Murder of a Movie Star

Posie Parker Mystery #5

by L.B. Hathaway

LIGHTS, CAMERA, MURDER…

London, 1923

As England swelters during the hottest summer on record, Posie Parker, Private Detective, is summoned to Worton Hall Film Studios, where she steps into the heart of a sinister new mystery.

Silvia Hanro, the famously beautiful movie star, has received death threats alongside her morning coffee, and Posie is tasked with protecting her. Aided by her good friends Lady Dolly Cardigeon and Chief Inspector Ricard Lovelace, Posie soon realises that behind the cheap canvas sets and the dreamy glamour of Worton Hall Studios a dreadful secret lays buried, and traitors lurk everywhere.

And then, good as their word, the killer strikes...

Can Posie unravel the clues and uncover the murderer before they kill again?

This is a stylish Golden Age of Crime mystery which will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie and Downton Abbey. 'Murder of a Movie Star' is the fifth book in the Posie Parker Mystery Series, although the novel can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story in its own right.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery

424 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2017

About the author

Cambridge-educated, British-born L.B. Hathaway writes historical fiction. She worked as a lawyer at Lincoln’s Inn in London for almost a decade before becoming a full-time writer. She brings her love of detective novels set in the Golden Age of Crime and an obsession with English history to her own writing.

The Posie Parker series of cosy crime novels span the 1920s. They each combine a core central mystery, an exploration of the reckless glamour of the age and a feisty protagonist who you would love to have as your best friend.

Her other interests, in no particular order, are: very fast downhill skiing, theatre-going, drinking strong tea, Tudor history, exploring castles and generally trying to cram as much into life as possible.

Reviews

[Jasmine · Rating 1 out of 5]

There will likely be some spoilers ahead…

I hated this one. Posie was cranky and wolfing down food the whole time. I expected to be told she was pregnant at the end. This author seems to change her characters for her own purposes in each book. What’s this about Lovelace having the hots for Posie now?? And Posie is apparently a stunner who all the men want even though we were told in the first book she was nothing remarkable to look at? Also, I can’t stand how the author handles the relationship with Alaric. Please just let us like Alaric. Please write some nice scenes of them together so we can see why they love each other. I think maybe the author isn’t comfortable writing romance so she avoids it by ruining all the relationships she starts for Posie. She did it with Len and now she’s doing it with Alaric. The plot of this book was convoluted and annoying. I didn’t like that she gave the villain horrific injuries from the war then made him a “monster.” Also, what the heck with killing off so many characters in this one?? This is supposed to be a COZY mystery series. We expect certain things from cozies, and unnecessarily killing off lovable characters isn’t one of them. I also don’t like what the author is turning Rufus into. What’s the point? Why can’t he just be lovable, like Philip Petrie in the Daisy Dalrymple series. Does the author just hate all her male characters? That’s how it’s starting to come across. Even the hinting at Lovelace having feelings for Posie. That doesn’t make me think that Posie is irresistible to men. It makes me think Lovelace is a pig. This book was just annoying and went on and on. Posie better be more likable in the next book. And for someone so clever, she needs to stop doing such stupid things. Like getting in the car in the beginning! Are you kidding me?? How stupid is she?! And letting the telephone repairman up at the end. Stupid stupid stupid. And the way she turned and smiled at the drunk man catcalling her on the street. Have a little self respect, Posie. What’s the matter with you?? Also, a lot of the modern language in these books throws me off. I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series after this one. At the very least, I need a break.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly rather too gruesome for my tastes in several ways and too many deaths. One in particular was senseless and tragic. I know life can be like that, but I don't want my murder mystery to be like that. Also the sooner Alaric can be got out of the story, the better!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our heroine constantly thinks about how much weight she’s put on and calls herself fat, meanwhile every man in the story continuously falls in love with her. Even her absent fiancé, Alaric, is in unrequited love with her. I wish the author wouldn’t insist on dragging on a baseless romance. I don’t think Posie has ever thought positively of Alaric except to describe him as hot. And worse, the author doesn’t have to insist on making Alaric such a bad match for Posie, but it’s obvious they have written themselves into a corner by making the only man Posie respects be married and described as “like a brother” in early books. The mystery plots are well written out, with the exception of the author continuously dragging in Caspian Delarosa, who should have died in the first book and nobody gives a fuck about. In fact Posie has been kidnapped multiple times by this short man and yet Alaric is apparently not worried about him at all.
I’d like to ask the author - why can’t a smart, hard working woman have a full career and happy love life? It seems Posie is destined to be unlucky in love for the entire series despite her extremely desirable “plain” looks, self sufficiency and sensible thinking. And of course her friend Dolly, who has gotten married in a love match well above her station, isn’t allowed to be happy either with a controlling husband, postpartum depression and loss of career. Let women be happy in fiction challenge.

