A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner – a Review

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Description:
1956, Malibu, Something is not right on Paradise Circle.

With her name on the Hollywood blacklist and her life on hold, starlet Melanie Cole has little choice in company. There is her next-door neighbor, Elwood, but the screenwriter’s agoraphobia allows for just short chats through open windows. He’s her sole confidante, though, as she and her housekeeper, Eva, an immigrant from war-torn Europe, rarely make conversation.

Then one early morning Melanie and Eva spot Elwood’s sister-in-law and caretaker, June, digging in his beloved rose garden. After that they don’t see Elwood at all anymore. Where could a man who never leaves the house possibly have gone?

As they try to find out if something has happened to him, unexpected secrets are revealed among all three women, leading to an alliance that seems the only way for any of them to hold on to what they can still call their own. But it’s a fragile pact and one little spark could send it all up in smoke…

Review:

A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner is a very good standalone novel. The story begins in Paradise Circle in Malibu, in the 1950’s. Melanie Cole is a young starlet, who because of her actor boyfriend has been suspected to be communist, and blacklisted; with Melanie also is on the radar of the McCarthy hunt.  Carson, the actor, sets her up in a house, all expenses paid, including a maid. Melanie is lonely, and she chats through open windows with her next-door neighbor, Elwood; who is a famous screen writer.

Eva, the maid, comes 6 times a week, and is a Polish immigrant, who also has her own secrets.  Eva not only is the housekeeper, but she also cooks. Eva plans to stay working for Melanie, since she keeps her secret immigration past.

June is Elwood’s sister-in-law, and one day both Melanie and Eva spot June, digging in Elwood’s beloved rose garden. Melanie finds this odd, as Elwood never leaves the house, and they both become suspicious and concerned for Elwood’s wellbeing. Since she has no contact anymore with Elwood, Melanie gets Eva to spend half her workday with June, helping doing housework; in order to find what’s happening with Elwood.   Eva cannot find anything, without her trying to look into his room.  But soon, June becomes an ally to Eva, sharing their secrets.  Melanie tries to get more information pertaining to Elwood, she suspects that something has happened to him. 

We do learn that Elwood, was in an accident years ago, causing someone’s death, which caused his life to change.  As Elwood got older, he suffered from severe illness; with June being the one who typed and changed all of his writing.  Melanie will discover that Elwood was dead, but she will learn that he committed suicide.   

Unexpected secrets are revealed for each of the three women, which will eventually lead into an alliance, and the start of a friendship.  Each of the three women have different life experiences; Melanie being an actress, Eva, the polish maid who hides her immigration secrets, and June, who became a successful screen writer.

A Map to Paradise was a wonderful story of friendship, secrets, resilience, trauma, tension and death.  It was heartwarming to see the friendship grow between Eva, Melanie, and June. A Map to Paradise was a terrific page turner, that was very well written by Susan Meissner.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher