Lillian Hellman in Bloomingdale's

Larry Alexander outdid himself in this book. It took me almost to the end of the book before I came to the conclusion that it was a work of partial fiction. The main character is a famous playwrite (who really lived), and the book deals with events surrounding her being blacklisted by McCarthy era polititions. To prevent herself from going bankrupt, she took a job as a sales person in Bloomingdales Department Store in New York. The book describes her relationship with author, Daschell Hammet, as well as her association with the Soviet Union during the war years. Leonard Bernstein is a character in the book who collaborated with her on the Broadway musical, "Candide." Integrated into the plot is Lillian Hellman's involvement in the investigation of a murder which allegedly occurred in Bloomingdale's. This book is engrossing and exciting. I recommend it highly. Larry Alexander is a great author.