by Susan Meissner

In 1956 Malibu, California, three unlikely women become fast friends over shared secrets. Melanie Cole is the new darling of Hollywood. She and her handsome costar, Carson Edwards, are the new “it” couple. However, all of that changes when Carson is accused of being a Communist and Melanie is guilty by association. Because they have been told to stay out of the limelight and not be seen together, Carson rents a house in Malibu for her and hires a woman named Eva to be her housekeeper. Eva is a displaced, European Jew with secrets that she is keeping from Melanie.

Melanie’s next door neighbor is Edward Blankenship, a famous screenwriter, who is now a recluse in his house because of a tragedy. His widowed sister-in-law, June, lives at the house and takes care of him. Melanie has visited with Edward in his home and has appreciated the help that he has given her with her blacklisted situation. When Melanie wakes up one evening to see June digging in Edward’s beloved rose bushes, she is suspicious. Her suspicions grow when she can’t get in touch with Edward and June says that he has taken a turn for the worse and is in his room refusing to see anyone. Has June killed Edward and buried him under the rose bushes? Melanie is determined to find out what is going on but some secrets are better left hidden.

I enjoyed this book, the Malibu setting, the information about the Red Scare and the time period. As the story progresses, with flashbacks, the reader finds out a little more about each of the women as we learn their secrets and how these secrets bring them together.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reading copy.