What a ride! I loved Halley Sutton's last novel, the Lady Upstairs, and this book was a tremendous follow-up. I was hooked from the first page. One thing Sutton does really well is tarnish the shine we all have for Los Angeles and celebrity culture. The pacing never lagged, and the protagonist was one to root for.

The Hurricane Blonde by Halley Sutton was an absolute hit!

I was hooked from the first page, and the book kept me up for half a night until I was finished.
Halley Sutton is an incredible writer the way she creates her characters is insane.
The characters are well developed, unreliable and deliciously flawed; the world Sutton builds is seedy in the best of ways. Ultimately, this story has an edge and is truly an exciting read.
The build up that leads to the reveal is brilliant.
This story shows just how far people will go for fame.
Beautifully written and masterfully crafted. If you want to treat yourself, go get this book right now and then clear your schedule. You won't be disappointed.
This is a story that grabs the reader and does not release you until its conclusion.
A page turner to the very last page.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

In Hurricane Blonde we follow a previous child star, Salma Lowe. She is the child of Hollywood royalty and the little sister of starlet Tawney Lowe. Salma, in adulthood directs tours around hollywood highlighting the deaths of movie stars, including her sister’s. She finds herself reliving her sisters death when she finds a woman dead in her sisters pool and the scene is eerily similar to Tawney’s death. She begins to unravel the many secrets and lies she was told growing up surrounding her family and the industry, she also begins to deal with a lot of the things that happened to her during her time in the spotlight. I really enjoyed this book and thought the idea was very intriguing. Reading about Salma as she tries to solve her sister’s murder and come to terms with the murder of her innocence and childhood was so heartbreaking. The complex and raw emotion you read through Salma kept me hooked. This book kept me on my toes and the plot twists and turns were so unexpected! Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam books for the ARC!

What a unputdownable book. I admit I am on a roll in loving cold cases that weren’t solved and family members being involved and trying to remember what happened. This is my cup of tea. As a former child starlet and sister to the hurricane blonde we follow along as past and present merge for Salma to figure out what really happened. This is the perfect beach read don’t miss out.

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.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

For me the appeal was less the mystery and more the milieu: Hollywood from the POV of the successful and the not-so-successful. For that, "The Hurricane Blonde" delivered, making details such as the wigwags—the red lights outside studios and stage sets that indicate recording is taking place—key plot elements. The mystery itself was multilayered, so for every twist I anticipated, there was a turn or two I didn't.

The book felt a bit shallow, however. Narrator/protagonist Salma's musings near the end seem meant to give the book some gravitas, but for me it was too little too late—and too obvious. What's more, a couple of, to my mind, vital elements were omitted (did Salma rely on a trust fund to subsidize her lifestyle? surely she couldn't support herself on her earnings as a tour guide) for the sake of simplicity, yet addressing them would have added a welcome complexity to her inner life and reactions to information she gleans along the way. And I could have done without the trope of the sober addict falling off the wagon in the face of a hardship.

All the same, this was a fast-paced read that held my attention and delivered a few surprises. If you're looking for a vacation book, this is a solid choice.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The Hurricane Blonde is a story about white male privilege, the dark side of fame, and the abuse that came to public attention with the #MeToo movement. It follows Salma, the addict sister of a Hollywood starlet that was murdered in the late 90s. Salma finds another dead girl in the same place her sister was killed about a decade and a half before and finds similarities to her sisters death. Due to her past nobody really believes Salma when she tried to argue that she knows who killed them. From here she sets out to prove it and ends up uncovering secrets she never could’ve imagined.
I couldn’t put this book down. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in the dark tales and tragedies of Hollywood past or anyone who likes a good mystery.

Here is not your typical Hollywood story. It’s part redemption,part revenge. Salma does not believe her sisters death was accidental. Or just another Hollywood star’s mysterious death. She knows whose responsible but no one will believe a recovering, once famous , member of Hollywood acting legend. Salma was part of a tv show that gained celebrity status when she was young. Tawny was everything Hollywood wanted and she reveled in her status. No one can explain what really happened that day. Salma determines to uncover who is responsible, and she doesn’t care who gets hurts. What she doesn’t bargain for is the truth , cold and unflinching, she uncovers in the end. A truth her family has kept hidden for decades.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Hurricane Blonde.

Great title and cover!

The Hurricane Blonde is less a mystery and more a dissection of the seedy side of Hollywood; the glitz and glamor, the filthy secrets and predatory men (and in some ways, women) in the industry.

Salma Lowe is the wild child, the youngest daughter of Hollywood royalty, and working in a job beneath her status and stature.

As she struggles to maintain her sobriety and dealing with the loss of her older, glamorous, talented sister from two decades ago, Salma is one again thrust into the spotlight when she discovers another dead body.

At her sister's former residence.

What are the odds?

Simmering anger and resentment boils up as Salma is convinced her sister's ex-fiance and the Director of the Century is behind the death of this murdered young woman.

But as Salma turns into Nancy Drew, she discovers that some secrets are best left alone. Or risk destroying everything she knew about her family and identity.

For someone who lived a partying lifestyle and has been in and out of rehab, she seemed to have very little street smarts.

Perhaps because she's grown up sheltered in a family of prestige and status, but I felt some of Salma's antics were out of character, considering the industry she's grown up in and seen for herself, the way her own sister was treated.

The unsolved murders take a backseat to the more pressing concerns the author wants to make:

How Hollywood chews up and spits out women desperate to be famous; how men will always rule, and predatory behavior can be found anywhere, even in your family.

