Read time: 5 minutes
📱📖 Read on Kindle | 📃 304 pages
⏱ Approx. 4 hours
📌 ARC provided by Edelweiss
🏷️ Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre
🗂 Genre: Historical Mystery
Book Blurb:
Set in the glittering world of 1960s London, Curse of the Savoy takes readers inside the legendary Savoy Hotel, where glamour, superstition, and murder collide. A lavish dinner hosted by Orson Welles brings together a guest list straight out of a golden-age Hollywood fantasy, including Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant. When a long-whispered curse linked to a thirteen-person dinner appears to come true, chaos follows. As secrets unravel and a guest is found dead, Savoy press officer Priscilla Tempest is once again drawn into an investigation that reaches from hotel corridors to the highest levels of British society, even catching the Queen’s attention.
Let’s talk … murder !!!
There’s something undeniably fun about a historical mystery that leans fully into its setting, and Curse of the Savoy absolutely does that. Stepping into Curse of the Savoy feels like brushing against the velvet of 1960s London: decadent, smoky, and filled with famous faces behaving badly.From the moment you step inside the Savoy, the novel revels in high society drama, celebrity cameos, and the particular sparkle of 1960s London. Ron Base paints the Savoy with loving precision: you can almost hear the clink of champagne glasses and the low hum of gossip as Alfred Hitchcock trades barbed quips with Cary Grant. Priscilla Tempest remains a compelling guide through this world, juggling hotel politics, demanding guests, and an increasingly complicated murder investigation. Watching her navigate both social expectations and police procedures was one of the strongest parts of the book.
The premise itself is delicious. A cursed dinner party, a superstition involving thirteen diners, and a glamorous guest list that includes real-life icons all set the stage for intrigue. Add in whispers of blackmail, betrayal, and royal interest, and the stakes feel suitably high-profile. The Queen’s involvement raises the tension and gives the mystery a broader sense of importance beyond the hotel walls.
But here’s where the novel stumbled for me: length. While the richly textured descriptions built a lush setting, I occasionally found myself wishing for a sharper editorial cut. The mystery’s bones were solid, yet the pacing sagged in the middle, like a soufflé that needed a minute less in the oven. Still, I was hooked enough to see Priscilla through to the final page, even if I probably won’t follow her into book five. That said, I appreciate how Base throws readers into rooms filled with historical glamour and danger. It’s escapism dressed in haute couture and murder.
Would I recommend it?
If you love historical mysteries with strong female leads, glamorous settings, and a heavy dose of real-world celebrity intrigue, this one is worth your time. The Savoy setting is richly drawn, the premise is clever, and Priscilla Tempest is an engaging protagonist. While the pacing kept it from being a standout for me, it was still an entertaining and stylish read. Expect slow‑burn suspense and an impeccably dressed lead.
If You Liked This, Try These:
- The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes – Glamorous settings, real historical figures, and classic murder mystery vibes.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library by Amanda Chapman – A fun blend of history, celebrity, and sleuthing.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett — The Queen herself as detective? Yes, please.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - The Appeal by Janice Hallett – A clever mystery for readers who enjoy layered secrets and social maneuvering.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy - A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch — Victorian‑era London mystery with elegant prose and clever deduction.
Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
High Society or High Suspicion?
Would you brave a cursed dinner party at the Savoy for the chance to dine with Hitchcock and Cary Grant? Or are superstitions a hard no for you? Let’s talk glamour, gossip, and fictional curses in the comments.
Book Links:
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Goodreads | StoryGraph | Pagebound | Hardcover | OpenLibrary | Litsy
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