Murder at the Academy Awards: A Red Carpet Murder Mystery

by Joan Rivers, Jerrilyn Farmer

Book by Rivers, Joan, Farmer, Jerrilyn

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Novels, Thriller, Humor

427 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Joan Rivers (born Joan Sandra Molinsky) was an American comedian, actress, talk show host, businesswoman, and celebrity. She was known for her brash manner and loud, raspy voice with a heavy metropolitan New York accent. Rivers was the National Chairwoman of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is a board member of God's Love We Deliver. Like the ground-breaking Phyllis Diller, Rivers' act relied heavily on poking fun at herself. A typical Rivers joke about her unattractiveness: "I used to stand by the side of the road with a sign: 'Last girl before freeway.'"

Reviews

[Margitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertainment. Satire. Funny. Laugh out loud. Chic lit. Sleuth-ish.
And for once Joan Rivers did not indulge in her caustic humor, although 'Joan Rivers' was written all over the plot.

I just love Joan Rivers. What a PERSONA she was! And despite her potty mouth and meanness, which she preferred to call comedy, ( 'comedy is nothing but the truth who nobody likes to hear', she claimed), she was the perfect lady, who insisted on etiquette and good manners. Her role model was Audrey Hepburn and her mom taught her the basics of good living.

A well-written book with Jerrilyn Farmer as the shadow writer with not too much brain cells required to solve the plot. Relaxing and fun.

I'm reading a few of her books at the moment for various reasons. She could have been my older sister, and I really mourned her death. It was like losing my sister all over again.

Nevertheless, this book is for the mature individual who can handle Joan's version of comedy and satire, combined with a murder mystery with Joan and her daughter, Melissa, disguised as the two main characters.

For the genre it worked perfectly. And for the right reader it will be a hoot.

From Joan Rivers. In Hollywood, the only thing larger than a red carpet arrival is Queen Latifah’s thong…and I, of all people, should know, since I’ve been covering the extravagant, bigger-than-life affairs for more years than I can even remember. Let’s just say that when I first started interviewing Tinseltown’s elite on the red carpet, Michael Jackson liked girls! Paris Hilton was a hotel in France. Lindsay Lohan wore panties! Oh, where have all the years gone, besides to Tommy Lee Jones’s face?

But seriously, what a great job it is to be interviewing the stars as they arrive at award shows, highlighting the jewels and the fashions, pointing out the celebrity dieters who went too far—and those who didn’t, frankly, go far enough. People have said that my daughter, Melissa, and I have turned walking into a building into an internationally televised event.

But what happens backstage? You think the night of the Academy Awards is all congratulations and swag bags, all eye-lifts and romance, all Botox and Jimmy Choos? Hah. Celebrities get tense. Tears are shed. Cell phones are tossed. Even I, a woman of notoriously sweet temper, have felt the pressure as I smiled at yet another glittering fashion train wreck.

Two hours with a mike in my hand takes its toll. At times, I won’t lie, I honestly felt like killing several impossibly thin cue-card girls and the gal who invented Spanx—that sadist. But if working the red carpet could provoke even me to contemplate murder, imagine how Björk must have felt wearing that shmatte with the swan around her neck. If the girl had come to her senses and pecked her designer to death in front of 50 million people with that wretched beak, would anyone have had the heart to convict her? In Hollywood? Don’t make me laugh. But that certainly doesn’t make it right. When comedy turns to tragedy, we all must care. An unnatural death cries out for closure: the killer must be caught. It’s the essence of every great mystery novel and, even in Hollywood, a life and death matter. (Sort of.)

So what would happen if…into this awards-frenzied cesspool of glamour and anxiety we dropped a little murder? Say there was a sexy, crazy, outrageous death at Tinseltown’s biggest event. And say that no one—certainly not the police—could figure out whodunit. To whom would our poor, frazzled world turn for justice? That’s right. To me—Joan Rivers. Or in this case, my slightly younger, slightly blonder, extremely fictional literary counterpart, Maxine (Max) Taylor. Max and her also extremely fictional daughter, Drew, can investigate and solve a celebrity murder at a red carpet event faster than you can say after-party. Leave it to me—the Red Carpet Murder Mysteries are a fictional spin on my life, and while they are truly works of fiction, they are based on my own experiences and observations. The world depicted in these books could not be any more authentic, raw, and filled with peril—and that’s just the stuff of my online experiments with JDate.com.

