Valentino Will Die

The Adventures of Bianca Dangereuse #2

by Donis Casey

Champagne wishes and caviar dreams take a backseat when a murderer strikes in Hollywood

Silent film sensation Bianca LaBelle, formerly farm girl Blanche Tucker of duller-than-dull Boynton, Oklahoma, has put a lot of distance between her humble roots and her glamorous new Hollywood life. Her life is now fashionable and dazzling, and it becomes even more so when she gets to make a film with her good friend and screen idol, Rudolph Valentino.

But when Rudy confides in Bianca that someone is trying to kill him, and then falls deathly ill days later, Bianca vows to find out who is behind the underhanded deed. A jilted lover, a delusional fan, or maybe even a mobster? Calling on P.I. Ted Oliver to help her investigate, the two delve into the end of what had seemed to be the charmed life of Valentino.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2021

About the author

DONIS CASEY was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A third generation Oklahoman, she and her siblings grew up among their aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents and great-grandparents on farms and in small towns, where they learned the love of family and independent spirit that characterizes the population of that pioneering state. Donis graduated from the University of Tulsa with a degree in English, and earned a Master’s degree in Library Science from Oklahoma University. After teaching school for a short time, she enjoyed a career as an academic librarian, working for many years at the University of Oklahoma and at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

Donis left academia in 1988 to start a Scottish import gift shop in downtown Tempe. After more than a decade as an entrepreneur, she decided to devote herself full-time to writing. The Old Buzzard Had It Coming is her first book. For the past twenty years, Donis has lived in Tempe, AZ, with her husband.

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book!
This one finds us immersed in the 1920's glamorous life of silent film Hollywood actors and actresses, mainly Rudolph Valentino and Bianca LaBelle. Lovers onscreen they are just friends in actuality, very close friends.
Valentino is a sex symbol on the silent screen, the women go crazy over him, he has it all it would seem. Unknown to the industry though he is tired of the attention and just wants to live a normal life of anonymity.
The bills must be paid though so while he's at parties where the champagne is flowing easily and the women are plentiful he must keep up appearances and make movies.
Someone is out to do in Valentino though and he ignores until he no longer can ignore the written threats and "accidents".
He confides in Bianca what is going on and falls deathly ill several days later.
She vows to find who is behind the wicked plan. Who is it, a jilted lover,the mob,someone from the studio,a fan?
The book really took a turn towards the end I was not expecting.
I sped read this book, very enjoyable.

Expected publication: February 2nd 2021 by Poisoned Pen Press
I was given a complimentary copy. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this entertaining mystery set in 1926 Hollywood.

The author obviously had a good deal of fun with this. It is slightly over the top, with implausible action from our heroine and several other movie stars of the era. Names are dropped left, right and sideways. Thank goodness for the author's note at the end, with thumbnail sketches of the real people.
Rudolph Valentino did die on Aug 23, 1926 in NYC, while on a publicity tour for his movie 'Son of the Sheik'. He was only 31. A number of rumors circulated regarding his death. The author has chosen to run with the rumors, giving us an amusing mystery story in answer to 'What if...?'

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining & fun! Effervescent main character. A peek into Hollywood & the movie world of the 1920s.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, twisty hf-mystery set in 1920s Hollywood, such a refreshing departure from the recent WWII spate. We get a genuine feel for the silent movie era with legendary actor Rudolph Valentino and his onscreen lover, the glamorous Bianca LaBelle, in truth good friends only.

Turns out Rudy has been unlucky in love, debt-laden and ill, suffering from ulcers and heavy drinking. He’s worried about a flurry of death threats and asks Bianca to investigate. Side note: In real life, Rudy died at 31 of perforated ulcers, shocking devoted fans across the globe.

VALENTINO WILL DIE is the second book in the series featuring Bianca, blessed with beauty, brains, pluck, and the ability to solve knotty crimes. It works as a stand-alone, but sure made me want to devour the series’ first, THE WRONG GIRL, and welcome many more!

4 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 02 Feb 2021
#ValentinoWillDie #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love some mystery... but even more so when you add in some of the 1920’s glitz and glimmer of Hollywood of that era. Based on actual events, this is a shrouded tale of the sudden death of a silent screen idol named, Rudolph Valentino at only 31 years of age. Mixed in with some fiction to create an elusive plot of who would want to kill him.

Valentino is the sex symbol of his time and he has grown tired of the spotlight and wants to live a normal life. But he begins to receive threats and accidents that put his life at risk.

His long time friend, also a silent screen star named Bianca LaBelle begin filming a moving together in the Summer of 1926. Rudy confesses to Bianca what has been going with the attempts on his life and threats. Just days later Rudy lays dying. Bianca vows that she will find out who is responsible and will do anything and ask for help for just about anyone to get to the bottom of things before time runs out.

This was a wonderful read. I like to read something in this time period that wasn’t war related and I love the mysterious thrill and “thewhodunnit” vibe. I look forward to more books from this Author.

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

As in the first book, entertaining stuff as a member of Casey's Tucker family has adventures as a Hollywood star. "Biana La Rose" is a close friend of Fairbanks and Pickford, and now Rudolf Valentino enters the picture. Once again, an annoying "cliffhanger" ending makes for a chance for the author to get a book out and still have plenty of material left. And I can't help wishing that I hadn't stumbled on the books at this point. Clearly Casey intends to keep doing this in book after book, and in this age of bingeing shows, I'd prefer to be able to do the same with these books.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

As luck would have it, I've had the pleasure of reading back-to-back two historical mysteries set in Hollywood. Donis Casey's second Bianca Dangereuse mystery, Valentino Will Die, is set in the Silent Movie Era and involves the legendary Rudolph Valentino himself.

In reality, film star Bianca LaBelle, the heroine of the wildly popular Bianca Dangereuse film series, is Blanche Tucker, daughter of farm woman Alafair Tucker who was last seen in Forty Dead Men. Living on a farm outside tiny Boynton, Oklahoma, was a fate worse than death for teenage Blanche, so she ran away from home and barely managed to land on her feet in Hollywood. (Readers can find out how that happened in The Wrong Girl.) As much as I enjoy this new series, I'm still fond of Alafair, and Casey cannily includes little clues as to how Bianca's family is doing.

The mystery in Valentino Will Die is a good one, and so is the setting. While readers are trying to guess who's got it in for the world's number one heartthrob, they see a fresh-from-Broadway young Hungarian named Bela Lugosi and get to attend swanky parties. Los Angeles mob figures also make their deadly presence known. Amidst the investigating, there are some laughs when Douglas Fairbanks bemoans being typecast, and Bianca learns how difficult it is to make "a stealthy escape from a crowded room when you're famous." But perhaps the biggest laugh of all came from the description of Bianca's beloved dog, Jack Dempsey, a canine that "could be part prairie dog and part something else. Maybe a mongoose. Or a wig." I hope the little guy makes more appearances in future books.

I enjoy Casey's handling of historical figures, and while the mystery is deadly serious, she has a light touch that's reminiscent of those silent Perils of Pauline-type serial thrillers. Want to know what's real and what's not? Everything's listed at the back of the book. In the mood for a good mystery to solve? Pick up a copy of Valentino Will Die (and I'm not even going to talk about the ending). I can't wait to find out what Bianca gets up to next!

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rudolph Valentino is a top movie star adored by women yet he really wants a simple life! He keeps receiving death threats and he becomes even more fearful when a vase falls on him during the making of a movie. He decides to confide in his fellow star, beautiful and sassy Bianca. Bianca seems confident, but she is also somewhat lonely and troubled, so she and Rudy understand each other and she tries to help him.

Rudy's death leads her to a chain of investigations into who killed him. Was it the magician with strange eyes, the gangsters to whom he owed money or a spiteful ex-girlfriend? Bianca has to follow every lead. Luckily, she has a private detective and a journalist who can help her.

This is a fast-paced, well-written and interesting murder story by Donis Casey filled with real characters from 1920s Hollywood, such as Mary Pickford. The historical atmosphere is well-researched and exotic with its gamblers and bootleggers. It was a great idea to write a story based on Valentino's death, and I look forward to more novels featuring the intrepid Bianca.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Karla Huebner]

This was an enjoyable enough mystery set in the 1920s silent film world. The main character, Bianca (a stage name), is close but platonic friends with the historic heart-throb Rudolph Valentino. However, when Valentino dies unexpectedly, the question of possible murder arises, and of course Bianca must do her best to investigate.

This worked well enough as a standalone, but I think it would have been preferable to read the first book in the series first, as it probably gives more background on Bianca's somewhat shady past.

[Jennifer Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast paced story that is an interesting mix of historical facts and fiction.
It transports you to the glamorous era of silent film. Full of opulence and wild parties, outrageous characters, gangsters and a murder mystery.
I don't really know much about that period of time, so I got really sucked into the storyline and the scandal.
I particularly liked the explanation at the end of what was fact or fiction.
This is a really enjoyable read and I'm glad that it's part of a series. I'd love to read more.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrated by Romy Nordlinger. Mildly interesting story, made most intriguing by the research. Of most interest if you enjoy cinema history. I really love Casey's books featuring Alafair Tucker and family.

[Rebecca Batley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll start with the good things about this book, it’s very well written and Bianca is an amazing character. She is sharp, mysterious and avoids falling into any cliches of the genre. I loved the beginning of this book, the author has clearly done their research and the showbiz world of the 1920s is evoked brilliantly. I thought the relationship between Bianca and Rudy was lovely and very realistic. Unfortunately for me once Valentino was dead the story seemed to lose a lot of its momentum and interest. It started to feel a bit formulaic and the ending for me was not satisfying or realistic. I don’t want to say too much so as not to spoil the story for others but the second half of the story for me didn’t quite work, which was a shame.
I enjoyed this but wouldn’t rush out to read the next in the series.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was chosen by Net Galley to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book, as I did not know much about the history of Rudy Valentino or the film industry of the 20s. It was well written, had great character development, and story line. It read easily and quickly and I really loved the ending! Looking forward to Bianca's next adventure.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valentino Will Die earns 5/5 Silver Screen Adventures...Engaging Page-Turner!

It was 1920. Fifteen-year-old Blanche Tucker believed a man when, claiming to be a film producer, he said she had “IT.” So, she joined him, excited about her Hollywood destination. Unfortunately, the reality is more a cruel comment on her naïveté than a journey to fame and fortune. However, circumstances put her back on track becoming the protégés of a famous, yet trouble, film star, and with the help from Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, she becomes Bianca LeBelle, celebrated star of the silent silver screen, famous for the serialized movies titled “The Adventures of Bianca Dangereuse.”

Six years later. Bianca is starring in a new film opposite her good friend and ally in Hollywood, Rudolph Valentino. They had met at one of the many Hollywood parties and immediately hit it off. Despite their ten-year age difference, they shared a similar story: both arriving in Hollywood struggling and plagued with a troubled past, then a series of events and chance meetings rocketed them to fame and fortune. The two became close friends, not lovers, and when life gets a bit complicated, they’re each other’s safe haven. However, Rudy hasn’t been himself lately. His sizzling persona has been lackluster. They break early from the set and Bianca suggests Rudy come home with her promising she’ll fix something to ease his stomach ailment. It also gives them the opportunity to discuss how they plan to handle the studio’s new plans to fake an off-screen romance between them in order to boost on-screen dollars. Of course, a bit of subterfuge is common in the industry, but it’s the least of Rudy’s worries; he shares a disturbing fan letter: “Valentino Will Die.” It proves prophetic when Rudy collapses, is rushed to the hospital, and doctors worry he won’t survive. Bianca rushes to his side—well, four days later, L.A. to New York by train—where he tells her he believes he’s been poisoned and pleads for her to find out who’s trying to kill him. The world is shocked by the headlines: The Sheik is Dead! Who would do this? Did she really know her friend?

Donis Casey has penned a fascinating literary vision of the life and death of Rudy Valentino through the eyes of a delightful young woman Bianca LeBelle. Her well-written drama describes a realistic Hollywood community, incorporates many historical figures, and devises a unique theory that Valentino’s untimely death was murder. Her scenarios are fascinating and plausible with suspects well illustrated for the 1920s; motives swirl about from New York to L.A. as Bianca channels her intrepid on-screen character to investigate. She enlists a private detective friend in L.A. who has already been hired by a crime boss to investigate Rudy’s death. It is made complicated by his feelings toward Bianca and covert efforts to shield her from another murder he’s been hired to investigate. The intrigue, misdirection, and compelling details are delightfully painted with a brush straight of the Golden Era in Hollywood making this novel and author a top surprise for 2021!

SIDE NOTE: It may be insignificant, but the manner by which a novel is organized can add, or detract, from its entertainment value. Here...it’s a million bucks worth! The chapters are not marked with one, two, etc., or a catchy pun or summary title, but instead with a movie script direction followed by descriptions of a scene being filmed or a newspaper headline followed by additional insights. Throughout the book, often signaling a break in the drama or the passing of time, she adds a quote or an interesting thought to follow-up as insight or preface to the next bit of drama. It is unique, and I loved it! Don’t miss reading the “Real Or Not Real” section which provides a nice introduction into several (Real) historical figures and events that play major to minor roles in the drama. Of course, the “Maybe Real, Maybe Not” is an entertaining look into the main, reoccurring, or just now charters in this series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is entirely voluntary with honest insights and comments.

[Hope Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the saga of Bianca LaBelle, fictional Silver Screen actress, delves into the (true) untimely death of the legendary Rudolph Valentino. In this story, Bianca and Rudolph are the best of friends, and when he began getting mysterious notes with veiled death threats and barely escapes random "accidents," he confides in Bianca. Bianca draws from her considerable resources and enlists the help of private investigator Ted Oliver, who is also working for the feared crime mistress, K.D. Dix, to discover who is out to get Valentino.

To begin with, when I realized this was book 2 about Bianca LaBelle, I went ahead and purchased book 1 since I had a little extra reading time on my hands. I am so glad I did - and I do recommend reading book 1 before reading this book. "The Wrong Girl" gives the background on how Bianca came to be a Hollywood star and how Ted Oliver came to work for K.D. Dix and how both their paths crossed. You would be able to read book 2 and still follow the story, but it will be much more enjoyable if you read book 1 first.

I think because I went ahead and started with book 1, I will continue reading this series; I loved the descriptions of the glamorous life in the early 1900s and it was interesting reading about the real life characters in this story: Mary Pickford, Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Pola Negri, etc. The blending of the fictional and real characters was seamless, and the author stayed as true to the real characters as possible. In her end notes and in the brief research I did, she changed very little of the real actors' histories, instead using the fictional characters to round out their histories.

I feel like we are getting teasers of a romantic relationship between Bianca and Ted, and wish some more attention would have been paid to that. I do like how Ted is getting more involved with K.D. Dix's gangster organization and am wondering how he will be able to get out of it with out losing his life - definite teasers that there will be more books in this series. Also noted is that Donis Casey has written a 10-book series about Bianca's mother, so that is further indication the Bianca LaBelle series will be a long-running series. I recommend to get started reading now - this is a historical fiction series you will want to keep up with!

