A Map to Paradise is a mystery set in Malibu, California during the McCarthy Era (“red scare”) in which three unlikely conspirators join forces.

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner

Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Friendship, Mystery/Thriller, Malibu (California)

***This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links

My Summary:

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for A Map to Paradise. Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkleyBuddyReads for a complimentary eARC of #AMapToParadise upon my request. All opinions are my own.

In 1956, three women on Paradise Circle in Malibu, California find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. At a time when authors and actors are “blacklisted” and the “red scare” is at its intensity, Melanie is hiding out because of her association with a boyfriend who is under suspicion of being a Communist. Her reclusive next-door neighbor hasn’t been seen for days and his sister-in-law/caregiver mysteriously digs up his roses in the backyard. Is this suspicious or does Melanie have an overactive imagination? She sends her housekeeper, Eva, over to check things out. Suddenly, circumstances become complicated, and events spiral out of control as the three women work together to hide secrets.

My Thoughts:

Where are the dead bodies hidden?

Three Unlikely Conspirators

I’m not sure if we can call these three women friends exactly. They are more like co-conspirators as events spiral out of control. Melanie is an out-of-work movie star who is hiding out in fear of being black-listed because her love interest is suspected of being a communist. Elwood, the reclusive man next door is a screenwriter, and his sister-in-law, June, is his caretaker and companion. Melanie suspects foul play as she hasn’t seen Elwood outside for several days and she spots June digging up his roses in the middle of the night. She suspects foul play. Should she report her suspicions? Eva, an immigrant with her own backstory and secrets, is Melanie’s housekeeper and Melanie sends her to June’s house to spy. Is Elwood still alive? Eventually, these three women who each have a secret to protect, form an unlikely alliance. I didn’t find any of the three desperate women especially likable.

Intrigue

A Map to Paradise includes multiple levels of intrigue. What really happened to Elwood? Is June a suspect? What are her motives? Eva’s backstory puts her immigration status and life at risk. Will Melanie find work again as an actor after her association with a suspected communist? How far will she go and what risks will she take to support Eva and June? A lot is going on here!

Ethical and Moral Dilemma

The events in this story lead to an important ethical question for readers: are the actions these women take to protect themselves and each other ethical or even justified? Although the author doesn’t appear to raise the question, the ethics of covering up a crime would lead to an interesting book club discussion.

Content Consideration: fire (reminiscent of the recent Malibu/Pacific Palisades fires), death, deception, grief, abusive spouse

Recommending A Map to Paradise:

If you enjoy sides of intrigue and desperate women, A Map to Paradise might be a good read for you. The historical period is an interesting backdrop that adds drama to this suspenseful story. Fans of Susan Meissner might want to add this recent release to their TBRs.

Related: My favorite Meissner titles are The Nature of Fragile Things, A Fall of Marigolds, and As Bright As Heaven

My Rating: 4 Stars

More information here

Meet the Author of A Map to Paradise, Susan Meissner

Susan Meissner is the USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction with more than three-quarters of a million books in print in eighteen languages. Her novels include The Nature of Fragile Things, starred review Publishers Weekly; The Last Year of the War, a Library Reads and Real Simple top pick; As Bright as Heaven, starred review from Library Journal; Secrets of a Charmed Life, a 2015 Goodreads Choice award finalist; and A Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten women’s fiction titles for 2014. She is also RITA finalist and Christy Award and Carol Award winner. A California native, she attended Point Loma Nazarene University and is also a writing workshop volunteer for Words Alive, a San Diego non-profit dedicated to helping at-risk youth foster a love for reading and writing.

Website: https://susanmeissnerauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanmeissnerauthor/
Twitter/X: @SusanMeissner

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