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Martha Steinway
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Dangerous By Design (The Hollywood Detective Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Martha Steinway (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 27 ratings

Immerse yourself in the glamour of 1930s Hollywood


While war simmers in Europe, Los Angeles swelters under a heatwave. Private Investigator Spencer McCoy is called to Beverly Hills and asked to find priceless jewelry stolen from MGM’s new leading lady, Hedy Lamarr.

When the gems surface quickly—far too easily—McCoy discovers the burglars’ real target was something far more valuable, and extremely dangerous. The magazines call Hedy Lamarr the ‘most beautiful woman alive’, but she is also a woman with a dark past and an astonishing secret.

Join Spencer and his wisecracking associate Rose as they race through 1930s Tinseltown to stop a deadly secret falling into Hitler’s hands.

Praise for The Hollywood Detective:

“Peopled with a cast of fast-talking dames and wise-cracking dudes this is a compelling whodunnit in its own right but also a glorious pastiche of the kind of movies that Dick Powell and Myrna Loy might have made in a parallel universe.”

“If you like Chandler, Perry Mason, Chinatown… then you will love The Hollywood Detective. Spencer McCoy is the private investigator who likes courting women and catching waves in between trying to solve mysteries. Predictably, for this style of thriller set in the height of the Hollywood film era, it’s Spencer’s female assistant who has the brains.”

“Brilliant setting with engaging central characters. The story rips along. It’s funny and tense by turns.”


THE HOLLYWOOD DETECTIVE SERIES


Set during the Golden Age of Hollywood, The Hollywood Detective is a classic mystery series featuring Spencer McCoy, a handsome private investigator with a reputation for getting to the truth. In a city ruled by powerful studio bosses and plagued by corrupt cops, it takes a decent man like McCoy to deliver justice.

Fans of Howard Hawks movies like His Girl Friday and Bringing Up Baby will enjoy watching the sparks fly as Rose and Spencer get each other in—and out—of trouble.

Also available


The Hollywood Detective, Book 1
Lost and Foundling, Book 2
Read more
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  1. Book 3 of 3
    The Hollywood Detective
  2. Print length
    289 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    June 21, 2018
  6. File size
    602 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Shop this series

 See full series
There are 3 books in this series.
This option includes 3 books.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07DD55PG2
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 21, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 602 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 289 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 3 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Hollywood Detective
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 27 ratings

About the author

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Martha Steinway

Martha Steinway

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Martha Steinway is the pen name for the writing team of Eva Hudson and Jo Monroe. The Hollywood Detective series indulges their nostalgia for the Golden Age of movie-making and their shared love of classic pulp fiction. If you like a wise-cracking dame, or a brooding leading man, then Eva and Jo hope you'll love Spencer McCoy and Rose Randall.

Eva is the award-winning author of the Ingrid Skyberg FBI Thriller series and Jo is a ghostwriter who has written over 20 books for a number of high profile clients.

If you'd like to be the first to know when new Hollywood Detective stories are published, join the mailing list - you'll get sneak peeks and exclusive content (and absolutely no spam). Sign up here: evahudson.com/hollywood

www.evahudson.com

www.jomonroe.com

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
27 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Noel Venter
    4.0 out of 5 stars Dangerous By Design
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a fun book, I don't think it is meant to be taken seriously! I enjoyed the lighthearted banter, the crazy storyline and the characters. It was cleverly put together, despite the frivolous nature of the book.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars E-Reader. Cozy Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2018
    This story takes place  Hollywood 1939.  

    The Germans just invaded Poland, which means the British will enter the war.  There also fears that Japan might might attach our country on the west coast.

    Well Specer McCoy & his associate Rose Randall are hired by Greta Garbo, MGMs leading lady.  To find jewellery that were stolen from her safe.

    Spencer finds the stolen jewellery in a pawn shop.  He knows owner well & another guy showed what he wanted to pawn, Spencer & the owner said the jewellery was fake.  Bought all for $150.

