Fortune Favors the Dead

Starred review from August 24, 2020
Spotswood’s stellar debut puts a modern spin on classic hard-boiled fiction with a duo of female private investigators. In 1945 Manhattan, Lillian Pentecost, “the most famous woman detective in the city and possibly the country,” struggles with multiple sclerosis. Fortunately, Lillian can always rely on her sharp-witted assistant, Willowjean Parker. Lillian hired her three years earlier after Will, a runaway whose five years performing with a traveling circus gave her a unique skill set, used her knife training to save Lillian’s life from a gunman. Their latest case involves a wealthy woman who was bludgeoned to death with a crystal ball in a locked room during a party. It becomes personal when Lillian realizes that an old adversary, a fake medium and spiritual adviser, is entangled in the murder. Complications arise after Will becomes romantically entangled with the victim’s beautiful daughter. The deep and sensitive characterization of the two protagonists, coupled with rich description and tonally spot-on humor, make this a novel to remember. Spotswood is definitely a writer to watch. Agent: Darley Anderson, Darley Anderson Literary.

Narrator Kirsten Potter evokes the ambiance of 1945 New York City in this historical mystery. On Halloween, Abigail Collins locks herself alone in a room at a party to commune with the spirit of her late husband, who has supposedly been summoned by a noted psychic. When the other guests break down the door, Abigail has been murdered, and some think the ghost of her husband did it. After being hired to find the true murderer, PI Lillian Pentecost and her assistant, Willowjean "Will" Parker, chase down the culprit. As the voice of Will, the narrator of the story, Potter uses a matter-of-fact tone, and for the rest of the characters she uses strong expression. This strategy proves to be effective. V.M.G. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine