Murder In Babylon - A Novel Based on Fact

by Michael B. Druxman

"Druxman has taken Hollywood's most famous murder mystery and turnedit into a fascinating narrative that is so evocative of 1920’s Tinseltown. Hisfictional "hero" guides us on a factual journey that not only reveals why the caseremains officially unsolved -- but also identifies the killer!" -- Thomas B. Sawyer– MURDER, SHE WROTE Head Writer/Showrunner, bestselling author ofCROSS PURPOSES On the evening of February 1, 1922, silent film director William Desmond Taylorwas shot to death in his Los Angeles home. The murder, coming on the heels of the“Fatty” Arbuckle scandal, shocked the Hollywood community and the country, resultingin reform groups labeling the film capital a “modern day Babylon,” and demanding thatmovies be censored or, in some communities, even banned. The murder itself was never “officially” solved, but subsequent revelations aboutthe director’s unsavory past, as well as his recent secret activities that took him into theLos Angeles underworld, would keep the case alive in the nation’s press for almost twodecades, and because of their relationship with Taylor, effectively end the careers of twopopular screen stars, Mabel Normand and Mary Miles Minter. Ben Birnbaum, a reporter for the Los Angeles Dispatch at the time of the murder,covered the Taylor case for almost two decades; once almost being killed for his efforts.His posthumous memoir details his day-to-day investigation to unravel Hollywood’smost baffling mystery.

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2014

About the author

Michael B. Druxman, author of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD: From the Secret Files of Harry Pennypacker, is a veteran Hollywood screenwriter whose credits include CHEYENNE WARRIOR with Kelly Preston, DILLINGER AND CAPONE starring Martin Sheen and F. Murray Abraham, and THE DOORWAY with Roy Scheider, which he also directed.

He is also a prolific playwright. Among his many works is the one-person play, JOLSON, which has had numerous productions around the country.

Additionally, he is the author of over a dozen other published books, including several nonfiction works about Hollywood, its movies, and the people who make them (e.g., BASIL RATHBONE: His Life and His Films, and MAKE IT AGAIN, SAM: A Survey of Movie Remakes), plus two novels, NOBODY DROWNS IN MINERAL LAKE and SHADOW WATCHER and a book of short stories, DRACULA MEETS JACK THE RIPPER & Other Revisionist Histories.

His memoir, MY FORTY-FIVE YEARS IN HOLLYWOOD...AND HOW I ESCAPED ALIVE, was published in 2010.

Mr. Druxman resides in Austin, TX.

Reviews

[Dan Nimak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this while browsing for silent movie era novels, and I'm glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The "facts" are actually facts, but it certainly doesn't read like Wikipedia. Druxman's storytelling ability is excellent, and it was one of those books that kept me up late because I had to finish it!

[Scott H. Colfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

Not a bad read but predictable. The events of the fictional protagonist was just a little too Pat to believe.