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An Edna Ferber Mystery #3
Make Believe
In 1951 Edna Ferber travels to Hollywood to support a friend blacklisted because of the Communist witch-hunt. Against the backdrop of the premiere of Show Boat, she becomes involved with Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra and their circle of friends. When her friend is murdered, Edna understands that she has to find the killer.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2012
About the author
Ed Ifkovic
41 books15 followersAKA Edward Ifkovic
Ed Ifkovic taught literature and creative writing at a community college in Connecticut for over three decades, and now, retired, devotes himself to writing fiction. His short stories and essays have appeared in such diverse periodicals as the Village Voice, America, Hartford Monthly, and the Journal of Popular Culture. He’s published fiction with small presses, including a novel based on the life of Victorian poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox. A longtime devotee of mystery novels, he fondly recalls his boyhood discovery of Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason series in a family bookcase, and his immediate obsession with the whodunit world. When he was fourteen, bored on a lazy summer afternoon, his mother handed him a copy of Edna Ferber’s Cimarron—for him, a riveting Western about the settling of Oklahoma and the discovery of oil—and he stayed up until three in the morning, until, bleary-eyed, he finished the novel.
Ed Ifkovic taught literature and creative writing at a community college in Connecticut for over three decades, and now, retired, devotes himself to writing fiction. His short stories and essays have appeared in such diverse periodicals as the Village Voice, America, Hartford Monthly, and the Journal of Popular Culture. He’s published fiction with small presses, including a novel based on the life of Victorian poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox. A longtime devotee of mystery novels, he fondly recalls his boyhood discovery of Erle Stanley Gardner’s Perry Mason series in a family bookcase, and his immediate obsession with the whodunit world. When he was fourteen, bored on a lazy summer afternoon, his mother handed him a copy of Edna Ferber’s Cimarron—for him, a riveting Western about the settling of Oklahoma and the discovery of oil—and he stayed up until three in the morning, until, bleary-eyed, he finished the novel.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 9, 2019
An excellent entry in the Edna Ferber Mysteries. Featuring Ava Gardner (she doesn't suck! - a joke for a special 3 other people). Edna investigates during the roll out of her latest movie - "SHOW BOAT". Includes an appearance of Frank Sinatra and not a very flatering one!!
July 17, 2019
The strongest yet of the Edna Ferber mysteries. Like the earlier titles the mystery itself isn’t great but Ifkovic keeps the pace moving and his interpretation of Ava Gardner (starring in Ferber’s Show Boat) is endearing.
June 3, 2025
an interesting story line. an okay book. I just wouldn't buy it
January 5, 2013
Make Believe: An Edna Ferber Mystery
by Ed Ifkovic
Fun light read featuring Edna Ferber, silver-haired and 72, as the protagonist who solves the murder of her beloved friend Max Jeffries. Making guest appearances are Ava Gardner and her tempestuous lover Frank Sinatra. Set in 1951, this easy-to-solve mystery is set in Hollywood before it was "Hollywood," where you could still get a parking spot on any street in town, and getaway cottages were available without the trek to Catalina.
Good character descriptions make it easy to spot the bad guys, the not-so-bad guys, and the downright good guys, of which there are too few. Enjoyable weekend getaway book.
by Ed Ifkovic
Fun light read featuring Edna Ferber, silver-haired and 72, as the protagonist who solves the murder of her beloved friend Max Jeffries. Making guest appearances are Ava Gardner and her tempestuous lover Frank Sinatra. Set in 1951, this easy-to-solve mystery is set in Hollywood before it was "Hollywood," where you could still get a parking spot on any street in town, and getaway cottages were available without the trek to Catalina.
Good character descriptions make it easy to spot the bad guys, the not-so-bad guys, and the downright good guys, of which there are too few. Enjoyable weekend getaway book.
February 7, 2013
Make Believe was a surprise as I didn't think I would like it. Knew it had Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner in the plot and that was my reason for checking it out at the library. I finished it today, Feb 6,2013. Had to be a Male author as he really paints Ava with love. Which is okay with me. Frank Sinatra's dark side shows up but in a believable way. By end of the book he does show the side of Sinatra we all love. I now have to check out Show Boat DVD. I have seen it many years ago and enjoyed it but this book has renewed my interest. Now to look up more books by this author, Ed Ifkovic.
January 3, 2013
MAKE BELIEVE: AN EDNA FERBER MYSTERY
Ed Ifkovic
Anyone interested in old Hollywood would enjoy this light mystery. Other than the character assassination of Frank Sinatra which the author ultimately retracts thank heavens, it is quite good. When an old, dear friend is blacklisted, the noted author rushes to his side to show her support. When that same friend is murdered, she decides it's up to her to find the murderer. A little predictable, but a fun read.
Ed Ifkovic
Anyone interested in old Hollywood would enjoy this light mystery. Other than the character assassination of Frank Sinatra which the author ultimately retracts thank heavens, it is quite good. When an old, dear friend is blacklisted, the noted author rushes to his side to show her support. When that same friend is murdered, she decides it's up to her to find the murderer. A little predictable, but a fun read.
January 4, 2013
Edna Ferber comes to Los Angeles to help a friend who is under attack as a suspected Communist. Of course, Max is nothing of the kind--Edna's known him for years--but he worked on the new MGM production of "Showboat" and is in a vulnerable position. Through him, Edna meets one of the stars of the movie, Ava Gardner, and her disquieting boyfriend Frank Sinatra. When Max is killed, Edna feels the need to find the murderer.
March 3, 2013
Fascinating read set in 1951. Author Edna Ferber travels to Hollywood to see an old friend while the Movie "Showboat" (based on her novel) is being filmed. Her old friend is murdered. While trying to find out what happened to him, she meets Ava Gardner, one of the stars of the movie, and Frank Sinatra, Ava's very public lover. Interesting look at behind-the-scenes Hollywood and its many characters.
April 12, 2013
In 1951 Edna Ferber travels to Hollywood to support a friend blacklisted because of the Communist witch-hunt. Against the backdrop of the premiere of Show Boat, she becomes involved with Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra and their circle of friends. When her friend is murdered, Edna understands that she has to find the killer.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews