Lillian Pentecost is a private investigator in 1946 New York City. Will Parker is her female assistant. Will’s former job was as a circus knife thrower’s assistant. When the knife thrower is arrested for the stabbing death of the tattooed lady, Lillian and Will travel to rural Virginia to investigate inside the circus in Murder Under Her Skin.
Who doesn’t love the idea of peeking into the lives of circus folk? Most, if not all, have disturbing backstories that contain their reasons for joining the socially ostracized group. Will, with her own secrets to hide, has friendships with some of the suspects. Will that be helpful or blind her to the truth?
The atmospheric setting is the best part of Murder Under Her Skin. The mystery at the book’s heart has clear clues but many red herrings too making it a true challenge to solve. Most of the main characters were genuine and fully fleshed out. However, other characters were more like rural 1940s movie stereotypes, so I took off one star. 4 stars!
Thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.