The Gatsby Gambit is a cracking golden-age murder mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

It takes place in the world of Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway and Daisy Buchanan, but it needn't have. The characters could have been anyone; the plot needed only a historical setting with a big house and servants.

If you enjoyed Golden Age whodunnit mysteries then I would absolutely recommend you read this book.

Summer of 1922, Greta Gatsby is going home to the Gatsby Mansion, West Egg, to stay with her elder brother, Jay. At the mansion, Jay has guests staying - Daisy and Tom Buchanan, Nick Carraway and Jordan Baker. One morning, one of them is missing. A body is discovered and Greta never imagined she would become an amateur sleuth and start to investigate the crime. Who knew what she would discover when she starts to look behind secrets and lies and family dynamics. It was well written and I lost myself in the shimmery world of the rich. All the subplots are woven together to a glittery conclusion with a few red herrings thrown in.

Greta Gatsby, the lesser-known sister of the infamous Jay Gatsby, returns from years abroad and finishing schools with a newfound independence at age 21. Eager to leave the shadow of her brother behind, she returns to Gatsby Mansion in West Egg, a place brimming with both old-world charm and simmering tensions. Greta, an avid fan of crime novels, finds herself drawn into a mystery that soon shatters the calm of her genteel world.

Shortly after her arrival, the household is rocked by the discovery of Tom Buchanan’s body on the boat they were about to board—a death hastily dismissed by the police as suicide. However, Greta senses that something is amiss. Amidst the chaos, even as Daisy Buchanan struggles with the aftermath of her troubled marriage, she finds solace in the support of friends and the lingering affection of Jay Gatsby, who has secretly harbored love for her for years. After Tom’s funeral, despite Jay’s proposal is turned down, it was improper and he was warned against it by both Nick and Greta. Daisy goes with Edgar, Tom’s own brother, choosing instead to remain at the Buchanan home until the situation becomes clearer.

The plot thickens when Daisy’s treasured pearl and diamond necklace goes missing, and suspicion falls immediately on the servants—particularly Ada and Molly—even though no trace of the necklace is found. Driven by her instinct for justice, Greta embarks on a personal investigation into Tom’s death. The trail of clues soon leads to revelations: the police uncover barbiturates in Tom’s system and question anyone who might have had access to them, forcing Jay to admit that he possessed some. The situation escalates when Jay is detained at the police station, leaving Greta distraught and determined to untangle the web of secrets and lies.

Set against the lush backdrop of the 1920s, the novel is a delightful blend of classic crime fiction and the opulent world of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s characters. The author skillfully transports readers to an era defined by its stark social divides—between the old money of the elite and the nouveau riche, embodied by Jay’s constant struggle with his social standing. Beyond the central mystery, the narrative delves into the profound bond between Greta and Jay, whose shared tragedy of losing their parents at a young age forged an unbreakable connection. Despite the glitz and glamour, the story does not shy away from exploring the deep emotional scars borne by its characters.

The supporting cast, including the formidable yet unsympathetic Housekeeper Mrs. Dantry, adds color and authenticity to the narrative. While most characters are endearingly crafted, a few, like Mrs. Dantry, serve as vivid reminders of the rigid and often unforgiving societal norms of Its time.

With its intricate plot, unexpected twists, and a setting that vividly brings the Roaring Twenties to life, this novel is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries with an Agatha Christie twist. Although the anticipated romantic subplot leaves a touch of longing unfulfilled, the book’s engaging narrative and richly drawn characters more than compensate for it.

Overall, this innovative reimagining of The Great Gatsby universe, combined with a gripping murder mystery, promises a thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone who appreciates period pieces, complex characters, and a dash of suspense.

The Gatsby Gambit offers a nostalgic return to a beloved literary landscape, blending historical intrigue with a fresh perspective. However, its reinterpretation of classic characters and plot elements may not resonate with all readers.

We all know The Great Gatsby is my favourite book of all time (despite my insta handle) so when I saw The Gatsby Gambit on Netgalley I just knew I had to request it asap. I didn’t know how I’d feel about reading my first ever fictional spin off of it…but I really enjoyed it! It was exciting to return to the same old characters, enigmatic Jay, steadfast Nick…even the pesky Buchanans. This time were introduced to Gatsby’s sister, Greta (you see what the author did there 😉) who is a fiery character in herself, pushing boundaries and making her own. This is a perfect read for any fans of Gatsby, you don’t need to read the original first, it’s a completely different story. Just enjoy this one as much as the writing deserves.

