Reaching again in time to the roaring 20’s in southern California, creator James Stewart’s debut work, Mystery at the Blue Sea Cottage, provides a compelling view of the intricacies of an unsolved murder, the homicide of younger and delightful, interpretive dancer, Fritzie Mann.
Based on years of analysis, this true-crime narrative poses an adept tracing of the historical past of this as soon as sensationalized homicide thriller introduced forth by way of a multi-faceted lens which explores not solely the homicide however journalistic behaviors, the investigative processes throughout that period, and a Hollywood intercourse scandal connection in addition to exploring the tradition of the time.
Piquing the curiosity from the outset, this work of true crime instantly attracts the consideration into the fascinating backstory of Fritzie who, for the most half, was a seemingly smart however “modern” girl in her early twenties who labored to assist together with her sick sister’s medical payments by dancing. However, to her household, there was an air of thriller in her life when it got here to her romantic associations, relationships or relationship.
Fritzie’s tragic story begins with the preliminary discovery of her physique with a extreme bruise on her brow on an almost empty stretch of seaside. Initially unidentified as a corpse, it was not till a number of clues resulting in her identification, together with a observe on a card stating “I am Fritzie Mann” together with different figuring out however not instantly related belongings strewn round the seaside, started to construct as much as her true id particularly as soon as the connection was made that she was a well known unique dancer. Her loss of life shortly grew to become entrance web page fodder and grew into one of the most sensationalized information tales at the time in Southern California.
Additionally, the ensuing investigation appeared to result in a path of evidentiary twists and turns, as clues led to inconsistent theories about her loss of life; Was she murdered? Did she commit suicide? or Did she drown? Moreover, she was found to be in “delicate condition” including extra confusion and scandal as to the actual cause for her demise. Albeit, as soon as it was found that she truly was murdered, Who did it? and Why? grew to become the prevalent questions which then modified the tone of the investigation and launched a number of attention-grabbing suspects together with a Hollywood actor whom Fritzie’s mom insisted was the precise assassin. Moreover, what follows inside the narrative is a well- organized, totally detailed work which takes the readers by way of the intimate particulars of the life and loss of life of Fritzie in addition to bringing to the edifying forefront the tradition and way of life at the time which did appear to embody a seamier aspect.
Overall, I loved Mystery at the Blue Sea Cottage. I discovered it to be a totally engrossing true crime learn set in an period when life, love, womanhood and homicide have been perceived very otherwise from present fashionable life. I used to be captivated by the detailing of the police work, post-mortem scenes, investigation strategies, tradition of the instances, and perception into the secrets and techniques and scandals performed out in the roaring 20’s Hollywood. I do extremely advocate this e-book. It is effectively value the learn and I personally would like to see it made right into a film.