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Money, Murder, and Dominick Dunne: A Life in Several Acts
Dominick Dunne seemed to live his entire adult life in the public eye, but in this biography Robert Hofler reveals a conflicted, enigmatic man who reinvented himself again and again. As a television and film producer in the 1950s–1970s, hobnobbing with Humphrey Bogart and Natalie Wood, he found success and crushing failure in a pitiless Hollywood.
As a Vanity Fair journalist covering the lives of the rich and powerful, he mesmerized readers with his detailed coverage of spectacular murder cases—O.J. Simpson, the Menendez brothers, Michael Skakel, Phil Spector, and Claus von Bülow. He had his own television show, Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justic. His five best-selling novels, including The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, People Like Us, and An Inconvenient Woman, were inspired by real lives and scandals.
The brother of John Gregory Dunne and brother-in-law of Joan Didion, he was a friend and confidante of many literary luminaries. Dunne also had the ear of some of the world's most famous women, among them Princess Diana, Nancy Reagan, Liz Smith, Barbara Walters, and Elizabeth Taylor.
Dunne admitted to inventing himself, and it was that public persona he wrote about in his own memoir, The Way We Lived Then. Left out of that account, but brought to light here, were his intense rivalry with his brother John Gregory, the gay affairs and relationships he had throughout his marriage and beyond, and his fights with editors at Vanity Fair. Robert Hofler also reveals the painful rift in the family after the murder of Dominick's daughter, Dominique — compounded by his coverage of her killer's trial, which launched his career as a reporter.
As a Vanity Fair journalist covering the lives of the rich and powerful, he mesmerized readers with his detailed coverage of spectacular murder cases—O.J. Simpson, the Menendez brothers, Michael Skakel, Phil Spector, and Claus von Bülow. He had his own television show, Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justic. His five best-selling novels, including The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, People Like Us, and An Inconvenient Woman, were inspired by real lives and scandals.
The brother of John Gregory Dunne and brother-in-law of Joan Didion, he was a friend and confidante of many literary luminaries. Dunne also had the ear of some of the world's most famous women, among them Princess Diana, Nancy Reagan, Liz Smith, Barbara Walters, and Elizabeth Taylor.
Dunne admitted to inventing himself, and it was that public persona he wrote about in his own memoir, The Way We Lived Then. Left out of that account, but brought to light here, were his intense rivalry with his brother John Gregory, the gay affairs and relationships he had throughout his marriage and beyond, and his fights with editors at Vanity Fair. Robert Hofler also reveals the painful rift in the family after the murder of Dominick's daughter, Dominique — compounded by his coverage of her killer's trial, which launched his career as a reporter.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published April 18, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 6, 2017
Money, Murder and Dominick Dunne: A life in Several Acts by Robert Hofler is a University of Wisconsin Press publication.
I was a big fan of Dominick Dunne, but I had never even heard of him until I read ‘The Two Mrs. Grenvilles’.
(A thinly veiled fictional accounting of socialite Anne Woodward, who shot her husband, was acquitted, then committed suicide, allegedly because of a short story written by Truman Capote.)
However, once I read that book, I was forevermore a devoted follower.
I did not associate this author in any way with the young girl who starred in ‘Poltergeist’ who was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend.
It wasn’t until I began to subscribe to ‘Vanity Fair’ magazine and started reading Dominick’s ‘diary’ features and following his true crime investigations, that I finally made that connection. (Dominique Dunne’s killer got off with what amounted to a slap on the wrist)
He was catapulted to a new level of fame during the OJ Simpson trial, which segued into solving cold case crimes, television appearances, and he even had his own television show for a while.
I read his memoir and thought I knew a fair amount about this personal history, but this book peels back a new layer of the onion, exposing areas of Dominick’s life most people never knew about.
Dunne lived his life as a closeted gay man, but as most know, he married and had three children, which was common for gay men in this period of time. He was in love with his wife, though, and had a special relationship with his daughter.
This book goes inside Dunne’s marriage, his relationship with his children, and his various homosexual encounters and love affairs. It also covers his drug abuses which led to a long dry period of less opportunity in Hollywood. I was aware of the drug use, and some of the issues within his marriage, but much of the information covered here, is all news to me.
But, Dominick’s career- or shall we say, careers, plural, shows his ability to seize opportunities and latch on to a current momentum, reinventing himself on more than one occasion.
He went from Hollywood producer, to bestselling author, to a high -profile crime investigator and writer, which included his long running stint with Vanity Fair Magazine.
His last gig came about, at least to some extent, because of losing his daughter so tragically. His advocacy and compassion and firsthand experience made him the perfect choice for covering high profile murder cases like that of the Menendez Brothers and of course, OJ.
While some of the book covers ground that is common knowledge for anyone who knew Dominick or was a fan of his, this biography covers many unknown and rare truths about Dominick Dunne. Some of this information was so unsettling, I couldn’t wrap my head around it- mainly some of his ‘near death’ experiences, which just didn't fit in with my image of him.
This may be the most intimate look at Dominick that I have ever encountered and was written with his son, Griffin’s, permission. One interesting tidbit I picked up on, while I’m on this topic, was that the author was not interested in doing an ‘authorized’ bio, because by doing so, he would not have the last say on what went in or was left out of the book. I always wondered how that worked.
But, the reader is assured Dominick’s son was aware of the book, and had had conversations with the author about the it, and so I feel sure his information is accurate and it gives us a rich and realistic portrait of the man, both privately and professionally.
Dominick was flawed in many ways and could give off a sort of shallow vibe at times, he was also very passionate about what he did and was genuinely supportive of the families who suffered grave injustices, just as his family had.
The biggest revelation, the one some suspected and others never did, was his sexuality. He remained vague about it all his life, even as he entered his eighties. He was very conflicted, a product of his upbringing, I think, and the time period he was brought up in, at least in part.
I’m glad I picked up this book, and that I have a further understanding of Dominick Dunne. While I remember him as a crusader for justice, a courtroom mainstay, a reason to subscribe to Vanity Fair, and for all his Hollywood friends and connections, the hat he wore as a writer, and novelist, is the side of Dominick I will always hold close to my heart.
He had a line on the rich and famous, knew their motives and secrets, and could weave the most mesmerizing, deliciously scandalous, and scathingly thought- provoking stories around them!
Overall, I think the author did a good job with this biography. The material is well organized, and gives the reader plenty of new insights into the multi- faceted Dominick Dunne.
4 stars
I was a big fan of Dominick Dunne, but I had never even heard of him until I read ‘The Two Mrs. Grenvilles’.
(A thinly veiled fictional accounting of socialite Anne Woodward, who shot her husband, was acquitted, then committed suicide, allegedly because of a short story written by Truman Capote.)
However, once I read that book, I was forevermore a devoted follower.
I did not associate this author in any way with the young girl who starred in ‘Poltergeist’ who was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend.
It wasn’t until I began to subscribe to ‘Vanity Fair’ magazine and started reading Dominick’s ‘diary’ features and following his true crime investigations, that I finally made that connection. (Dominique Dunne’s killer got off with what amounted to a slap on the wrist)
He was catapulted to a new level of fame during the OJ Simpson trial, which segued into solving cold case crimes, television appearances, and he even had his own television show for a while.
I read his memoir and thought I knew a fair amount about this personal history, but this book peels back a new layer of the onion, exposing areas of Dominick’s life most people never knew about.
Dunne lived his life as a closeted gay man, but as most know, he married and had three children, which was common for gay men in this period of time. He was in love with his wife, though, and had a special relationship with his daughter.
This book goes inside Dunne’s marriage, his relationship with his children, and his various homosexual encounters and love affairs. It also covers his drug abuses which led to a long dry period of less opportunity in Hollywood. I was aware of the drug use, and some of the issues within his marriage, but much of the information covered here, is all news to me.
But, Dominick’s career- or shall we say, careers, plural, shows his ability to seize opportunities and latch on to a current momentum, reinventing himself on more than one occasion.
He went from Hollywood producer, to bestselling author, to a high -profile crime investigator and writer, which included his long running stint with Vanity Fair Magazine.
His last gig came about, at least to some extent, because of losing his daughter so tragically. His advocacy and compassion and firsthand experience made him the perfect choice for covering high profile murder cases like that of the Menendez Brothers and of course, OJ.
While some of the book covers ground that is common knowledge for anyone who knew Dominick or was a fan of his, this biography covers many unknown and rare truths about Dominick Dunne. Some of this information was so unsettling, I couldn’t wrap my head around it- mainly some of his ‘near death’ experiences, which just didn't fit in with my image of him.
This may be the most intimate look at Dominick that I have ever encountered and was written with his son, Griffin’s, permission. One interesting tidbit I picked up on, while I’m on this topic, was that the author was not interested in doing an ‘authorized’ bio, because by doing so, he would not have the last say on what went in or was left out of the book. I always wondered how that worked.
But, the reader is assured Dominick’s son was aware of the book, and had had conversations with the author about the it, and so I feel sure his information is accurate and it gives us a rich and realistic portrait of the man, both privately and professionally.
Dominick was flawed in many ways and could give off a sort of shallow vibe at times, he was also very passionate about what he did and was genuinely supportive of the families who suffered grave injustices, just as his family had.
The biggest revelation, the one some suspected and others never did, was his sexuality. He remained vague about it all his life, even as he entered his eighties. He was very conflicted, a product of his upbringing, I think, and the time period he was brought up in, at least in part.
I’m glad I picked up this book, and that I have a further understanding of Dominick Dunne. While I remember him as a crusader for justice, a courtroom mainstay, a reason to subscribe to Vanity Fair, and for all his Hollywood friends and connections, the hat he wore as a writer, and novelist, is the side of Dominick I will always hold close to my heart.
He had a line on the rich and famous, knew their motives and secrets, and could weave the most mesmerizing, deliciously scandalous, and scathingly thought- provoking stories around them!
Overall, I think the author did a good job with this biography. The material is well organized, and gives the reader plenty of new insights into the multi- faceted Dominick Dunne.
4 stars
September 26, 2017
A couple of days? ago, I finished reading Murder, Money, and Dominick Dunne, a life in several acts by Robert Hofler. This was a well written and well researched biography (two things that don't always go hand in hand!) that made me feel like I was talking to a close friend about my close friend, Dominick Dunne. I've always felt like I kinda *knew* Dominick Dunne, he was that kind of writer/celebrity that came across as someone you would meet and be instant friends with -- and in fact, the later act of his life, according to this bio, he sort of WAS that type of guy.
The bio doesn't flinch at Dominick's many flaws - his cheerful snobbism, the effects that his overspending and closeted lifestyle had on his wife and family, his failures in the film industry, his deep animosity when betrayed with the offhand snarky remark but yet ability to hurt others in the same way, his descent into addiction, his inability to come out even at the end when everyone else KNEW - yet through it all, you still LIKE the fellow. What he does and why he does it is human.
The plot of Dominick's life harkens to me to a certain genre of teenage high school movies - where the teen is a nebbish in their old school but they go to the new school and triumphantly remake themselves, becoming popular and being gracious to the losers who ditched them when they were down.
The writer himself does not greatly intrude, but allows the narrative, the words of friends and family, the words of Dominick to portray his character - but at times when necessary he is there. I have always had Dominick Dunne on my list of people, dead or alive, that you would want at a dinner party, but now I'm thinking I might like to have Robert Hofler there too. I would look for other books by this author... he did great research and in his unobtrusive weaving together of all the "acts" with his gentle occasional observations, showed a bit of his personality too.
The bio doesn't flinch at Dominick's many flaws - his cheerful snobbism, the effects that his overspending and closeted lifestyle had on his wife and family, his failures in the film industry, his deep animosity when betrayed with the offhand snarky remark but yet ability to hurt others in the same way, his descent into addiction, his inability to come out even at the end when everyone else KNEW - yet through it all, you still LIKE the fellow. What he does and why he does it is human.
The plot of Dominick's life harkens to me to a certain genre of teenage high school movies - where the teen is a nebbish in their old school but they go to the new school and triumphantly remake themselves, becoming popular and being gracious to the losers who ditched them when they were down.
The writer himself does not greatly intrude, but allows the narrative, the words of friends and family, the words of Dominick to portray his character - but at times when necessary he is there. I have always had Dominick Dunne on my list of people, dead or alive, that you would want at a dinner party, but now I'm thinking I might like to have Robert Hofler there too. I would look for other books by this author... he did great research and in his unobtrusive weaving together of all the "acts" with his gentle occasional observations, showed a bit of his personality too.
September 4, 2017
Fascinating, well-researched biography of Dominick Dunne. I enjoyed it thoroughly. What a colorful and complicated life he had, with so many tremendous ups and downs! And he knew (and had a great anecdote about) just about everyone in Hollywood and New York City, so there are lots of entertaining quips and behind-the-scenes stories.
An additional tip for my fellow Dominick Dunne fans: As a companion piece, I would also recommend a DVD which the author Robert Hofler mentions in this book, "Dominick Dunne: After The Party," which I was able to borrow at my local library. This book's author Robert Hofler mentions its creators (Kirsty de Garis and Timothy Jolley) several times in the book and thanks them in the Acknowledgments section. I can also heartily recommend Dominick Dunne's memoir "The Way We Lived Then : Recollections of a Well-Known Name Dropper."
An additional tip for my fellow Dominick Dunne fans: As a companion piece, I would also recommend a DVD which the author Robert Hofler mentions in this book, "Dominick Dunne: After The Party," which I was able to borrow at my local library. This book's author Robert Hofler mentions its creators (Kirsty de Garis and Timothy Jolley) several times in the book and thanks them in the Acknowledgments section. I can also heartily recommend Dominick Dunne's memoir "The Way We Lived Then : Recollections of a Well-Known Name Dropper."
December 15, 2020
Some years back (when I still watched tv), I found myself hooked to the Court TV show that Dominick Dunne hosted: 'Power, Privilege and Justice'. I've never had a morbid interest in murder cases but Dunne's angle (his reason for hosting the show) intrigued me and I found it admirable. His daughter Dominique had been murdered (by her boyfriend) and Dunne felt that justice was not served (the boyfriend received a considerably light sentence). On top of that, Dunne was preoccupied with the reality that people who have MONEY or connections to MONEY all-too-often literally get away with murder.
I liked Dunne's passion for justice and truth. ~which is what led me to reading this bio (together with the fact that I liked Hofler's previous bio on Rock Hudson). It's a fairly quick read and Hofler's writing style is about as smooth as it comes.
I don't think I knew previously that Dunne was gay. But, of course, that needs to be qualified. Sexually speaking, Dunne was a product of The Shadow Days in America. Building a career in behind-the-scenes television in the late '60s, one had to be married; one had to show up with a wife at social functions or you were... suspect. But, at that point in his life, Dunne already had such an inferiority complex about himself that marrying and having kids was just the all-around easiest of band-aids. Years later, when he had real qualms about being open about being gay, his main worry was twofold: he thought people might give his kids a hard time and he thought it would be presumed that he never actually loved his wife (which wasn't the case).
Along the way, he also had some rather harrowing experiences in the world of casual sex.
Hofler's bio reveals a fairly complex personality. It gives the impression that Dunne was not an easy person to get to know (which accounts for the bio ultimately being slightly unsatisfactory in terms of information about the *man*, as opposed to his accomplishments). Not that Hofler wasn't as thorough as possible but I found myself wanting to know less about some of the trials Dunne covered (i.e., the O.J. Simpson and Menendez Brothers cases) and more about Dunne. ... But then, to a large extent, what a man does is what the man is.
It seems that Dunne had a long road in allowing himself 'victories'. When his good friend Mart Crowley told him that he was writing 'Boys in the Band', Dunne tried to persuade him to not write such a play about gay men. Then later, Dunne grew up and served as an executive producer for the film version. As well... as a writer, he started out having no particular talent. But he became tough on himself, applied himself and went on to a number of bestselling crime-related novels (learning along the way how to avoid some of the personal mistakes Truman Capote made in his career).
Still, throughout his career and his life, Dunne seems to have remained a fairly complicated person - even as he apparently struggled with how to be a better man. He always seemed to be moving forward emotionally, one very careful step at a time. It was only in his final novel that he finally dealt with a main character's process of coming out of the closet.
I liked Dunne's passion for justice and truth. ~which is what led me to reading this bio (together with the fact that I liked Hofler's previous bio on Rock Hudson). It's a fairly quick read and Hofler's writing style is about as smooth as it comes.
I don't think I knew previously that Dunne was gay. But, of course, that needs to be qualified. Sexually speaking, Dunne was a product of The Shadow Days in America. Building a career in behind-the-scenes television in the late '60s, one had to be married; one had to show up with a wife at social functions or you were... suspect. But, at that point in his life, Dunne already had such an inferiority complex about himself that marrying and having kids was just the all-around easiest of band-aids. Years later, when he had real qualms about being open about being gay, his main worry was twofold: he thought people might give his kids a hard time and he thought it would be presumed that he never actually loved his wife (which wasn't the case).
Along the way, he also had some rather harrowing experiences in the world of casual sex.
Hofler's bio reveals a fairly complex personality. It gives the impression that Dunne was not an easy person to get to know (which accounts for the bio ultimately being slightly unsatisfactory in terms of information about the *man*, as opposed to his accomplishments). Not that Hofler wasn't as thorough as possible but I found myself wanting to know less about some of the trials Dunne covered (i.e., the O.J. Simpson and Menendez Brothers cases) and more about Dunne. ... But then, to a large extent, what a man does is what the man is.
It seems that Dunne had a long road in allowing himself 'victories'. When his good friend Mart Crowley told him that he was writing 'Boys in the Band', Dunne tried to persuade him to not write such a play about gay men. Then later, Dunne grew up and served as an executive producer for the film version. As well... as a writer, he started out having no particular talent. But he became tough on himself, applied himself and went on to a number of bestselling crime-related novels (learning along the way how to avoid some of the personal mistakes Truman Capote made in his career).
Still, throughout his career and his life, Dunne seems to have remained a fairly complicated person - even as he apparently struggled with how to be a better man. He always seemed to be moving forward emotionally, one very careful step at a time. It was only in his final novel that he finally dealt with a main character's process of coming out of the closet.
June 30, 2019
I loved reading Dominick Dunne's articles in Vanity Fair during his heyday - all those juicy, gossipy articles about OJ Simpson, Gary Condit, the Menendez brothers, Claus von Bulow, poor Martha Moxley - and also read several of his roman a clef books, not to mention obsessively watching his television series Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice.
But Dunne's personal life rivaled all the intrigue and gossip he wrote about. He lived his life as a closeted gay man, always fearful of being outed. His father was a bully, trying to beat the "sissy" out of Dominick and he always felt less-than in his family. And Dominick's brother John Gregory Dunne and wife Joan Didion were truly a piece of nasty work, literary prowess aside.
However, Dominick in his 30's and 40's was pretty much an asshole - doing lots of drugs (and some pretty hot men) - obsessed with status and perceptions, spending money like crazy, etc. But when their beloved daughter was murdered, his ex-wife Lenny became an advocate, creating Justice for Homicide Victims, and Dominick found his passion in writing and covering murder trials.
Dominick Dunne lived a remarkable life, with a spectacular second act. 4 stars.
But Dunne's personal life rivaled all the intrigue and gossip he wrote about. He lived his life as a closeted gay man, always fearful of being outed. His father was a bully, trying to beat the "sissy" out of Dominick and he always felt less-than in his family. And Dominick's brother John Gregory Dunne and wife Joan Didion were truly a piece of nasty work, literary prowess aside.
However, Dominick in his 30's and 40's was pretty much an asshole - doing lots of drugs (and some pretty hot men) - obsessed with status and perceptions, spending money like crazy, etc. But when their beloved daughter was murdered, his ex-wife Lenny became an advocate, creating Justice for Homicide Victims, and Dominick found his passion in writing and covering murder trials.
Dominick Dunne lived a remarkable life, with a spectacular second act. 4 stars.
April 9, 2018
I look back fondly on my twenties as a time when I had time to crack open a giant monthly copy of Tina Brown-Vanity Fair filled with stories about Hollywood and a juicy true-crime story by Dominick Dunne. I also look back fondly on packing novels such as The Two Mrs. Grenvilles or People Like Us down to the pool for a summer read.
This book reveals a very complicated man who reinvented himself more than a few times.
This book reveals a very complicated man who reinvented himself more than a few times.
April 29, 2017
In late 2009, I read and reviewed Dominick Dunne's last book, "Too Much Money", which was a sequel to his earlier, and better, book, "People Like Us", which was my favorite Dunne novel.in my review of "Too Much Money", I wrote that Dominick Dunne appeared to "out" himself in the book. (The book had more than a few gratuitous gay sex scenes, which just wasn't par in Dunne's previous writings). Well, imagine my surprise, when reading author Robert Hofler's new and dishy book, "Money, Murder, and Dominick Dunne", that Dunne was gay, even though he was married and had three children.
Hofler's book is a breezy and deliciously dishy book about Dunne and the people he either loved or hated. There were many in both groups. Dunne' life had both tragedy and great success, after a period of down-and-out drug and alcohol abuse. His beloved daughter Dominique, an actress, was murdered by her boyfriend and the man received a light sentence. That began Dominick's life-long interest - I don't want to call it an "obsession - in criminal justice, or "injustice", as is often the case. He became a writer - and quite successful, at that - after years on a downward progression. He covered many trials, all of famous people - he once told a fellow author he didn't cover the trials of non important people. His books were mostly fiction; he wrote nonfiction for "Vanity Fair".
Dominick Dunne lived into his 80s. He left a strong record of work. Robert Hofler's book is a nuanced look at a very interesting man, often at odds with himself. And it really is "dishy"!
Hofler's book is a breezy and deliciously dishy book about Dunne and the people he either loved or hated. There were many in both groups. Dunne' life had both tragedy and great success, after a period of down-and-out drug and alcohol abuse. His beloved daughter Dominique, an actress, was murdered by her boyfriend and the man received a light sentence. That began Dominick's life-long interest - I don't want to call it an "obsession - in criminal justice, or "injustice", as is often the case. He became a writer - and quite successful, at that - after years on a downward progression. He covered many trials, all of famous people - he once told a fellow author he didn't cover the trials of non important people. His books were mostly fiction; he wrote nonfiction for "Vanity Fair".
Dominick Dunne lived into his 80s. He left a strong record of work. Robert Hofler's book is a nuanced look at a very interesting man, often at odds with himself. And it really is "dishy"!
May 29, 2017
This was a very revealing book about someone I really knew very little, given my generation. I learned a lot about his early years as a producer and professional life. Much of the book was dedicated to his troubled personal life-his relationship with his children, his painful divorce, the tragic murder of his daughter Dominique, and his inner struggles with accepting himself as a gay man. At the time, he had to be very secretive and was subject to blackmail. He then transforms himself into a Hollywood insider, a writer and begins a television career as a true crime reporter as a result of his frustration of the sentence of his daughter's killer. He covered the OJ and Menedez brothers trial and also starred in several television shows.
If you are interested in all things Hollywood, I recommend this book. It is well-researched and documented.
If you are interested in all things Hollywood, I recommend this book. It is well-researched and documented.
August 20, 2020
It was fun noticing this book was printed at The University of Wisconsin Press.
Having read two of Joan Didion’s books in which her husband’s brother Dominick Dunne was mentioned, I was curious in learning more about him. Hofler’s biography tells of Dunne’s complicated life and of the rich and famous met as a producer, writer, and investigative journalist of high profile murder trials (many of which I remember).
Having read two of Joan Didion’s books in which her husband’s brother Dominick Dunne was mentioned, I was curious in learning more about him. Hofler’s biography tells of Dunne’s complicated life and of the rich and famous met as a producer, writer, and investigative journalist of high profile murder trials (many of which I remember).
May 4, 2017
An extravagantly overextended mash note from one breathless drama-queen name-dropping gossip to another. Meticulously researched/cited, rich in juicy/catty anecdote, almost religiously empty and frivolous; it's in the mode/tone of HOLLYWOOD BABYLON, but minus that book's centering force of rage, its organization, and not even fractionally as well-written. This one's pretty awful...ly fun (bonus points for dish on "the Didions," Joan and John Gregory).
January 8, 2018
I was an obsessive follower of Dominick Dunne's Vanity Fair column and I've read all his non-fiction work. He talked so much about his own life that a lot of the stories I'd already heard from his perspective, but it was interesting to hear them from another. And there were a lot of new tidbits as well. There is a very slightly catty..if that's the right word...tone to this book, but I suppose that's apropos, since gossip was Dominick's milieu, after all.
May 10, 2017
Terrific biography!
Well written, really flows. It does its subject proud. I enjoyed it very much.
Dunne had such an interesting life. He met and was involved, often just peripherally, the lives of so many famous people. And he had a heart, even as he dropped names and sought approval from society types and magazine editors. The book goes into all this and shows Dunne in all his facets. His good and bad points end up as endearing.
Well written, really flows. It does its subject proud. I enjoyed it very much.
Dunne had such an interesting life. He met and was involved, often just peripherally, the lives of so many famous people. And he had a heart, even as he dropped names and sought approval from society types and magazine editors. The book goes into all this and shows Dunne in all his facets. His good and bad points end up as endearing.
July 12, 2017
Great Biography of a special writer/journalist for me... I loved Dominick's work and truly miss him! This is well written and made me miss Dominick even more!
November 25, 2021
I have always been a fan of Dunne. Season in Purgatory has always been one of my favorite books. I decided to check out this biography as an online recommendation. It did not disappoint. Holfler includes minute details that, in any other biography would be tedious, but fit seamlessly in this account of one of America’s most revered and interesting journalists.
July 14, 2017
Back in the day, I remember seeing commercials for Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice on one of the cable channels I surfed in search of true crime shows. I never actually watched it - I don't recall why - but I did remember that Dominick Dunne's only daughter, Dominique, was killed in a domestic violence attack. It cut short a promising acting career and, unsurprisingly, broke her family's heart. But I never knew her father's history in Hollywood, and I never knew what happened to him after the show went off the air. This book gives the history both before and after her death.
It may seem unbelievable for a true crime fan, but I didn't watch the OJ Simpson trial, despite it being the best thing that ever happened to Court TV. As a result, I wasn't aware of Dunne's role in telling the story of that engaging chapter of true crime history. Nor was I aware that Dunne had in fact been in Hollywood since before my parents were teens, producing and directing. So many things about his life seem too improbable to be believed, but they're documented in multiple sources.
Hofler makes no bones about this book being as much gossip as biography. That's not entirely surprising if even half of what people said about Dunne's love for gossip is true. He dished it out, and Hofler is giving it back. From his dust-ups with the Rat Pack to his relations with his brother John and sister-in-law Joan Didion, this qualifies more as Hollywood tell-all than true crime for most of its length. That's not my kind of book, but I stuck it out.
Once poor Dominique's murder is detailed, the gossip takes a sharp turn and the Hollywood aspect takes second place to the role Dunne played in the true crime world. While he always seemed to be involved in high society cases, Dunne clearly became a crusader to bring domestic abusers to justice. Bulow, Simpson, Spector, Skakel, and more fell under his rubric in his job writing for Vanity Fair. This is by far the better part of the book, as Hofler has more than old who-kissed whom to look into.
Four of five stars.
It may seem unbelievable for a true crime fan, but I didn't watch the OJ Simpson trial, despite it being the best thing that ever happened to Court TV. As a result, I wasn't aware of Dunne's role in telling the story of that engaging chapter of true crime history. Nor was I aware that Dunne had in fact been in Hollywood since before my parents were teens, producing and directing. So many things about his life seem too improbable to be believed, but they're documented in multiple sources.
Hofler makes no bones about this book being as much gossip as biography. That's not entirely surprising if even half of what people said about Dunne's love for gossip is true. He dished it out, and Hofler is giving it back. From his dust-ups with the Rat Pack to his relations with his brother John and sister-in-law Joan Didion, this qualifies more as Hollywood tell-all than true crime for most of its length. That's not my kind of book, but I stuck it out.
Once poor Dominique's murder is detailed, the gossip takes a sharp turn and the Hollywood aspect takes second place to the role Dunne played in the true crime world. While he always seemed to be involved in high society cases, Dunne clearly became a crusader to bring domestic abusers to justice. Bulow, Simpson, Spector, Skakel, and more fell under his rubric in his job writing for Vanity Fair. This is by far the better part of the book, as Hofler has more than old who-kissed whom to look into.
Four of five stars.
August 28, 2017
Dunne had such an interesting life. He met and was involved with so many famous people yet he was different from them in that he had compassion for his fellow human beings. This isn't to say that he wasn't a name dropper - he was - and sought out society's approval - he did, but he was always an outsider trying to get accepted but never quite making the grade. Yes, he certainly knew many famous people but were they really his friends. I think not. He was a unique person who spent a lifetime trying to find his real self and believe in who he really was - a homosexual male.
It was amazing that he and his family (especially his ex-wife) remained so close. Dominick Dunne was and extraordinary person who had many facets to his life all of which were quite fascinating, many of which I never knew.
Robert Hofler did a good job in writing about Dunne and all his facets. The book was interesting to read but was sometimes slow. I would recommend the book to others who are interested in society's famous.
It was amazing that he and his family (especially his ex-wife) remained so close. Dominick Dunne was and extraordinary person who had many facets to his life all of which were quite fascinating, many of which I never knew.
Robert Hofler did a good job in writing about Dunne and all his facets. The book was interesting to read but was sometimes slow. I would recommend the book to others who are interested in society's famous.
April 9, 2024
An Amazing Life
I enjoyed this book. Dominick Dunne was an unique individual that seemed to have a rollercoaster life that was incredibly interesting. I first recollect seeing him attending the O J Simpson trial and was taken by his reaction to the verdict. He looked positively shocked. As did all of America. Dominick Dunne was a complex man. He could be difficult and snobbish but also compassionate and loving. He seemed to have planned his exciting life right up until the end, abet some twists and turns that made it extraordinary. His existence made the world a little more fascinating.
I enjoyed this book. Dominick Dunne was an unique individual that seemed to have a rollercoaster life that was incredibly interesting. I first recollect seeing him attending the O J Simpson trial and was taken by his reaction to the verdict. He looked positively shocked. As did all of America. Dominick Dunne was a complex man. He could be difficult and snobbish but also compassionate and loving. He seemed to have planned his exciting life right up until the end, abet some twists and turns that made it extraordinary. His existence made the world a little more fascinating.
July 5, 2017
Not sure why I picked this book , and even less sure why I slogged my way through it. I did learn a lot about the ass kissing and backstabbing in Hollywood. He sounds like he was pretty despicable. I didn't enjoy the flow of the book, too much detail crammed into every chapter, and I kept waiting for the book to get better. It never did. The only reason I was able to give it two stars is because I did pick up a few interesting bits about some of the actors mentioned, otherwise it would have rated one star.
