By this stage in her career, readers have come to understand that they can count on Mariah Fredericks to always publish high quality historical crime fiction—works that demonstrate a deep knowledge of the story’s setting and time period, a rich tapestry of intriguing characters on authentic journeys, and an unwavering acuity of complex plotting that ensnares the readers and always plays fair. Mariah Fredericks latest—The Girl in the Green Dress—is no exception. This novel will please her many fans and is sure to bring new readers into her fold.
The Girl in the Green Dress transports readers to New York City at the dawn of the Jazz Age—1920, to be exact. All the glitz and glamour one would expect seeps off the pages of this novel, while just under the surface the seedy underbelly of corruption keeps a steady rhythm.
For the backbone of this story, Mariah Fredericks chooses to use a true unsolved crime—the death of New York socialite, Joseph Elwell. And as her detective, Fredericks sets her sights on none other than Zelda Fitzgerald, the legendary (and legendarily troubled) wife of the great American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. But Mariah Fredericks innately understands the limitations using such an iconic character unleashes, so she makes the wise decision to pair Zelda with another less noticeable investigative partner, journalist Morris Markey.
While the Fitzgerald’s new found success opens many previously closed doors for them, they—and especially Zelda—are still very much outsiders in this scene. Any crime fiction reader knows how this strategically aligns with the needs of an effective criminal investigator. The sordid tale they uncover takes decades to tell and culminates with yet another death.
The Girl in the Green Dress is not an action-packed novel. Much of the focus centers on our two amateur sleuths hunting for and uncovering various motives and clues. This style lends itself to this type of storytelling where ambiance is everything and character reigns supreme. Readers get a real sense of what Zelda Fitzgerald was like at this time in her life. For those that know Zelda’s “story,” signs of what is to come are ever present throughout The Girl in the Green Dress.
Some readers may at first find themselves discombobulated that Morris Markey is the true main character of the novel but will quickly find themselves as interested in him as they are in the more well-known Fitzgeralds. Featuring real people in fictional murder mysteries—even those loosely based on real crimes—is challenging work, but Mariah Fredericks makes it look easy. An Author’s Note at the end of the novel helps readers to separate fact from fiction—necessary in this case, since everything that happens on the pages of The Girl in the Green Dress feels eminently plausible.
While the Roaring Twenties are hardly an unexplored era in terms of crime fiction, Mariah Fredericks’s audacious inclusion of Zelda Fitzgerald elevates The Girl in the Green Dress to must-read status for both fans of the period and those interested in the glamourous Fitzgerald couple. Expect to see this one on many historical award shortlists in the coming months.
BUY LINKS: The Girl in the Green Dress by Mariah Fredericks
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the author. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
