Book Beginnings + Friday 56: High-Wire Heartbreak by Anna Schmidt

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday.

This week I'm featuring High-Wire Heartbreak by Anna Schmidt. This is a really fantastic dual timeline. The first quote is from the present-day storyline and the second is from the historical timeline.

About the Book

In 1936--A party at the Ringling mansion Ca d’Zan in Sarasota, Florida, leads to a robbery--and possibly death.

A successful historical mystery writer, Chloe Whitfield comes to Ca’ d’Zan to research her next novel. Chloe’s fascination with the circus is rooted in family stories of her great-grandmother Lucinda Conroy, who reportedly was a trapeze artist of some renown. She’s heard hints of scandal—and perhaps larceny, but no details.

Chloe’s grandmother—rumored to be Lucinda’s only offspring—was raised in an orphanage and never knew her mother. Intrigued as she is, Chloe has no intent of writing about Lucinda until she sees a poster featuring Lucinda as the star performer for a 70th birthday gala for John Ringling in May of 1936. From there the trail goes cold.

Who was Lucinda and what happened to her?

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Sweat beaded Chloe Whitfield's forehead and soaked her neck. Her loose-fitting shift-style dress was a mass of wrinkles. Who had ever thought linen was a good idea for clothing? She'd chosen her outfit with the thought of wanting to present herself as the professional and successful woman she was.

Friday 56

“Please join us Nardo.” Mr. Jefferson indicated a second chair and then sat between them in the third. “As I was just saying to Miss Conroy, it would appear we are on the horns of a dilemma, my young friends.” He passed the newspaper to Nardo, who glanced at the article, then let the paper fall from his fingers as he sat back in the chair.

What have you been reading lately?