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A Jarrod Jarvis Mystery #2
The Actor's Guide To Adultery
They say bad news comes in threes. Jarrod Jarvis is about to test that theory.
Screen Actors Guide to Adultery
Bad news item #1. Former child actor (and constant comeback candidate) Jarrod Jarvis fails to convince the California parole board not to release Wendell Butterworth, the stalker who has followed him since his first Oscar Meyer commercial. #2. Jarrod's NBC pilot flatlines before it even hits the air. #3. His agent/best friend Laurette decides to marry gorgeous Juan Carlos Barranco, a soap actor more wooden than a Steven Seagal romantic comedy -- and shadier than Cher's plastic surgery denials. To quote the eighties catchphrase that made Jarrod famous: "Baby, don't even go there!" But things are about to get worse. During Laurette's drive-thru wedding at the Hearst Castle, one of the guests has a heated scene of his own with Juan Carlos--just before he crashes into the three-tier wedding cake, poisoned by a glass of champagne.
Much to the dismay of Charlie, his hunky LAPD boyfriend, Jarrod is convinced that Juan Carlos has something to do with the murder, and he's determined to get the goods on Laurette's new husband, even if it means trailing him to the set of his latest movie, a "high concept" horror film, and taking a (gasp!) supporting role. It isn't long before Juan Carlos exposes himself not as a murderer, but as a Viagra-fueled player who is simultaneously bedding his sexy, older leading lady, his young female co-star and a hot Latin man he meets on the QT at a local motel. Talk about the role of a lifetime. Soon, the question is no longer, "Who is Laurette's new husband sleeping with?" but "Who isn't he sleeping with?" Juan Carlos seems to be a man of many secret alliances, including a connection to an embittered tabloid reporter and a ruthless Miami crime boss who's already made more than one person disappear. But why would a big-time crime czar be so interested in the affairs of a really bad soap actor? What other secrets is Juan Carlos keeping? And did Jarrod really agree to do a movie for scale?
Now, trapped in surreal South Florida, home of early bird specials, low-budget movies, neon thongs, and, God forbid, his own parents, Jarrod is living out his worst nightmare, keeping one eye on his best friend's cheating husband, fighting his own attraction to a butch P.I., playing opposite a child star who makes Linda Blair's "Exorcist" turn seem charming, and running from the mob. But while Jarrod has been channeling his inner MacGyver, following Juan Carlos' every salacious move, someone else has been tailing Jarrod. Someone who thinks he knows too much for his own good. Someone with the power to turn a cheesy slasher movie into cinema verite... and give Jarrod his final screen credit.
Like the wacky love child of Carl Hiassen and John Waters, Rick Copp's THE ACTOR'S GUIDE TO ADULTERY is another outrageous, wickedly funny, very sexy mystery featuring the caustic Jarrod Jarvis, who never met a part he didn't want to take, even if it might get him killed.
Screen Actors Guide to Adultery
Bad news item #1. Former child actor (and constant comeback candidate) Jarrod Jarvis fails to convince the California parole board not to release Wendell Butterworth, the stalker who has followed him since his first Oscar Meyer commercial. #2. Jarrod's NBC pilot flatlines before it even hits the air. #3. His agent/best friend Laurette decides to marry gorgeous Juan Carlos Barranco, a soap actor more wooden than a Steven Seagal romantic comedy -- and shadier than Cher's plastic surgery denials. To quote the eighties catchphrase that made Jarrod famous: "Baby, don't even go there!" But things are about to get worse. During Laurette's drive-thru wedding at the Hearst Castle, one of the guests has a heated scene of his own with Juan Carlos--just before he crashes into the three-tier wedding cake, poisoned by a glass of champagne.
Much to the dismay of Charlie, his hunky LAPD boyfriend, Jarrod is convinced that Juan Carlos has something to do with the murder, and he's determined to get the goods on Laurette's new husband, even if it means trailing him to the set of his latest movie, a "high concept" horror film, and taking a (gasp!) supporting role. It isn't long before Juan Carlos exposes himself not as a murderer, but as a Viagra-fueled player who is simultaneously bedding his sexy, older leading lady, his young female co-star and a hot Latin man he meets on the QT at a local motel. Talk about the role of a lifetime. Soon, the question is no longer, "Who is Laurette's new husband sleeping with?" but "Who isn't he sleeping with?" Juan Carlos seems to be a man of many secret alliances, including a connection to an embittered tabloid reporter and a ruthless Miami crime boss who's already made more than one person disappear. But why would a big-time crime czar be so interested in the affairs of a really bad soap actor? What other secrets is Juan Carlos keeping? And did Jarrod really agree to do a movie for scale?
Now, trapped in surreal South Florida, home of early bird specials, low-budget movies, neon thongs, and, God forbid, his own parents, Jarrod is living out his worst nightmare, keeping one eye on his best friend's cheating husband, fighting his own attraction to a butch P.I., playing opposite a child star who makes Linda Blair's "Exorcist" turn seem charming, and running from the mob. But while Jarrod has been channeling his inner MacGyver, following Juan Carlos' every salacious move, someone else has been tailing Jarrod. Someone who thinks he knows too much for his own good. Someone with the power to turn a cheesy slasher movie into cinema verite... and give Jarrod his final screen credit.
Like the wacky love child of Carl Hiassen and John Waters, Rick Copp's THE ACTOR'S GUIDE TO ADULTERY is another outrageous, wickedly funny, very sexy mystery featuring the caustic Jarrod Jarvis, who never met a part he didn't want to take, even if it might get him killed.
296 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2004
1 person is currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Rick Copp
8 books23 followersRick Copp (born August 8, 1964) is an American television writer, story editor, producer and occasional actor. He was executive story editor for 11 episodes and writer for two episodes of the short-lived 1991 NBC sitcom Flesh 'n' Blood. He also wrote for Flying Blind, The Golden Girls and Wings, among others. He was a co-writer on The Brady Bunch Movie and has written for many animated series including Teen Titans and Scooby Doo. In 2005 he served as a consulting producer on the Barbershop TV series, based on the hit movie.
He is also an author of four mystery novels, The Actor's Guide to Murder, The Actor's Guide to Adultery, The Actor's Guide to Greed and Fingerprints and Facelifts. His book The Actor's Guide to Greed was a Lambda Literary Award nominee in the Gay Mystery category at the 2006 Lambda Literary Awards. In 2012, he was one of the writers, creators and stars of the comedy mystery web series Where the Bears Are.
He is also an author of four mystery novels, The Actor's Guide to Murder, The Actor's Guide to Adultery, The Actor's Guide to Greed and Fingerprints and Facelifts. His book The Actor's Guide to Greed was a Lambda Literary Award nominee in the Gay Mystery category at the 2006 Lambda Literary Awards. In 2012, he was one of the writers, creators and stars of the comedy mystery web series Where the Bears Are.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 25, 2009
It's too bad the publishers decided not to put out any more "Actor's Guide to" books by R. Copp, as his books have everything I'm looking for in a novel! His characters are alive and real, his plots are not contrived, and he always knows how to surprise me!
January 1, 2011
This is a fun book. The characterization is excellent, the pacing is perfect and the story is nearly flawless. Copp gets himself boxed in for a convoluted resolution but you don't care because the journey to the climax was such a fun ride.
Keep 'em coming, Rick.
Keep 'em coming, Rick.
December 4, 2012
Highly enjoyable madcap mystery.
July 15, 2009
Fast read. Funny pop-culture references. Just a fun Summer time romp.
June 2, 2017
Mystery novel is apparently second in a series featuring gay actor/former child star Jarrod Jarvis, who just happens to solve murders on the side. It was a Booklist recommendation but not what I expected. It's a little bit lighter, fluffier and more elementary than what I usually read. It was a quick read, didn't have the worst story in the world but probably wasn't good enough to consider any of the rest of the books in the series.
October 18, 2018
enjoyed this installment, almost better than the first - probably because I already had a relationship with the characters...
December 23, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up because it's fun and silly.
September 27, 2012
If you love camp then you will love this series.
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May 3, 2013Love these books.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews