TWO SIDES OF TINSELTOWNThese novels set during cinema's Golden Age take different approaches to the challenges faced by young women in Hollywood, says Lyndsy Spence
The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
(Arcadia, £20)
The queen of mystery and suspense strikes again with her latest offering, a tale of scandal, intrigue and downright cruelty. At its centre are two women from Hollywood's golden era: Nancy Hartley, a washed-up bit player with stars in her eyes, and Vera Larios, an ingénue given the role of a lifetime as Salome in a new Biblical flick.
Interwoven throughout the story is the ancient tale of the Jewish princess, foreshadowing the twisted world of the Hollywood studio system, where women's images were controlled by men. The fantasy on the silver screen becomes a dangerous game in real life as Nancy, a villain you love to hate, projects her envy onto Vera with grave consequences. Will Vera submit to Nancy's reign of terror or channel Salome's inner-strength and rise above? Reminiscent of Sunset Boulevard and other film noir classics, several narratives revolve around each other, contributing to the bigger picture but always casting doubt. Who is telling the truth and who is lying? Or is it all make-believe, like the movies?
There are no chapters and it's written in a documentary format. At first this is jarring, but the lack of breaks within the text does create movement. It's simply a book you can't tear yourself away from. We are treated to many points of view, balanced with the inner monologues of the main players. Overall, it's a clever approach that does not weigh the book down but enhances its suspenseful pacing. What Moreno-Garcia has come up with is a dazzling work of art.
The Unforgettable Loretta, Darling by Katherine Blake
(Viking, £16.99)
Loretta Reynolds, the protagonist of this novel, is a walking contradiction hiding in plain sight. In 1950, 20-year-old Margaret blackmails her way out of post-war England and a dead-end job and assumes a new identity: Loretta Reynolds (later Darling), make-up artist to the stars.
Despite her glamorous new persona, Loretta is still haunted by her painful childhood and bad decisions. Interwoven into the high jinks of the American dream are heartfelt letters to her sister that slowly reveal why she ran away.
The plot is filled with clichés and echoes many a B-picture: small-town girl claws her way to the top. Nevertheless, it's all tremendous fun and I was rooting for Loretta to succeed. She does so by working day and night at various jobs (the Blue Book Modelling Agency is name-checked) but is eventually tempted by the Hollywood party scene.
Herein lies a real cautionary tale faced by many an aspiring starlet, then and now. Loretta soon learns the hard way that Tinseltown is full of predators. After an unscrupulous man crosses her at a party, she gathers her misfit friends (another make-up artist who is posing as a European prince, a prostitute, and a fading star) to seek revenge on the town's lounge lizards. (The revenge methods are downright odd and amusing, perfect for fans of Killing Eve.)
Light and frothy in places but balanced with a dose of feminism, the story packs a punch where it's needed. I loved Loretta's journey to self empowerment and riches. It's pure escapism, and I adored every minute of it.
This review first appeared in the July 2024 issue of The Lady magazine.
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