Fabulously Dead

A "Dead is the New Fabulous" Mystery #1

by Lindsay Maracotta

Animation filmmaker Lucy Frampton seemingly has it all—the glamorous mansion, adorable child and too-handsome-for-his-own-good producer husband. But Lucy has something her famous neighbors do not: a nude, wannabe starlet floating dead in her swimming pool!!!

When she and her husband become the prime suspects in the high-profile murder investigation, Lucy knows she’s going to have to clear her own name—especially when she finds out that the enterprising victim had set her sights on Lucy’s husband!

In a world of sex, lies, and iPhones, it’s up to Lucy to find the killer…lest she find herself as the next Fabulous victim!!!

*Originally published as The Dead Hollywood Moms Society.

Genres: Mystery

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 6, 2014

About the author

Before making a living as a writer, Lindsay held a wide variety of jobs: waitress in a trendy club; waitress in a funky dive; catalogue model; assistant to a soap opera diva; cat sitter (required many of the same skills as previous job); fact checker for Esquire Magazine; and briefly -- and unwittingly -- a bag man for the mob. Drawing on these experiences, she began writing for magazines and the non-fiction book "The Sad-Eyed Ladies." Her first novel, "Hide and Seek:, was a mass market best seller. "Everything We Wanted" was a Publisher’s Weekly bestseller, a Literary Guild selection, an English and translated into six languages. Next was the critically acclaimed “Dead Hollywood” series (ebook: “Dead Fabulous” series). Accolades: Mystery Ink Book of the Year; People Magazine Beach Book of the Week; a Sisters in Crime Best Book, and various Ten Best Mystery lists.
Writing as Lindsay Graves, she published The Ex-Wives series with Ballentine Books. She currently lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband, a feature film producer, and two cats who are always ready for their close-ups.

Reviews

[Paige Schlesinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is trash. I thought I knew what kind of trash based on the title, but boy did this disappoint. Lucy is a horrible protagonist - it just occurred to me in writing this review that she is the epitome of a “pick me” girl. The entire plot is predicated on the idea that she investigates her neighbor’s murder just to clear her husband’s name. She truly doesn’t care about her deceased neighbor, and the way she speaks about her is catty and gross. She flippantly makes reference to violence against women that makes me seriously wonder what tf is up with the author. Her husband, who is absent the entire book, is a cheater. Oh, Lucy is a cheater too, but it’s ok when she does it. Lucy is better than everyone because she wears vintage clothes, even though she also knows how much everyone else’s shoes cost. She sends her daughter to the same elite private school as everyone else, but Lucy doesn’t care about status. She lives in a big house she can’t afford, but she collects vintage cookie jars, so it’s cute. She’s not judgmental, she just kink shames. I cannot fucking stand Lucy.

The author also makes some pop culture references that make absolutely no sense - for example, referring to Lady Gaga as someone with big fake breasts. Tina Fey as a “sitcom star”, which while technically true, was not the right celebrity to reference in the circumstance. She made reference to Simba from the Lion King and his “jungle friends.” THE LION KING ≠ THE JUNGLE BOOK.

The plot is preposterous - Lucy manages to uncover clue after clue based on random hunches, like renting a DVD (yeah, she’s the worst). She’s better at detecting than the detectives. Every person she talks to reveals a ludicrous amount of relevant, and often salacious, information.

At the end of the book, Lucy figures it all out! She has learned nothing throughout this experience and is no less unlikeable. Lucy’s husband returns. He is still a cheater and has provided no value or support throughout the entirety of the book, but all is forgiven. But wait, this bitch has to throw in one more Betty Boop reference before we are released from the prison that is this novel.

TLDR I hated it.

[Allie Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute! Not as dark as it could have gone but good mystery. The characters are easy to follow and like and relatable. The story takes place in Hollywood but easy to relate to their hardships in marriage, career and family lives. Definitely plot twist at the end you did NOT see coming. The narrator’s voice was very clear, easy to listen to and enthusiastic as needed. This book is in a series but is a good stand alone book too! First book from this author and really liked it so going to find some more and listen!

[Sandra S Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give it a 3.5, the story paid more attention to designer status, material types/colors, interior decorating and other posh pretenses of the rich and famous which is not something that interests me. The story did hold my attention, even if mainly due to the urge to slap the main character. However, I was intentionally looking for something much lighter to give my brain a rest from my previous read. This book did accomplish that.

[Bri · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was sold to me as a light-hearted, funny murder mystery. While there was a murder and a very bland mystery, the dialogue was boring, nothing in this book was funny (despite the attempt at jokes, which all fell flat) and the characters lacked any charm or personality. Not the worst book I've ever read, and it'll find it's audience somewhere, but I am not it.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

storyline got muddy

It was a good read but the storyline got a little muddy and ran around in circles. A little predictable on who the killer was, even though the storyline changed to add a bit to why the killer did it. A lot of filler.

[Dawn Merritt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6

[Beverley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED it. Very funny.

[Christina Simons · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the first of three published so far, and it was a quick and interesting summer read. I'll read the next one.

[Jamie Longmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost quit listening after the author had Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis backwards!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

you have it all and you find a nude girl and you're now the sudpect

[Iiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read, something I could read and not have to think too hard on. Very cute and also, the main character does waayyyyyy too much.

[Denise Zendel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucy Frampton is a Hollywood mom who seems to have it all – a career as a semi-famous animation filmmaker, a beautiful home, a beautiful child, and a beautiful producer husband. She finds a nude, dead C list actress in her pool, a woman Lucy’s husband may or may not have been having a fling with. This puts both of the Framptons at the top of the suspect list.

I struggled with this book in the beginning – it felt like one of those I’ve-read-this-before, “Hollywood Wives” thinly-veiled tell-alls peopled with not particularly likeable characters. I’m not even sure why I kept reading, but I did. By the end, tho’, I felt like the behind-the-scenes information about Hollywood was authentic, as was the description of the interactions among the parents at Lucy’s daughter’s school. And the glimpses into how Lucy worked as an animator were interesting. I also liked how Lucy interacted with her daughter.

This is book one in a three-book series. It was moderately entertaining by the end. Will I read the subsequent books? Maybe.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just a wonderful snarky funny mystery set in Hollywood. Lucy Frampton is watching her life deteriorate as her producer husband has been making bad movies and their lifestyle gets more out of reach every day. Just when things seem to be getting back on track when her husbands gets a new movie a neighbor is found naked and dead in their pool. As a suspect and social pariah Lucy starts sleuthing to clear her name and discovers the dirty underbelly in the quest of Hollywood stardom.

Along the way she meets and befriends a female detective Theresa Shoe. Dective Shoe is a bit of reality to the Hollywood absurdity.

I just love books like this; but there are adult themes and nastiness. Also these books were written in the 90's and have been updated I hope that means there will be more coming to the series.

[Jackie Mancuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

FABULOUSLY FUNNY is what it is. The insider observations of the Hollywood lifestyle kept me chuckling and the plot kept me turning pages. These people are seriously unhinged. I also recommend the second book in the series, ADORABLY DEAD!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this peek into Hollywood High Society. Kind of glad I do not have to deal with it but reading about it is fun. Well written and I loved the idea of an animator being a sleuth as animation is near and dear to my heart.

[Sara Rossi]

Not finish