Ellen Yardley's smart, twisty novel Eleanor and the Cold War follows former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her fictional secretary, Kay Thompson, as they investigate a mystery. With a mix of fictitious and historical characters, Yardley's narrative examines power dynamics and politics in postwar Washington, D.C., as well as shifting societal roles for women.
When Kay and Eleanor arrive by train at D.C.'s Union Station in the fall of 1951, they discover the body of a young woman in the lounge car. Eleanor recognizes the woman as Susan Meyer, aspiring actress and daughter of European scientist Elsa Meyer, and begins making discreet inquiries into her death, with Kay's help. Kay's ultimate goal is marriage to a rich husband, but her experience working for Mrs. Roosevelt opens her eyes to different possibilities. As the two women dig into Susan's life and her potential connections to the Soviet Union, they encounter rising political stars (such as Congressman John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert) and established Washington movers and shakers. Kay fends off harassment and condescension and--to her surprise--develops a taste for sleuthing as well as a deep respect for Eleanor's combination of grace and grit as she seeks justice for Susan.
Yardley peppers her narrative with extracts from Eleanor's long-running "My Day" newspaper column, as well as tidbits about her life and marriage to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She balances Eleanor's wisdom with Kay's sometimes impulsive decisions and good instincts; the women make an entertaining crime-solving team. Fans of historical mysteries will enjoy Eleanor's (and Kay's) foray into detective work among D.C.'s elite. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams