Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.
*3.5*

Who doesn’t like diving into old Hollywood and peaking behind the show biz curtain occasionally? Especially when a murder is involved. And not just any murder but the killing of a famous review critic whose write ups are known for their brutal honesty and ability to destroy a person’s career with just a pen. Everyone either hated her or loved to hate her but like most people in Hollywood, no one really knew her, including Annie who is fresh from her Broadway smash, trying to make it in Hollywood after a break up from two people in her romantic threesome.

Oh I so wanted this to grab me. Annie’s new Hollywood friends have some terrific banter though after a while it grows stale leaving you to wonder why they all hang out together if they can’t say anything nice…ever. The beginning for me was pretty slow. Chapter 8 picked things up for me but it didn’t even start really chugging until my Kindle hit 50%. That’s dedication right there, but I did honestly want to know who was the killer. Because there are a ton of characters here, possibly too many to keep track of at first.

I loved this mixture of Old Hollywood drama and a cozy murder mystery. It turned out to be a perfect blend of the two genres where avoiding scandal at all costs leads to murder. Annie is a playwriter in NYC in the 40's who writes murder mysteries. Her leading actors are a married couple, Adam and Bev, and the three of them have had much success. They also share a secret that, if it got out, would sink their careers. When their latest play is reviewed by the irascible critic, Fiona Farris, she points her barbs at them in a way that makes them fear that she knows their secret. So, when Adam and Bev agree to a contract with MGM, they dump Annie and move to California without so much as a glance back at their old life. Annie is at loose ends without them. Her play closes without the leading couple and Annie is having terrible writer's block. When she is offered a contract with Pacific Studios, she says goodbye to NY and hello to CA. She meets studio head, Devlin, on the first day and is afraid that she has made a mistake signing her contract because all he wants her to do is write a musical film to feature his new attraction, composer Henry Hilbert, who he poached from another studio. But Annie doesn't write musicals, so Devlin's assistant, Irma, gives her a prescription for something to help her with the writer's block. She also tells Annie that the studio is responsible for running the Hollywood Canteen on Wednesday nights. The canteen caters to servicemen due to be shipped out and, on each night, a different studio provides snacks, drinks and entertainment. All of Pacific's employees are required to volunteer to work at the canteen. When Annie shows up for her first shift, she runs into Fiona Farris and her group of friends dubbed The Ambassador's Club for their propensity to drink at the Ambassador Hotel's club, The Coconut Grove. Fiona introduces Annie to her friends, actress June Lee, comedian Jack Kott, pianist, Victor Durand and producer, Terry Levine. They are friends who resemble misfit toys for they all think that they are destined for better things and they resent the hold that the studios have on them. And, like Annie, each of them are hiding a secret that would kill their career. For a few weeks, Annie hangs out with the Club and she enjoys their easy rapport with one another, their mostly lighthearted jokes and personal insults, which lead to good natured bickering like old married couples. But there is a current of truth underneath it all that could be devastating if ever revealed and Fiona is the one who seems to have the dirt on everyone. So, when she ends up dead at the Canteen, all of the members of the club are suspect. Annie decides that since the murderer used the poison from her most recent play, she should be able to find the killer since the police seem intent to call Fiona's death a suicide. At first, she works with the Club members to try to find evidence but soon the Club members start to turn on one another, suspecting each other of killing Fiona. Annie eventually finds out the truth, but not before her life is at risk but, luckily for her, the Club members come to her rescue. Such a fun book full of witty dialogue and interesting characters. I highly recommend! Thank you to NetGally for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Mystery and history, my favorite combination to read! Prior to reading this book, I didn’t know much about Hollywood’s contribution to the war effort so learning about the Hollywood Canteen was fascinating to me. Is the storyline completely plausible? Maybe not. Was it fun and intriguing? Absolutely! I read this book in one day because I had to know who the murderer was! I really enjoyed the banter between the main characters, the author is quite witty. I’d recommend this book for a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen was a little bit ridiculous, in a Hollywood sort of way. After only a few days,the main character is all of a sudden best friends with a group of people who had known each other for 20 years. I guess that’s perhaps plausible in Hollywood. What’s weird is that in a town where personalities are supposed to be larger than life, the characters in this book are just self deprecating and boring. While there were definitely some funny parts, I often wondered just how these people were friends when all they do is ruthlessly roast each other. Maybe that’s just a Hollywood thing?

4.5 stars! Last Night at The Hollywood Canteen was an excellent whodunit set in wartime Hollywood. The writing style was fast-paced, buzzy and left me wanting to read more even before the murder mystery element began.

The book had humor that made me laugh out loud, witty characters, and an ending that surprised me! The setting was fun, and in a book about Hollywood, the main character not being an actress was a great choice.

I read this quickly because I kept wanted to go pick the book back up. It was everything I wanted in a whodunit! I truly think this book will be a hit when it is released on November 7, 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author, for allowing me an advance copy of this great book!

Old Hollywood Glamor and a murder mystery! Absolutely delightful. Two of my favorite things. I was completely absorbed in this and I didn't stop until it was done. Absolutely perfect "Chefs kiss"
I just reviewed Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen by Sarah James. #LastNightAtTheHollywoodCanteen #NetGalley
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Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen.
I loved the setting and time period --- 1940's Hollywood is a great backdrop for a murder mystery. I much enjoyed the witty dialogue between the characters, but their catty-ness did get a bit old afterwhile. I also found there were a lot of conclusions jumped to when it came to solving the murder, and I didn't feel much loyalty to any one character.
I will say I was fascinated to find out that the Hollywood Canteen and its operation were a real part of Hollywood's past, and I appreciate Sarah James for weaving that history into an interesting "who-dunnit" story.

I so wanted to enjoy this novel, but I found it a little too boring for me. I could only read a few chapters before putting it down. I'm sure others will love the storyline.

Wow! What a great story! 4.5 stars! Sarah James incorporated so many interesting facets to this book. There was Hollywood glam, the U.S. during the war, music portrayed with fabulously vivid description, strong and unique personalities, witty banter and jokes, murder, drugs and alcohol, secrets and lies, and so on. And it all centered around the Hollywood Canteen, an actual place from the 1940s where servicemen could go for free food, drink, and Hollywood stars and entertainment. Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen is an engaging and delightful read. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC.

I like this one . I like the setting of old Hollywood and the murder mystery. The characters had good dialogue and humor. It was An engaging read.

I am just not the right reader for this book. I’m giving it 4 stars though, because it’s not the book, it’s me. It is well-written historical fiction with a murder mystery at the center, but much of the plot revolves around witty banter, which I always find very annoying in all books. Other readers will love that aspect I’m sure.

This was my first book with a polyamorous protagonist: interesting! The characters are diverse which is a plus. I wonder if some of the phrases used are perhaps too modern, and could be changed to better fit the 1940s milieu? I don’t think the expression “stalker” was used then. And “rip off the band-aid” and “nailed it” also sound too modern (although I could be wrong). Could be good to have a 1940s expert review it before publication? The dialogue really felt like it could go from book to screen: well done but not for me.

Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen by Sarah James is a great historical fiction that is a classic murder/mystery set in the 1940s old Hollywood.

This was such a great read!

The author took the glitz and glamour of the classic, old Hollywood era and balanced it perfectly with the darker aspects of what we now know sometimes happened behind the scenes and also the classic who-dunnit murder mystery.

The mystery itself was entertaining and creative, but the real gem was the dialogue, characters, banter, dark humor, jokes, and one-liners. The perfect balance of humor and true emotion and dark, sadistic, and sarcastic humor and content. It was beyond impressive and kept me coming back for more.

I liked the pacing, plot, and the satisfying ending. The author has a true talent. I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sourcebooks Landmark for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 11/7/23.

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