I didn't like this book, even though the premise was was unique and interesting! Unfortunately, I found the characters to be flat and unlikable, and the story took too long.

Chris Bohjalian's latest novel is a standout in his impressive body of work. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Las Vegas, the story follows two estranged sisters, Crissy and Betsy Dowling. Crissy performs a tribute show to Princess Diana, captivating audiences at the rundown Buckingham Palace Casino, while Betsy arrives from Vermont with her newly adopted 13-year-old daughter and her boyfriend, who is involved in a cryptocurrency venture.

Their relationship is fraught with tension, as Crissy blames Betsy for their mother's death, making Crissy dread her sister's arrival. But their strained dynamic takes a backseat when the casino's owners are found dead just days apart, with police suggesting suicide. As the cryptocurrency operation begins to unravel, it reveals a web of shady characters linked to organized crime, raising the stakes for everyone involved.

The novel offers a fascinating exploration of Las Vegas, the tribute entertainment industry, and the Dowlings’ struggles with dysfunction and grief. Bohjalian crafts a fast-paced narrative filled with relatable characters, including the minor but memorable Marissa, whose insights provide depth at the end of each chapter. With its engaging plot and intricate character dynamics, this book is truly unputdownable. I’d give it a solid 4.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

I really enjoyed this book and all of the multifaceted characters. The Las Vegas setting felt very authentic as well as the connection the foster care system. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC! This started strong but ultimately fizzled out unfortunately. I was hoping for a more compelling story.

This book had an intriguing plot and A lot of potential. It ultimately fell short for me. The main character and unbelievable story lines weren't enjoyable.

When you pick up a book by Chris Bohjalian you know you are going to get a well-written, dramatic story. While I was not thrilled with the subject matter, I still enjoyed the book.

If you liked The Lioness then you definitely want to pick up The Princess of Las Vegas as it has a similar vibe.

The Princess of Las Vegas is set in present day (unlike The Lioness, which is historical fiction). Social, political, and economic issues of today are alluded to. While it isn't preachy, I kind of wish some of the references hadn't been made as I read to escape these real-life issues for a while.

I was hoping for more of a thriller like The Flight Attendant, which threw the reader into the suspense early on. I didn't feel like there was a lot of action until the last few chapters. There are a lot of details about Chrissy's show and Princess Diana (I've never really understood American's fascination with her). It took me a while to connect with the character, though she does become a sympathetic character towards the end.

Her sister on the other hand... I didn't really like her and was angry with her for most of the last half of the book. I know that I don't easily trust people, but I think it's stupid for a woman to be so dependent on a man. So while I did feel some sympathy for her plight, I mostly felt she was an idiot for getting herself into the situation in the first place.

I found it interesting that Bohjalian inserted the perspective of 13-year-old Marissa throughout the novel. I don't think I've another novel of his that has made use of a young adult character in just a way. Given her foster care experience and the fact that kids see and hear so much more than adults give them credit for, she added in details we might not have gotten otherwise.

The Princess of Las Vegas wasn't my favorite Bohjalin novel (neither was The Lioness, his Skeletons at the Feast holds the favorite spot for me). It had enjoyable moments and I was entertained.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Wednesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/08/the-princess-of-las-vegas-by-chris.html

I was so looking forward to this new book by Chris Bohjalian as I have really enjoyed his books in the past, but, unfortunately, I had to DNF this one. I had a hard time getting into the book, and didn't like any of the characters. I felt they were very flat and the story not very interesting. Admittedly, I am a mood reader, and it could be that this was just not the right book for me at the time I was reading it. I will give it a try at a later date and maybe then it will hit the mark.

Thank you netgalley for this arc.

Unfortunately, this ended up being a DNF for me at 14%. Despite enjoying Bohjalian’s previous writing I felt like this story moved at a glacial place and most likely for that reason I couldn’t become invested in the narrative or root for the characters.

Elegant writing and what a story. It’s Las Vegas, baby and of course there is sleaze, the mob and murder, oh and Princess Di. So many twists and turns. Good read. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC

An interesting premise featuring a Princess Diana impersonator who embodies the role, a disconnected family, and a cryptocurrency plot involving the mafia. While the mystery kept you going trying to find out who was responsible, there were times where it was hard to keep track of who was narrating. The process behind Crissy becoming Princess Diana was interesting as was the general commentary on Diana's legacy. Overall, a solid read but does get bogged down by multiple plot points that seem crammed into one book.

I may be in the minority here, but as a book reviewer I am one person who does not fall head over heels in favor of Chris Bohjalian's works. The Princess of Las Vegas is no exception. While Bohjalian certainly provides his audience with an exciting mystery and a bit of a thriller, set in the somewhat tarnished glitz of the Vegas strip; I find his writing verbose and needing further edits. I found my mind drifting at times as he repeatedly gave a few too many examples just to drive his point across.

Here is the good parts of the novel - I believe he does a wonderful job of keeping the actual plot moving in this book and sets the scenes with such descriptions that you can't help but feel like you are standing right next to the characters mid scene. Bohjalian's Las Vegas pays homage to the real Strip, while creating a world at the Buckingham Palace Casino. You don't need to have ever visited Las Vegas or seen a celeb impersonator's show to appreciate what Bohjalian's intent was.

Thank you to NetGalley and DoubleDay Publishing for allowing me to review this novel.

This book had such good potential for me - I found the premise of the story unique, the characters interesting, and the suspense real. However, by the middle I was a little confused with the cryptocurrency plot/mob boss plot, and the book overall went in a direction I was not hoping for it to go. I have loved all of Bohjalian's other work, so thinking this one just wasn't for me.

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced review copy of this book. It's out now!
I'm a huge fan of this author and devoured three of his earlier books, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, THE RED LOTUS and HOUR OF THE WITCH.
They were all fantastic books with gripping plots and memorable characters. So when I read the synopsis for THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS, I was intrigued. A Princess Diana impersonator on the Vegas Strip? Sounded promising. Things quickly grew chaotic and by the halfway pint I had lost interest. The Mafia, cryptocurrency and the unrelenting references to the Royal Family just got to be too much.
This one wasn't for me but other readers might love it. I'll definitely continue to read books by this author and look forward to his next endeavor.

While the plot was a little far fetched, The Princess of Las Vegas proved to be a fun ride through the city of self-indulgence and excess. The novel was action packed and like so many of the author's previous novels, starred a character that has self-destructive tendencies. This is the perfect summer vacation read that will keep you entertained as only the princess of Las Vegas can!

This would be 3.5 if half stars were available. I loved the backdrop of Vegas and the (slightly) mob storyline but found the bitcoin description a little bit confusing. And although I loved the idea of a Princess Di impersonator show the storyline was a little easy to predict.

I just couldn't get into this one. I felt the story, overall, was not very interesting and overdone. A Vegas performer, the mob, a crooked politician. Yawn. Sorry. I normally like Chris Bohjalian's books but this one was a miss for me.

The cover is perfect for this story. I would suggest it for someone liking for an action type murder mystery. The storyline thouroughly thought out and builds up well.
I did feel a little lost here and there switching between perspectives with italics being the only indicator. I thought the ending was clever yet a little easily solved. All in all I give it 3.5 stars.
Thank you to the publishers for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Wanted to love this book but alas I barely liked it. I couldn't figure out what it was supposed to be. Not much of a mystery and bordered more on a soap opera. But as always, this writer creates really interesting characters who find themselves in interesting situations. Not so much this story.

Thank you to Doubleday Books for the #gifted copy and to PRH Audio for the ALC to review.

I am a huge fan of Chris Bohjalian and this was a fascinating read that with a few elements I was not expecting, specifically cryptocurrency. I’m a huge Princess Diana / Royals fan and the combo of these elements, including organized crime and a Vegas setting all worked together well and made this a very entertaining and suspenseful read that I absolutely loved. The audio was wonderful as well and was an enjoyable reading experience.

not my favorite Bohjalian (that honor still goes to last year’s THE LIONESS), but a solid entry from the author. The book is not quite a satire, not quite a crime thriller, and I wish it had leaned more into one of those genres rather than ride the middle. Ultimately, a little all over the place, though I was into the sister storyline and the strange world of celebrity doppelgangers.