Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: A Clutch of Guilty Wishes
SERIES: A Dash & Eli Romantic Mystery #1
AUTHOR: JD Sampson
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 258 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 14, 2024
BLURB:
Hollywood: 1935
Dash Hailey, the son of a powerful movie mogul, finds himself entangled in a captivating mystery when his old chum, starlet Bunny Drake, is accused of murdering a spiritualist during a New Year’s Eve séance.
Teaming up with his secret boyfriend and devoted bodyguard, Eli Winters, the couple races against time to solve the murder and clear Bunny’s name before the cameras roll on her upcoming film. In a town where appearances are designed to be deceiving, the duo must find a way to unmask a killer while safeguarding their own secret of the heart.
A Clutch of Guilty Wishes is a MM Cozy Romantic Mystery with a touch of on-screen heat.
REVIEW:
1935 Hollywood is the era – murder during a seance is the crime. When a young starlet and friend of Dash Hailey is named as the killer, the expertise of Dash’s bodyguard, Eli, is called upon to clear her name. During the investigation, more than Hollywood secrets are in danger of being revealed.
What a delightful read. Not only does the book cover instantly set the image for the story, but that tone accompanies the opening chapters, immediately connecting the reader to the era and scene. I was taken body and soul into a world, the story, and the characters. Bravo.
The tale is told in the third person from the viewpoints of Eli and Dash. As already mentioned, worldbuilding is set in 1935 Hollywood. A place of parties, glitz, glitter, ‘hello darlings’, wannabes, fading stars, haves, and have-nots. And, regardless of secrets behind closed doors, if made public, it could mean jail or, at the very least, a ruined (or enhanced) reputation. The nuances and double meanings behind the banter were a delight to read. As for the imagery, it was a clever mixture of words and borrowed landscape. The initial words created a picture, but the use of familiar stars in their infancy or recognizable structural things added more depth to the illusion.
Eli is an ex-cop with his own tragic secrets to tell. He is more than aware of what the world is capable of and does his best to protect people, Dash, and his reputation. He is the voice of reason that finds it hard to say no to Dash.
Dash is the son of a movie studio mogul and can get into trouble for a plethora of reasons. Some are reputation, parts are a mask, and other bits are for Eli’s eyes only. Behind the flamboyance is an insecure man with an unknown mother and a loveless, expectant father. What he shares with Eli is beautiful, tender, flirtatious, and supportive.
Neval is the star of the supporting cast. He is the steadfast butler/manservant – open-minded, a keeper of secrets, and a man with hidden depths. There are others, including the list of suspects with fascinating lifestyles, but Neval deserved a special mention.
Behind this seemingly laid-back story, plenty is happening. There is a series of interviews designed to coax out the truth. Secrets and connections get exposed alongside action-filled scenes that had my heart thudding. Oh, my word – let’s not forget the minefield that is family, who to trust and not – who is an ass and not? All this is wrapped up in a detective story that kept me guessing until the Hollywood variation on a Poirot-style case conclusion.
A Clutch of Guilty Wishes is the first book in the Dash and Eli romantic mysteries series. This installment gave me everything I look for in a tale, including a nicely wrapped-up conclusion. I can’t wait for the next book.
RATING: 
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