    When Spencer goes back to return the jewellery to Greta Garbo, she very pleased he was able find it so fast.  But she still looked upset & she asked to him follow her upstairs to special room.  He finds out the most important thing stolen was a draft for Proximity Device.  That whomever stolen it could sell it to the Germans or to Japan.  It also meant, which ever country bought the draft could win the war.

    Spencer, Rose & her best friend Thelma Barr will also be  involved investigating who stole the blue print.

    I'm not going to say any more about this book.  You need to read!

    There too many characters to list.  But the is a good amount of danger also!

    I've already read book 1-2.  They are written very well by this author.  I hope  you enjoy reading book 3 as much as I did!
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  • Moses
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Clouds of War
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2018
    Set just on the cusp of the beginning of WW2, PI Spencer McCoy has his previous affiliate Red Rose return to his office announcing that she has become engaged which is accepted in good faith until the penny drops that her fiancé George is a figment of her imagination. Spencer is contracted to recover some jewellery and drawings of an invention for a “proximity detonator” belonging and created by the beautiful Hedy Lamarr of Hollywood fame.
    With surprising ease the jewellery is recovered and it is then that Spencer learns of the inventions that Hedy creates and the missing plans for the “proximity detonator” which will greatly assist any side as the clouds of war gather. These are a lot more difficult to track down and Spencer finds that maybe the mob are involved although the burglary of Hedy’s mansion has been carried out by the son of a well-known Italian gangster, and the son turns up dead. With many a twist and turn the characters are fleshed out and numerous new characters revealed, leading to an interesting story that made this reader want to find out the result of the investigations.
    An enjoyable read. Recommended for those of the PI crime thriller genre.
    Moses
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  • Ingrid D
    4.0 out of 5 stars A page turner, refreshing a great summer read
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2018
    Well written although I’m not quite finished reading this book
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  • Judy
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2018
    I like this series so much! The main characters Spencer and Rose are bright and humorous. Like best friends solving cases together. They have an underlying interest in each other and they are both in denial about it.
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  • GaryB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Old School Crime Mystery Novel With A great Story Line.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2018
    A fun and well crafted old school detective mystery. Like Sam Spade with nice build up and intrigue about Hollywood, Ca in the World War II time frame. Worth the read.
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  • Judie
    5.0 out of 5 stars ... Design - an historical cozy mystery - the most fun I've had reading this year
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2018
    Dangerous by Design - an historical cozy mystery - the most fun I've had reading this year.

    Thank you to Martha Steinway for the privilege of receiving an advance copy for my honest review
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  • Mindy Pratt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good easy read.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2018
    Good book. Liked the references to what was really going on in Hollywood at the time. And celebs playing characters.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Tigerclaw
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Story Set In California In 1939 With A Link To The War About To Happen In Europe
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    More character development of the two central characters. In particular Spencer. Enjoy this third episode in this superb series.

    Like the previous two books. This also uses big names of the movie world. This time out, Hedy Lamarr is at the epicentre. Born in Austria. She is viewed by many critics to be one of the greatest actresses of all time.

    Along with acting. Miss Lamarr is multi talented. In her spare time, she has a gift for inventing. A formula of a new idea has gone missing from the home of one of Hollywood’s golden age stars. Los Angeles private investigators, Spencer McCoy and Rose Randall's latest case, has them searching for a blueprint.

    It is the summer of 1939. Across the Atlantic in Europe. Germany is getting ready for war. Would the Nazi government have an interest in some paperwork that was created in a Beverly Hills mansion?
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  • Dins Da Silva
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in Canada on August 9, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I love all the 3 books and I want more . The caracteres are so adorables and funny I can’t wait to read more
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  • Kiwi in UK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Witty Banter & Intriguing Plot
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Smart & sassy characters and love the dynamic between Rose & Spencer. Witty banter and an intriguing plot. I'm hooked & going back to read the others!
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  • G D Pearce
    5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Fun and Nostalgia
    Reviewed in Australia on April 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This series of novels captures the atmosphere of the 1930's private eye perfectly. Tongue in cheek and what fun. I can't wait for number 4 of the series
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  • Mrs. S. J. Schofield
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book u won’t put down!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Brill story line
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