The Jean Harlow Bombshell

Charlotte Donovan, the narrator of this lackluster series launch from Bryan (the Cora Crafts mysteries), has spent her career as an assistant to Justine Turner, the author of popular celebrity biographies. When Justine dies of apparent heart failure, Charlotte agrees to complete her latest project, a work on 1930s Hollywood bombshell Jean Harlow. After moving into Justine’s spacious Manhattan apartment, Charlotte discovers that a mysterious woman who bears a striking resemblance to Harlow is shadowing her, along with several overzealous men, including one who collected the underwear of starlets from Hollywood’s golden era and who had threatened Justine. When the police determine that Justine was murdered, Charlotte realizes a killer is on her trail. Careless writing—including abundant clichés and continuity errors—makes the story difficult to follow. Charlotte’s Lyme disease is referenced repeatedly without much context or explanation, and secondary characters are barely developed. Readers interested in the golden era of film may enjoy the Harlow insights and subplot, but most might prefer to skip this one. (May)