The Girl in the Blue Blazer

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Pub Date 17 Jan 2023 | Archive Date 31 Jul 2023

Description

Two women. One powerful man. A decades-old secret binds them together.

In 2019, Pamela Carter is determined to secure her dream internship with billionaire businessman Andrew Clifford III.

Twenty-five years ago, in 1993, Andrew is just starting out. Without any of his later fame or fortune, the party boy becomes a legitimate hero when he intervenes to save assaulted Elizabeth Westlake. Sure, she’s a waitress at a strip club, but that’s not her dream. Elizabeth is determined to write her way out of the Harlem hellhole she lives in. Maybe Andrew is the ticket? Even the best-laid plans go awry, and for Elizabeth, tragedy looms.

Pamela is impossible not to notice and she soon becomes Andrew’s prime intern. But, just as with Elizabeth, not all goes to plan. The stocks are plummeting. The company is careening. And then, Andrew himself goes missing. Will Pamela also be plunged into the tragedy that surrounds this man? Or is Pamela the one person who really knows what happened that fateful night in 1993? More than a company is at stake, as Andrew struggles for survival. But sometimes, the past is too powerful. Some secrets refuse to remain buried. Sometimes, truth kills.

Two women. One powerful man. A decades-old secret binds them together.

In 2019, Pamela Carter is determined to secure her dream internship with billionaire businessman Andrew Clifford III.

...


Advance Praise

The Bottom Line: A spellbinding, cathartic revenge thriller that will leave readers both unnerved and satisfied. 

--------BestThrillers.com

Try as I may, I could not find a single fault in Ms.Thomas' writing. She sealed off any potential holes in her plot; it is airtight and impregnable. Her background in the film industry just makes sense. Alone, this book stands firmly on its own two feet but it would not surprise me in the slightest to see this story adapted into a movie or a dramatic mini-series. It's got all the signs of a successful literary work. I will try my best to cling on to my memory of this book for as long as I can, however, I also look forward to forgetting all about it just so I can experience reading it again as if it were my first time .

--------Book Nerdection

The Girl in the Blue Blazer is flawlessly written, and the plot moves along smoothly. I eagerly await to read more books by Alretha Thomas. She has writing talent. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy general fiction because it is the ideal fusion of love, friendship, adventure, and crime.

--------Literary Titan

"WOW!!! I didn't think it was possible to go into something with high expectations and still have them exceeded, but that is exactly what happened here. This story is the definition of suspense. There was pulse-pounding action from beginning to end, delivered by the right cast of characters. If you're looking for a story with strong women, this is it.

Andrew Clifford, III is the personification of a snake. I mean, that man is evil! This story serves as a good reminder that hurt people do in fact hurt people. I'm normally a very slow reader, but this story, like all Alretha Thomas's work, was easy to read and the chapters were just the right size. Pamela is an amazing protagonist, and you really root for her. I actually felt her pain.

I won't say much more about this because of the twists and turns in the story. It' s too easy to give something away. Trust me, you cannot predict the ending--almost gave me a heart attack!

Well done, Alretha; bring on the next one!" 

T.O. Burnett, Author of The Sapien Series                            

"Alretha Thomas has done it again. The Girl in the Blue Blazer is a riveting suspense story that will have you on the edge of your seat."

Women Who Love to Read Book Club.

"THE GIRL IN THE BLUE BLAZER IS A MUST READ.  Wow wow wow. The first book I read in 2023: has a good plot, good characters, and great twists. This book was good. I hated when it ended. I don't want to give away anything, but Andrew Clifford III is a piece of work and he had me screaming at my phone. Wow!" 

Marketa McKelvy

"Loved, loved this book! "Pamela Carter has been trying to get into Andrew Clifford's inner circle for a long time and she finally gets accepted into his internship program. This is when  things go totally left for the billionaire. Who's behind the chaos and why? Wanting the answer to this question had me swiping like a crazy person. Then there's Elizabeth Westlake from 25 years ago. She too has had dealings with Andrew and things did not go well. As I read, I kept wondering how are these women connected and are they in on what's happening to Andrew? The writing and twists are so freaking good. In the end I was blown away! Can't wait to read more from this author." 

Heather Brown

The Bottom Line: A spellbinding, cathartic revenge thriller that will leave readers both unnerved and satisfied. 

--------BestThrillers.com

Try as I may, I could not find a single fault in Ms.Thomas'...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9798218135737
PRICE $9.99 (USD)
PAGES 308

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Average rating from 9 members


Featured Reviews

1993 - Elizabeth Westlake and her best friend Sandy are young and struggling and working as waitresses at a topless bar to make ends meet. Elizabeth gets in a situation at work and a handsome young man steps up to defend her. His name is Andrew and she spends the evening taking with him. She tells him of her dream of becoming a writer and he promises to help her out.

Things with Andrew start to become a little suspicious and Elizabeth keeps her distance. Things take an interesting turn and Elizabeth finds herself engaged to Andrew.

Sounds like a dream come true, right? But everything is not what it seems.

2019 - Pamela Carte is interviewing to intern for Andrew Clifford III. This is her third time interviewing and she prays this time she gets the position. She has waited 10 for this opportunity so she can put her plans into action….this is personal.

This is a great read! I could not put it down and read it in one day. This is the second book I have read by this author, and she is one to keep an eye on! Get this one, you won’t be disappointed!

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This story is told over multiple timelines, narrated in the perfect sequence, to progressively build suspense and keep the reader guessing. The reader gets to know Liz and Sandy, two best friends who are trying to overcome the obstacles of childhood trauma, racism, sexism, sexual aggression, and poverty. In alternate narratives, we meet Pamela who has her heart set on an internship at a financial company owned by Andrew Clifford. She has been following his career for years, and this is her last chance at the position. We quickly find out her intentions are not purely career motivated. These narratives are artfully tied together as we reach the climax of the story, and all the questions are answered and the secrets revealed. The character development was strong and complex, and every detail was thoughtfully tied to the events, and, ultimately to the conclusion of the story. I loved the strong female protagonists. This is a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Diverse Arts Collective Inc for providing this digital copy.

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I enjoyed the twist and turns in this book. I read some previous reviews before reading this book and they did not disappoint. I’m so glad I choose this one to read. I highly recommend giving this one a try if you have time to sit in read because you won’t want to put it down.

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Much more than meets the eye on first reading the blurb! This is cleverly written across multiple time lines and touches on some dark topics very effectively. With characters you will both love and hate, the author has created a network which will make you pay attention as you read!

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The girl in the blue blazer is a must-read.

The structure of the writing is very interesting. The chapters alternate between the present and the past and we get to know two great protagonists with strong and resourceful characters.
In 1993, we make the acquaintance of Elizabeth and her friend Sandy, afflicted by a series of childhood traumas and subject to sexual aggression, racism and sexism. The two women decide to work as waitresses at a strip club to scrape together some money and lift their tragic economic situation. One night, Elizabeth meets Andrew, a young entrepreneur at the beginning of his career, who helps her realise her dream: to find a way out of Harem hell and become a writer. The two end up dating and embarking on a relationship. But not everything goes according to plan. Andrew becomes very suspicious and, soon, Elizabeth finds herself involved in a tragedy.
While, in 2019, we make the acquaintance of Pamela, a beautiful woman who is very determined to get her dream job at the company of billionaire Andrew Clifford III. But, just as in Elizabeth's case, everything does not go according to plan. The company's shares plummet and Andrew mysteriously disappears.
I particularly enjoyed the author's writing: super detailed, researched and fluent. Between secrets, lies, manipulations and truths that come to light after years, it is impossible for the reader to get bored. The mystery involving the figure of Andrew is very interested, a real treat.
It is a book that really entertains and builds up a lot of suspense. I just couldn't tear myself away from this book! And the ending... AMAZING!
This is, without a shadow of a doubt, a story that will leave you breathless. Highly recommended!


I thank Alretha Thomas, Diverse Arts Collective Inc and NetGallery for the ARC copy of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book is the third I've read by AT, and each one has been so different! This author does not shy away from off-beat topics, writing style, or plot lines.

In TGITBB, we meet Pamela as she is embarking on a journey to right a wrong from long ago. This journey takes her deep into the world of California financial firms, where she gets a front row seat to all the major players. The story bounces back and forth between "then" and "now," and it took me quite a while to make the connection. I'd describe it as "Pretty Woman" meets Wall Street -- with a lot of risky behavior and fatal decisions thrown in the mix.

4/5 stars -- would recommend!

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A really smartly written book with so many twists and turns that you are kept on the edge of your seat.
Brilliant and fun characters

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Highly recommend this book! Kept me on my toes the whole time and got through it in a day - just wow! So many brilliant twists and turns, and wonderful characters! This is a must-read!

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