April 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” This beloved classic went into the public domain in 2021, so that has allowed 21st century authors like Claire Anderson Wheeler to re-imagine the characters of West and East Egg. All the principal players are back (Jay, Daisy, Tom, Nick and Jordan), but this isn’t a prequel (the circumstances of this plot would prevent Fitzgerald’s original tale from occurring), it’s more of an alternate universe. We do get a new main character, Jay Gatsby’s younger sister, Greta. If you like the Enola Holmes (teenage sister of Sherlock) stories, “The Gatsby Gambit” might be just for you. There are also new Buchanan relatives visiting the Gatsby mansion.

Greta is seven years younger than Jay, and the original themes of social strata are present here. Gatsby wants Greta to fit seamlessly into the upper class, so once he is financially able, he “rescues” Greta from a sour Aunt Ida and a bland North Dakota upbringing in order to put her into an East Coast boarding school and a fancier finishing school. Now she has arrived at Gatsby’s Long Island home at the age of 21, with a new bobbed hairstyle and an eagerness to step into a bohemian flapper lifestyle like Daisy Buchanan.

Greta is also a fan of Agatha Christie, so she’s predisposed to investigating when a death occurs among the inner circle of friends. This is a mystery, but not so much a thriller. After the killer is revealed, there are three more chapters of long explanations, including the trope where the murderer holds everyone hostage while parsing out justifications. It’s a quick read, but nothing near the emotional, nuanced tale of the original novel. The great American Dream is still illusory to this set of characters. 3.5 stars.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES I’m not certain if this was in the original, but here Jay Gatsby has green eyes. Although possibly a continuity error, early on Greta remembers her brother with “eyes of wild, turbulent blue.”
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO The garden is the place on the Gatsby estate where strange goings-on occur.

Thank you to Viking/Penguin and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

This is a solid story with decent writing,. Part Nancy Drew, part Agatha Christie, this was a fun mystery read, but I always end up comparing Gatsby derivative works to the original and they come up short, against a classic and perhaps the greatest American novel. I'm sure Wheeler has more in her wheelhouse (puns are fun) that will shine better away from the green light at the end of the dock.

A retelling of The Great Gatsby, but with the death of Tom Buchanan under mysterious circumstances. Characters are true to the original with the addition of Gatsby’s “sister.” Ending falls flat..

I really enjoyed the re-imagination of the Great Gatsby characters, as seen through the eyes of jay's younger sister. After a murder occurs, she exposes the excesses and carelessness of the nouveau riche in the Gilded age.

The Gatsby Gambit
This is a continuation of the Great Gatsby story. Greta, Jay Gatsby’s sister, had left the finishing schools where he sent her and had returned to their opulent estate on West Egg. Greta had hoped to have Jay to herself that summer but found several friends visiting. Among them was Daisy Buchanan, the object of Jay’s desire, Tom, Daisy’s brutish husband, Jordan, a femme fatale and handsome Nick Carraway to whom Greta was attracted.
The group seemed to be enjoying themselves when tragedy struck. Greta took on the task of finding clues to solve the mystery.
This story, like the original, gives a view of the Roaring Twenties when wealthy people like Gatsby and the Buchanans spent most of their time enjoying life while their employees were only there to serve them. The author kept the tone of the original book but created a different scenario.
I enjoyed the book and its depiction of the times.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This wasn't bad. I was hoping for something different. This didn't go in line with the original story at all.

a light beach read, lots of fun to be back in the world of Gatsby, et. al. some of the twists are predictable, others not quite as much - I would enjoy reading others, though - just was fun

Look for my full review in Library Journal. This is an enjoyable classics reimagining with a female protagonist.