murder and romance in OLD HOLLYWOOD
"... an atmospheric mystery with cinematic flair. A captivating crowd pleaser." - Kirkus Reviews
Everyone wants to be a star—except society girl and aspiring astronomer Kate Hildebrand, who'd rather study them in the night sky. She's already famous after a childhood tragedy turned her into a newspaper headline. What she craves is stability.
But when Kate has to move to Hollywood to live with her washed-up silent film star grandfather, she stumbles into a murder scene and finds herself on the front page again. She suspects one of the young men boarding in her grandfather's run-down mansion is the killer. Maybe even her grandfather. Now, Kate must discover the killer while working on the set of a Hollywood musical—and falling in love.
"This BREEZY WHODUNIT is a fun historical escape with satisfactory twists." - Publishers Weekly
"A thrillingly ROMANTIC DIVE into Old Hollywood that will appeal to cinema and history buffs alike." - Booklist
"This complex tale featuring blossoming romance, an EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT MURDER, and a host of characters to love and hate is RECOMMENDED."
- School Library Journal
"Chasing Starlight DAZZLES with richly drawn characters, a BREATHTAKING MYSTERY, and a vivid 1930s Hollywood setting." - Cat Winters, author
Winner Thriller Award - Best Young Adult Novel
Winner Whitney Award - Best Young Adult Novel
Winner Whitney Award - Best Debut
Murder. Guilt. Redemption. Love.
As a child, Valentine saw her mother murder the wealthiest man in their town and then hang at the gallows. Neglected by her father, she's learned to fend for herself, living in a crumbling estate that feels haunted by the past.
Now a top student at Drake Academy, class of 1850, she's determined to prove herself and overcome her mother's crime. But when a new string of murders occurs, everyone suspects the daughter of a killer. As Valentine hunts the real killer to clear her name, she finds an unlikely ally in Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother murdered all those years ago.
"With its atmospheric setting and lush prose, Girl at the Grave is a searing gothic story of love and murder that will burn in readers' hearts long after reading."
- #1 NYT Bestselling Author Kerri Maniscalco
"This gothic murder mystery will be a breath of fresh air for historical fiction buffs. Resourceful Valentine anchors this atmospheric debut, which marks Black as a writer to watch."
- Booklist
"Girl at the Grave kept me up late at night with its non-stop secrets, twists, and scandals. An homage to classic gothic romances that will keep readers guessing until the very last chapter."
- Cat Winters, Morris-nominated author
"While the plot transpires with unforeseen turns, the romantic tension Black crafts between Valentine and Rowan pushes the pace, holding readers' attention until the last page."
- School Library Journal