I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A Western silver heiress gets embroiled in a dark murder mystery in author Cecelia Tichi’s “Death in a Gilded Frame”.
The Synopsis
Newport Summer 1899—yachts, balls, and famed artists eager to paint portraits of Society’s “Queens.”
Western silver heiress Val Mackle DeVere (Mrs. Roderick W.) agrees to “sit” for a portrait for her beloved Roddy, only to stumble on a scene of bloody, grisly homicide at an art gallery.
Like a figure from Pompeii, the dead Newport gallery manager screams in silence, his hands like claws clutching at a gilt frame pulled down over his head and shoulders while blood darkens his cream-colored suit.
Impulsive, Val reaches for the murder weapon and will find herself suspected, shamed, and shunned as she seeks the killer while learning yet again a lesson taught by Cornelius Vanderbilt IV: “No city on earth is as hostile to outsiders as Newport.”
The Review
This was a fun and engaging historical fiction meets mystery drama. The author found the perfect balance in the story between examining “high society” within communities such as Newport and honing in on the narrative’s mystery and thriller aspects. The creative way the author infused drink recipes into the narrative for readers to enjoy through one of the main characters was also inspired, as it allowed the reader to really become invested in the story.
The heart of the narrative rests in the solid historical accuracy of how society and the world viewed women and their role in that era, with the solid and engaging character growth of the protagonist and those around her. The setting and imagery in the author’s writing highlighted this time period well, and the way the protagonist has to battle her way through both suspicion and social shame to regain her status and catch a killer in the process will have readers enthralled with this novel.
The Verdict
With iconic storytelling, rich character development, and entertaining world-building at its finest, author Cecelia Tichi’s “Death in a Gilded Frame” is a must-read historical fiction novel that you don’t want to miss. The twists, turns, and shocking revelations are just a tiny part of the glamour and appeal readers will find in this historical piece, and the dynamic way the author brings readers into this era will leave readers wanting more. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
A fresh start for every new book, and author Tichi’s zest for America’s Gilded Age and its boldface names draws this seasoned writer to a crime fiction series while uncorking the country’s cocktail cultures on the printed page. Tichi digs deep into the Vanderbilt University research library to mine the late 1800-1900s history and customs of Society’s “Four Hundred,” its drinks, and the ways high-stakes crimes in its midst make for a gripping “Gilded” mystery series that rings true to the tumultuous era. The decades of America’s industrial titans and “Queens” of Society have loomed large in Tichi’s books for several years, and the titles track her recent projects:
- Civic Passions: Seven Who Launched Progressive America (and What They Teach Us)
- Jack London: A Writer’s Fight for a Better America
- What Would Mrs. Astor Do? A Complete Guide to the Manners and Mores of the Gilded Age
- Gilded Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from the Golden Age
- Jazz Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from the Roaring Twenties.
- A Gilded Death (crime fiction)
- Murder, Murder, Murder in Gilded Central Park (crime fiction)
- A Fatal Gilded High Note (crime fiction)
- A Deadly Gilded Free Fall (crime fiction)
- A Gilded Drowning Pool (crime fiction)
- Death in a Gilded Frame (crime fiction)
She enjoys membership and posting in Facebook’s The Gilded Age Society. You can read more about Cecelia by visiting her Wikipedia page at: https://bit.ly/Tichiwiki or her website: https://cecebooks.com.
