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On Sale: January 06, 2015
Pages: 266
Published by : Alibi
In Michael Murphy’s rollicking new Jake & Laura mystery, the hard-boiled writer and the aspiring movie star head for sun-drenched Los Angeles, where a cold-blooded murderer lurks behind the scenes.
Just arrived from New York, Broadway actress Laura Wilson is slated to star in Hollywood’s newest screwball comedy. At her side, of course, is Jake Donovan, under pressure to write his next mystery novel. But peace and quiet are not to be had when an all-too-real murder plot intrudes: After a glitzy party, the son of a studio honcho is discovered dead from a gunshot wound. And since Jake exchanged words with the hothead just hours before his death, the bestselling author becomes the LAPD’s prime suspect.
In 1930s Tinseltown, anything goes. Proving his innocence won’t be easy in a town where sex, seduction, and naked power run rampant. With gossip columnist Louella Parsons dead-set on publicizing the charges against him, Jake has no choice but to do what everyone else does in the City of Angels: act like someone else. Blackie Doyle, the tough-talking, fist-swinging, womanizing hero from Jake’s novels wouldn’t pull any punches until he exposed the real killer—nor will Jake, to keep the role of a lifetime from being his last.
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Review
Laura Wilson is headed to Hollywood with a contract in hand; tagging along is her almost-fiance (he's asked several times, and she swears she will eventually accept) Jake Donovan, a mystery writer and former detective.
Not long after attending their first Hollywood soiree, a murder occurs and Jake quickly finds himself the top suspect. Then, it's time to put back on his gumshoe hat and figure out who did it before their careers are both destroyed.
There's so much to love about this book: excellent characters; a fun, fast-paced story; twists and turns; romance; and old Hollywood glamour. More than all of that, it's simply charming. It beckoned to the days of Dick Tracy.
As a woman, I loved the strong female characters, especially since the novel is set at a time when women were still in the shadows. Laura is feisty, yet loving. However, my favorite female character was Annabelle, a hard--but wounded--police woman.
It's been a long time since I said a book was charming, but it's the perfect word for this one. I loved the real characters mentioned (e.g., Al Capone, Myrna Loy, Cary Grant), and that Hollywood was essentially another character.
If you love a good mystery with old-fashioned charm and a quick wit, not to mention clever twists and turns, then All That Glitters is a sure bet.
Rating: 4.5 stars
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About Michael Murphy
Michael Murphy is a full-time writer and part-time urban chicken rancher. He lives in Arizona with his wife of more than forty years and the four children they adopted this past year. He’s active in several local writers’ groups and conducts novel-writing workshops at bookstores and libraries.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.
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