I am a huge fan of David Baldacci and was excited to read this book. Although it is the third in the Archer series, I found it perfectly able to be read as a standalone. There was lots of different aspects to the plot with plenty of twists and turns and I enjoyed the fact that it was set in the era pre internet and mobile phones etc I did find some of the early chapters a bit slow to get going and there was a lot of description rather than action but it was a great storyline and I enjoyed in nevertheless. I will definitely look out for more books in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I have read and enjoyed previous novels by David Baldacci but this is the first of the Aloysius Archer books I have read. Set in Hollywood on New Years Eve 1952 Archer is hired by a writer who is convinced someone is trying to kill her. Her sudden disappearance leads Archer and his investigation deeper into the seedier side of Hollywood.

This was a great read and one I'm more than happy to recommend to others.

I thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an ARC copy of this novel, which I freely chose to review.
I read Baldacci’s Zero Day a while back, and I said that I was likely to try another one of his books at some point, and after seeing this novel featured and commented upon in several places, I decided to read it. A detective novel set in the early 1950s in Los Angeles promised to be interesting. And I can confirm that Dream Town delivers. In summary, this is a solidly plotted and well-written novel, with plenty of twists, turns and red herrings, providing beautifully observed historical nuggets of the place, the era, and especially of 1950s Hollywood, with a likeable and morally strong hero, and a varied cast of interesting secondary characters. Although with plenty of touches of noir, it reminded me more of the detective novels of the 1930s, and I tend to agree with a review that mentioned Philip Marlowe, down to the clever retorts and especially the moments of insight and reflection Archer, the P.I. protagonist, shares.
I won’t discuss the author in detail, as he is too well-known for that. Much of what I wrote in my previous review of one of his novels applies to this one as well. I didn’t realise when I requested this novel that it was, in fact, the third novel in a series about Archer, but I can confirm that it is not necessary to have read the previous two to enjoy this one. I am sure readers who have will be more clued to the nuances of Archer’s relationship with his partner, Willie Dash, and with his female friend, Liberty Callahan, although it is true that this book seems to represent something of a crisis point for Archer, I won’t say too much about that, to avoid spoilers. I mentioned above having checked some reviews, and it seems that there isn’t agreement on how this novel compares to the rest of the series. Some readers think this is the strongest of the three, while others enjoyed the first two more, but it seems this relates to the setting, to the ending, and, as always, it is a matter of personal choice more than any specific flaw of the novel itself.
This is a novel with many subplots and plenty of characters, and it is difficult to describe what happens beyond the blurb provided above, not only to avoid spoilers but also because of the many strands Baldacci weaves into this spiderweb of a story. The subplots cover many themes we would expect of novels set in that period, particularly in L.A.: Hollywood, the film industry, and how it worked; the Cold War; contraband, drugs, and a variety of other crimes; police corruption (it made me think of a non-fiction book set in Compton a few decades later that I reviewed recently); Las Vegas, gambling debts and the mafia; gender and power relations in the era (a single woman could not get a mortgage without the signature of a man, it seems, no matter how solid her financial situation); the nuclear era and the fear of the bomb; property speculation; the fate of WWII veterans, and many more. Not all of them are developed in detail, but they are well-integrated into the story and give the novel plenty of backbone.
The story is told in the third person from Archer’s point of view, and he is an acute and detailed observer. I had mentioned in my previous review that some readers might find the descriptions (of rooms, places, people, even gestures and facial expressions) a bit too much, but I am sure fans won’t mind, and most of those paragraphs were original and vivid, managing to create a clear (and sometimes humorous) image in one’s mind. There is plenty of action and adventures; Archer moves about a fair bit and gets a beating or two as well. This is not a protagonist-hero as superman, who never puts a foot wrong, and in fact, he is lucky to get off unscathed (or with only a few bruises) considering the situations he ends up in. Thankfully, some people have his back, and although this is a novel full of deceitful characters, betrayals, and two-timing scoundrels, there are also upstanding friends and associates of Archer, and that makes it quite different from some of the noir novels of the period, as those P.I.s tend to be less than exemplary and morally ambiguous, while Archer is... well, a bit of a Boy-Scout, and an honest man. I liked Archer’s friends as well, particularly Willie, his ersatz father, and Jake, a man who’d paid a heavy price for going after the bad guys, but I was also impressed by the number of female characters included in the novel. There are men as well, of course, and one of the baddies (perhaps the most typical one) is a man, but most of the important characters are female, and they are not only important to the development of the mystery itself, but they all have their own lives and professions, and that makes them quite remarkable for the period. They are not all good or bad either, but that is to be expected, and I enjoyed that aspect of the novel in particular.
This book takes its time to build up the story and the characters, and in that, it has more in common with classics of the genre than with some of the frantic page-turning thrillers we are more used to reading these days. I did not mind at all, as I enjoyed the writing style, the background, and the detours Archer took us on, and I think it helped with the mystery as well, as most readers will have time to come up with their own hypothesis as to what is going on, but there are so many strands to the story that most people will find one or two surprises along the way. Did I like the ending? Yes, I did. I have mentioned that this book seems to represent a crisis point, or rather, a big change for Archer and his career, and I felt that worked well, although I understand why some people might have hoped for a more conventional all-around “happy” ending.
Readers can always check a sample to see if the writing style suits their taste, but I decided to share a few random quotes, to give you a bit of a taster.
Here a character is talking to Archer about a movie project and a particular director:
No way in hell Bette Davis is letting Danny direct her. It would be like Lassie directing Brando, and that’s an insult, actually, to the dog.
One of the women I mentioned says this:
No one ever assumes the wives in this town have anything to do other than dress nicely, stay skinny, not dribble what little food we do eat down our fronts, and never, ever drink as much as our husbands, at least in public.
Archer always liked to approach a problem from the rear. He had learned in the war that frontal assaults made generals look heroic, but made their soldiers simply dead.
I recommend this novel to people who enjoy historical detective novels set in the 1950s, particularly in L.A., especially if they are fond of the classics of the genre, to fans of Baldacci, and to those who enjoy complex mysteries with strong characters and a descriptive and engaging writing style.

Third in the series featuring Aloysius Archer,private investigator. Set in the dream town of Holywood,a complex mystery to solve. A good read.

I had high hopes with the book as it is from a bestselling author, David Baldacci. But, the book was too slow to deal with. And, I am not much of a fan of slow plots, eventually, losing interest. By the time I reached climax I was just pushing myself up to read it. I am feeling very much disappointed that I could not write good words for the book. The plot had too many interconnected characters, and I felt totally lost.

I could only give 3 stars to the book. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me an opportunity to read and review the book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced copy of the latest David Baldacci book in the Aloysius Archer series. This is the 3rd one in the series and it is just as enjoyable as the previous two. I just love this character and he is so engaging. David Baldacci is a brilliant writer and you know when you pick up one of his novels, you are in for a treat and this one does not disappoint. You are completely drawn into the story and his ability to keep you immersed in it is second to none. You always want to read one more chapter!!! A brilliantly well written book as are all his books. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book / series. 5 stars all the way

Unfortunatly I cannot give a feedback, since I couldn't download the title.
I got the approval mail on the evening of the 21th of April, since this was also my birthday I was busy celebrating, and when I wanted to download it on the 22nd of April it was already archived.

I would have loved to read this book, but I also understand that there are rules & deadlines. It just was really bad timing that I got the approval mail so very shortly before the title was being archived.
If there is any chance to still get a download link directly, please contact me.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Baldacci, however, I do not think this book was his best. Still, a gripping enjoyable read. Recommended.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Dream Town’ by David Baldacci in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third in Baldacci’s series of crime thrillers featuring private detective Aloysius Archer.

It has been two years since he and Liberty Callahan arrived in Los Angeles. Archer has been working for Willy Dash’s ‘very private detective agency’ undertaking discreet investigations while Liberty continues to chase her dream of Hollywood stardom.

It is New Year’s Eve 1952 and Archer is dining with his friend Liberty when they’re approached by Eleanor Lamb, a screenwriter who would like to hire him, as she suspects someone is trying to kill her.

When Archer visits Lamb’s Malibu residence to discuss details of the case he is knocked unconscious after stumbling over a dead body in the hallway. Lamb seems to have vanished. With the police now involved, a close friend and colleague of Lamb’s employs Archer to find out what’s happened to the screenwriter. No further details to avoid spoilers but suffice to say that it’s quite a thrilling, twisty case.

Whether a contemporary political thriller, police procedural or a period detective novel such as this that draws on the traditions of classic hard-boiled crime fiction, I always know that I can count on David Baldacci to deliver a gripping and entertaining story. ‘Dream Town’ was no exception.

I felt that Baldacci successfully evoked the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in the 1950s; highlighting how the studio system ruthlessly exploited young hopefuls. Only a few managed to attain stardom though often at a steep cost. The novel contains a number of cameos and plenty of film references.

Overall, I found ‘Dream Town’ an enjoyable period crime thriller with plenty of action and dangerous situations for Archer. I definitely will be on the lookout for Archer’s next case.

This is the 3rd book in the Aloyisius Archer series which is set in 1950s Hollywood where Archer is a private eye. In this book he is hired by Eleanor Lamb who fears that someone is watching her. When Archer calls her house a strange man answers and when he drives over to check , Lamb has disappeared and he finds a dead body.
I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and I was excited to receive this book as I was curious to know how Archer and the beautiful aspiring actress, Liberty Callahan we’re getting on. They both have feelings for each other but neither seems keen to express them.
However that said Dream Town was not as gripping as the earlier novels and there were so many characters I found it difficult to work out who they all were, particularly the female ones.
There was a lot of description of what clothes the characters were wearing and that also slowed down the narrative somewhat.
There was a lot of detailed description of 1950s Hollywood which was interesting and had obviously been well researched- I was surprised to learn that even well paid actresses could not own property and the studios had to provide a “ man” so that they could get a mortgage.
All in all this was an enjoyable but rather slow paced read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.

Another excellent, gripping and highly entertaining novel by David Baldacci. A fast paced novel set in a world of glamorous facade in the 50s
I loved this story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I love fiction books about Hollywood and all the blitz and Sparks of the older periods.

I love even more to read about what happens behind the curtain where many of these actors and people in the industry think they can hide anything from any prying eyes.

Private investigator Aloysius Archer has no fear in finding out what happened when his now employed, Eleonor Lamb, is missing after he stumbled on a dead body in her house.

In true Baldacci style, the suspenseful moments kept me intrigued throughout the book and each chapter made me quests who was the actual culprit for these turns and twisted pieces of a bigger picture.

I haven't read the previous books in the series, but I felt I could read this one with no issues as a standalone novel.

I really liked Aloysius. He doesn't back up a second and is not afraid to rub elbows with more dangerous people and with the elite of Hollywood. I also enjoyed the romance parts because I’m a big romantic at heart and I will always look up for those small scenes where the main characters act on their own story and share feelings and emotions that otherwise hide in their professional fields.

Another must read novel with all the glam and darker spark of the 50s.


4.5 stars
NetGalley arc

Another enjoyable blockbuster
Strong reminder of the great old black and white 1960s detective films
I could imagine Robert Mitchum or Burt Lancaster in the lead role
Looking forward to his next sequel

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

found this one a bit slow and dragging a bit.. not one that i enjoyed but can see a lot of time and effort went into this book and it must be me

Dream Town by David Baldacci sees the welcome return of ex-con Private Investigator Aloysius Archer.
The book begins in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve 1953 and finds Archer preparing to see in the New Year with a close friend , aspiring actress Liberty Callahan.. Their evening is interrupted by one of Liberty's friends,Eleanor Lamb, who tells them that her life is in danger and asks Archer to investigate. Archer isn't convinced that Lamb is being entirely open and goes to her Malibu house in the early hours of the morning to find her missing and a dead man in her home.
From there Archer's hunt for Lamb begins and from a missing person case he finds himself stumbling across all kinds of criminality and situations that put the lives of him and others in peril.

This is a great series that I really enjoy, not least as I've been a fan of James Ellroy's similar L.A. tales for several years. While Dream Town ,like Ellroy's books,exposes the sleazy and sordid side of the city,and not least Hollywood, it's a far easier read. Ellroy tends to bombard the reader with most of his characters being extremely unlikable and page after page ongoing degeneracy..

Archer is a decent guy, as are many of Baldacci's characters and the plot is quite complex but comes together nicely at the end. The book is involving and clever as Archer finds himself dragged into more and more perilous situations with his relationship with Callahan developing in the background.
The ending suggests new things for Archer and I can't wait for the next instalment. An excellent read.

It’s 1952 and Los Angeles. PI Aloysius Archer and actress Liberty Callahan are enjoying a New Years Eve dinner when Eleanor Lamb approaches with a request for Archers help. She’s scared someone is trying to kill her, and as a scriptwriter, this is one scenario she doesn’t want anything to do with.

With an author like David Baldacci you know you are going to get a really good read, full of twists and turns, a plausible plot and superb characters. This book has it all, including a real feel of the ‘50s in America, the Hollywood casting couch system, and the sad fact that neither drug smuggling nor people smuggling are a recent development. Archers character could have been a bit of a cliche, but he’s not, he comes across as a really complex, loyal and interesting person, the sort you are always going to be rooting for. I like the combination of Archer, Liberty and Dash, I feel as though they are a really well established trio, and really want to find out what happens next. Highly recommended.

PI Aloysius Archer has been through the mill to get where he is at the very start of 1952. Having served his country in World War 2 and spent time in jail he is now a successful member of Willie Dash's private investigation team in Bay Town, California and life is definitely looking up. Visiting his friend, and rising Hollywood star, Liberty Callahan, drops his next case right into his lap when screenwriter Eleanor Lamb hires him and promptly disappears!

Archer knows Hollywood has two distinct sides to it and, almost without trying, his new case exposes him to both. With confusing clues stacking up almost as quickly as the bodies Archer find himself in more danger than ever before and even he begins to doubt if he'll be able to see this case through to its conclusion.

This is the third in David Baldacci's historical novel series and is just as enthralling as the previous two. Archer is an engaging, personable, main protagonist who is definitely one of a minority of good guys in the circles he frequents while Willie Dash and Liberty Callahan are also here to lend depth to everything he is and does. The case as always are twisty, keep you guessing, page turners, but the locations and time period vie for main billing throughout and it was an added bonus to read about places you think you know before they became the way they are now.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series from the start and this third installment definitely kept me guessing.  Archer is a great main protagonist who could easily come across as too good but somehow doesn't. His loyalty and talents have increased with each outing and I hope there will be more to come in the future in one of my favourite Baldacci series.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I really enjoyed this and recommend it and the previous books unreservedly.

Private Investigator and WWII veteran, Aloysius Archer, returns to solve a new case in Hollywood in this riveting thriller from international number 1 bestselling author, David Baldacci. It was full of tension, twists and turns that kept me totally engrossed… I read it in one day as I just couldn’t put it down.

It is New Year's Eve 1952 in this riveting historical noir series by David Baldacci featuring PI Aloysius Archer, an ex-WW2 vet working for his experienced Bay Town ex-FBI mentor, Willie Dash, based in Bay Town, responsible for helping him hone his skills in his new profession. Archer has been spending more and more of his time with cases in Los Angeles, primarily because it allows him to see his good friend, the beautiful blonde and ambitious, Liberty Callahan, intent on carving a career as an actress in the cut throat Hollywood with its studio system. He is at a celebrity packed New Year's Eve celebration with Liberty when he meets screenwriter Eleanor Lamb, a woman afraid that someone is trying to kill her, as she relates worrying incidents. She wants to hire him but Archer feels she is keeping something from him. When he makes his way to Malibu later that night, he finds a dead man in her home, with no sign of Eleanor, and ends up being coshed and knocked out.

Archer accrues further injuries the same night when he encounters smugglers, it's one hell of a beginning to 1953 as he finds himself in a chillingly dangerous investigation that sees him immersed in the seedy, sordid, criminal and mob underbelly lying beneath the fantasy glamour of Hollywood and the gambling city of Vegas. He is helped by a Liberty becoming increasingly concerned for his safety, Willie Dash and a group of other PI's that provide necessary support for each other when required, including ex-PI Jake Nichols. The dead man turns out to be Cedric Bender, a PI with a good reputation, and Archer finds himself hired by the much in demand screenwriter, Cecily Ransome, to find the missing Eleanor. Archer's case highlights the misogyny of the time and in Hollywood, where little is as it appears to be, as he uncovers lies, secrets, blackmail, and deceptions, and mixes with Hollywood royalty, like the actress Samantha Lourdes.

The dangers that Archer faces end up testing his relationship and feelings for Liberty, his work is far from well rewarded and his life is at constant risk, yet when he considers the possibility of other better paying opportunities, it is clear that when it comes down to it, a PI is what he wants to be and nothing is going to change his mind. As the novel concludes, we find Dash informing Archer that he is now ready to stand on his own two feet, this leads him to establish his own PI agency in LA. This is my favourite Baldacci series, he atmospherically evokes the historical period with flair and style, and he has created a great central protagonist in the charismatic Archer, who is developing into quite the PI. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

It's 1953 in the City of Angels, where dames are blonde and drinks are cold, and a man has to work hard for either. Baldacchi spins us a noir mystery in the style of Dashiel Hammet or Raymond Chandler, and as usual, he does not disappoint!

Not having read the first two books in the series, but being a huge fan of the originals of the genre, I was wondering if Baldacchi would be able to pull this off convincingly, but I need not have worried. Not only does he bring his expertise in crafting twisted, compulsively page-turning storylines to play; but he manages to capture the setting and tone of the genre perfectly. LA feels seedy and sweaty, the Hollywood glamour is only skin-deep if that much; and Archer consumes amounts of scotch and cigarettes that would fell an elephant while delivering one dead-pan line after another, many of which had me quietly chuckling into my book.

At the same time, he doesn't just copy the old masters; he gives them a subtle lift for his 21st century audience. The women. to name just one aspect, aren't merely there to have hysterics from which the hero can rescue them with a slap or a kiss (or both); they're fully-fleshed characters in their own right and give the story a subtle modern undercurrent (staying vague here to remain far away from spoiler territory) without ever becoming heavy-handed or obvious about it.

It's perfectly possible to read this as a stand-alone, but there is the usual over-arching personal storyline that you'll be a little spoiled for if you don't read them in order.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will definitely be reading the other two titles in the series now!

Perfect for fans of Dashiel Hammet, Raymond Chandler and Ross MacDonald.

I want to thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review; all opinions here expressed are my own.