‘Tell Me How It Ends’ by V.B. Grey

Published by Quercus,
9 July 2020.
ISBN: 978-1-52940539-2. (HB)

It is 1963 and Frank Landry is newly out of the R.A.F. And out of a job. A friend of his from the air force, Peter Jenks, head of R.M.J. Records meets with him. He is concerned about the disappearance of Delia Maxwell a famous singer about to sign up for a forthcoming film. Peter persuades Frank to act as a private eye and see if he can find her.

While searching her property he is interrupted by a teenager of about 18 years, she says her same is Lily Brooks and explains she helps Delia and is organising her coming trip to America to sign up for her film. She doesn't seem overly concerned about Delia as her passport and cheque book are still there.

However, when he speaks to Celeste an old friend of Delia's, she is more worried and admits to having a row with her just before she disappeared. It concerned Lily, who Celeste doesn't trust. She said that she had suddenly appeared from nowhere and had taken over all Delia's private concerns. Apparently, she was an adoring fan who had helped Delia out once. 

Then Delia returns unexpectedly.

She is a bit vague when telling Frank why she ran away, but it concerned something that happened at the beginning of the war. She was concerned that the truth would come out and ruin her reputation. But what had suddenly triggered her concern?

Meanwhile Lily seems to be taking over a lot of Delia's contracts, even managing to star in the film intended for the famous singer. Delia is so fond of her that she seems not to mind, but Celeste is worried. What is Lily really up to and what is driving her to completely take over from Delia while still claiming affection for her? Frank is determined to get to the truth and discover if Lily is all that she claims to be.  What he discovers has the potential to destroy more than one life.

Frank also has his own personal problems to deal with concerning his time in the air force while serving in Kuala Lumpur.

A thoroughly enjoyable book, I loved every minute of it. It reveals just how terrible experiences of the war can affect people for the rest of their lives and what it drives them to.

Groups of the chapters are devoted to the main characters and help to give a greater understanding of the way they react to the past.  The ending is rather moving, and I admit to shedding a tear!

I see on the cover it explains that V.B. Grey is a pseudonym for Isabelle Grey, whose books, I love and recommend so I know to watch out for that author!

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Reviewer:  Tricia Chappell

V B Grey is a pseudonym of Isabelle Gary. She was born within the sound of Bow Bells in London's East End, grew up in Manchester, lived for ten years on what was once a tidal island at the edge of the Romney Marsh She has published two previous psychological suspense novels. Out of Sight and The Bad Mother, are also published in paperback, ebook and audio by Quercus. For several months The Bad Mother was Amazon's No.1 bestselling novel in psychological suspense and was in the top ten crime fiction bestsellers.
Good Girls Don't Die, the first in a series featuring Grace Fisher, a murder detective with the Essex Major investigation Team Isabelle also writes screenplays for television crime drama, including The Bill, Wycliffe, Rosemary & Thyme and Midsomer Murders'. With Jimmy McGovern, she co-wrote Tina's Story, the final episode in the Bafta and International Emmy award-winning BBC series Accused  which starred Anna Maxwell Martin, Robert Sheehan and John Bishop.
A former non-fiction author (writing as Isabelle Anscombe) and journalist for national newspapers and magazines such as 'Cosmopolitan', 'Country Living' and 'Psychologies', she has also taught screenwriting at Central Saint Martin's and the Arvon Foundation. She now lives and works in north London.

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.