I really enjoyed this book; it had a good mix of wealthy estate life (think Downton Abbey on the eastern coast of America!) with a murder mystery thrown in. I kept thinking I had figured it out, only for there to be another twist or vital bit of information come to light which changed things again. I just thought the ending was a little long - all I wanted was to know if two of the characters had ended up together as I thought they should be!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

A classic murder mystery. Greta Gatsby travels home to her brother Jay’s big house on Long Island. Their family was relatively poor and Jay was a self-made man. Other guests are there including Tom and Daisy Buchanan, staying there while their own home is being renovated. Greta soon realised that her brother is still in love with Daisy, even though she has chosen to marry Tom. Then there’s a murder. The obligatory Police Inspector arrives. Greta’s a great character, going where she shouldn’t to follow a hunch. Clues and red herrings abound.

The story follows on from The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald in which Daisy chose Tom over Jay, partly because Tom was from old money. A bit long perhaps, but a good read.

It’s 1922 and the author has transported us back to the Gatsby Mansion in West Egg, Long Island, the home of the wealthy and hedonistic Jay Gatsby. His younger sister, close to her 21st birthday, Greta has returned to live there after finishing school. Hoping to have him to herself she is disappointed to find one of Jays intimate house parties in full swing. In attendance are friends and socialites Daisy and husband Tom, Edgar, Jordan and Nick. It’s so good to be back in West Egg. The author has done a fantastic job of keeping this true to the original.

Briefly, shortly after Greta’s arrival one of the party goes missing and a body is found on Jay’s boat. Greta who is a bit of a Golden Age detective fiction fan puts on her sleuthing hat and when Jay comes under suspicion her investigation ramps up a notch.

With many of the characters back from the original book the author did a brilliant job of keeping their voices authentic and the new characters all fitted in well. This is a classic mystery of the era with plenty of red herrings and clues dotted through the narrative and a killer I hadn’t foreseen. I really enjoyed it and will definitely revisit the original book again soon. I hope the author is going to write more from West Egg, I’ll definitely read it. A wonderful golden age detective story with a great cast of character and a decadent setting. Fabulous.
4.5⭐️

Greta Gatsby is Jay (The Great) Gatsby’s sister. Seven years younger, she has never been part of Jay’s hedonistic life. But now she’s free from the protected world of education and finishing-schools and has come to live with him at his mansion in West Egg, on Long Island. Jay’s retinue of friends, Daisy, Tom, Nick and Jordan, are already ensconced house guests by the time she gets there. Greta is young and naïve compared to them, but highly intelligent and socially skilled so fits in with their “Beau Monde” lifestyle. However, the latter is soon disrupted by a violent death, but is it suicide or murder. Greta is also well schooled in the fictional worlds of Agatha Christie and begins to suspect the latter, detecting discrepancies which, unfortunately, are not clues that would persuade others, including the police. Undeterred, she sets out to prove her case and unmask a killer.
Writing a new story based in a preexisting fictional world requires considerable skill. Even though the background and many of the characters are already drawn, the voice, the syntax, the idiom need to be right. The danger that the style will become parody rather than pastiche is obvious. The author here negotiates that with apparent ease; it just feels natural. A reader in 1925 (when The Great Gatsby was first published) would, I think, be perfectly happy. Readers now, a hundred years later, should also be delighted. But style, of course, isn’t everything. This is a murder-mystery, a whodunnit, so it need to also conform to that genre. The plot is a straightforward amateur detective story, there are clues scattered along the way, red herrings at appropriate points, a detective following her suspicions, police who are disinclined to believe her, a killer with a motive which is logical within the story but difficult to spot, and a dénouement which is classic. Perfectly in line with the style of the book. Overall it is, perhaps, a bit longer than it need be, but the prose is enjoyable so I didn’t find this a problem. I could knock off a few decimal points for minor issues like length, but I can’t get it is as low as a 4, so the star system says 5.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

This is an enjoyable read that captures the spirit of the 1920's. I found it slow at first but then the pace picked up. Greta Gatsby is a particularly engaging character. The informative notes at the end were an added bonus.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Although sceptical at first, I think this continued the story of what happens after the great gatsby. Jays sister Greta investigates a murder. The tone and excesses of the golden age are represented well.

I have read and loved The Great Gatsby and was intrigued when this title came to my attention. I have been suspicious of books in the past which have endeavoured to continue the adventures of another authors character, but somehow this worked in spite of the twisted storyline.
The style of writing was true to the era and the original characters recognisable whilst the new ones were well portrayed.
I loved Greta and the way she pushed for her voice to be heard, maybe a nod to feminism.
The description of the houses, the values of the era and the decadence and opulence were all easily visualised .
Overall a good murder mystery set against a golden era.

