Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen.
I loved the setting and time period --- 1940's Hollywood is a great backdrop for a murder mystery. I much enjoyed the witty dialogue between the characters, but their catty-ness did get a bit old afterwhile. I also found there were a lot of conclusions jumped to when it came to solving the murder, and I didn't feel much loyalty to any one character.
I will say I was fascinated to find out that the Hollywood Canteen and its operation were a real part of Hollywood's past, and I appreciate Sarah James for weaving that history into an interesting "who-dunnit" story.

I so wanted to enjoy this novel, but I found it a little too boring for me. I could only read a few chapters before putting it down. I'm sure others will love the storyline.

Wow! What a great story! 4.5 stars! Sarah James incorporated so many interesting facets to this book. There was Hollywood glam, the U.S. during the war, music portrayed with fabulously vivid description, strong and unique personalities, witty banter and jokes, murder, drugs and alcohol, secrets and lies, and so on. And it all centered around the Hollywood Canteen, an actual place from the 1940s where servicemen could go for free food, drink, and Hollywood stars and entertainment. Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen is an engaging and delightful read. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC.

I like this one . I like the setting of old Hollywood and the murder mystery. The characters had good dialogue and humor. It was An engaging read.

I am just not the right reader for this book. I’m giving it 4 stars though, because it’s not the book, it’s me. It is well-written historical fiction with a murder mystery at the center, but much of the plot revolves around witty banter, which I always find very annoying in all books. Other readers will love that aspect I’m sure.

This was my first book with a polyamorous protagonist: interesting! The characters are diverse which is a plus. I wonder if some of the phrases used are perhaps too modern, and could be changed to better fit the 1940s milieu? I don’t think the expression “stalker” was used then. And “rip off the band-aid” and “nailed it” also sound too modern (although I could be wrong). Could be good to have a 1940s expert review it before publication? The dialogue really felt like it could go from book to screen: well done but not for me.

Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen by Sarah James is a great historical fiction that is a classic murder/mystery set in the 1940s old Hollywood.

This was such a great read!

The author took the glitz and glamour of the classic, old Hollywood era and balanced it perfectly with the darker aspects of what we now know sometimes happened behind the scenes and also the classic who-dunnit murder mystery.

The mystery itself was entertaining and creative, but the real gem was the dialogue, characters, banter, dark humor, jokes, and one-liners. The perfect balance of humor and true emotion and dark, sadistic, and sarcastic humor and content. It was beyond impressive and kept me coming back for more.

I liked the pacing, plot, and the satisfying ending. The author has a true talent. I am looking forward to reading more from her in the future.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sourcebooks Landmark for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 11/7/23.

i'd be lying if i say i wasn't blown away by this one. my interest peaked from the first page itself and didn't deflate till the last. the old hollywood setting was what drew me in in the first place and throw in a murder mystery with morally questionable characters that you have a love-hate relationship with and you have everything that i love about these kind of stories.

Not thrilling. Not glamorous. Didn’t hold my attention. But thank you for the ARC. I appreciate all the galleys I receive and read them all.

A mystery set in the glamorous Hollywood of the 1940s where a mystery playwright, Annie Laurence, becomes involved in a real murder.
The story is fun with characters that have many secrets and scandals to hide making it difficult to figure out who the culprit is.
The book captures you from the beginning with its humor and fast, vibrant pace that seems to reflect the spirit of Hollywood at war.
Perfect for lovers of an old style classic mystery.

OMG! So good from the first page to the last. Would highly recommend this book. It takes you back to old Hollywood and uncovers secrets that we never could have imagined. Love this book.

I really enjoyed this “who dunnit” set against the glamour of old Hollywood. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and the dialogue is sharp and witty.

Definitely one I’d recommend to any one who fancies themselves as a bit of a sleuth.

#bookreview #lastnightatthehollywoodcanteen #sarahjames #murdermystery #whodunnit #oldschoolhollywood #canyourecommendagoodbook #bookstagram

This book is certainly the epitome of hedonism. As Annie enters the Hollywood scene, she has to ask herself the following? What is truly real and what is a facade? Does the Ambassador Club actually like each other or are they play acting to get ahead? Does she quickly write scenes to create words or do they actually have meaning? This book is a fascinating deep dive as to what occurs when you think you know someone but behind the facade is something way deeper. In Fiona's death, emotional details are certainly revealed such ad Vic, June and Jack. I really enjoyed reading this book and understanding the plot at play that during this time as evidenced by Annie's relationship with Adam and Beverly, anything can be bought and changed if well suited for that role to play.

An incredibly glamourous take on a murder mystery. This had everything, romance, crime, suspense and a fun Hollywood setting. I didn't expect to love this as much as I did as you're taken on a really fun and wild ride with so many twists and turns. I was completely hooked and couldn't wait to see who murdered Fiona - overall an amazing mystery with characters you love and also love to hate. I highly recommend this I think this can work for anyone.

This book was so shiny and so glamorous. I have been having a romance with historical fiction lately and this was AMAZING

This is such a fun, buzzy book. A murder mystery set in wartime Hollywood, Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen checked all my boxes. Our main character had so much depth, the pacing was quick, the Hollywood setting felt well researched and fully-fleshed, and the plot kept me guessing. The story hit the ground running from the first page and I really appreciated how Sarah James made choices that made her novel distinct and compelling, and didn’t seem like a “for the masses” type that this story could have easily fallen into. I was entertained the entire time and I felt like I was engaged throughout, it wasn’t just a mindless reading. I loved it!

ARC provided by NetGalley.

This was a fun read. Grips you right from the first page and doesn't let go. I hadn't read anything from this author before and worried it would be a bit 'young' for me but I thoroughly enjoyed! It has a really glamourous setting and one that is not yet overdone as a lot of these types of novels are based in the 20's.

This is a fascinating look back into the Hollywood of the 1940s during the war. The Hollywood Canteen was a real place where all the servicemen and women were always welcome to come for a night of free food, drinks, entertainment, and dancing. The Canteen was staffed by the local studios, as well as the stars themselves. You never knew who might be found making hundreds of sandwiches
Annie Laurence a murder mystery playwright in New York, is out of a job when her highly acclaimed play comes to an end. She is also recovering from a painful breakup, so when she is contacted by one of the studios in Hollywood and offered a job as a mystery writer, she eagerly accepts. Off she goes to tinsel town.
One of the first people Annie meets is the extremely critical, often unpopular, film critic, Fiona Farris. Annie gets absorbed into Fiona’s circle of friends, who call themselves the “Ambassador’s Club.” They meet regularly at the Ambassador Hotel.
This story will take you on a trip through the glamour and glitz of wartime Hollywood, as well as a glimpse behind the scenes during that era. After a suspicious murder occurs that is similar to her recent successful play in New York, Annie is suddenly one of the suspects. She sets out to prove her innocence and find the real killer.
As I read this captivating story, I often found myself laughing and other times I was shocked at the scandalous behavior. It is an entertaining, fun book that takes the reader right back to wartime Hollywood.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.