Claire Anderson-Wheeler's elegant debut mystery novel, The Gatsby Gambit, turns a keen eye on the wealthy socialites of F. Scott Fitzgerald's West Egg. Mixing recognizable characters with a fresh perspective and a dash of intrigue, Anderson-Wheeler considers the darkness behind the glittering facades of Long Island's mansions.
Greta Gatsby, Jay's younger sister, is thrilled to be returning to her brother's home after finishing school, and unsurprised to discover he has houseguests: Tom and Daisy Buchanan, Nick Carraway, and Jordan Baker. All of them are surprised, though, when Tom ends up dead. The initial verdict is suicide, but Greta's not so sure, and her investigation uncovers a number of dark secrets above and below stairs. As Greta searches for the killer, it becomes clear that someone is determined to keep the truth hidden.
Anderson-Wheeler has created an engaging protagonist in Greta, whose position just outside Jay's exalted circle makes her an astute observer of it. Some interpersonal dynamics, especially Jay's hopeless love for Daisy and the world she represents, will be familiar to readers of The Great Gatsby. Others, like Greta's dawning awareness of her own privilege, add texture to the narrative and help point toward the mystery's solution. The novel brims with lavish 1920s details such as etched crystal wineglasses and Jay's Rolls-Royce; it brims, too, with reflections on power, wealth, and who has access to true happiness. Entertaining and slyly philosophical, The Gatsby Gambit is a clever mystery and a neat twist on an American classic. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams