The Darkness Knows

UPDATE: q and a on my blog http://a-fair-substitute-for-heaven.blogspot.ca/2016/03/author-q-and-cheryl-honigford.html

First off, Honigford builds an effortlessly beautiful historical world: from the bridges criss-crossing the river to the broad, lit billboards, to the ins and outs of radio: the airwaves ruled the entertainment of the day and Viv's world is very much coloured within a studio!

This had a light, cozy feel to it: written with the tang of 1930's slang and the raucous optimism and fun of pre-War America. I loved that she never talked down to the reader: assuming that any little idioms, slang or personages of the time would be recognized by the reader. It helped create the sense that you were dropped right into Vivian and Charlie's world.

I also really liked the believable banter, chemistry and romantic hints between Charlie and Vivian (even though there's an Errol Flynn/Robert Taylor lookalike named Graham smooth-talking his way around the edges). Charlie is an ace private eye with a heart and an Archie Goodwin sense of humour that made me want to spirit him off for a night at the Flamingo Club.

An easy book to sink into with a great, winking sense of humour, a glistening old school Chicago of lights and liquor and fun and a hard-to-guess murder mystery.

I am EAGER to follow Viv and Charlie on their next adventure

Set in Chicago in 1938, this mystery has a fun setting – most of the novel taking place in a radio station. Vivian Witchell was the secretary to Head of the station, Mr Hart, before becoming a radio actress. Now she is on the popular show, “The Darkness Knows,” while also taking any other work that comes her way. Although her widowed mother is extremely wealthy, Vivian’s independence, and career, is important to her.

One evening, Vivian returns to the lounge, where the actors relax between shows, and discovers the body of Marjorie Fox – the star of the station. Marjorie is not well liked, but surely nobody hates her enough to kill her? When a note is found by her body, it points towards a deranged fan and, what is more, Vivian’s radio character is mentioned in the letter… Afraid that Vivian will be the next victim, Charlie Haverman, a real Private Investigator (and consultant on, “The Darkness Knows”), is given the task of protecting Vivian. Determined not to be a victim, Vivian and Charlie begin to investigate the crime.

This is a fairly standard, cozy mystery. I liked the character of Vivian and the setting of the pre-war radio era. If you enjoy gentle mysteries, without too much violence and a historical setting, you may well enjoy this. It has the potential to become a series and I would certainly be interested to read on. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley.

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The Darkness Knows by Cheryl Honigford was a Net Galley read. The book will be published on September 1, 2016 by Sourcebooks Landmark. It is a firmly in the cozy mystery genre.

Set in 1938 Chicago, our fearless protagonist, Vivian Witchell, is an upcoming radio star on a popular mystery program and recurring roles on other programs produced by the radio station. Vivian finds herself in the middle of a real life murder mystery when she discovers the dead body of the station’s female star.

As anyone who truly knows me will tell you, I have a true soft spot in my heart for old time radio. I grew up listening and falling asleep to the programs every night as they were run at 9PM on KNX in Southern California. In fact, I still do but only on my smart phone these days. So, naturally I’m drawn to novels which showcase this long forgotten art form.

I have several problems with the novel. First, the protagonist of the murder mystery our protagonist stars on is not originally named. Harvey Diamond, Private Detective was quite clearly a rip-off of Richard Diamond, Private Detective. Yes, there were distinct character differences between Harvey and Richard but seriously, how hard would it have been to use a different surname and not irritate the fan of old time radio that would be drawn to the novel in the first place? Second problem, there appear to be historical inaccuracies littered throughout the book. Nothing major, but enough for me to raise eyebrows more than once this morning while ready the book. Third, the love interest in the novel is the key to the plot line and yet, his age compared to Vivian’s is completely out of kilter for the era. Eighteen years or so between a couple would have been unheard of in 1938 America.

However, the novel wasn’t horrible. I would read another in the series, should there be another. There is definite potential for series growth and improvement in characters. Plus, I honestly believe that any novel which showcases Old Time Radio should be encouraged.

I’ve created quite a conundrum for myself on how many stars to award, too low a rating and there might not be another novel, too high a rating and I would be leading down the wrong path. I’ve mused on the rating all day before writing this review. I can’t award half stars on Net Galley which nixes my preferred rating of two and a half stars. Which leaves a low of 2 or a high of 3 stars for the rating and I’m going with 3 stars. I enjoyed the characters and story and would read another book. I’m cautiously optimistic that the next book will be an improvement.

Love the time period, love the characters and can't wait to read more in the series.

I initially became interested I this book because it reminded me, at first glance, of Rember WENN, a television show from the late 1990s about a radio station in Pittsburgh shortly before then during WWII.

There are some similarities, though it has been too long since I've seen the show to mention or I mean compare the two.

I enjoyed the book, to a certain extent more than expected.

Well written. Good historical fiction. Good mystery. I look forward to more books by this author.

I found this to be a pretty entertaining cozy mystery. Set in a radio station back in the late 1930's, it was interesting to read about how the behind the scenes worked. They were really spitting out the programs and I found it interesting that one person could be on more than one show.

As for the mystery itself, I had the suspect correct, but the wrong reason for the trip to the foundling. So, that was kind of a buzz kill for me. However, I still enjoyed reading the book. I did find it a little strange that the main character, who I really liked, would have a relationship with a man after only four days. That had to be rare in this era.

Thanks Sourcebooks and Net Galley for my free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Murder, Mayhem&Glory in The Radio days.

Vivian Witchell is on a rise as a radio actress, hoping for a stardom. But being tangled with a murder situation has not been part of the plan. But with a help of an handsome private eye Charlie Haverham, her vivid imagination and curiosity may lead her on the right way to find out who had killed major star Marjorie Fox with a blow to the head, with a whiskey bottle at that. And there are the strange letters...The radio station is always full of people and no secret can stay hidden there.

I quite liked this prewar mystery (set in Chicago in 1938 in the brink of WWII). The atmosphere was described quite engagingly - the dancing halls, platinum blondes, the dashing actors caught in embrace with the starlets by the journalists informed in advance, the robes, even the social background.
Vivian, the vivacious and determined heroine, always willing to fight for her career, is quite a pleasant figure. Charlie Haverham is a quite capable sekundant to her sleuthing (if a bit Watsonish in being more physically physically fit than a brilliant thinker).

As for the mystery - well, I was left with a bit unsatisfied feeling towards the end, I hoped for a more elaborate mystery. I mean, all the points were there, but I just don´t realize how the murderer might be such a smart figure in the retrospective look.
The other point where I am disappointed is the very, very fast progress of the relationship between Vivian and Charlie in just mere four days. Vivian behaves as a good girl one day and the second day as a much more experienced woman. My personal choice is always a clean read, but I would be willing to overlook this if the plot has been inclined toward this route - which was not the situation here. So I regard this meaningless (as for the plot) development only as a sad concession to modern trends in literature.

But as for the first book - hands down, Ms Honigford. I will read more of the series.