[Lori Sinsel Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rudolph Valentino and the roaring 20s, the glitz, glitter and glamor of Hollywood in its Golden Age! Everything I love reading about. This is one of my favorite era's in history. I have always been enthralled with the fashion, the music, and the glamor of these times. The women were classy and beautiful, the men suave and debonair. I have always sought out books to read fiction and non-fiction that tell of these times. I love reading a good novel that transports me there and this story did the trick.. O felt immersed in the story completely..
This is an extremely well written story, based loosely on true events involving Rudolph Valentino's life and his untimely death. In the novel, Rudy and Bianca play lovers in the public's eye primarily as a publicity stunt for the studio, but behind the cameras they are only close friends. Valentino confides in Bianca that he has received several death threats and he fears for his life. When Rudy's worse fear comes to fruition and he dies, Bianca, with the help of New York private eye, Ted Oliver embarks to solve the mystery of his death.
This was a very fast read and a totally entertaining one. It is well written and researched. The descriptions of events, landmarks, and the atmosphere that prevailed among Hollywood's elite draw the reader into the times.
The only thing I didn't really care for was the last third of the book. I feel that there was a slow down to the story and it just lost some momentum becoming somewhat predictable. Overall though it is still a good quick entertaining read that I recommend for Historical Fiction and Cozy Mystery fans. I don't believe you'll be disappointed. I give it 4 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the publishers at Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the free ARC of this novel, I am giving my honest review in return.

[Jean-Luc · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Valentino will die!" Yes it's 1926 and Rudolph Valentino will soon die but was he poisoned? That is the central question in this delightful whodunit set in Hollywood & NYC during the glorious Roaring Twenties and at the peak of the silent movie era.
Donis Casey's second installment in the Adventures of Bianca Dangereuse is a winner because the author has brilliantly mixed real facts and fiction to produce a highly entertaining mystery novel full of period details, speakeasy slang and unforgettable characters, real and unreal.
Bianca LaBelle, a young Hollywood star, is convinced that her friend Rudy was murdered. So she doggedly launches her own investigation....
A delicious read where Douglas Fairbanks, Pola Negri, Mary Pickford, the glamour of Hollywood & Prohibition Era mobsters intermingle uproariously! Once started this marvellous gem was unputdownable! Please Donis, we need more Bianca Dangereuse in our lives, in the near future!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Poison Pen Press for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel prior to its release date

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valentino Will Die is the second novel in a series by Donis Casey. The book centers around the death of Rudolph Valentino in 1926. Casey's take is that Valentino was poisoned and did not die solely from a perforated ulcer. Shortly before his death he tells his friend Bianca LaBelle that he thinks someone is trying to kill him and after he ends up in the hospital he asks her to find out who is doing this. Bianca enlists the help of a private investigator, Douglas Fairbanks, and Jimmy Quirk to find out pieces of what happened. This take on Valentino's death brings together real-life Hollywood elite, mobsters, tycoons, and Casey's fictional world.
I have not read the first book in the series and while I did not need to have read it some of the fictional relationships and back story might have made it a fuller experience. I definitely enjoyed the book and will look for the third one (I may even go back and read the first one).

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good 2nd installment in the Bianca Dangereuse series. I loved the mix of factual historical characters with the fictional story. It is fast moving and heartwarming. Loved it!
Silent film sensation Bianca LaBelle, formerly farm girl Blanche Tucker of duller-than-dull Boynton, Oklahoma, has put a lot of distance between her humble roots and her glamorous new Hollywood life. Her life is now fashionable and dazzling, and it becomes even more so when she gets to make a film with her good friend and screen idol, Rudolph Valentino.

But when Rudy confides in Bianca that someone is trying to kill him, and then falls deathly ill days later, Bianca vows to find out who is behind the underhanded deed. A jilted lover, a delusional fan, or maybe even a mobster? Calling on P.I. Ted Oliver to help her investigate, the two delve into the end of what had seemed to be the charmed life of Valentino.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indeed Rudolph Valentino does die too young. This fun blend of fact and fiction uses Blanche Tucker, who transformed herself into Bianca LaBelle to break into the film business, to explore what happened to him (maybe) in the days and months before his death. Bianca has made friends with Valentino (who needs a good friend to be sure) and when he confides that he believes someone is making him ill, she's determined to find the truth. Ted Oliver, a PI who is also working for a female villain, assists her. No spoilers - this has some interesting twists. This is the second in a series featuring Bianca and Ted but should be fine as a standalone. I've liked both books more for the characters and the 1920s setting than for the mysteries (but the mystery is pretty good). Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc. A fun fast read - can't wait to see what Bianca gets up to next!

[Ashley Cloninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting series this is. I love old Hollywood and this book takes real life characters and mixes them with fictional characters in a fascinating mystery. The title says it all. Valentino will die, but does he die of natural causes as has been the “known” story, or was their something nefarious about his death? The main protagonist is a fictional actress names Bianca LaBelle the female action star of her day. She is good friends with Valentino and when he says he feels he has been murdered, she sadly agrees to investigate. The book takes you on an adventure ride through golden era Hollywood, when the stars were thought to be saints, but most were sinners. If you enjoy a historical mystery with great characters, fun adventures and old Hollywood glamor, this book is for you.

Thanks to Netgalley, Doris Casey and Poisoned Pen Press for the chance to read and review this book

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book- I'm not terribly familiar with the 1920s/1930s film world, other than seeing a few glamorous photos. However, after reading Valentino Will Die, I must learn more! I very quickly got lost in Valentino Will Die- Casey weaves in filming and acting life into this very dramatic story, and I loved that she carried that throughout the book. And in terms of a mystery, I can honestly say I did not see this ending coming in any way. This is the second book in a series, but I read this without having read the first without any issue. (Although I will be going back to read it!)

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun romp through 1920s Hollywood, full of great slang and fabulous clothes and real-life stars. I enjoyed the quick pace and Casey's framing of the novel as a silent film itself. Film buffs, history lovers, and anyone who likes a mystery will enjoy this take on the death of Rudolph Valentino and the LA underworld. I'm going to go read the first installment of the series--this is the second, but you don't need any prior knowledge to enjoy it or understand what's going on--and will look forward to more.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

1926. Rudolph Valentino has been receiving death threats. When he becomes hospitalized in New York he asks his close friend Bianca LaBelle aka Bianca Dangereuse to investigate. Helped by P.I. Ted Oliver who has been retained by female crime lord K.D. Dix they delve into Valentino's life
An enjoyable cozy historical story showing a side of the show business life but not really much of a mystery.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Ahri · Rating 4 out of 5]

So...bad me in that I didn't realize this was the 2nd book of the series. My bad!

However, I will say this was a fun read. I love historical fiction, and the 20's are so rarely written about, and even more rarely are they written WELL. This was a mystery, but a lighter mystery, and a good read if you enjoy lighter mystery novels. Overall, I enjoyed it - but probably wouldn't reread.

Thank you Netgalley, the author, and publisher for providing me an ARC!

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝗪𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐞 is a quick, fun, entertaining mystery loosely based on the real-life death of the famous Hollywood movie star of silent films, Rudolph Valentino, who unexpectedly died quickly at the young age of 31. It has all the glitz and glamour of the times and would be the perfect choice for anyone who enjoys a little cosy mystery all wrapped up with some historical fiction.⁣

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me a copy.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big silent screen star Bianca LaBelle has a pal in fellow screen idol Valentino. When he dies suddenly, ostensibly from a perforated ulcer, Bianca (born Blanche Tucker in Oklahoma) sets out to investigate with her friends Douglas and Mary (Fairbanks and Pickford to you plebes) and private detective Ted Oliver. A fun and quick read.

[Christine Verstraete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent follow-up! Makes a screen-legend come alive. Enjoyed the interactions and the old Hollywood setting. The movie script descriptions in some chapters seemed a bit long, but I loved all the background. Intriguing mystery and a surprise twist on a tragic, real life story that you wish had ended differently. Hope there's a book 3!

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did this via audiobook - I found parts of it to be quite enticing... wanting to know what happens next. The ending came as a surprise to me, one last plot twist in it all. It wasn't quite thrilling enough for me to "read another chapter" per se, but the Bianca character sure did give it that good detective noir twist a little.

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. The characters were interesting, the glamour of old Hollywood was fun and easy to imagine, and the story moved along in an interesting way.

I was really pleased with the ending, and I'll be on the lookout for other books from this author.