It shows what it was like in the 50s for a lot of women actresses in Hollywood. Beautifully written, compelling and engaging would highly recommend this book.

Stella Hope is Hollywood’s biggest female star but has been sent to London following her divorce. Her new make-up artist, Maggie, puts on a brave face as she tries to deal with her own struggles. And aspiring starlet Virginia ‘Ginny’ Rose is discovering Hollywood’s unwritten rules. Connecting them all, leading man Max Whitman, who will do anything to stay on top.

Set in the 1950s, ‘A Beautiful Way to Die’ follows Stella, Maggie and Ginny as they navigate the highs and lows of working as a woman in the film industry, but there is also the voice of a fourth woman, speaking in the first person, from what we glean to be an institution for the mentally unwell. She doesn’t identify herself – not least because her treatment has robbed her of her memory – and so the reader is left to guess at who this person might be. Whilst I enjoyed trying to work out who the woman was, these portions of the novel are also extremely effective at showing the callous, barbaric treatment of so-called ‘hysterical’ women in the 1950s, some locked away for merely being ‘difficult’ – i.e. having the audacity to voice their own opinions or call out harassment.

Indeed, the author questions in her author’s note whether much has changed in Hollywood in the last seventy years, citing Harvey Weinstein and the ‘Me Too’ movement as a key example. I always appreciate when the author shares thought-provoking observations like these, as well as their inspiration for writing the novel and their research.

Though the themes of the novel may be serious, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters, including those involved in Stella, Maggie and Ginny’s stories, such as the characters of Stan, Cynthia, Jim Brodsky and Mrs Ackerman. The novel is concluded in a perfectly satisfactory way and there is no suggestion of further novels set in the same world, but I’d love to revisit these characters and see what they get up to next!

An extremely enjoyable read, in turn both glitzy and gritty. I haven't read anything by Eleni Kyriacou before, but I am now keen to explore her earlier novels, such as ‘The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou’.

Many thanks to the publishers, and to NetGalley, for the advance copy of this book, on which this review is based.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus Publishing for the advanced e-ARC of this book.

This is the first book I've read from this author and it definitely won't be the last! I was sucked into this story from the very beginning.

It was so well written and I've always been fascinated with 1950's Hollywood and mystery so this was right up my alley.

Really liked the way it was written. At the beginning it was a little hard to keep track of what was happening and why Stella was in London but as you continue with the story it all makes sense. I was really not prepared for the twist at the end and this will stay with me for a long while. Some of the chapters reminded me of the movie Babylon with Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. Well written; I was able to picture the parties, the "casting couch" , and so much more.

I really enjoyed the author's previous book, "The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou" so I was excited to get an ARC via netgalley. I was not disappointed!

In this book, we were returned to the 1950s, but this time to Hollywood and Ealing studios for the glamour (and seedy underbelly) of 1950's cinema.

I enjoyed the multiple points of view of Ginny, Stella and Maggie as they shared the inner workings of the film industry in both Hollywood and England and hinted at the mystery of what happened at a party on Oscar's Night. The other viewpoint of a woman in an aslyum added to the mystery as it wasn't shared until near the end who she was, so I was intrigued to find out her identity and when in the timeline she was in the asylum as Ginny's story was in 1953 and Stella and Maggie were in 1954.

The characters were well written, as was the plot, as I could really imagine them in my head with events playing out, I was often gripped and didn't want to stop reading.

The author has clearly researched the time period and the film industry on both sides of the Atlantic to make it feel realistic, with nods to real-life crimes and especially in relation to the misogynistic attitudes of film industry men and other areas of the "seedy underbelly".

I loved the muliple twists to the ending, I thought that Stella and Maggie had solved the mystery for there to be a heartbreaking twist as Maggie got to the asylum.

Highly recommended reading, I will be looking forward to the author's next book too.

With thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read.

Beautifully written with fabulous characters #ABeautifulWayToDie was a stunning book which I enjoyed so much.

I was so impressed with how flawlessly written the characters were. I felt as if I knew all of them. I loved Stella’s spunk, Ginny’s naivety and Maggie’s vulnerability. The character of Max, the Hollywood leading man, was so cleverly portrayed and I enjoyed how his flawed character was gradually revealed.

I was so immersed in the story I felt as though I was stepping into 1950s Hollywood and London. I loved all the details in the book especially reading about all the 1950s beauty products and fashion! I loved how the author exposed the dark underbelly of Hollywood and the film industry, intertwining real life cases into the story.

The story was expertly plotted and I did not see any of the twists/ reveals coming!

Thank you so much for my ARC ❤️

I love reading about the 'Golden Age of Hollywood' and the darker layers beneath the glitz and glam exterior. The way women are treated by the men and any woman who doesn't shut up and do exactly as she's told is labelled 'difficult' and will blacklisted from Hollywood. This book goes a little bit further as it touches on the topic of Hollywood's 'fixers', people, usually men, who will do anything to protect their stars.
The actual event that takes place during the book had me in a chokehold, I needed to know what really happened so I flew through this in 24 hours. I sort of guessed at the culprits but I could never have guessed the few final twists and so I was jaw to the floor by the end. It's utterly heartbreaking but I'm glad the women of this era are getting a voice now.
I really enjoyed the two different perspectives and how they were linked. There are also chapters from the POV of a nameless girl and those added more mystery.
Basically, this book is incredible and Eleni Kyriacou's writing is as always, beautiful.

'Hollywood is a place where they'll pay a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul' - Marilyn Monroe.

A Beautiful Way to Die by Eleni Kyriacos is a pacy, razor-sharp thriller that peels back the glamorous façade of 1950s Hollywood and Ealing Studios to reveal a world just as corrupt, but on a smaller, more insidious scale.

Kyriacos contrasts the excess and power plays of Hollywood with the quieter yet equally treacherous workings of the British film industry. The characters are richly drawn, with relationships that shift and unravel in fascinating ways. Ginny Watkins and Stella Hope are compelling leads, caught in a tangled web of ambition, betrayal, and survival. The narrative weaves their stories together, with moments of brilliant misdirection that build toward surprising twists and a satisfying conclusion.

This novel is a must-read for fans of classic Hollywood noir, historical thrillers, and stories that explore the darker side of fame. With its intoxicating atmosphere and sharp storytelling, A Beautiful Way to Die is as seductive as the world it portrays—glittering on the surface but filled with danger just beneath.

This book is fantastic!
I totally escaped to Hollywood in the 50’s.
The story had me gripped from the start and as the story unfolds the characters just take on so many different dimensions. The more you read the deeper you fall into this amazing story and what you want to happen.

I thought the main characters were just so well written, I felt connected to each of them and wanted so much to keep reading and finding out more about this deeply engaging tale of scandal, hope and sacrifice.

Absolutely 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I couldn’t put it down and I’m devastated now it’s over.

Can’t wait to read more from this author

🎬💋 A Beautiful Way To Die by Eleni Kyriakou 💋🎬
Genre: Women's Fiction / Mystery / Noir Fiction
Length: 416 pages
Timelines: 2 that eventually converge
Pub Date: May 8, 2025 (Kindle), July 22 (hardback)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus Publishing for the advanced e-ARC of this book. The opinions stated here are solely my own.

Summary (copied from Amazon):
PLAY THEIR GAME
Hollywood, 1953. Young actress Ginny Watkins is turning heads. Even the legendary – and married – actor Max Whitman can't resist the allure of the hottest new starlet. He promises Ginny the world, in return for the right favour.

DO WHAT THEY SAY
London, 1954. Stella Hope, once the most famous actress in Hollywood, has been ousted to Ealing Studios after her divorce from the powerful Max. Just as she accepts her fate, she receives a letter, blackmailing her for a mistake she made many years ago.

OR THEY'LL BURY YOU
Two women on either side of stardom find themselves in the orbit of the same beguiling man. And one night, in the shadows of a glamorous Oscars afterparty, their lives are changed forever…

Opinion:
Wow! I haven't read a book that took place in the 1950s in quite awhile and it was so intriguing!! This book was shocking in so many ways! It truly highlighted the difficult and traumatic path of aspiring female actresses in Hollywood as they fought to showcase their talents amongst the often misogynistic male producers and leading actors of the industry. The things that these women had to go through to get their big break were absolutely disgusting at times and it made you truly feel for their paths. The author references many of the actress true crime mysteries of the time and it was interesting to read this story from the different women's perspectives. Stella, the seasoned and successful actress, began as such an egotistical character, but I ended up loving how strong she was in the end and how she was determined to help Maggie and find her own real peace. I also loved the hopeful starlet, Ginny, as she had such a kind heart, though her naivety became her downfall. Excellent book and I will definitely read more by this author!

Early 1950's. Meet Ginny, a starting acress, in Hollywood, Los Angeles and Stella, a seasoned actress, in Ealing Studios, London. They share some mutual friends but live their seperate lives on either side of the Atlantic.
I enjoyed following the women on their journey in an industry ruled by men. The good, the bad, the ugly, our ladies have a lot to deal with. They move from classes, auditions and jobs to friends, parties and award shows. All at great pace.
But in between these entertaining chapters runs another story, a darker more sinister part where glamour takes on a whole new meaning.
The two parts keep the reader engaged until the very end. A monster of a twist turns both worlds upside down and finally connects Ginny and Stella.
A very well crafted and relatable read with a great cast of characters.

Thank you Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC

This was such a great book! Set in the 1950s Hollywood glam that also tell you the dark side of this industry. Men that take advantage of young girls trying to get their dreams come true, and how the girls are struggling. It really broke my heart to see how these men had such an influence and were the make or break you. If you did not agree you would be labeled as "difficult" and your career would be over and you would been thrown out. This book was well written and it felt realistic. This author did such a great job with her research and I could almost feel like I was there as well. I did not see the twists and this book kept me hooked to the last page.

