A Map to Paradise

Hollywood of the 1950s was a treacherous place. The Red Scare was in full swing, and actors were often called up to testify on alleged Communist activities and to name names in order to clear their own. If they were accused—or worse still, if they refused to accuse others—they could be blacklisted.

This is what happened to Melanie Cole, before the start of the novel. We find her holed up in the house of a friend of a friend, waiting for things to clear up. The only company she has is her Polish housekeeper and her neighbor, an agoraphobic screenwriter. When the screenwriter shuts himself in his room and refuses to speak to her, Melanie begins to suspect his sister-in-law of foul play. She begins to investigate, and secrets from all around her begin to spill out.

A Map to Paradise is a mix between a thriller and a novel about female friendship. At times, it is difficult to tell what the novel wants to be, but on the whole, it’s an intriguing read. I was compelled from the first chapter to the epilogue.