October 15, 2019
Dominick Dunne was my favorite writer at my favorite magazine, Vanity Fair, for many years. Each article was riveting, as are many of the books he’s written. Yes, he was a notorious name-dropper, but he moved in circles of the rich and famous, and knew what he was writing about. This biography of Dunne was also riveting! Dunne was a closeted homosexual, who nonetheless married well and had 3 children. It was interesting to read about what made Dunne tick. Also fascinating to be privy to some of the office politics at Vanity Fair.
January 23, 2018
I've always been a fan of Dominick Dunne's and have read all of his books and articles in Vanity Fair. He certainly lived a very full life, full of adventures, interesting people and immense sadness and this book does a nice job of exploring that. Dominick never came out, as was often the case of men of a certain time, and one can imagine the pain he must have had about that.
December 12, 2021
I have always loved Dunne’s work and his thinly veiled criticism of the high society that he loved to belong to. I knew about his daughter’s terrible murder, but I didn’t know about Dunne’s struggle with drugs and his sexuality. This was a great biography about a man who suffered and reinvented himself time and time again.
August 3, 2017
If you liked Dominick Dunne's writing -- his novels and his non-fiction pieces in Vanity Fair -- you'll like this book too. It's full of juicy dirt not just about Dunne and his family, but about all the trials he covered. A fast, fun read.
July 20, 2017
Pretty tawdry book that focuses mainly on Mr. Dunne's sex life. I think he was probably just a bit more interesting than that. A real disappointment. I'm glad I didn't waste money on this book.
April 14, 2019
I enjoyed watching Dominick Dunne on "Power, Privilege & Justice", but didn't know much about him other than he was also a novelist who's written "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles" which I'd never read. I'd also heard somewhere that his daughter had been murdered & the murderer escaped justice, which is what started Dunne on his crime writing career. Then I saw mention of him in a bibliography for a biography of Elizabeth Montgomery as having written a book called "The Way We Lived Then". It sounded like an interesting book so I bought & read it. I then wanted to know more. When this book started out by mentioning Dunne's closeted homosexuality, I was afraid that this was going to be yet another telling of sexploit after sexploit similar to ones I'd read about Elizabeth Taylor & Rock Hudson. Far from it! This is a well written, well researched & tastefully told story of a very interesting man.
January 2, 2025
This was an eye-opening, well researched biography. The author communicated with a long list of people that knew him, and told stories that I'd never heard before. I still miss Dominick Dunne. I loved his writing and read most of his books twice. When he wrote for Vanity Fair I would buy the episodes solely for reading Dominick's articles; I didn't exactly agree with the magazine's politics or Graydon Carter. His coverage of trials was so detailed and he really did care about people...even defendant's families. I watched his television show and loved his style, his glasses, his journals and pens. This book tells who he really was and it was kind of shocking and painful to see the suffering (aside from his daughter's death) caused by his viewpoints and his illnesses.
September 1, 2024
This book didn't shed much additional information about Dominick Dunne's very colorful life. It did deal with the "behind the scenes" of the many court cases he covered over the years. Dominick was certainly not just an investigating journalist, besides reporting the facts as he saw them; he certainly had a flair for the dramatics. Dunne was preoccupied with the reality that people who have MONEY or connections to MONEY all-too-often literally get away with murder. He considered himself an expert on the RICH, and truth-be-told, he probably was. The author did a great job of collecting the facts which is why so many of us are fascinated by his life, his books and all his accomplishments.
October 15, 2017
DD was a fascinating character, and the author tells an interesting and fascinating story. But it lost my attention 1/3 of the way in because, surprise surprise, it was all about the gossip and name-dropping that characterized DD's life. No regrets for having spent the time reading it, but not a book I'd invest my time in reading again. If you're really interested in "all things Dominick Dunne," then this is the book for you.
August 24, 2017
I was fascinated with this family from the moment I heard Dominique, who'd just had a featured role in "Poltergeist", was murdered in 1982. I consider myself rather an expert on the Dunnes but I learned a lot more about Nick Dunne, many quite shocking things. Excellent book.
March 13, 2018
Fascinating biography of a man whose books and articles I loved to read. I didn't know much about his personal life until I read this book, which I found interesting, even though I wondered at times if it was all true.
February 24, 2019
Very well-realized portrait of a remarkedly complex, nuanced man
Excellent in all regards. Having been a fan, read his works and known some of the history, I would consider this an excellent starting-point to anyone who's interested in this remarkable man.
Excellent in all regards. Having been a fan, read his works and known some of the history, I would consider this an excellent starting-point to anyone who's interested in this remarkable man.
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