A Golden Cage by Shelley Freydont

A Golden Cage
by Shelley Freydont

This was a fun book for me as it included two of my favorite things history and mystery.
~A. Holland Reads

Ms. Freydont does such an amazing job at describing the sumptuousness (bordering on decadence) of the haunts of the ultra rich in the ‘Gilded Age’ in Newport…
~Back Porchervations

This was a great book to read. I love the historical era and the cast of characters are becoming so well developed…
~Shelley’s Book Case

The writing is descriptively stunning and I could feel the opulence.
~Laura’s Interests

I love how atmospheric this book is. The historical details are wonderful, and the author does a great job at evoking the Gilded Age.
~View from the Birdhouse

In A GOLDEN CAGE Freydont takes an intelligent look at societal issues combining it with well developed, complex characters to form a well crafted mystery that encourages readers to think, learn, and become a part of that historical age.
~Cozy Up With Kathy

This story was well written and historically accurate…kept me guessing until the very end.
~Melina’s Book Blog

The author’s use and mastery of description, dialogue, and story is amazing.
~Student of Opinions

I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what the author has planned for the characters moving forward with the series. A great read for lovers of cozy mysteries with a historical theme. I highly recommend this one!
~Girl Lost in a Book

This was a good read, with an intriguing setting and a mystery that took a little unraveling.
~The Ninja Librarian

This book describes a turning point in history, and I enjoyed reading about it. The mystery also kept me guessing and I was pleasantly surprised at the unveiling of the killer.
~Deal Sharing Aunt

Ms. Freydont does an excellent job of creating a decadent historical world in the Gilded Era. I truly felt drawn into Deanna’s world.
~Brooke Blogs

A GOLDEN CAGE

A Golden Cage: A Newport Gilded Age Mystery
2nd in Series
Cozy Mystery
Berkley (June 7, 2016)
Paperback: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425275856
E-Book ASIN: B016JPTFEQ

Synopsis:

The author of A Gilded Grave returns to Newport, Rhode Island, at the close of the nineteenth century, where headstrong heiress Deanna Randolph must solve another murder among the social elite.

With her mother in Europe, Deanna is staying with the Ballard family, who agree to chaperone her through the summer season and guide her toward an advantageous marriage proposal—or so her mother hopes. Relishing her new freedom, Deanna is more interested in buying one of the fashionable new bathing costumes, joining a ladies’ bicycling club, and befriending an actress named Amabelle Deeks, all of which would scandalize her mother.

Far more scandalous is the discovery of a young man bludgeoned to death on the conservatory floor at Bonheur, the Ballards’ sumptuous “cottage.” Deanna recognizes him as an actor who performed at the birthday fete for a prominent judge the night before. But why was he at Bonheur? And where is Amabelle?

Concerned her new friend may be in danger—or worse—Deanna enlists the help of her intrepid maid, Elspeth, and her former beau, Joe Ballard, to find Amabelle before the villain of this drama demands an encore.

I Read What You Write’s Interview

1. To start with can you tell us a little about yourself and the project we are seeing today? I live at the New Jersey shore. And I go to the beach almost everyday, even when it snows (but I sit in the car on the really cold days). Before I was a writer I was a mom, and before I was a mom, I was a professional dancer. I’m now a mystery writer and my new series takes place during the Gilded Age in Newport, RI in 1895. A Golden Cage features a young society woman Deanna Randolph and her maid Elspeth and how they solve the murder of a young actor?

2. What advice do you have for new authors, like me? Learn your craft, grammar, spelling, how to structure paragraphs, and how to tell a story from beginning to end. Then keep your senses, eyes, ears, feelings, etc. alert. Pay attention and stay open to experiences; you never know when you’ll come across the perfect thing for your story. And practice, practice, practice.

3. What is the first book that you remember reading? Heidi by Johanna Spyri about a young girl who lives with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps.

4. If you could be friends with a character in one of your stories who would it be and what kinds of things would you do together? I think I would like to be friends with Deanna Randolph from A Golden Cage. She’s a young girl in 1895 Newport Rhode Island living on the cusp of the modern age. She was there when tey introduced the new swim suit (before that women had to wear bathing costumes of long wool dresses with long sleeves, wool tights, shoes and a hat. But by 1895, swim suits were beginning to look more like ours. The first automobiles made their appearance, bicycles riding became popular for many women. Women began to fight for the vote, the right to work, equal pay, equal education. Not so different from today. But I think it would be fascinating to be there at the beginning.

5. What makes you want to share your stories? Stories are the most natural way to tell people how you feel and ask how they feel. Think of all the stories people tell as they talk. Even if they’re true stories, we embellish, express excitement, sadness, move our audience whether they be friends, family or strangers. And I hope my stories will serve as a communication to my readers.

IAbout The Author –

Shelley Freydont is the author of the Liv Montgomery, Celebration Bay Festival Mysteries, (Silent Knife, Trick or Deceit),the Katie McDonald Sudoku Mysteries and the Lindy Haggerty dance company mystery series. Her Newport Gilded Age Mystery seires began in June 2015 with A Gilded Grave, followed in June 2016 with A Golden Cage.

Shelley loves puzzles of all kinds and when not writing or reading mysteries, she’s most likely working on a jigsaw, Sudoku, or crossword.

As Shelley Noble, she’s the author of the women’s fiction novels, Beach Colors, Stargazey Point, and Breakwater Bay as well as several novellas.

She lives at New Jersey Shore and loves to hear from readers. www.shelleyfreydont.com www.facebook.com/ShelleyFreydont

* Author Links

Website www.shelleyfreydont.comm

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ShelleyFreydont

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Shelley-Freydont/e/B001HCUVP4

Twitter – https://twitter.com/ShelleyFreydont

Purchase Links

Amazon – B & N

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Tour Participants

June 7 – A Holland Reads – REVIEW

June 7 – Community Bookstop – SPOTLIGHT