i'd be lying if i say i wasn't blown away by this one. my interest peaked from the first page itself and didn't deflate till the last. the old hollywood setting was what drew me in in the first place and throw in a murder mystery with morally questionable characters that you have a love-hate relationship with and you have everything that i love about these kind of stories.

Not thrilling. Not glamorous. Didn’t hold my attention. But thank you for the ARC. I appreciate all the galleys I receive and read them all.

A mystery set in the glamorous Hollywood of the 1940s where a mystery playwright, Annie Laurence, becomes involved in a real murder.
The story is fun with characters that have many secrets and scandals to hide making it difficult to figure out who the culprit is.
The book captures you from the beginning with its humor and fast, vibrant pace that seems to reflect the spirit of Hollywood at war.
Perfect for lovers of an old style classic mystery.

OMG! So good from the first page to the last. Would highly recommend this book. It takes you back to old Hollywood and uncovers secrets that we never could have imagined. Love this book.

I really enjoyed this “who dunnit” set against the glamour of old Hollywood. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and the dialogue is sharp and witty.

Definitely one I’d recommend to any one who fancies themselves as a bit of a sleuth.

#bookreview #lastnightatthehollywoodcanteen #sarahjames #murdermystery #whodunnit #oldschoolhollywood #canyourecommendagoodbook #bookstagram

This book is certainly the epitome of hedonism. As Annie enters the Hollywood scene, she has to ask herself the following? What is truly real and what is a facade? Does the Ambassador Club actually like each other or are they play acting to get ahead? Does she quickly write scenes to create words or do they actually have meaning? This book is a fascinating deep dive as to what occurs when you think you know someone but behind the facade is something way deeper. In Fiona's death, emotional details are certainly revealed such ad Vic, June and Jack. I really enjoyed reading this book and understanding the plot at play that during this time as evidenced by Annie's relationship with Adam and Beverly, anything can be bought and changed if well suited for that role to play.

An incredibly glamourous take on a murder mystery. This had everything, romance, crime, suspense and a fun Hollywood setting. I didn't expect to love this as much as I did as you're taken on a really fun and wild ride with so many twists and turns. I was completely hooked and couldn't wait to see who murdered Fiona - overall an amazing mystery with characters you love and also love to hate. I highly recommend this I think this can work for anyone.

This book was so shiny and so glamorous. I have been having a romance with historical fiction lately and this was AMAZING

This is such a fun, buzzy book. A murder mystery set in wartime Hollywood, Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen checked all my boxes. Our main character had so much depth, the pacing was quick, the Hollywood setting felt well researched and fully-fleshed, and the plot kept me guessing. The story hit the ground running from the first page and I really appreciated how Sarah James made choices that made her novel distinct and compelling, and didn’t seem like a “for the masses” type that this story could have easily fallen into. I was entertained the entire time and I felt like I was engaged throughout, it wasn’t just a mindless reading. I loved it!

ARC provided by NetGalley.

This was a fun read. Grips you right from the first page and doesn't let go. I hadn't read anything from this author before and worried it would be a bit 'young' for me but I thoroughly enjoyed! It has a really glamourous setting and one that is not yet overdone as a lot of these types of novels are based in the 20's.

This is a fascinating look back into the Hollywood of the 1940s during the war. The Hollywood Canteen was a real place where all the servicemen and women were always welcome to come for a night of free food, drinks, entertainment, and dancing. The Canteen was staffed by the local studios, as well as the stars themselves. You never knew who might be found making hundreds of sandwiches
Annie Laurence a murder mystery playwright in New York, is out of a job when her highly acclaimed play comes to an end. She is also recovering from a painful breakup, so when she is contacted by one of the studios in Hollywood and offered a job as a mystery writer, she eagerly accepts. Off she goes to tinsel town.
One of the first people Annie meets is the extremely critical, often unpopular, film critic, Fiona Farris. Annie gets absorbed into Fiona’s circle of friends, who call themselves the “Ambassador’s Club.” They meet regularly at the Ambassador Hotel.
This story will take you on a trip through the glamour and glitz of wartime Hollywood, as well as a glimpse behind the scenes during that era. After a suspicious murder occurs that is similar to her recent successful play in New York, Annie is suddenly one of the suspects. She sets out to prove her innocence and find the real killer.
As I read this captivating story, I often found myself laughing and other times I was shocked at the scandalous behavior. It is an entertaining, fun book that takes the reader right back to wartime Hollywood.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.