Publication date: January 6, 2015 by Alibi
Source: Publisher/NetGalley via TLC Book Tours for an honest review
Description:
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.
My Take:
After having read and really enjoyed the first of the Jake & Laura mysteries, The Yankee Club, I was eager to read the second book, All That Glitters. After all the excitement in New York, our happy couple was heading to Hollywood so Laura could start work on her first film. All That Glitters starts up pretty much where the first book left them - on board the train, headed for California.
Naturally things get off to a quick start and the reader finds Jake and Laura trying to adapt to their renewed relationship while trying to negotiate their way through the new, exciting and competitive world of movies.
As with the first book, I found myself immediately caught up in the adventure. Jake always seems to manage to get into some sort of mess. He blunders through his first Hollywood party by taking Laura's co-star to the party, gets in a fight with the son of the studio head, agrees to work on the script for Laura's movie, and finds himself a murder suspect before he's been in town for barely twenty-four hours.
I really enjoyed this fast-paced, lively, fun mystery. Jake encounters people from his past, lots of new Hollywood types, learns a lot about the rumors, scandals, and intrigues of the actors, directors, etc., all while trying to clear his own name and not ruin Laura's future in Hollywood.
I read the book in about a day and was sad when it ended. I look forward to reading many more of these easy to read and even easier to get hooked on mysteries. While the story is fast-paced and action-packed, it is also complicated with many different issues to deal with and many interesting and/or suspicious characters running around.
I have started suggesting both All That Glitters and The Yankee Club to anyone who asks for book ideas. So, I can very enthusiastically recommend All That Glitters by Michael Murphy to anyone who enjoys mysteries, historical fiction, or fun, fast-paced novels.
After having read and really enjoyed the first of the Jake & Laura mysteries, The Yankee Club, I was eager to read the second book, All That Glitters. After all the excitement in New York, our happy couple was heading to Hollywood so Laura could start work on her first film. All That Glitters starts up pretty much where the first book left them - on board the train, headed for California.
Naturally things get off to a quick start and the reader finds Jake and Laura trying to adapt to their renewed relationship while trying to negotiate their way through the new, exciting and competitive world of movies.
As with the first book, I found myself immediately caught up in the adventure. Jake always seems to manage to get into some sort of mess. He blunders through his first Hollywood party by taking Laura's co-star to the party, gets in a fight with the son of the studio head, agrees to work on the script for Laura's movie, and finds himself a murder suspect before he's been in town for barely twenty-four hours.
I really enjoyed this fast-paced, lively, fun mystery. Jake encounters people from his past, lots of new Hollywood types, learns a lot about the rumors, scandals, and intrigues of the actors, directors, etc., all while trying to clear his own name and not ruin Laura's future in Hollywood.
I read the book in about a day and was sad when it ended. I look forward to reading many more of these easy to read and even easier to get hooked on mysteries. While the story is fast-paced and action-packed, it is also complicated with many different issues to deal with and many interesting and/or suspicious characters running around.
I have started suggesting both All That Glitters and The Yankee Club to anyone who asks for book ideas. So, I can very enthusiastically recommend All That Glitters by Michael Murphy to anyone who enjoys mysteries, historical fiction, or fun, fast-paced novels.
Purchase Links
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.Michael Murphy’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Saturday, December 27th: Vic’s Media Room – Review of Book 1, The Yankee ClubMonday, January 5th: Omnimystery News – author guest post
Tuesday, January 6th: Reading Reality
Wednesday, January 7th: The Book Binder’s Daughter
Thursday, January 8th: Joyfully Retired
Friday, January 9th: The Reader’s Hollow
Monday, January 12th: Mystery Playground
Tuesday, January 13th: A Book Geek
Tuesday, January 13th: Vic’s Media Room
Wednesday, January 14th: Psychotic State Book Reviews
Thursday, January 15th: Dwell in Possibility
Friday, January 16th: Fiction Zeal
Monday, January 19th: Open Book Society
Monday, January 19th: A Chick Who Reads
Wednesday, January 21st: Lilac Reviews
Thursday, January 22nd: ImaginativeMinds*
Friday, January 23rd: Read a Latte
Monday, January 26th: From the TBR Pile
Tuesday, January 27th: Bibliotica
Wednesday, January 28th: The Discerning Reader
Thursday, January 29th: Mom in Love with Fiction
Friday, January 30th: Laura’s Booklist
I'm so glad you're enjoying my Jake and Laura mystery series. It's an honor to be featured on your terrific book blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see that you can recommend this so highly! Thanks for being a part of the tour.
ReplyDelete