Come Hell or Highball: Discreet Retrieval Agency Mysteries    by Maia Chance Order:  USA  Can Minotaur, 2015 (2015) Hardcover, e-Book     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Here's a fun new historical (Prohibition era) mystery series. It introduces the engaging, thirty-one year old society matron Lola Woodby in 1923 New York City. After her insufferable husband Alfie dies suddenly of a heart attack (leaving her penniless and homeless), Lola and her Swedish cook Berta decide to start up a Discreet Retrieval Agency. They even land work. Red-haired chorus girl Ruby Simpkin hires them to retrieve a film reel from the Arbuckles' country house, to which Lola has been invited. Olive Arbuckle is staging a reconciliation between actors at odds - huge screen star Bruno Luciano and starlet Sadie Street who's contracted to work with him in several pictures. And Lola finds a place to stay too. She, Berta and Lola's adored Pomeranian Cedric take up residence in Alfie's love nest apartment, where she encounters handsome PI Ralph Oliver. And she keeps on bumping into him. What's he up to? Is he after the reel too or is he investigating her? As Lola tries tracking down the reel, murder seems to follow in her footsteps - and the police suspect Lola. Not only must she and Berta find the reel, but they must also catch a killer. Soon Lola is embroiled with girdles and gangsters, while downing cocktails and chocolates at every opportunity. Will she survive the experience? Come Hell or Highball is tons of fun and an entertaining beginning to the Discreet Retrieval Agency mysteries, more of which are sure to be in the works. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews