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Rune #2
Death of a Blue Movie Star [Paperback] Jeffery Deaver
Death of a Blue Movie Star
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
246 people are currently reading
1407 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
509 books11.7k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
November 25, 2022
I love the heroine Rune , an intelligent, ambitious but sensitive soul. A heroine , persistent, sexy, with flaws but still likable and with vulnerabilities under her tough exterior. Rune is making a documentary about women working in the porn industry when the porn actress Shelley Lowe is murdered in a bomb which is claimed by a bloodthirsty Christian fundamentalist terror group. The sad thing for me is that the police have no interest in solving the case because they see no value in the lives of women in the sex industry . Something all too common in reality. They dont see these woman are human as Rune works to prove in her documentary. Heart stopping action, cliffhangers and twists and turns but with real feeling and meaning.
January 28, 2018
Death Of A Blue Movie Star is number 2 of the ‘Rune’ series of Jeffrey Deaver's books. As always with Deaver’s books an enjoyable, if somewhat dated, read. By dated I am referring to the fact that every time a phone call needs to be made Rune needs to find a public/pay phone…which, wherever Rune is, always works! It is a pity that authors or publishers do not see fit to re-publish a book with updated versions eliminating old technology (pay phone) for contemporary equivalents, particularly when there are still people reading these older books.
Enough of my opinion! In Death of a Blue Movie Star we again we find young Rune barely able to hold down her job despite appearing to be very capable. This time Rune wants to make a documentary and is able to borrow her ‘Australian’ employer’s video camera for said project after hours. Supposedly Australian employers sounded very much like a Cockney accent as I read the book. The vernacular was not quite right, in my opinion. To me this was so with many movies of the 1970s and 1980s which contained an ‘Australian” character which often sounded very British.
Young Rune’s project soon sees her involved with murders which only she wants to solve. Generally, the police are not all that inclined to pursue these crimes because they occur and involve persons making Adult Movies. The only person who considers her crusade worthwhile is a member of the bomb squad and is nearly twice her age. Does he have an ulterior motive for helping her? Read the book to find out!
Death of a Blue Movie Star is an enjoyable read, as are all of Deaver's ‘Rune’ books; however Death of a Blue Movie Star had a totally unexpected twist near the end.
I have rated Death of a Blue Movie Star a solid three star read
Enough of my opinion! In Death of a Blue Movie Star we again we find young Rune barely able to hold down her job despite appearing to be very capable. This time Rune wants to make a documentary and is able to borrow her ‘Australian’ employer’s video camera for said project after hours. Supposedly Australian employers sounded very much like a Cockney accent as I read the book. The vernacular was not quite right, in my opinion. To me this was so with many movies of the 1970s and 1980s which contained an ‘Australian” character which often sounded very British.
Young Rune’s project soon sees her involved with murders which only she wants to solve. Generally, the police are not all that inclined to pursue these crimes because they occur and involve persons making Adult Movies. The only person who considers her crusade worthwhile is a member of the bomb squad and is nearly twice her age. Does he have an ulterior motive for helping her? Read the book to find out!
Death of a Blue Movie Star is an enjoyable read, as are all of Deaver's ‘Rune’ books; however Death of a Blue Movie Star had a totally unexpected twist near the end.
I have rated Death of a Blue Movie Star a solid three star read
January 3, 2016
I this book would never end. It seemed a little long. I have read the first book of the three. I am going to read the next one just so I can finish the series.
I thought this book would never end. It seemed to be a little long. I have read the first one and I wanted to read all of the series.
I thought this book would never end. It seemed to be a little long. I have read the first one and I wanted to read all of the series.
October 16, 2024
Great story. Lots of twist and turns.
326 pages
326 pages
January 1, 2016
Like with the first book of the series, the story was OK but I detested Rune, the main character. She's selfish, wilful, careless and stupid, thinks nothing of using anyone she meets in order to achieve her own ends - in this case to make a movie. She's indignant about the exploitation of porn stars, but sees nothing wrong in using the death of one to chase her own dreams. She exploits the good nature of Sam the bomb-disposal expert, even going through his briefcase in her single minded quest not for justice or the truth, but to get her film made. She's weird, pretending to be quirky, and immature, although she's supposed to be in her late 20s. She's prepared to date another man so he will finance her project, but is indignant when people like the police mistake her for a hooker. She screws up her employer's ad campaign, costing them hundreds of thousands, and is all "ah well, never mind"...
I liked the twist at the end so it still gets 3 stars, but I won't be reading the last one and will stick to his later books.
I liked the twist at the end so it still gets 3 stars, but I won't be reading the last one and will stick to his later books.
March 6, 2014
Rune number two, she is endearing and says 'thems the breaks' a lot.
November 15, 2024
When I wrote my review for the first of Jeffery Deaver’s Rune trilogy, Manhattan Is My Beat, I said it may be a “gritty cozy mystery” (I realize that’s an oxymoron.) Well, the second book in the series, Death of Blue Movie Star, loses the coziness and has plenty of grit.
The action starts immediately for Rune as a triple-X movie theater is bombed leading her to do a documentary about a pornographic film actress. However, when another explosion targets that actress, the mystery and danger grows as Rune delves into a seedy world of adult entertainment.
Deaver keeps the titillation minimal and does not glamorize the industry. It’s an interesting juxtaposition as he introduces some of the expected perverts but also some sympathetic characters because, like with any group, there is a mix of good, bad, and plenty of shades of gray. Two of the characters are actresses and humanized well, with the point being whether people like what these performers do or not, they are still human beings. Though you can’t make a blanket statement, it does seem to be true-to-life in terms of real-life adult entertainers after they’ve left the industry.
Rune continues to be likeable, although she did actually grate on the nerves somewhat especially with her cavalier attitude towards work. It’s difficult to feel for her being fired when she readily brings it on herself. Fortunately, much like the adult entertainers, she is not necessarily defined by her work (or lack thereof), and is a character that can carry a story.
One other high point is the tautness of the novel, full of explosive tension (sometimes literally). I don’t know if this is a better book than the first, but it is more exciting.
★★★½ out of five
The action starts immediately for Rune as a triple-X movie theater is bombed leading her to do a documentary about a pornographic film actress. However, when another explosion targets that actress, the mystery and danger grows as Rune delves into a seedy world of adult entertainment.
Deaver keeps the titillation minimal and does not glamorize the industry. It’s an interesting juxtaposition as he introduces some of the expected perverts but also some sympathetic characters because, like with any group, there is a mix of good, bad, and plenty of shades of gray. Two of the characters are actresses and humanized well, with the point being whether people like what these performers do or not, they are still human beings. Though you can’t make a blanket statement, it does seem to be true-to-life in terms of real-life adult entertainers after they’ve left the industry.
Rune continues to be likeable, although she did actually grate on the nerves somewhat especially with her cavalier attitude towards work. It’s difficult to feel for her being fired when she readily brings it on herself. Fortunately, much like the adult entertainers, she is not necessarily defined by her work (or lack thereof), and is a character that can carry a story.
One other high point is the tautness of the novel, full of explosive tension (sometimes literally). I don’t know if this is a better book than the first, but it is more exciting.
★★★½ out of five
February 13, 2025
Death of a Blue Movie Star was originally published in 1990 by Jeffery Deaver and reflects the New York of the time. At this time was the beginning of the gentrification of New York and especially Manhattan and Time Square still had a seedy side.
Rune is struggling to make it as a film maker in New York she has got a job at an agency that does commercials and documentaries, and she was the runner and general dogsbody. But on the positive side they did let her use the equipment in her spare time. When a bomb goes off not long after she has passed a porn movie theatre, she has her camera out and is filming.
The poster outside the theatre was a picture of the porn actress Shelly Lowe and there was something about the actress that made Rune want to investigate further. At the same time, she meets NYPD bomb squad detective Sam Healy, and she is constantly asking him questions and he eventually allows her to do some filming. When Shelly Lowe was killed in front of Rune by another bomb she decides to make a documentary about Lowe.
As the Sword of Jesus keep up their bombing campaign, they become more pronounced with their targets. They thought of themselves to be the providers of relief from the sinful porn industry.
Rune plunges head long into the investigation and does not think or worry about the consequences. As the body count mounts up Deaver sprinkles around the clues for the reader to pick up on.
Rune is struggling to make it as a film maker in New York she has got a job at an agency that does commercials and documentaries, and she was the runner and general dogsbody. But on the positive side they did let her use the equipment in her spare time. When a bomb goes off not long after she has passed a porn movie theatre, she has her camera out and is filming.
The poster outside the theatre was a picture of the porn actress Shelly Lowe and there was something about the actress that made Rune want to investigate further. At the same time, she meets NYPD bomb squad detective Sam Healy, and she is constantly asking him questions and he eventually allows her to do some filming. When Shelly Lowe was killed in front of Rune by another bomb she decides to make a documentary about Lowe.
As the Sword of Jesus keep up their bombing campaign, they become more pronounced with their targets. They thought of themselves to be the providers of relief from the sinful porn industry.
Rune plunges head long into the investigation and does not think or worry about the consequences. As the body count mounts up Deaver sprinkles around the clues for the reader to pick up on.
January 15, 2020
Una bomba esplode in un cinema dove vengono proiettati film per adulti.
Rune, giovane che vorrebbe diventare regista, si trova in zona per caso ed assiste ai soccorsi.
Cerca subito notizie sul caso soprattutto dall'artificiere Sam Healy, pronta per girare un servizio sull'esplosione-
Non riesce a sapere molto, ma da sola e con qualche inganno, scopre chela bomba potrebbe avere a che fare con l'attrie del film che stavano proiettando al momento dell'esplosione, Shelly Lowe.
Così la incontra e decide di girare un documentario su di lei e sulla sua vita.
Ma una sera mentre erano insieme, Shelly entra nella casa di produzione dei suoi film per prendere qualcosa e improvvisamente esplode un'altra bomba.
Rune è disperata ma continua il suo documentario non più incentrato sulla vita di Shelly ma sulla ricerca del suo assassino.
Aiutata da Sam scoprirà una verità che la sorprenderà:
Scritto benissimo, ricco di particolari.
Rune, giovane che vorrebbe diventare regista, si trova in zona per caso ed assiste ai soccorsi.
Cerca subito notizie sul caso soprattutto dall'artificiere Sam Healy, pronta per girare un servizio sull'esplosione-
Non riesce a sapere molto, ma da sola e con qualche inganno, scopre chela bomba potrebbe avere a che fare con l'attrie del film che stavano proiettando al momento dell'esplosione, Shelly Lowe.
Così la incontra e decide di girare un documentario su di lei e sulla sua vita.
Ma una sera mentre erano insieme, Shelly entra nella casa di produzione dei suoi film per prendere qualcosa e improvvisamente esplode un'altra bomba.
Rune è disperata ma continua il suo documentario non più incentrato sulla vita di Shelly ma sulla ricerca del suo assassino.
Aiutata da Sam scoprirà una verità che la sorprenderà:
Scritto benissimo, ricco di particolari.
January 23, 2019
This story was an entertaining read. It was first published 19 years ago and obviously technology has changed a lot in that time (pay phones!), however, the story holds up.
Rune is a 21 year old woman still trying to find her niche in the world. She is kind of funky and feisty, and a little full of herself. The story is about porn stars being killed by the use of bombs, and Rune's attempt to film a documentary about one of the stars.
Her romance with the bomb squad detective is played well and not pushed. I feel Deaver has more of an eye for the female characters then the men but this is a story dedicated to the actresses and Rune.
It has suspense, drama, and some very nice twists.
Rune is a 21 year old woman still trying to find her niche in the world. She is kind of funky and feisty, and a little full of herself. The story is about porn stars being killed by the use of bombs, and Rune's attempt to film a documentary about one of the stars.
Her romance with the bomb squad detective is played well and not pushed. I feel Deaver has more of an eye for the female characters then the men but this is a story dedicated to the actresses and Rune.
It has suspense, drama, and some very nice twists.
jeffrey-deaver
July 30, 2022Requiem for a Blue Movie Star1
A serial bomber appears to be targeting the porn industry in Manhattan. When the first bomb destroyed the Velvet Venus movie theater, Rune had just walked past it. As a witness, she gave a statement to the police and met Sam Healey, a member of the Bomb Squad.
Rune also witnessed the second explosion, and now she feels involved. She was exploring the idea of a documentary and had just interviewed porn star Shelly Lowe, victim of the second bombing. Rune continues to accumulate tape footage although she is not sure how to proceed with her documentary, and it seems that someone wants to prevent her from doing so.
A serial bomber appears to be targeting the porn industry in Manhattan. When the first bomb destroyed the Velvet Venus movie theater, Rune had just walked past it. As a witness, she gave a statement to the police and met Sam Healey, a member of the Bomb Squad.
Rune also witnessed the second explosion, and now she feels involved. She was exploring the idea of a documentary and had just interviewed porn star Shelly Lowe, victim of the second bombing. Rune continues to accumulate tape footage although she is not sure how to proceed with her documentary, and it seems that someone wants to prevent her from doing so.
April 30, 2020
I didn’t like Rune in the first book of this series, but somehow she was more lovable this time. And the story itself was also much more fun than the first one.
Especially the last half of the story was really good. When I was halfway through the book, it got more entertaining and exciting so I couldn’t stop reading it even when I was so sleepy.
Many characters and side stories were involved and I thought some of them would be unnecessary, but they weren’t. Everything was an important element of the story.
Especially the last half of the story was really good. When I was halfway through the book, it got more entertaining and exciting so I couldn’t stop reading it even when I was so sleepy.
Many characters and side stories were involved and I thought some of them would be unnecessary, but they weren’t. Everything was an important element of the story.
December 21, 2021
Bill Farley, the owner of my favorite bookshop, made me read this book because of the main character. Rune (and that's all the name she has) is a character you won't soon forget. She's delicious. A little bit street person, a little bit sophisticate, a little bit waif, a little bit in total control. She's amazing. She's trying to break into the film business and in the process collects dangerous evidence with her video camera. There is one other Rune book and I'm saving it for a special occasion.
June 30, 2022
I just couldn't get into this book. Didn't feel much for the characters, thought the plot was kind of weak, and just overall not good. Though at times I do see myself really sympathising with Rune, I just found the characters and the story kind of bland and pointless. Rune and Healy's relationship as well I just could not get behind. Everything seemed a little heartless and kinda just think this book was written because of a contractual agreement or something; it lacks heart. Some bits are enjoyable, but definitely not my favourite Deaver book
January 31, 2023
It's an entertaining, to district oneself read but the first Rune thriller was overall stronger - story wise and all. This felt like it had too many things and twists going on, some took me by surprise, some quite weak and the last biggest twist -.nope must say I didn't expect it and thought it a little draggy by then.
I want to like her and she's meant to be cute and different and sometimes she is , sometimes it feels ilke Jeffery Deaver is trying a little too hard with this " not your usual chick" protagonist.
Will I do a third Rune? Sure.
I want to like her and she's meant to be cute and different and sometimes she is , sometimes it feels ilke Jeffery Deaver is trying a little too hard with this " not your usual chick" protagonist.
Will I do a third Rune? Sure.
July 10, 2018
First one of this series I have read. It was very good, with likeable characters and well written plot. Set in NYC in the heart of the porn district, someone is setting bombs in movie theaters who show porn. It appears that the police are not interested in solving this case, due to their personal distaste for the people who get killed. There's a delicious twist at the end that really surprised me.
June 27, 2022
Rune eventually wants to be her own boss as a filmmaker. In the meantime she has to work for others and this assignment is not her favorite. However, she meets a porn star or Blue Movie Star who seems interesting so she decides to document her life. When that life is blown up with a bomb Rune decides to help find out why.
Interesting but not nail biting like the Lincoln Rhyme stories can be.
Interesting but not nail biting like the Lincoln Rhyme stories can be.
March 21, 2019
When an explosion tears up an adult theater a female who aspires to make documentaries aspires to profile an actress for a story.When the actress dies in an explosion the film maker thinks it was a murder and so she aspires to locate the perp among a number of candidates. Swearing, violence. Lumbers a bit.
December 14, 2017
OK, #2 was pretty good.
The subject matter was not of my liking much, but it was handled well.
And, I was actually surprised about who the bad guy was and the twists of a couple of underlining story-lines. Worth reading.
The subject matter was not of my liking much, but it was handled well.
And, I was actually surprised about who the bad guy was and the twists of a couple of underlining story-lines. Worth reading.
December 1, 2018
Second in the Rune trilogy. Interesting story, a couple twists I didn't see coming, but other stuff was just okay. Like the first, not my favorite, but still intriguing enough to make me continue on with the trilogy and get into Deaver's more acclaimed work.
February 8, 2019
A vast improvement on the first book in the series. Gone are many of the overly whimsical sequences that were in the first book, Deaver has grown Rune into a much more likeable character and coupled this with the usual twists and turns contained within his books. A good read.
May 20, 2019
As an Australian reader I was bemused to learn that Larry & Bob spoke more like cockney Londoners than true blue Aussies. A bit like writing about Americans always sprouting terms like "goddamn sumbitch didn't get to first base, period".
October 23, 2019
Deaver's stuff is always top quality and this is no exception. Prior to a lot of his more famous stuff, this is a really interesting character with a lot of depth. All the twists and turns are there and the last few chapters keep delivering.
May 18, 2020
Rune is Rune
What a joyful change from Lincoln Rhyme who I enjoy immensely.
Rune is a truly quirky, lovable and smart New York City gal. Has all the plot twists you expect from Mr Deaver's stories but with a fresh character. Look forward to both Runes and Rhymes new books.
What a joyful change from Lincoln Rhyme who I enjoy immensely.
Rune is a truly quirky, lovable and smart New York City gal. Has all the plot twists you expect from Mr Deaver's stories but with a fresh character. Look forward to both Runes and Rhymes new books.
June 15, 2023
Similar to the first book in the Rune series, this was overall just a very good read. The story was engaging and Deaver has a fantastic ability of leaving you aghast at the end of almost every chapter. Great read.
November 16, 2024
Finishers November 13, 2024a look at the making of porn movies, high school,bras trying to wiork in New ayotlmCity, and breaking into writing documentaries. All took within a working western. Jeffrey Deabever handles like the true stoty teller hrs is.
February 27, 2025
I believe this is the best of the trilogy even though it's the last one I read. Plenty of twists and turns, even up until the final chapter. There were a lot of mis-directions during this book also. Hopefully we haven't seen the last of Rune or one of this other author's characters.
September 25, 2025
Wow!
Exciting stuff with Rune. Going out with a guy from the bomb squad, she learned about bombs all the while making an independent film about porn movie actresses and escaping from zealots and their bombs! She does us proud, our girl Rune.
Exciting stuff with Rune. Going out with a guy from the bomb squad, she learned about bombs all the while making an independent film about porn movie actresses and escaping from zealots and their bombs! She does us proud, our girl Rune.
December 22, 2025
This is a great read to discover 35 years after publication. Set in the 70's porn world of NYC's Times Square, the dated references only reinforces the time period. The story meanders along a path full of red herrings, and gives you a few surprises along the way.
August 5, 2019
It's a good story, but I think it would have been better if it had been written more recently.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews