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Hollywood Pharaohs
Mike Ray, former cop and body-double for a world famous action star, was ready to put show business behind him when he was asked to do one last favor for Hollywood’s hottest new actress.
All he has to do is find her the necklace from a forgotten film and not get killed in the process.
From the insane house parties of Malibu and the reclusive mansions of Beverly Hills to the scorching California desert, Mike finds himself in a scandal involving one of the world’s most eccentric billionaires, the Nevada Mafia and a sadistic Estonian porn kingpin.
To find the necklace he’ll have to blow the lid on a secret buried in the California desert that stretches back to ancient Egypt. With an irresistible client who won’t take “no” for an answer, if the job doesn’t get him killed, she just might.
HOLLYWOOD PHARAOHS has been described as a fast-paced love child of The Big Lebowski and Indiana Jones.
All he has to do is find her the necklace from a forgotten film and not get killed in the process.
From the insane house parties of Malibu and the reclusive mansions of Beverly Hills to the scorching California desert, Mike finds himself in a scandal involving one of the world’s most eccentric billionaires, the Nevada Mafia and a sadistic Estonian porn kingpin.
To find the necklace he’ll have to blow the lid on a secret buried in the California desert that stretches back to ancient Egypt. With an irresistible client who won’t take “no” for an answer, if the job doesn’t get him killed, she just might.
HOLLYWOOD PHARAOHS has been described as a fast-paced love child of The Big Lebowski and Indiana Jones.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2012
529 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
December 30, 2025
Fast read.
Pretty straightforward detective story. I liked the backdrops of older and modern Hollywood. The Egyptian story weaved in also gave this a kind of and adventure feel too.
Pretty straightforward detective story. I liked the backdrops of older and modern Hollywood. The Egyptian story weaved in also gave this a kind of and adventure feel too.
September 9, 2012
This is the first book of Andrew Mayne's that I've read, but it won't be the last. I didn't know what to expect coming in, but once I got used to Mayne's style I settled in and liked it.
Hollywood Pharaohs wasn't a "must read" for me. It wasn't one of those books where I had to read it every night. And it wasn't one that I finished in two days. Pharaohs fit more into a "fun read" for me, and I don't get enough of those anymore. It's obvious Mayne knows his Hollywood, and it was enjoyable to hear some of the stories he told; it made me feel as if I was in the hands of someone who knew what they were talking about.
Some authors get carried away with humor, but Mayne knows how far to take it, and he never went over the top. I felt his characters were well drawn and his plot enjoyable. He has a great voice, and he definitely knows how to tell a story. The real Hollywood could learn a thing or two from Andrew Mayne.
Overall, I really liked this, and I'm certain I'll pick up another book of Mayne's to give that a shot, too.
Hollywood Pharaohs wasn't a "must read" for me. It wasn't one of those books where I had to read it every night. And it wasn't one that I finished in two days. Pharaohs fit more into a "fun read" for me, and I don't get enough of those anymore. It's obvious Mayne knows his Hollywood, and it was enjoyable to hear some of the stories he told; it made me feel as if I was in the hands of someone who knew what they were talking about.
Some authors get carried away with humor, but Mayne knows how far to take it, and he never went over the top. I felt his characters were well drawn and his plot enjoyable. He has a great voice, and he definitely knows how to tell a story. The real Hollywood could learn a thing or two from Andrew Mayne.
Overall, I really liked this, and I'm certain I'll pick up another book of Mayne's to give that a shot, too.
August 10, 2018
Andrew Mayne's writing style lends itself to light action and interesting characters. Hollywood Pharaohs isn't perfect by any means, but it's still fun, and an easy read. Too many Kindle Indie authors fail in execution: stilted dialog, characters that never quite feel authentic, poor editing. Mayne is, if nothing else, decently edited. I see the occasional typo, but the writing and editing is on par with above average big-house imprints. The plot holds together. There's crisis and resolution. I generally care about the characters. (I remember one editor who used to note in rejection letters, "I wouldn't care if your characters were tossed into a volcano." Mayne consistently passes the Volcano Test.) He's got a knack for writing snappy dialog and developing a plot with plenty of twists.
