Adorably Dead

A "Dead is the New Fabulous" Mystery #3

by Lindsay Maracotta

Lucy Frampton lives amid the glitzy trappings of Los Angeles. Her friends enjoy intimate relationships with aroma therapists and body sculptors, and her neighbors' estates boast screening rooms and humidity-controlled wine cellars. The exclusive Windermere Academy, which her daughter, Chloe, attends, has a shrink on the payroll to lead "encounter sessions" when tiny tempests threaten the students' sunny days. And even bit players in the Windermere school pageants have publicists and agents.

But Lucy, a sensible, transplanted Midwesterner, keeps her sights down-to-earth. She's an outstanding mom, a sexy wife, and an animator whose career is rocketing. But then, in a flash, her perfect world of storyboard mornings and car-pool afternoons goes from romantic comedy to film noir.

Lucy's new nanny, Brandon, college friend—and onetime lover (but that's another story)—is shot dead while driving her husband's car. It's unclear who the intended victim was, but then Lucy stumbles upon something even more chilling: a video hidden among Brandon's things that shows a child committing a murder.

Though the authorities yawn, Lucy suspects the killer is cruising through classrooms and lunchrooms, as dewy-eyed innocent as any other kid. With a razor wit and a hilarious irreverence for the trappings of fame as her only weapons, Lucy launches a one-woman investigation, leading smack into the looking-glass world of child actors, where nine-year-olds can fire their own parents, where a child's smile commands top dollar—and a little killer is about to have the last laugh!

*Originally published as Playing Dead.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

280 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

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason this one didn't work that well for me. Low 3. Maybe because she seemed to be constantly trying to belittle their wealth yet enjoy it at the same time. I didn't find her very sympathetic.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

you have Lucy who meets up with an old lousy lover but she's pregnant and hor Bandon is hired as a nanny. he shoes up dead. it is good

[Christina Simons · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really hope this series continues!! Each book seems to get better and a bit more complicated.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolutely favorite sub genre of books. Give me anything set in Hollywood that dishes insider dirt and I am in love. In this case add a great compelling mystery and stage parents and I am not putting the book down until I finish! This book has it all, Hollywood, murder and intrigue. I loved it so much I bought another in the series.

How far will parents go to get their child a career in the movies? This book explores the reality of stage parents and children supporting their parents in Hollywood; you will recognize the types. It is brilliant and creepy.

[Tammy Kenney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't a bad read but I had a hard time getting into it and it just didn't hold my interest. A lot of characters to remember and none of them likable. I would give this author another chance but probably not with this series.