I did catch a typo in the chapter where Salma pays her respect at the victim's funeral and mourners gather for the victim's funeral. It's written that the mourners 'disburse.'

The correct word is disperse. I hope this has been corrected in the final version of the novel.

I had hoped for a more thriller/mystery narrative, but it was interesting to see how tedious and boring filmmaking really is. Fans get to see the finished product when all the hard work has been completed.

There's very little urgency and suspense, since this is more of a story about Hollywood and how women are relegated to the background or as pretty props.

There are some triggering themes so readers should be aware; verbal abuse, sexual abuse of minors.

I enjoyed the author's writing style, the tone, but I wasn't a fan of Salma or anyone else.

Everyone is unlikable (no surprise there) and the big reveal is anti-climatic.

A little mystery, a little old school Hollywood glam, a fallen star and a possible cover-up, or not, to protect secrets. This was a good mystery romp through the area of Hollywood with some mixed time lines. The book held my attention and made me want to keep reading to try and figure out how certain pieces fit together. or maybe how they didn't. A few twists and turns keep me on guard. Overall an enjoyable read

I really enjoyed this book! If you’re into Hollywood, family drama and mystery then this book is for you. This book had lots of twists and turns and I enjoyed the complex characters. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this early review copy.

The Hurricane Blonde holds no punches. It unapologetically lays Hollywood and its treatment of women bare. A beautifully-written, modern take on the noir genre, it’s dark, gritty, and immensely satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Hollywood is keeping secrets but not hidden enough for Salma to not find the truth. This book was an easy read as we all wanted to know who the killer was of Tawney( Salma’s sister) and the other mysterious actor who Salma found dead in the same location as her sister. Well written book but none of the twists surprised me.
Thank you Netgallery and Penguin group Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The cover is stunning. The plot is fun and fresh. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Full of action and intrigued. I loved it.

Wow! This book, this cover, this title! It was everything I hoped it to be and more! This will be one of my favorite books of 2023! I can also see this being into a series for HBO. This book has it all - insight into the Hollywood elite, true crime references, and 2 murders to solve. Our protagonist Salma is a deeply flawed, former child star, recovering addict. She is haunted by the tragic death of her sister and goes to great lengths to figure out long buried secrets. 5 amazing stars!

The Hurricane Blonde
By Halley Sutton

Review

I really enjoyed this book! Story follows Salma and her relentless pursuit of finding out who murdered her sister and another actress a few years later. Wonderfully wrote & action packed. Highly recommend if you’re into Hollywood whodunits, complicated family ties, & amateur detective sleuthing.




📚 Expected release date August 8, 2023📚
❤️Thank you G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Penguin Random House, NetGalley, & the brilliant author Halley Sutton. I’m super appreciative & gave my honest opinion❤️

Sutton’s sophomore novel is as gritty and lush as the book’s Hollywood setting. Salma is the best kind of protagonist to root for: broken, sure, but with a tender, burning desire for answers. And like any classic noir film, this story swims in twist after twist with unreliable characters who are at once disarming and horrific. Sutton has solidified herself as one of the best LA noir writers around, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this early review copy.

I would give this book a solid 3.5 stars but I’m going to round it to 4.

This book takes you into the dark secrets kept in Hollywood. Including her sisters murder. I tend to enjoy books like this. It kept my attention because of the theme of the story. However, transitioning from one twist to another, was like learning how to drive stick shift. Choppy, sudden, and a little bit all over the pace. Yet, the twists were great and unpredictable!

Thank you to the publisher for letting me read this on NetGalley

This novel was so clever. It was crackling and sparking with original voice and unique style. I literally could not put it down. I had to force myself to turn off my Kindle so I could get a few hours of sleep before my morning alarm went off every night. This is a must read. A bestseller! I wish I could give it ten stars instead of only five.

The Hurricane Blonde died at her house, lounging by the pool. Her sister found her body. Now, her sister works for a Hollywood touring company for murdered celebrities--her sister's house is the last stop of the tour. She finds yet another dead blonde; this time in the pool. She can't help but see this murder's connection to her sister's. And to her sister's fiancee.

This was quite long, but not a but of it was slow or lacking. I was hooked from page one. The writing is superb. Excellent summer thriller that has a dark edge.

Solid 3.5 stars! .Gorgeous cover. The cover along with the plot immediately drew my interest. Salma is a former child star who is now giving tours for the Stars Six Feet Under tour bus. One of the stars included in the tour is her dead sister, Tawney’ was killed at the height of her young career and her murder remains unsolved. Salma is convinced she knows who is responsible. When Salma discovers a dead body at the site of her sister’s murder, she is determined to get justice for both women. Salma is a recovering addict. Her years of addiction and bad behavior cause the police, friends and family to doubt her. This is very much a novel about secrets and lies in Hollywood. Salma’s life went off the rails after her sister’s murder but that wasn’t the only reason. Living in a Hollywood family impacted her sense of self. Behind the scenes look at acting schools, auditions, and making a movie. The power dynamics between women and men in the industry are front and center. I enjoyed seeing the seedy underbelly of movie making. Many women are chewed up and spit out quickly by the machine. They don’t have the ability to say no when they want to be successful. We know the story of men taking advantage.It’s a story as old as Hollywood. At times Salma seems paranoid.. Her past interactions might just be impacting her judgment. The pacing was a little choppy. Started really strong, lagged in the middle third and picked back up. Definitely a book for readers who want an inside look at Hollywood.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.