A cracking good story of Hollywood and just what people will do to succeed. There are sort of three separate story lines that don’t come together until later in the book but there are twists and shocks and glamorous parties and movie moguls and- what’s not to like?

Hollywood's golden age was perfect on the silver screen, but behind the scenes, a conspiracy of excess and abuse reigned, with "fixers" hired to keep stars' images light and rid the workplace of those who might cause trouble. In this brilliantly readable novel, Eleni Kyriacou brings the excess of 50s Hollywood to life in all its sinful glory.

When aspiring Hollywood actress, Ginny, meets one of Hollywood's most bankable stars, they begin an affair in which he promises her the world. But she doesn't realise the price he's willing to ask or the demons he hides even in his most vulnerable moments. What price will she pay for her dreams?

A year later, on the other side of the Atlantic, veteran actress, Stella Hope, is working in Ealing Studios as she waits for a divorce from her film star husband. But when she recieves blackmail photos from her youth, she is forced to accept a mistake she made many years ago and tries to atone for this by helping a woman to find her daughter, who was last seen heading to live out her dreams in Hollywood...

A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO DIE tells these women's stories with empathy, clarity and an undertone of righteous anger at a system that both worships and punishes women for being innocent and knowledgeable, and that chews up lives without a second thought. As much as we think we know how these stories will intersect, Kyriacou has such control over the reader and her story that there are some revelations that truly sting like a left hook in a boxing pic, and the final chapters have a haunting terror and beauty that captures the readers' emotions wonderfully. It's a stunner of a novel, a riveting portrait of the ugliness of a beautiful age, and one that will appeal to movie buffs and thriller readers alike. Absolutely wonderful stuff.

I absolutely adored Eleni Kyriacou’s last novel, The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou, so I could not believe my luck when I was given access to A Beautiful Way to Die ahead of its publication in May.

It did not betray my expectations. The author has used her substantial skills to research the appallingly widespread abuse of young actress’s hopes and dreams under the studio system that ruled Hollywood in the 1930s-1950s. There’s a brilliant note at the end about several of the real-life crimes on which she based incidents in this novel, and I’ll be following some of her reading and watching suggestions.

If this interests you, do make sure you read the novel first to avoid spoilers. Although Ginny Watkins / Virginia Rose is a character invented by Kyriacou, what happens to her is a composite of the very real horrible things that happened to real people, and Kyriacou acknowledges them with a great deal of respect.

I know this novel is being marketed as being in the same setting as Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and as a big fan of TJR’s I can say that the comparison is very fair - it’s set in the same world and written just as well.

I would recommend this novel to anyone. Trigger warnings, obviously, for domestic violence, coercive control, and violent death. But worth reading if you can, because none of the horrible things are gratuitous - this novel is entertaining AND educational, ripping away any rose-tinted glasses about the glamour of classic Hollywood.

I absolutely loved this book. It's set in the early 1950s. It's based on true crimes and scandals in Hollywood.
Ginny is a new to the business actress who falls in love with Max, a major star. Stella is a major star too who was once wed to Max. Stan is a producer, a man who gets things done and gets things covered up. Maggie comes to Stella as a makeup artist and they become friends. Maggie is looking for her daughter Ginny.
What they find out is how corrupt Hollywood can be. These strong women go through so much but still shine in the end.
I'd definitely recommend this book.

A Beautiful Way to Die is a tantalizing and gripping dive into the underbelly of Hollywood's golden age, and Eleni Kyriacou crafts a tale brimming with intrigue, secrets, and betrayal. Set against the glitz and glamour of 1950s Hollywood and London, the novel follows two women, Ginny Watkins and Stella Hope, as they navigate fame, manipulation and revenge.

Ginny, a rising starlet, is seduced by both the allure of fame and the promises of a powerful actor, Max Whitman. Meanwhile, Stella, a former Hollywood darling whose life is now in decline, is blackmailed by the ghosts of her past. Their intertwined destinies form the backbone of a story that explores the cost of success and the price of silencing one's secrets.

The novel's pacing is sharp, and the dual narrative structure—switching between Ginny and Stella—creates a compelling push-pull between the intoxicating highs of fame and the devastating lows that often follow. The writing is vivid and evocative, drawing readers into a world where the bright lights of stardom can just as easily burn you as they can illuminate you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an advanced copy in exchange for my review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This is a gripping and thrilling read and a damning expose of the horror behind the glamour of Old Hollywood. The plot is super engaging and holds my attention the entire time.

10/10 recommended!

A thrilling mystery through the eyes of a Hollywood starlet and other women working in the industry, all within the backdrop of the Golden Age of Hollywood. I thought I knew where this story was going, and even at that point I so enjoyed the characters and plot that I didn't mind thinking the plot was predictable. It didn't exactly go where I had expected, in a good way, leaving me pleasantly surprised. Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7344157845

A fun holiday read - glamour, scandal, Hollywood, a murder and plot twists aplenty. Not sure I'll remember it in six months' time but definitely a perfect book to pick up on the plane or by the pool.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.