Description: Younger meets The Addams Family . . .
In the first installment of the Pandora English series, bestselling author Tara Moss brings her trademark macabre and lifelong love of the paranormal to the fashion world with a twist. Pandora English is no ordinary small town orphan. When she's invited to live with her mysterious Great-Aunt Celia in New York City, she seizes the opportunity to escape her stifling hometown, break from her tragic past and make it as a writer. Things, however, are not what she is expecting. For starters, her great aunt's Gothic mansion is in a mist-wreathed Manhattan suburb that doesn't appear on maps. And then there's Celia hersel--a former designer to the stars of Hollywood's Golden Age--who is elegant, unnaturally young and always wearing a veil. Pandora lands a job at a fashion magazine and her first assignment is covering the A-list launch of the latest miracle cream, BloodofYouth. But something is not right about the product, nor Athanasia, the drop-dead beautiful face of the brand. It seems there may be a secret ingredient in BloodofYouth, a secret worth killing for . . .Review Quotes: Praise for The War Widow:
"With a crackling plot and vibrant prose, Tara Moss concocts a first-rate noir detective mystery." --Christian Science Monitor "The War Widow is poised to be Tara Moss's breakout novel in the United States, especially given the book's saucy leading lady, Billie Walker. She's a war reporter-turned-private investigator in post-WWII Australia who--much like Moss herself--refuses to be defined or held back by any man on her quest for justice." --The Boston Herald "Just what I needed today--a blast of the escapist past. Sydney in 1946, damaged veterans, bad guys, car chases, mysteries, and a female PI up for the fight." --Ian Rankin, New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Rebus series "Tara Moss's The War Widow is an excellent novel and an even better springboard for its crackerjack heroine: the indomitable Billie Walker. Like a harder-boiled Phryne Fisher meets Martha Gellhorn, Billie is the best kind of heroine: fun, flawed, smart, feminist, and feisty. Even down the darkest of paths--including but not limited to Nazi war profiteers, shady mobsters, cops on the take, and more--Billie is a beacon of light, never losing her sense of justice, or her enjoyment in life (and a good coupe of champagne!). Honestly, I'd follow Billie anywhere." --Halley Sutton, author of The Lady Upstairs "In Billie Walker, Moss has conjured up one kick-ass 1940s heroine: a tough-talking, glamorous feminist who's as adept with a pistol as she is on the dance floor, haunted by a tragic past, and unafraid to take on the darkest of foes. An artful, original take on noir suspense that resonates in today's times." --Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue "A cracking thriller, with a marvelous, strong, flamboyant heroine." --Joanne Harris, New York Times bestselling author of Chocolat and Five Quarters of the Orange "Billie Walker is the type of heroine I'd love to befriend: resourceful, clever, adventurous, and a true fashionista. With a gripping plot and the perfect dose of history and intrigue, The War Widow has all the elements of a great page-turner." --Ellen Keith, nationally bestselling author of The Dutch Wife "A terrific read!" --Lynda La Plante, internationally bestselling author "Her novels are completely gripping and entertaining from beginning to end." --Hugh Jackman "I so enjoyed getting to know Tara Moss's wonderful new character, Billie Walker, in her 1940s Sydney-set mystery[, The War Widow]. Immersive, well-paced, entertaining, thoughtful--so enjoyable!" --Angela Meyer, award-winning author of Joan Smokes and A Superior Spectre "Moss's ultra-cool prose and whip-smart plotting pull you along at cracking pace until suddenly you look up and realize with a gulp how deep you've gone and how very dark it is down there." --Emily Maguire, author of Taming the Beast "Brilliantly atmospheric and completely immersive--this stylishly fierce adventure into post-war darkness will hold you captive on every page. The amazing Tara Moss has created a cinematic and important feminist noir--dark as midnight velvet and tough as steel. Do not miss this!" --Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of The First to Lie "The setting feels simultaneously familiar and exotic. Neatly incorporates history, social commentary, and a satisfying mystery in one appealing package. More, please!" --Kirkus Reviews "Spirited...thoroughly researched and anchored by the spunky, sympathetic heroine at its heart...Readers will finish the book clamoring for Billie's next case." --Booklist "Rich period detail and a fierce, feminist heroine distinguish this stylish twist on the classic 1940s detective novel." --Publishers Weekly