The Lady Upstairs Review

 

Author: Hallie Sutton

Genre: Thriller/Modern Noir

Publisher: G.P. Putnam

Release Date: Nov. 17, 2020

Purchase Link: Amazon

My Rating: 3.5 Provocative Hearts

*Many thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book via Netgalley.

A modern-day noir featuring a twisty cat-and-mouse chase, this dark debut thriller tells the story of a a woman who makes a living taking down terrible men...then finds herself in over her head and with blood on her hands. The only way out? Pull off one final con.

Review:

The Lady Upstairs is a dark, provocative, modern day noir thriller about women doling out vigilante-style justice in the form of blackmail to some powerful men in Hollywood with questionable ethics.  The story has a decidedly feminist voice with the boss aka the lady upstairs deciding which men need knocking off their pedestal for violating a code of conduct she considers unsuitable.  Lou, the only woman who knows the identity of the "lady", serves as the liaison between her and the working girls.   Our protagonist Jo has almost paid off her debt to the lady upstairs and is planning to get out of the business once she does.  One bad decision and suddenly Jo is in over her head and faced with helping dispose of a dead client.  With both her unknown boss and the cops hot on her tail, Jo's only option is to pull one more job - this time entirely on her own.  She'll make back the money she needs and be free.  Is it ever really that simple?

The Lady Upstairs is an intriguing, unique thriller that's leans heavily on a character driven plot line.  It starts off strong with the setup and introduction of characters.  There's a cynical tone and morality playing out with justice being handed down in a twisted match game of wits.  I found the writing and story structure to be solid, and enjoyed the old Hollywood ties and ambiance.  However, the story begins to wobble midway through as readers are abandoned to deal with Jo's repeated drunken ramblings.  The results are a slight loss of focus and slowing pace.  It left my mind rambling much as Jo did.  The pace picks up again as the story rolls toward the finish line and while I wasn't shocked by the big reveal, I was entertained.  This is Halley Sutton's debut novel, and she's off to a great start.  Highly recommended to fans of mystery and suspense with a dark edge.

Synopsis:

Jo's job is blackmailing the most lecherous men in Los Angeles--handsy Hollywood producers, adulterous actors, corrupt cops. Sure, she likes the money she's making, which comes in handy for the debt she is paying off, but it's also a chance to take back power for the women of the city. Eager to prove herself to her coworker Lou and their enigmatic boss, known only as the Lady Upstairs, Jo takes on bigger and riskier jobs.

When one of her targets is murdered, both the Lady Upstairs and the LAPD have Jo in their sights. Desperate to escape the consequences of her failed job, she decides to take on just one more sting--bringing down a rising political star. It's her biggest con yet--and she will do it behind the Lady's back, freeing both herself and Lou. But Jo soon learns that Lou and the Lady have secrets of their own, and that no woman is safe when there is a life-changing payout on the line.

A delicious debut thriller crackling with wit and an unforgettable feminist voice, The Lady Upstairs is a chilling and endlessly surprising take on female revenge.

H