The Last Secret of Lily Adams
When her grandmother Lily passes away, Carolyn travels to California with her fourteen-year-old daughter to settle the estate and sell the house. Comfortable yet modest, the home is not what one might expect as the dwelling of a famous actress. Lily Adams was a rising star in the late 1940s and early 1950s when, without explanation, she quit acting after only appearing in eight films. Sorting through some old movie memorabilia, Carolyn finds a note from her grandmother. Unfortunately, it raises more questions than it answers. Why did Lily walk away from a successful career? And why does she have a candid photo of Stella Lane, the beautiful leading lady whose brutal murder was never solved? Carolyn must decide how far she will go to discover the truth.
Sara Blaydes’ novel is a wonderfully satisfying mix of mystery, romance, and family drama, alternating between the present day and the Golden Age of Hollywood. The contemporary story of Carolyn’s struggle as a recently divorced single mother trying to reconnect with her daughter and decide what to do next with her life is compelling and relatable. The chapters set in the past are rich with glamourous details but also provide an accurate portrayal of the harsh treatment some young women faced trying to break into the movie business. The fictional movie stars the author creates easily fit in with the well-known celebrities of the era, like Cary Grant and Ava Gardner, who make brief appearances. Stella Lane, Lily’s enigmatic sometime-friend and sometime-rival, is a standout character whom the reader is left wanting to know more about. The character could easily be the star of her own novel. This is a perfect read for film buffs who enjoy uncovering secrets.
