ALL THE GIN JOINTS
A novel of World War II Hollywood
by
Martin Turnbull
Book 1 in the Hollywood Home Front trilogy
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Luke Valenti has never fit into his swaggering family of overbearing loudmouths. Even worse, the world is at war again and Uncle Sam has stamped his draft notice “4-F” — the ultimate rejection — because of a rare eye condition that has left Luke unable to see colors. So instead, he dreams of escaping Brooklyn for the beaches of Montauk.
That is, until a stolen prop from The Maltese Falcon pitches him down a reluctant path to Hollywood. Luke is tasked with returning it to Warner Brothers, where Humphrey Bogart is about to embark on the movie that will launch his career into the stratosphere: Casablanca.
But the production is chaotic. Bogie is desperately unhappy in his marriage. Ingrid Bergman feels lost and alone. The script is constantly rewritten, and the overbearing director hates that damned song. Nobody thinks this movie will amount to anything—except the guy who sees in black and white. Finally, Luke has found his way in.
But studio stuntman Gus O’Farrell wants him out again: Luke has replaced him as the star’s stand-in, and Gus is having none of it. Bogie warns Luke to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. It’s great advice, but when a chance to reverse his 4-F status presents itself, Luke needs to learn that distinguishing friends from enemies can be a tricky business in a land where artifice blurs reality like murky shadows in a back alley.
From the author of the Hollywood’s Garden of Allah novels comes a story set against the making of one of the most beloved films of all time—and the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
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Read the Chapter 1 preview here.
The Hollywood Home Front trilogy:
Book 1 – All the Gin Joints
Book 2 – Thank Your Lucky Stars
Book 3 – You Must Remember This
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REVIEWS
5 STARS
In All the Gin Joints, Turnbull puts his hero smack in the middle of the filming of Casablanca, including vivid recreations of sitting at a table in the Warner Bros. commissary, shopping at a famous menswear shop, sailing as a guest on Bogey’s own sailboat, and an extended stay in the Bogarts’ guest bedroom. This story has romance, mystery, adventure, nostalgia, history, celebrity, suspense, and surprises….all woven into a delightful, fast-moving tale that immerses the reader in the fantasy world of making fantasy seem real and the real seem like fantasy.
5 STARS
If you’re one of those people who loves old Hollywood, can rattle off obscure (to the uninitiated) facts about the stars and studios and appreciates endearing characters in an exciting read, “All the Gin Joints” is the book for you. Now, I’m not a big fan of Bogey – but I think I’m changing my mind after spending some glorious time with him and all of his Warner Brothers buddies (so much more fun than the MGM crowd). As always, Martin’s research is flawless. And seriously, I can’t wait for the next installment.
5 STARS
I just read the words, ‘The End’, put down the book and picked up the laptop so I could tell you that I loved this book. It’s book One of a Trilogy and patience will be no easy feat while waiting for book two! The two main characters of Luke and Nell are so fully fleshed and there is such an affection for and intimacy with them in Turnbull’s writing. And he’s imbued the non-made-up characters, who we all know, with names like Bogart, Peter Lorre, Bette Davis, etc. with an authenticity of voice that it’s easy to forget you’re reading a novel. Even before this book, he’d become my favorite author of historical fiction and this one, sends that choice through the roof.
5 STARS
Have just finished reading Martin Turnbull’s ALL THE GIN JOINTS and am very happy to report that I was not disappointed. Mr. T presents a brilliant picture of WWII Hollywood blending fictional and actual characters in such a believable manner that the situations could have been actually true. The portrayal of the “Battling Bogarts” is spot on. All too soon the story ended and I hope that there will be a sequel to this book, I’d be happy to know what the future holds for Luke and Nell. Congratulations Martin on another well researched and completely entertaining addition to your already wonderful collection of books.
5 STARS
All of the Gin Joints is Martin Turnbull’s newest release and although it is not a regurgitation of his marvelous Garden of Allah series, it feels like a sequel that every fan craves. The new characters evoke the memorable heroes (and villains) of his earlier books and returns the reader to the familiar macrocosm of the Hollywood Golden Age. This time around, the story focuses on New Yorker Luke Valenti and his subsequent exploits living and working in Hollywood, first with a group of like-minded outcasts and later with Humphrey Bogart himself.
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ALL THE GIN JOINTS is now available through these retailers:
Book Depository (free shipping worldwide)
Audiobook:
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The Hollywood Home Front trilogy:
Book 1 – All the Gin Joints
Book 2 – Thank Your Lucky Stars
Book 3 – You Must Remember This
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