A Murder in Hollywood

by Michael Crichton, John Lange

From Michael Crichton
Creator of Jurassic Park , ER , Twister , Rising Sun , and Disclosure

Writing as John Lange

Comes a new Hollywood mystery thriller, originally written in 1973 by Crichton but never before published, that will keep you guessing until the very end.

In the glitz and decadence of 1970s Hollywood, an era when sex and drugs are readily available on any movie set, the writer of the next Western blockbuster, Bloodrock, has just been found dead in his motel bathtub. Now publicist Harvey Jason is desperately trying to keep the project on track while the famed Harlow Perkins, a brilliant and ruthless investigator, begins to unravel the mystery and hunt the killer down.

From scorching-hot desert locations to sleazy motel bars, the members of the cast and crew—each one with a very dark secret of their own—will send this case deeper and deeper into a maze of confusion and shadows until the shocking truth is revealed.

Will the murderer be found?

Or will the true identity of the killer turn out to be just another Hollywood illusion?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Adult, Historical Fiction

244 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2026

About the author

John Michael Crichton was an American author, screenwriter, and filmmaker whose prolific career left an indelible mark on popular culture and speculative fiction. Raised on Long Island, he displayed a precocious talent for writing, publishing an article in The New York Times at sixteen. Initially enrolling at Harvard as an English major, he switched to biological anthropology after discovering a preference for scientific study over literature. He graduated summa cum laude and received a fellowship to lecture in anthropology at Cambridge. Later attending Harvard Medical School, he earned his MD but chose not to practice, dedicating himself to writing instead. His medical background profoundly influenced his novels, providing authentic scientific and technical underpinnings that became a hallmark of his work. Crichton began writing under pseudonyms, producing suspenseful thrillers as John Lange, including Odds On, Scratch One, and Easy Go, and as Jeffrey Hudson with A Case of Need, earning him an Edgar Award. His first major success under his own name, The Andromeda Strain, established his signature blend of scientific authenticity, tension, and exploration of technological hazards, leading to its film adaptation. Over his career, he wrote 25 novels, including The Terminal Man, The Great Train Robbery, Congo, Sphere, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure, The Lost World, Airframe, Timeline, Prey, State of Fear, and Next, several adapted into major films, with four additional works published posthumously. Crichton also made significant contributions to film and television. He wrote and directed Westworld, pioneering the use of 2D computer-generated imagery, and later directed Coma, The First Great Train Robbery, Looker, and Runaway. He created the influential medical drama ER, which he executive produced and developed with Steven Spielberg, achieving critical and commercial success. Many of his novels, most famously Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World, became cultural phenomena, combining imaginative adventure with grounded scientific speculation, often exploring humanity’s overreach in genetics, biotechnology, and complex systems. His literary style was notable for integrating meticulous scientific detail, suspense, and moral cautionary themes. His works frequently addressed the failure of complex systems—biological, technological, or organizational—demonstrating the unpredictable consequences of human hubris. Employing techniques such as first-person narratives, false documents, fictionalized scientific reports, and assembling expert teams to tackle crises, Crichton created immersive stories appealing to both popular and scholarly audiences. His exploration of genetics, paleontology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence revealed both fascination and caution about humanity’s technological ambitions, while his early non-fiction, such as Five Patients and Electronic Life, reflected his scientific insight and forward-thinking approach to computers and programming. Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, Crichton experienced social isolation in adolescence and later pursued meditation and consultations with psychics, cultivating a lifelong interest in human consciousness and alternative experiences. A workaholic, he approached writing with disciplined ritualistic methodology, often retreating entirely to complete a novel in six or seven weeks. He was married five times, fathered two children, and maintained a wide-ranging collection of 20th-century American art. Crichton engaged in political and scientific discourse, particularly regarding global warming, where he was an outspoken skeptic and testified before the U.S. Senate. He contributed significantly to the discussion of intellectual property, technology, and environmental policy, coining concepts such as the Gell-Mann amnesia effect. Throughout his life, he received numerous awards, including Edgar Awards, a Peabody Award for ER, an Aca

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solving a murder on an old school Hollywood set. What's not to like?

This new release caught my eye with Michael Crichton on the cover. I would count Jurassic Park as an all-time favorite and decided to give this one a try.

Here are some things I loved about this recycled title from the 1970's:

📝Harvey Jason is our narrator and the publicist for the Western being shot on location in and around Tucson. Once MacDougall, the screenwriter turns up dead Jason has a new item on his To Do list -- deal with the aftermath.

🖊Harlow Perkins swoops in on behalf of the studio as an Insurance Adjustor. Jason becomes his assistant and finds his days are full. Why does it seem like Perkins is one step ahead? Will he find the killer if there is one?

📚This is like a hard-boiled cozy. The Hollywood glitz and glamour is just a facade. Underneath that outer layer is a seedy world rife with infidelity, alcohol, and illegal substances. Relationships are treated like commodities and the dead man may have overplayed his hand.

🎬Just like a made-for-TV movie, this one is wrapped up and tied with a bow by the end. It's not the prettiest package, but everything is covered.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. This title available on May 5, 2026.

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This didn't feel like a Crichton novel, but it was still tons of fun.

[LambchoP]

Kind of funny that we keep getting new Crichton books even though he passed away over a decade ago. I have really enjoyed his posthumous books like Dragon's Teeth and Eruption. I'll definitely be checking this out.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know, going into this, that it's written specifically as a "John Lange" novel, and not as a "Michael Crichton" novel, you'll be likely to enjoy it. It gives me HUGE Michael Douglas and Jeffery Hudson vibes. Love it for what it is. Banger.

[Justin Gerber · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5, really. Elmore without the sweat.

[Jamie Steidle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery with a dash of old Hollywood

A Murder in Hollywood was originally written in 1973 and intended to be published under Crichton’s pen name, John Lange, a name he used for writing quick thrillers during medical school at Harvard. In the introduction by Sherri Crichton, Crichton’s widow, we learn a little about his use of pen names. Unfortunately, we don’t learn anything new, specifically the reason the completed manuscript was never published in the first place. This lack of context is the biggest disappointment of the book. It would have been nice to have a little more information.

But the book is a fun, quick read. I received my copy in the mail around 6 p.m. on release day and proceeded to finish it in two days. 

The story takes place on the film set of a Western called “Bloodrock.” It’s narrated by Harvey Jason, the unit publicist on the film. Soon, we learn that the lead writer has been found dead in his bathtub. Originally, it's thought to be an accident, but we soon learn fingerprints had been wiped away from the crime scene, leading people to assume that it was a murder after all. There are several suspects, Clete Williams, the lead of the film, being the number one. As the leading man, you can imagine the media frenzy.

The studio calls in a special auditor by the name of Harlow Perkins. 

Perkins is your typical genre detective. He has peculiarities, to the point that he feels like a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. No doubt, the initials H.P. are a reference to Agatha Christie’s famous detective. There’s a scene where Perkins expertly taps open the top of a boiled egg, reminiscent of, if not an homage to, Christie’s detective.

By the last 100 pages, you can’t put it down. 
The writing style is personable, always referencing the reader with phrases like “I’m sure you remember hearing about…” and “If you’ve ever had…” Jason, as a narrator, has much more personality than most other narrative styles of Crichton’s later works. That’s the benefit of writing in first person. 
There’s a lot that could be critiqued in this manuscript, but overall, as a mystery novel written in 1973, it’s fun. I’d give it four out of five stars. It was an engaging read, and as a mystery enthusiast, I think it does a good job of building suspense.

[Joseph Moschetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I reached the end of the novel it at first felt anticlimactic. A few moments reflection made me realize the ending fit the theme of the novel perfectly. I don’t want to spoil the book as it is so new so I won’t discuss the plot anymore. I do want to point out that Crichton does what he usually does in his books. That is, he flips the narrative cliches in his quiet way that produces an engrossing and interesting narrative experience.

