own nature, will she and New York City’s most prominent movers and shakers still forge ahead into a prosperous new age . . . or is history doomed to repeat itself?
