As part of the Ever After series, Murder at the Empire takes a fairytale and sets it during the 1920s. Gayle Wells plays the organ and winds up being hired a the only female organist at the Empire movie palace. With a best friend who lives life on the wilder side, co-workers who do not appreciate her, and murders and disappearing art abounding, this story kept my interest. The eventual revelations of who did what to who created the perfect ending for this story. I loved getting to know John Starek, the owner of the Empire. I also found his grandmother to be a delightful individual. If you enjoy stories based on fairytales or set in the past, you should definitely check out this book for yourself. I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )

What I think you should know:
Murder at the Empire, a Christian Historical Fiction by Cathe Swanson is the fourth book in the Ever After Mysteries. The series consists of standalone novels set in the 1920s, all as different fairytale retellings. This story is set in Chicago and features Gayle Wells, the first female Organist hired at the Empire, a movie palace.

What I think about this book:
I really enjoyed this book, it was entertaining from start to finish. Gayle was a fun character, raised by a Mother with feminist views she wasn’t afraid to step into a world that was male dominated. It is fun to get a backstage look into the world of silent films and what it took to make magic happen. The mystery in the story kept me on my toes, there were so many “bad” guys that I was left guessing until the end. I expected John and Gayle’s relationship to develop more during the story, but I think that in the end that the author did a great job. I look forward to reading more by Swanson and in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )

The series is set in the 1920s where prohibition was going on. I loved reading about the speakeasy clubs and how they tried to go undetected by the police. The author does a good job of incorporating the speakeasy era into her story with details that fascinated me. I am always excited when a new book comes out in this series because I can’t wait to see what fairytale the author has chosen to retell.

I am not familiar with the fairytale this story was based on but I did read the authors notes about it. I have to say she did an excellent job of making the story of a theater cone to life with similarities from the story of the emperor. I enjoyed the tour of the theater and was quite intrigued with how it operated. I had no idea that live music was played during acts. How exciting it must have been to be in the audience.

Gayle is thrilled to get a job as an organist in the magnificent theater. It was decorated with valuable artifacts which certainly attracted many. It did seem odd that these valuable pieces were in the open unguarded. I wonder why they weren’t behind locked cases where they would have been more secure? Perhaps the owner didn’t think anyone would steal them in the open. It just bothered me that a detail like that was not addressed by the owner.

I did have a bit of trouble keeping up with so many characters in the story. There were quite a few that made me confused at times. The mystery was good but I knew that our main character would somehow become a suspect. Gayle does try to help as much as she could but I think the police were focusing too much on her at times.

Set against a setting of entertainment during the 1920s the book has some interesting historical facts that place you right in the action. The author did grab my attention at the mention of Capone. That really intrigued me and that for me was where the story became interesting. I won’t say anything more because I don’t want to spoil the ending. If you are looking for a good mystery grab a copy of this book and travel back in time to the 1920s.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

With a solid faith underpinning, the author gives us a cast of some likable and some shifty characters. Gayle has found a position as one of the first lady organists for silent movies at the grand Empire Theater in Chicago. This colorful tale is set amid the backdrop of prohibition and is a mystery of two, maybe three murders and a missing manager.
John, the owner of the theater, befriends Gayle and a romance blooms. The mystery is interesting and takes us back in time to speakeasies, thefts, and forbidden booze.
I am finding this series to be fresh and an easy way to be thoroughly entertained.
*I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.* ( )