THE TROUBLE WITH MOONLIGHTING: A SIMONA GRIFFO MYSTERY

Simona Griffo Mystery #2

by Camilla Trinchieri

Simona is using her vacation time from HH&H advertising to moonlight for old friends from Italy on a film called "Where Goes the Future?" The future of Johanna Gayle, the five million dollar star, seems shaky indeed when she's almost electrified in the Lincoln Center fountain during a night shoot. Everyone rules it an accident, but is it? Simona knows that anything can happen on a set where the star plays one man against the other, the director treats her actors like scum, and the aging protagonist obsesses about his vanishing sex. The worst does happen. Simona finds Johanna sprawled in the bedroom of her deluxe apartment, a copper wire around her neck. When Simona's detective boyfriend arrests Johanna's lover, the set photographer, Simona is ready to risk her job and boyfriend to exonerate her old Sicilian friend.A recipe for Sicilian Good Fish Salad is included."Crespi deserves special congratulations for her characterization of Simona [Her] writing makes Simona seem very very human the end result is a heroine who rings true."-Jennie G. Jacobson, The Drood Review of Mystery"For me, the independence, the insecurity and the introspection set Simona apart from a lot of today's female sleuths."-Joyce Christmas, Mysterious Women"The setup is good and Crespi is acutely perceptive."-Susan Oleksiw, Mystery Scene"Simona is an interesting character. She's smart and inquisitive and still trying to adjust to American ways. Her divorce has left her dependent and emotionally needy-a situation her detective boyfriend is trying to deal with."-Oline H. Cogdill, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

Genres: Mystery

226 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1991

About the author

aka Camilla T Crespi, Trella Crespi.

Camilla Trinchieri was born in Prague to an Italian diplomat father and American mother and came to the United States at age twelve. After graduating from Barnard College, she moved to Italy. She returned to New York City in 1980 and earned an MFA in writing from Columbia University. As Trella Crespi and Camilla Crespi she has published seven mystery novels.

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Trouble with Moonlighting: A Simona Griffo Mystery is Simona Griiffo number 2. Simona, has taken vacation time from her job to moonlight as a dialogue coach on a movie set. Camilla T. Crespi seems to do a good job describing the hidden going-ons of making a movie. We are introduced to the electrical crew, wardrobe, makeup, script writers, photographers and directors in a smooth tale that does not get to the "Trouble" aka murder for a couple of chapters. Well done.
In Book 1, The Trouble With a Small Raise: A Simona Griffo Mystery, I commented on the noticeable 1990s. This one, was not so glaringly 90s. There is still copious amounts of smoking in public and the workplace, but not as much sexism.
I enjoy Simona and like watching her navigate through her friendships, career, relationships and personal life. I enjoyed the descriptions of New York City, her inhabitants and a sneak peak of making of a movie.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simona is spending her vacation time working with an Italian film crew in New York. When the beautiful American star of the movie is threatened, Simona has mixed feelings--this is the same woman who is breaking the heart of Simona's best friend, after all. As the film crew goes to various New York locations, Simona is in turmoil because of her fading relationship with policeman Greenhouse, who won't let her in his life.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good series. Italian woman solves mysteries, Simona Griffo.