A really enjoyable book. A little slow at the start but I enjoyed the author's writing style which made reading easy.
I have not read the Great Gatsby and can't remember the film so I read the book as a stand-alone unaware of how much was taken from the original. It worked for me though I will be interested in her next book to see if it is totally original. I did, however, enjoy the character of Greta.

I have loved F Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby since I first saw the Robert Redford, MIA Farrow film version and I have read the book more times than I can remember so I was interested to read what Claire Anderson-Wheeler had done with the characters. She didn’t disappoint.
This is a classic 1920´s murder mystery set in the beautiful West Egg on Long Island. It conjures up that feeling of opulence and frivolity and so much glamour. The amateur sleuth is none other than Jay Gatsby’s younger sister, Greta, who has returned home after completing her education and what better way to celebrate her return than by having a party, only to find next morning that one of the party has been murdered. What follows is a classic unraveling of the plot by young Greta as she tries to uncover the truth about the murder and the murderer themselves. Plenty of red herrings and twists and turns before the denouement. Well written with plenty of great characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and thankfully did not have to remember every detail of The Great Gatsby in order to do so! I watched the film, admittedly, and never read the book but I didn’t feel as though I was missing any background information on any of the crossover characters.

The time period within which the book is set is so well referenced throughout both the dialogue and descriptions. This only made me want to read more historical fiction!

The characters are all well established in their own right, without feeling as though this is a spin off story. The main character felt relatable, if not a little bit too good at connecting dots.

Greta seemed to slightly jump to conclusions in working through the mysterious murder which felt a tad extreme for a young girl straight out of finishing school. Though her intelligence and eye for detail was believable, her linking of clues felt a little too much like they merely kept the pace going. Saying that, I still found her to be a great main character and felt excited when she began to find the answers.

The hint at romance throughout the book could have been explored more for me. I enjoyed how it was in keeping with the era, but I never felt satisfied with the ongoing dynamic.

The mystery itself was very well done and had subtle hints weaved throughout, making the end incredibly satisfying.

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend and sincerely hope the author isn’t finished with these characters!

This was a good book which was written using the main characters from the well known The Great Gatsby novel and introducing the younger sister of Jay, Greta Gatsby.

This is essentially a murder mystery set in that era and at the house of Jay Gatsby and while he is entertaining his friends one of them is found dead on a boat moored in the grounds. Greta, who has recently returned home from finishing her education tasks herself with solving the crime and does so in imaginative and inventive ways for a young woman of her social status.

The characters were interesting and the introduction of Greta as the protagonist was a good one and kept the story alive and added a new element to the well known crowd surrounding the Gatsby scene. I enjoyed the plot and pace of the book and would be interested to see what happens to them next and if there is the intention to make this into a series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Greta and Jay Gatsby were orphaned at a young age, although Jay had made a life of re-shaping their lives with his successes with Greta along for the ride, albeit in the background either due to age or demeanor. However, Greta is now 21 and excited to spend the summer at Jay's mansion and re-connect with him. Jay, meanwhile, wishes that his sister would be more accepted into "society" beyond the level he was.

An enjoyable read. It’s been ages since I read or watched The Great Gatsby so I read this book with a fresh mind simply as a murder mystery set in that time and it was very good as such. It kept me guessing until the end and featured interesting twists. You would be disappointed if you thought the book was going to centre around Gatsby himself, as he is definitely not the main character nor particularly much dwelled upon in much detail, but it is an enjoyable, easy read and I do recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review and to the writer for your work.

Inspired by the Gatsby era, this is a classic murder mystery and I was really pleased that Greta, as the main protaginist and a young woman in this time, fights to have her voice heard and her viewpoints taken seriously as she attempts to solve the crime. Lots of clues and a few red herrings are included with a tense ending to boot. I thoroughly enjoyed and was swept along. Would recommend.

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

A fun, easy to read, murder mystery set in the 1920s reimagined from the original.
Greta, the protagonist, is home from finishing school ready to start celebrating with her brother and friends.
One of the guests are murdered & it's down to Greta to solve it.
The author has created a novel with lots of twists, turns and red herrings, which keeps the reader fully engaged. The central character is portrayed so well, she's perfect for the role.
The novel is based on historical events & I found the notes at the end of the novel, informative.

Thankyou to Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.