#MG Review: Gracie Fairshaw and the Missing Reel by Susan Brownrigg, illustrations by Jenny Czerwonka

Gracie Fairshaw and the Missing Reel is a wonderful example of historical cosy crime, written for a middle grade audience. Author, Susan Brownrigg, has clearly researched Blackpool and the film industry of the 1930s in meticulous detail and seamlessly integrates her knowledge of the period into a story that feels totally grounded in its place and time.

The main protagonist, Gracie Fairshaw, comes across as a level-headed, hardworking individual, making the most of her position as a junior reporter on the local newspaper, The Gazette. She is thrilled to be chosen to interview a northern, breakthrough film star, Sally Sunshine who is staying in Blackpool for location filming on her latest movie, Room for a Traitor. The characters of the cast and crew are realistically portrayed and it becomes apparent that underneath the glamour of the filmset there are tensions, jealousies and secrets to be discovered. When a precious reel of film goes missing, threatening to disrupt the finely timetabled production schedule, Gracie is helped in her investigations by a posse of young friends, and proves herself ready to face danger to unmask the blackmailer.

The heady atmosphere of the filmset, where stand-ins, clever make-up and special lighting effects blur the lines between reality and make-believe are wonderfully contrasted with Gracie’s home life in her mum’s boarding house. Gracie’s determination, bravery and unwillingness to let her missing lower left arm prevent her from pursuing her dream career is sensitively written. The narrative also highlights the inequalities in opportunities and wages between males and females, and big name stars and the stunt stand-ins, which I found interesting. This is a beautifully written novel which brings alive a setting infused with the cries of seagulls and the feel of the sea breeze, and which offers the reader a large side order of red herring with their fish’n’chips! I would highly recommend it for all crime and detective fiction fans aged 9 years and above.

I am very grateful to UCLan Publishing and Antonia Wilkinson for sending me a review copy of Gracie Fairshaw and the Missing Reel prior to publication on 7 March 2023, in exchange for my honest opinion.