[Maggie Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

way too long and dragged out

I'M very tired of the arch enemy ... it's getting ridiculous

[Peppersaltchills · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars


Wtf was happening and why

[Izlinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darker and more realistic

I found this series thanks to Kindle Unlimited. As the series goes by, the tone gets darker and events and characters in the earlier books get referenced and you actually see characters grow. I quite like how dynamics have changed. It is more believable.

As for the case itself, it gets a bit convoluted and reveal at the end was a lot to take in. Not quite sure if some things seemed just a bit too "pat."

"As sure as bread is bread" - also took a while to not get annoyed at the frequency of this saying.

I much appreciate Hathaway's historical notes - always great to learn more things!

[Valerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I found it hard to sympathize with Posie Parker. She seems to be determined to be irritated and irascible with everything and everyone.

[Monica · Rating 1 out of 5]

What was that?!

Oh just some casual racism at the only non-white character of the book. ~Of course, the Chinese guy is dealing in opium~ (reader this is sarcasm but also what happened, so again I say What was that?!) We didn't even talk to the man once. But that's not all, no no, Poise continues to be insanely judgy and for some reason rewarded for that, but she's also really dumb in this one. And the crazy (of course crazy, can't have a mentally stable murderer) murderer is the severely disfigured World War I vet. They call him a monster so many times and considering half his face is missing, this seems particularly meanspirited. Plus, the motive went back to his disfigurement and disability. WTF

What they should've done was had the racist housekeeper and the cook be the villains. Have the cook recognize Tom as Mark and decided that she needed to kill Silvia to get her out of the way. That's what I thought the solution would be because that is way less convoluted than what actually happened.

And Caspian de la Rosa came back. Ugh. This man is so annoying. All he does is pop up, say a ton of bland something or other, halfheartedly try to kidnap Poise, and dramatically leave.

This reminds me of Len. Why on earth was Poise like "how dare Len be tied up and kidnapped and not helping Me" when the criminal mastermind came in. She should've recognized that something was wrong when he wasn't there! Also letting the telephone man in was so insanely dumb. Like out of character dumb.

And like why kill Sgt Benny? That was incredibly pointless, and like he was the one good cop. Lovelace continues to be annoying, and they kept being like oh Poise he likes you. Why would anyone want that?? Also like can Alaric and Poise just break up already? They haven't liked each other since the Tomb of the Honeybee.

A bad book. I can't believe this was written in the 2010s.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!

This was THE MOST fun, thinking, intellegent mystery I have read in so long. I cannot wait for the next!
If you have any love of Agatha Christie, you simply must read this series. I wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars
I absolutely adore the info and research h passed on by the author at the end of each book, which for me is a rarity.
The setting of England in the 1920's is just so enthralling. I swear I just want to see it all unfold, though I doubt any film could do it justice as the goodies are in the details. Fortunately, I don't have to see it all unfold as the author has written in such a wonderful style and huge talent, the words do it for me

[P.J. Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspects galore

I usually enjoy reading books from another era, as this one is, but it seemed to drag on unnecessarily from about the mid-point on. I confess that I skimmed the last 100 pages or so to get to the end. There were a lot of characters to keep track of. I did like that the author used the phrases from that period of time. Some were new to me even though I've read other books set in 1920s England.

[Gail Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

posie Parker Series

This is a great series with well defined characters i plan to read the entire series.
I highly recommend this series..

[Ruth Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting addition to the series.

[Pallas]

Why did they call foxglove orchids, they are not orchids... are they? Is this a clue?

[Nom de Plume · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting to see why the next is likely last

After this entertaining but not especially remarkable fifth installment, I've rather adjusted my outlook on the sixth. I shall certainty read Book 6. But, prior to Book 5, I'd rather dreaded the thought that it was to be the last of the series. Now, I've decided that the author more of less decided she'd become played out. With an admirable degree of self-awareness, she chose to either end or indefinitely suspend the series; pending her feeling properly dedicated to the required effort to do the series well.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Posie has gotten so unlikeable! She is jealous, snipping at everyone, completely wrong more than half the time as she solves things, and gets innocent people killed. I think I’ll read one more to see if they keep going downhill. I am VERY concerned that the author seems to be setting up a new romance for Posie with a happily married father. Can we not? And the fat shaming was next level.

[moxieBK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder of a Movie Star (Posie Parker Mystery #5) — L.B. Hathaway/Narrator: Clare Wille (Prologue + 37 titled chapters + Epilogue) April 20-21, 2023

Posey is at it again when tasked to save a woman’s murder but doesn’t quite get the job done.

When a star starts receiving notes about her imminent death, her producer requests Posey to come and figure out what is happening before the actress is killed.

As is always the case, there is much more to the story than a simple historical cozy mystery. The plot of these stories is wonderful. If not a bit long for my tastes. However, there is something about an old-world story with authentic European narrators that really suck me in, and this story does just that.

Posie struggles to understand why Dolly has issues and what is happening with her on-again/off-again engagement.

Excellent narrations and a wonderful plot.

Four stars.

[Lauretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posie is one of my favorite female sleuths, and I really enjoy the way Hathaway interweaves the plot with the historical background of London in the 1920s. This book is full of deep secrets and dark characters whose faults run deep, and Posey does have a hard time putting all the pieces together, especially in the unfamiliar world of the silent film industry, where appearances are even more deceiving. To complicate matters, Posey seems very uncertain about her future with her globe trotting fiancée Alarick and not at all sure of her own feelings. Perhaps all of the introspection is due to her continuing to deal with the emotional and physical devastation of World War I, on herself as well as on her circle of friends. Looking forward to Book 6.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another fun mystery, this time centering on the British film industry. I always like reading about Posie, and she keeps me thoroughly entertained. The scenes are always nicely painted. There are a number of interesting characters who pop up. This plot was fairly convoluted, at least for me. As a novel, this felt slightly less technically delicious than some other Posie stories, but that could be down to me and my frame of mind at the moment. I'm still an adoring fan and looking forward to the next one.

That darned Alaric, though. Gosh! I'm not sure he really even wants to marry her, deep down, and there's a scene near the end that made me wonder a little what's in store for them. I know Posie has other admirers who might even be more suitable... We'll see what happens next!

[Mike Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like all the previous Posie Parker books, this one has anachronistic errors, too. I've complained in the earlier ones, sending feedback to the author via the 'Zon. I didn't bother this time.

What errors? This is one. Alaric 'schedules' his return flight, using his personal airplane from Pairs to the UK airport. Landing reservations , nor takeoffs, didn't exist in the 1920s. It was 'pilot's discretion. Some of the larger airports posted hours when someone would be present---usually custom and excise agents for flights coming from the continent.

Also, there was no aviation weather reports, either. Yes, there were forecasts---for mariners, not for aviators.

The author boasts about how much she researched the book. Her research, apparently, was limited.

[Tanya Marlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this Agatha Christie-style murder mystery series, and look forward to each book as it comes out. This one is set in the world of British cinema just as Hollywood is in ascendance, which is an element of history I didn’t know. As ever, I enjoyed reading Hathaway’s well-researched historic notes at the end which explain which elements of the setting were based in fact.

I gobbled it up in a day or so, and kept guessing till the end as to who the murderer was. Another wonderful Posie Parker – can’t wait for the next one. Highly recommended for anyone who loves Agatha Christie.

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the Posie Parker mysteries but this one didn't hit the mark for me. Perhaps it was because the story seemed overly padded and long.

Posie is asked to protect a movie star who has been threatened. She is accompanies by her friend Dolly who contributes quite a few insights. The star and all those around her have secrets that make it more difficult to find the culprit. Posie seems a little slow on catching the clues and worries excessively about her relationship with Alaric. Although well written, it somehow isn't up to others in the series.

[Brangela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This was the most interesting, intriguing and captivating story in the series so far. So many twists and turns, unforseen scenarios to keep you riveted. I rarely have read a mystery where I truly had no idea who the culprit was. The culmination just added an additional layer of surprise. The only drawback was the use of contemporary terminology such as crack head! These blatant errors took me out of the story I was so immersed in. But other than those missteps this was a thoroughly enjoyable Posie mystery.

[Melissa Morrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am continuing with the Posy Parker series because the narrator of the audiobooks, Clare Willie, is so good and the settings are so well done. However, they are getting convoluted and confusing—not great for audiobooks because I can’t easily flip back to see which character is which (and there are a lot of characters, sometimes with two or three different identifies.) Also, the denouement on this one went on for HOURS. If I were reading these as text and had a better memory, these might be five stars.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

I've raced through this series in a few days because it was just that good! I've read hundreds of mysteries in my life, and this book still managed to surprise, delight, and engross me. I'm not ordinarily a fan of novels set in this time period, but I'm so, so glad I took a gamble. This is a literal page-turner of a book; my pulse is still beating fast from the finish. And what a finish! I cannot wait for the next in the series!

[Argum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge twists and turns. Posie is accosted on the street and basically kidnapped to a movie set to help investigate death threats against the starlet. But not surprisingly on a film set things aren't always what they seem. Many of these silent folks have known each other for years and the British film industry is on the cusp of change as Hollywood starts to dominate and cinematic preferences change. Posie discovers many hidden identities and personalities with a good number of twists.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, I am still enjoying the continuing adventures of Posie and the other characters. In many ways she reminds me of Phryne Fisher of the Miss Fisher mystery series.....in addition to being in the same time period they also have a similar spunk.

I am growing weary of the issues with her love life, however, and really hope that is put to bed soon. It is confusing about the character and proves rather detracting from the stories.

[J Shu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posie is asked to provide protection for a film superstar who has received a death threat. A great many characters are involved, all of them possessing secrets - relationships between people are not always what they seem to be. Posie, too, is troubled by some personal uncertainties. Clues arise which cause Posie to begin to get to the bottom of the situation. Shots are fired, people are injured and killed, but the truth wins out. This is a complicated, interesting tale of lies and cover-ups.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt barraged by deceit and negativity while reading this book. Lots of characters were keeping secrets and manipulating others. Posie was exceptionally irritable and struggled to get a handle on the case as well as her own emotions and relationships. I was sad and unsettled when I finished this audiobook and hope for better times ahead for Posie. Five stars for the excellent writing and narration, for the active and intricate plot, and for the unexpected emotion it provoked in me.

[Xavier University Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sixth book in the Posie Parker "cosy historical murder mystery" series takes place mostly on the set of a film on Henry the VIII and Anne Boleyn which seems to be a last-ditched effort to resist Hollywood dominance. But, like in the other books in the series, secrets from during and after World War I are rampant and not everyone is who they seem to be. Posie and her friend Dolly and Inspector Lovelace and his men work together to entangle the mess and keep the star from being murdered.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve really been enjoying this series. But, this one is my least favorite. All previous books have been four & even five stars in my enjoyment level. This one is a generous three.

Near the end Posie says that there has been way too much going on. Which is exactly the problem with this book.

It’s TWICE as long as the previous four books.

A decent plot but as sure as bread is bread, way too much filler.