Hollywood Pharaohs has a bit of Mary Sue-ness, but not so much in the protagonist Michael (professional stand in for Hollywood celebrity Alex), but in the character of the actress Theresa who hires him. She's rich, she's pneumatic, she's not shy, she's an aggressive bike-riding Parkour pro, gun enthusiast, Mensa member, and Egyptologist with a heart of gold beating in her perfect chest and an ethical core that is too darn good for Hollywood. She's the best parts of Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Emma Stone, and Angelina Jolie. And she's got a thing for the ex-cop who's paid to stand in for the Sexiest Man Alive but lives hand to mouth and is prepping to live out of his car.
Semi-spoiler: at the heart of this tale is the MacGuffin of a stunning necklace worn by a previous era's It-girl, who starred in a Cleopatra-like film, which Theresa wants to wear when she presents an Oscar in a few days. She hires Michael to find it. Hijinx, bum fights, hit squads, and Indiana Jones exploits ensue.
If you're not a fan of salty language, Hollywood Pharaohs is blissfully low in that count. Its absence doesn't detract from the action or suspense.
Some of the scenes are implausible. Luck plays an outsize role. But that's not uncommon in stories like this. It's still a fun ride, and the protagonist gets beat up and humiliated often enough to honor the formula. Some threads don't get tied up in the end, but the book ends on a teaser for a possible sequel. I think Mayne succeeds in establishing a character interesting enough to see again.
Hollywood Pharaohs has a bit of Mary Sue-ness, but not so much in the protagonist Michael (professional stand in for Hollywood celebrity Alex), but in the character of the actress Theresa who hires him. She's rich, she's pneumatic, she's not shy, she's an aggressive bike-riding Parkour pro, gun enthusiast, Mensa member, and Egyptologist with a heart of gold beating in her perfect chest and an ethical core that is too darn good for Hollywood. She's the best parts of Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Emma Stone, and Angelina Jolie. And she's got a thing for the ex-cop who's paid to stand in for the Sexiest Man Alive but lives hand to mouth and is prepping to live out of his car.
Semi-spoiler: at the heart of this tale is the MacGuffin of a stunning necklace worn by a previous era's It-girl, who starred in a Cleopatra-like film, which Theresa wants to wear when she presents an Oscar in a few days. She hires Michael to find it. Hijinx, bum fights, hit squads, and Indiana Jones exploits ensue.
If you're not a fan of salty language, Hollywood Pharaohs is blissfully low in that count. Its absence doesn't detract from the action or suspense.
Some of the scenes are implausible. Luck plays an outsize role. But that's not uncommon in stories like this. It's still a fun ride, and the protagonist gets beat up and humiliated often enough to honor the formula. Some threads don't get tied up in the end, but the book ends on a teaser for a possible sequel. I think Mayne succeeds in establishing a character interesting enough to see again.
May 30, 2022
I’m torn between 2 stars and three stars. It was arguably as good as many three star books that I’ve read, and it didn’t anger/annoy me like the other two star books I’ve read and rated. I liked the main character, and I thought the doppelgänger aspect of the novel was helpful to the pace of the novel and an interesting dynamic. I just thought the novel was so overreaching that it bordered on absurd. It just felt like it was trying to hard to be something else. In the end, it didn’t meet the same level of 3 star rating that other novels achieved. For me, 5 star ratings are super rare - 1 in 100, while 4 star books are ‘wow, that was great.’ 3 star ratings are your average ‘good’ books that don’t impress me, but we’re an enjoyable read. If it’s a series, I almost never read the next book if the first one is 3 stars, but I almost always do if it’s 4 stars. Oddly, I gave Mr. Mayne’s Naturalist 4 stars but I haven’t yet read the next in the series. I feel like that was great, but I’m just not sure how he’ll keep the next one as new and fresh as the first, but I should give him the opportunity to prove me wrong.
June 22, 2023
Mystery and action set in L.A. This is my second Mayne book. His detective used to be a cop who then worked as a stunt double for an actor who he continues to work as a body double for in real life. As part of his body double work, Michael sort of gets loaned out to an actress who is looking for an old prop necklace from way back. Track it down. There's a nice finder's fee waiting, which he needs. Michael has been evicted, basically for looking like the actor he doubles for.
Nothing is ever simple, and Michael is in no way prepared for the lengths his client is prepared to go to or the craziness searching for the necklace introduces him to. But hey, it's Hollywood. Crazy is what they do.
As crazy as this story gets, you believe it, and that's the really crazy part.
Nothing is ever simple, and Michael is in no way prepared for the lengths his client is prepared to go to or the craziness searching for the necklace introduces him to. But hey, it's Hollywood. Crazy is what they do.
As crazy as this story gets, you believe it, and that's the really crazy part.
July 27, 2021
Humor abounds. Including a gazillionaire Movie Mogul, engineer, inventor and ladies man with the initials HH and a 50s screen star and her stunning Egyptian necklace are tangentially related to this Indiana Jones meets Meyer Lansky's wannabe godson's goon in an Egyptian tomb east if LA in a desert. Maxim mag's Most Beautiful Movie Star asks Ex-LA Cop now stand-in/stunt double to find The Necklace HH gave to his female star. Easy-Peasy. NOT. This is non-stop thrill ride riddled with an Estonian sex trafficker, an empty swimming pool motorbike Gladiator contest, goons, mobsters and shallow matinee idols. Enjoy.
September 9, 2020
Great plot line but needs an editor, desperately
Andrew Mayne is a great author - this is the 4th book I’ve read, so I can tell you that the typos, grammatical errors (then used for than, waisting for wasting etc., etc.), and completely omitted words,,are an anomaly featured in this book. I haven’t encountered these in other books, so if you’re reading this as your first Andrew Mayne book, don’t let the state of this book scare you off his works - his books are well worth buying and reading!!
Andrew Mayne is a great author - this is the 4th book I’ve read, so I can tell you that the typos, grammatical errors (then used for than, waisting for wasting etc., etc.), and completely omitted words,,are an anomaly featured in this book. I haven’t encountered these in other books, so if you’re reading this as your first Andrew Mayne book, don’t let the state of this book scare you off his works - his books are well worth buying and reading!!
August 16, 2023
A great mystery with roots in Egypt and classic Hollywood. After reading several of Andrew Mayne's series this year, he is my new favorite for 2023. Be it a thriller dealing with serial killers or a government agent with a background in magic (yes, I said it), his characters and storylines keep me guessing and racing for the next volume. I suggest you read up on the author himself. I finished 2 of his series before I started to get curious about the man behind it all.
November 17, 2017
I enjoyed this book from start to the end. Highly recommend this book I was hoping the romance between Michael and Theresa would continue to grow.
Looking forward to reading more books with Michael and Theresa as a team. I liked the intense action and the solutions to tough problems.
Looking forward to reading more books with Michael and Theresa as a team. I liked the intense action and the solutions to tough problems.
November 10, 2021
pretty good
I enjoyed it, although it’s technically not five stars as a book but I think it’s a good tribute to Andrew Mayne’s creativity. I’m amazed! Book is good, entertaining and easy to read. Of course, it’s like many books of the same kind but this is separate, almost like a spoof, gentle and light hearted
I enjoyed it, although it’s technically not five stars as a book but I think it’s a good tribute to Andrew Mayne’s creativity. I’m amazed! Book is good, entertaining and easy to read. Of course, it’s like many books of the same kind but this is separate, almost like a spoof, gentle and light hearted
May 27, 2024
This could have been a great book, I liked the premise. But if you have the main character beating himself up in his inner thoughts at the same time that his allies and the villains are, while he's really not doing that bad of a job all things considered then I learn to hate the supporting characters.
February 18, 2025
andrew mayne missed all the appointments with his editor. he is missing prepositions in many sentences. there was no spell check (wrote "kneed" -- as in "kneed the guy in his crotch" when he should have used "knead" as in my mom asked me to knead the dough). there are so many errors that i just stopped reading.
January 16, 2026
Hollywood Pharaohs
When I should be sleeping, I'm reading. This story is non stop action with a hero who seems to constantly get himself in terrible situations, he was lucky he ended up with a helper. I enjoyed the humour, it added to the story at the right times. The only down side was that it needed better editing.
When I should be sleeping, I'm reading. This story is non stop action with a hero who seems to constantly get himself in terrible situations, he was lucky he ended up with a helper. I enjoyed the humour, it added to the story at the right times. The only down side was that it needed better editing.
April 10, 2018
A Great Little Gem
Hollywood glam with a stunt double and an A-list actress on the hunt for a 3,000 year old necklace said to belong to an Egyptian Princess. Hair raising action coupled with crazy Hollywood antidotes. Fun, fun, fun.
