I absolutely loved this book! I know it is good historical fiction when I spend a lot of time researching the information on Google and reading about a part of history I hadn't heard of, one that the book has introduced me to. In this case, it was interesting to read about the unsolved murder of a Ziegfeld Follies showgirl and the lifestyle of the showgirls back then.
The story did a good job on the dual timeline between 1923 from Iris's perspective and 1945 from Ellie's timeline where she searches for her dad (WWII pilot) who has been reported missing. The truth of the over 70,000 Americans still accounted for from WWII is haunting, and adds another interesting piece to this story. I enjoyed reading about the glamorous life in NYC during the 1920s.
Over the course of the story, Ellie (the pilot's daughter) finds her backbone, determined to get answers of her father's life, risking her job at the newspaper, and her "well placed" engagement. I loved her relationship with her aunt, Iris, a woman who had her own secret past. A woman who, along with Ellie, takes the precarious journey to resolve the past so they can move on with their lives.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book. ( )

Mystery relating to a young women’s quest to find her father that she does not believe has been shot down during the war. The story is divided in two timelines, during the New York jazz age and the Ziegfield Follies and the time after WWII. ( )

Browsing book covers on my Kindle I was captivated by the cover with a woman holding a letter in her hand facing Times Square noting that one of the signs advertised "Ziegfeld Follies." As the daughter of a WWII Army veteran and a U.S. Cadet Nurse who loves jazz I was further intrigued by the highlight, "A Novel of WWII and the Jazz Age."

Meredith Jaeger's writing touched my heart beyond any anticipation I had or could have imagined prior to reading the opening pages of the novel. A quote from "The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 19, 1941" is shared prior to the "Prelude" that occurs in "New York City, March 15, 1923." As the reader turns the page, Ellie Morgan is introduced living in "San Francisco, January 1945 recalling the Western Union telegram that had been sent to Ellie's mother 6 weeks earlier from the Secretary of War. How can this mother and daughter possibly move forward?

I encourage all readers to read the "Author's Note" that shares the author's inspiration for this compelling and powerful novel. As heartbreaking as some chapters were to read I could never have stopped reading this story. Rich with details of the 1920's in Manhattan and 1945 in San Francisco, relationships of family and friends, murder and mystery, the darkness behind the glitter of the Ziegfeld Follies, and the unspoken reality that lingers when a loved one does not return from war is suspenseful, riveting, and poignant. For all who appreciate well-written and especially well researched historical fiction it is not to be missed. ( )

Ellie’s father is missing in action and presumed dead. Ellie truly cannot believe it. But, when his uniform arrives in the mail, it really hits home. As she is going through his pockets, she discovers a series of letters. And these letters are not from her mother!

Ellie runs to her Aunt Iris. Iris knows a thing or two which she is not telling. However, these two ladies head out to NYC to try and find the mysterious woman, Lillian. This leads Iris to her past which she thought she had left behind.

This is a novel which had me in knots most of the time. Iris’ tale of her time in the follies and her life in NYC is completely captivating. The jewels, the men and the money are floating around from every direction, until there is danger. You will definitely need to read this to find out!

This is part history, part mystery, part family drama with a slice of murder thrown in the mix. Need a novel which will have you glued to the pages…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

Author Meredith Jaeger's superlative storytelling skills are once again on display in "The Pilot's Daughter"--a thrilling historical fiction tale based upon a real-life unsolved murder case from the Jazz Age of the 1920's. As WWII draws to a close, San Francisco newspaper secretary Ellie Morgan dreams of being a featured writer with her own column. When word comes that her military pilot father is missing in action, her instincts and intuition tell her that he may still be alive. As her mother retreats into a world of withdrawal from reality, Ellie begins her own investigation into her father's disappearance. When her father's belongings are finally returned to the family, Ellie discovers a packet of letters from a woman named Lillian, someone who had been very important to her father for a very long time. Her father had been a commercial pilot before the war. Were his frequent absences from home due not just to his flight schedule, but also a part of a secret double life? Shaken by this unwanted discovery, Ellie turns to her beloved Aunt Iris for comfort and answers. However, Iris has secrets of her own, and her answers are not what Ellie expected to hear. Hoping that her past would remain hidden, Iris must now face what she had left behind in New York twenty years ago, and part of that past is the fact that she knew Lillian. Together, Ellie and Iris will embark on a memorable and revelatory road trip that will forever change their lives. When all is revealed, will there be forgiveness and hope for a fresh start? "The Pilot's Daughter" is a compelling "history with mystery" page-turner featuring two appealing female characters who will capture the hearts of readers as they bravely make their way toward the truth.

Book Copy Gratis Dutton Books ( )