Examples of this in his other novels are common. There will be spoilers below for a few of his earlier novels so proceed with caution.
In the novel Airframe there is an airline disaster. However, it is not a plane crash as most stories of this type would be concerned with. Crichton manages to approach a well worn idea in a fresh way by flipping the narrative but retaining the central concern of airline safety.
He avoids the standard tropes regarding dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. When most people think of dinosaurs their first thought is about how big they are. Crichton once again flips this by making the velociraptors the ultimate threat. Why? Because they are small enough to go through doorways and fit in hallways designed for human traffic. A third example would be the reversal of gender stereotypes in Disclosure.

This technique appears A Murder In Hollywood to good effect. Crichton is one of my favorite authors and I really enjoyed this novel because I enjoy anything he writes and I think this is a good one. It is from his early career and is similar to his other John Lange books. A reader who liked them would probably like this. A last point, the book has a very Sherlock Holmes vibe to it. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crichton could tackle many different genres and nail them all. A Murder in Hollywood reminded me a bit of the Toby Peters series, because it sets the action in the moviemaking world and manages to be entertaining and nostalgic. The book was written in 1973, so it is a little dated. The way women are portrayed is especially awkward but, as long as you see it in context, it’s not bad, or at least it didn’t really bother me. Ray Porter, as usual, delivers a fully-formed cast of characters, giving everyone their own voice. His pacing is spot on, making it easy to follow the plot and helping amp up the suspense. All this in service of a great, twisty story. Crichton was not Agatha Christie, but I loved finding all the clues and red herrings, which made the resolution of the mystery even more suspenseful. Publicist Harvey Jason is a likable lead and it was not hard to root for him. Insurance adjustor Perkins makes for a quirky version of Sherlock Holmes, subverting the expectations of the detective character and adapting him for the silver screen. This may not be the Maltese Falcon, but it’s a decent Thomas Crown Affair.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Blackstone Publishing.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book written by Michael Crichton in the early 1970's but never published. It doesn't have the sci-fi flair that he's known for, but it was still a good "Agatha Christie" type mystery. It's centered around the production of a movie being filmed in Tucson, Arizona when one of the writers is found dead. Since he is a huge a-hole, there are multiple people that could have done it...

I don't often read older books, but I actually enjoyed this one. It gave some insight into the film industry (although hugely outdated now) and the process that goes into making a movie. A short, fun mystery that keeps you guess all the way until the end.

[Oli Turner]

#amurderinhollywood by #michaelcrichton published in 2026 supposedly written in 1973 an unpublished/lost novel from Crichton’s #johnlange pseudonym. A fun little pulp mystery. Great behind the scenes detail of making movies in the 1970s. Presumably informed by Crichton’s experience in Hollywood at the time. Featuring a Sherlock holmes inspired investigator. This did feel very much like a Lange/crichton novel particularly with the inclusion of ‘documents’ within the text. An unexpected revelation towards the end with a delightfully ambiguous final chapter.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can really tell this is one of Michael Crichton’s (John Lange) first novels, which is probably why it was never published before. The title for instance is A Murder in Hollywood buy the whole book takes place in Tucson. Now I know if it is about a movie company the it’s Hollywood, but it’s not clear. The story is good but told through the eyes of a person who is really not the main character. I liked it anyway it was a fast and interesting read

[Stephen Paul Chase, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this MP3 CD.

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat predictable but still enjoyable! Not sure how i feel publishing books that Chrichton himself chose not to publish when he was alive 🤷‍♂️

[Timothy R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

Fun book with fond memories of his other books. But it is very short, more like a novella instead. Thus I think it was over priced but still a good story.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

It starts out slow - lots of dialogue but the end has several twists that really surprise!

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part pulp fiction, part detective story. I wish there was less of the detective story, but I would still read anything Michael Crichton wrote.