The Lady Upstairs

By: Halley Sutton

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

"A racy and hard-to-put-down piece of neo-noir." (Washington Post)

A modern-day noir featuring a twisty cat-and-mouse chase, this dark debut thriller tells the story of a woman who makes a living taking down terrible men...then finds herself in over her head and with blood on her hands. The only way out? Pull off one final con.

Jo's job is blackmailing the most lecherous men in Los Angeles - handsy Hollywood producers, adulterous actors, corrupt cops. Sure, she likes the money she's making, which comes in handy for the debt she is paying off, but it's also a chance to take back power for the women of the city. Eager to prove herself to her coworker Lou and their enigmatic boss, known only as the Lady Upstairs, Jo takes on bigger and riskier jobs.

When one of her targets is murdered, both the Lady Upstairs and the LAPD have Jo in their sights. Desperate to escape the consequences of her failed job, she decides to take on just one more sting - bringing down a rising political star. It's her biggest con yet - and she will do it behind the Lady's back, freeing both herself and Lou. But Jo soon learns that Lou and the Lady have secrets of their own, and that no woman is safe when there is a life-changing payout on the line.

A delicious debut thriller crackling with wit and an unforgettable feminist voice, The Lady Upstairs is a chilling and endlessly surprising take on female revenge.

©2020 Halley Sutton (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"[A] sizzling debut...Sutton’s assured and moody prose often channels the best classic LA noir, but this deliciously tawdry and twisty tale is entirely her own. Readers who savor crime stories featuring complex, unapologetic women will be hooked. A scorching, knockout noir from an author to watch." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

"Sultry, captivating, and electric with tension, The Lady Upstairs delivers a plot that must be devoured, in language that must be savored. With sharp, magnetic prose, Halley Sutton dives into the darkness of women’s lives, illuminating how venom and vulnerability are often two sides of the same coin. Empowering and terrifying, this timely noir will keep you in its grip from its arresting first lines to its exquisite final chapter." (Megan Collins, author of The Winter Sister)

"I couldn't put The Lady Upstairs down. Halley Sutton's debut crackles with the unmistakable voice of its heroine, a cynical, wisecracking femme fatale straight out of a Raymond Chandler novel, who becomes enmeshed in a twisty tale of greed, betrayal, and vengeance. As dark as Megan Abbott and as voice-y as Lisa Lutz, this astoundingly self-assured debut ranks its author alongside the best in her genre. The Lady Upstairs is L.A. noir at its finest." (Amy Gentry, author of Good as Gone and Last Woman Standing)

Decent

Definitely predictable but good, would suggest to friends, enjoyed the book as a whole, narration good

Almost Predictable

A good story with a decent twist at the end, but part of the ending was predictable. Some of the descriptions of the characters were a bit trite, but at least they were not dwelt on. It was an easy “read” and not overly emotional. I did contemplate giving up on the book at one point, but I am glad I finished it.

I really liked it!!

I had just gotten through listening to a really long, very emotionally draining book and decided to get this, hoping for something light. Well, it was exactly what i needed. Very entertaining. And of course, Bahni Turpin made it even better!
Highly recommended! A great debut!

Up & coming best selling author

This book was incredible! Half way through I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know who the Lady was and where Jo’s story was going to lead. Can’t wait for this author’s next book.

Great premise

Overall, an entertaining listen! I had kind of figured it out, but still enjoyed the story,

A frustratingly unlikable character and ending

It's hard for me to give an in-depth review without spoilers. For starters, Bahni Turpin's performance is either brilliant or bad. I honestly hated the voice used for half of these characters, but I also hated those characters so maybe that was the point. I figured out the "plot twist" close to the middle of the book and after 6 hours in I was only listening to see if I was right, hoping there would be something redeeming in this story.

There is nothing likable about the main character. She is so self-absorbed and reckless that she only survives through plot armor. She doesn't do anything to fix the problems she finds herself in. If anything, she only creates more and bigger problems, only to have it all work out because it's supposed to. Hell, the whole reason the bock exists is because of a problem she is trying to get out of.

At first, I thought all this absurdity was because there was going to be some grand character arc that turns it all around. There wasn't. The character doesn't grow or really learn anything. Then I thought there was going to be some kind of redemption arc so that true justice gets served. But, no, the only people who get punished are those that are a threat to the main character, regardless of what she does or who she screws over along the way. Then I thought there would be a plot twist that would make all this worth the frustration and drawn-out plot.

None of that.

I came up with five ideas for how this book could end and was hoping it would land close to at least one of them. In the end, the only thing I can say about this book is that it has an ending. I was very unsatisfied with the story and frustrated by a soulless character that never changed.

The Worst

You know a book is bad when you’re thinking about the poor review your going to give it as your listening. A college freshman in a creative writing class can do better than this. Their is no character development, nor is there a single redeeming quality about a single character. Just a predictable book about mean people.