Hollywood glam with a stunt double and an A-list actress on the hunt for a 3,000 year old necklace said to belong to an Egyptian Princess. Hair raising action coupled with crazy Hollywood antidotes. Fun, fun, fun.
March 21, 2019
A great adventure!
What a great adventure story. There's definitely an old time " hero saved the damsel in distress " flavor to it. Certainly a surprise after reading "the naturalist" and " murder theory". Very entertaining!
What a great adventure story. There's definitely an old time " hero saved the damsel in distress " flavor to it. Certainly a surprise after reading "the naturalist" and " murder theory". Very entertaining!
April 21, 2020
Not bad
This was a fun read. It kept me involved and it was a nice diversion. I got distracted by the typos, there weren't a lot but enough to grab my attention. Thank you Andrew Mayne for the ride. .
This was a fun read. It kept me involved and it was a nice diversion. I got distracted by the typos, there weren't a lot but enough to grab my attention. Thank you Andrew Mayne for the ride. .
April 9, 2021
I love Andrew Mayne and I especially love this book. It was a slow start but then totally took a left turn and grabbed my attention completely. I couldn’t put it down. What an awesome premise and story.
September 28, 2022
I do enjoy anything this author writes. This was a very fun read. It had a great cast of characters, was fast paced, a little romance and comedy thrown into old world Hollywood style story. I loved it!
September 8, 2023
Action packed thriller
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Andrew kept the story interesting with a few good plot twists. I liked the first person perspective that moved the story forward. I can't wait for the next one.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Andrew kept the story interesting with a few good plot twists. I liked the first person perspective that moved the story forward. I can't wait for the next one.
February 15, 2025
I loved this book, could not put it down until I finished it and then I was sad for it to end. Great characters, snappy dialog and lots of action. This should be made into a movie, I am casting it in my mind! It would make a great film!
March 14, 2025
delightful (if dangerous) romp with a true-blue hero
Ah, were that Andrew Mayne more prolific!
A raconteur in the mien of Randy Wayne White, Robert A. Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey and other epic adventurers.
Thrills, chills and acts of derring-do!
Ah, were that Andrew Mayne more prolific!
A raconteur in the mien of Randy Wayne White, Robert A. Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey and other epic adventurers.
Thrills, chills and acts of derring-do!
September 14, 2017
Brilliant pa?he turner
I loved the characters and setting. Humorous and action packed, it would make a great movie too. Pure adventurous escapism.
I loved the characters and setting. Humorous and action packed, it would make a great movie too. Pure adventurous escapism.
October 24, 2017
Newly found author
This book was even better than the first one i read from this author! Great writing and plot. Hoping for sequels!
This book was even better than the first one i read from this author! Great writing and plot. Hoping for sequels!
November 22, 2017
Fun read
Nice combination of suspense and humor. I miss the magic he uses in some of his other books. I'll keep reading.
Nice combination of suspense and humor. I miss the magic he uses in some of his other books. I'll keep reading.
January 10, 2018
Lame
Stick with the Jessica Blackwood series. Can’t think of anything positive to write about.this book. The editing was sloppy, too.
Stick with the Jessica Blackwood series. Can’t think of anything positive to write about.this book. The editing was sloppy, too.
April 22, 2018
A fun read!
Lighthearted and funny. Fun adventure and a good distraction for a few hours. Personally, I prefer Maynes more intense novels but this was an enjoyable read.
Lighthearted and funny. Fun adventure and a good distraction for a few hours. Personally, I prefer Maynes more intense novels but this was an enjoyable read.
June 24, 2018
Exciting !!
This was a very exciting and entertaining book. There was always action with a great story line that kept me wanting to continue reading.
This was a very exciting and entertaining book. There was always action with a great story line that kept me wanting to continue reading.
April 16, 2019
Good story.
Lots of insider stuff about LA. Believeable action sequences. Biggest drawback to the flow of the story...HIRE A PROOFREADER!!! That is all.
Lots of insider stuff about LA. Believeable action sequences. Biggest drawback to the flow of the story...HIRE A PROOFREADER!!! That is all.
April 9, 2020
More!
Great relaxing diversion. Love to see more adventures with Mike. Need ten more words, but I'm not a writer. So...
Great relaxing diversion. Love to see more adventures with Mike. Need ten more words, but I'm not a writer. So...
August 24, 2020
Fun book, nothing great nothing terrible.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews