A Map to Paradise

De: Susan Meissner

Narrado por: Lisa Flanagan

1956, Malibu, California: Something is not right on Paradise Circle.

With her name on the Hollywood blacklist and her life on hold, starlet Melanie Cole has little choice in company. There is her next-door neighbor, Elwood, but the screenwriter’s agoraphobia allows for just short chats through open windows. He’s her sole confidante, though, as she and her housekeeper, Eva, an immigrant from war-torn Europe, rarely make conversation.

Then one early morning Melanie and Eva spot Elwood’s sister-in-law and caretaker, June, digging in his beloved rose garden. After that they don’t see Elwood at all anymore. Where could a man who never leaves the house possibly have gone?

As they try to find out if something has happened to him, unexpected secrets are revealed among all three women, leading to an alliance that seems the only way for any of them to hold on to what they can still call their own. But it’s a fragile pact and one little spark could send it all up in smoke…

©2025 Susan Meissner (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A beautiful journey that explores the price of choices made in the heat of the moment, the importance of second chances, and the power of finding a place to belong.”–Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Friends

"A tale both tender and touching, about three complex and damaged women who despite their outward differences are all searching for that elusive thing called a home."–Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Briar Club

She never lets me down.

Excellent characterization. Historically accurate. Plot is well developed. beautiful depiction of how this time in history broke women and ultimately made women stronger.

THREE WOMEN WITH SOME BIG SECRETS…

I enjoyed all three characters very much. The women, who did not start out as friends, learned what friendship really is. Circumstances put them together, and they became trusted confidants to their biggest secrets.

I learned a lot from this book about the Hollywood Blacklist and the fear that spurred it. I was born in 1961 — too little to really know much about the whole thing as I was growing up. I’m sure my MOTHER remembers. I definitely want to discuss this time period with her and the feelings Americans had about what was happening and why. I do remember hearing a lot about “Macarthy-ism,” when I was growing up, but I didn’t understand what it all meant back then (it seems so tame compared to the problems our world faces today).

I have just two small complaints about the book: In the beginning, when Melanie mets June, and her agoraphobic brother-in-law Elwood, June tells Melanie repeatedly that her business is not open to Melanie, but Melanie continues to be overly intrusive. Melanie just would NOT take “No, please mind your own business!” alone. June should have put her in her place, but I suppose that if she had, the rest of the story would have changed.

My second complaint: During a large fire when the women have five minutes to evacuate (per fire personnel), Eva spends the entire five minutes trying to get Melanie dig up a dead body and trying to tell Melanie they can dig it up, move it and re-bury it all in five minutes or less. Ridiculous! I wanted to scream, “JUST SHUT UP AND GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!”

I would have enjoyed the story more if the women had not spent so much time going over the same things (a dead body and the argument of whether what June had done out of love was morally right or wrong. It was a done deal — it didn’t MATTER if what was done was right or wrong. The women knew it was wrong; beating a dead horse would not change the situation. They also spent too much time discussing what they would do if they possessed a Time Machine. No such thing exists, so why devote so much time to it?br />
I know I sound critical, but that’s not my intention. I enjoyed the book (the narrator was excellent). Despite my complaints, I am a huge Susan Mejssner and will gladly read/listen to anything she writes!





Although I did not enjoy this book as much as I have other Susan Meissner books, I would still recommend it.

Wonderful story and twists.Loved the historical setting.

Loved everything about it including the story, the diverse characters, historical accuracy, twists and turns. I have read many books set in WW2, so I enjoyed that this book was set around WW 1.

Not my favorite from my favorite author.

I absolutely love Susan Meissner’s books but this one just didn’t do it for me!