[Herb · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a bad book, no work of art, but an easy read. I really did expect more of Ms. Rivers' pungent wit. Instead, it was a pretty ordinary murder mystery with a few one-liners here and there. There wasn't a whole lot of logic concerning the denouement and some of the narrative appeared rushed. All in all, an OK time filler. At the end of the book, the author mentioned that this was the first in a proposed series. Hopefully, future volumes will be better.

[Sergio E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Como platicar con ella. Divertido, ágil y con varias sorpresas.

[Mary J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a silly book to believe a Joan River's type character could solve a murder. Her biting humour does come out through the book. Her Hollywood inside information, kept my interest in the book

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sorry, but too much name dropping and not enough mystery for my taste.

[Ayny · Rating 2 out of 5]

sorry Joan, went from name dropping to absurd. although it was funny to read and hear Joan's raspy laugh in my mind, it was not much of a story. meh

[Cornelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the acknowledgments in the book, Joan Rivers states, the characters based on her, Max Taylor, and the her daughter Drew, based on Melisa Rivers are asking the red carpet stars whodunit instead of who are you wearing. This is a comedy mystery and a fun read. The heroine, Max Taylor has Joan River’s humor, so the book is hilarious.

This is the first book of a series by Joan Rivers and Jerrilyn Farmer called Red Carpet Murder Mysteries. The award winning co-author, Jerrilyn Farmer, has written seven books in the Madeline Bean mystery series: Desperately Seeking Sushi, The Flaming Luau of Death, Perfect Sax, Mumbo Gumbo, Dim Sum Dead, Killer Wedding, Immaculate Reception, and Sympathy For The Devil. The titles alone entice me to read them, if they are a s funny as this one, I’ll love them.

This book doesn't have strong fleshed out characters but it doesn't need them. Everyone knows who Joan and Melissa Rives are so there is an immediate connection to Max and Drew Taylor. The book Is full of interesting characters and the dialogue is fabulous, reflecting each character’s distinctive voice. The story begins when Max gets an exclusive interview with Halsey, a famous starlet, a child star who successfully became a notorious adult star, involved with drugs. She has just been released from rehab and has been nominated for an academy award. When Max interview her on the red carpet at the academy awards, Halsey is wearing a bra and a thong, no designer dress, no dress at all, and she appears under the influence. Then, as Max interviews her, she drops dead. As you guessed, it turns out she was murdered. The story pulled me in from the beginning. It’s a fast, fun, funny read and I was surprised to find out who did it. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I heard of the too-soon passing of Joan Rivers, I decided I had to take the opportunity to read one of her books, and I decided her mystery novel was the perfect place to start.

Max Taylor is doing her usual red-carpet interviews at the Academy awards, alongside her daughter, Drew. When Drew’s friend and hollywood ‘it’ girl, Halsey Hamilton, shows up semi-naked and fresh from rehab ONLY wanting to give Max the story, Max agrees. Soon, though, the interview is cut, and a VERY inebriated Halsey is dead. Max feels something is not right, and even though Drew’s no-good boyfriend may be the culprit, Drew’s pleas get to her mother—leading Max on a journey across multiple freeways, including a stint in rehab to solve the crime.

I love a good amateur sleuthing, and when I can combine it with an event I enjoy, even the better. The Academy Awards is a perfect event and definitely gives me some pointers in my own writing for a massive event like the awards.

Joan’s and Jerrilyn’s styles compliment each other—they present a great whodunit with real (and archetypes of) celebrities, and a LOT of fun.

The saddest part in all of this is that a cute series is no longer going to be continued, due to her passage. I think, thought, that I would definitely check it out, if revived, posthumously.

I really enjoyed this book, it was fun to read and get my mind to escape to another, happier world. I recommend this to people interested in celebrity news and events, or people whom enjoy cozy mysteries. I picked mine up via the ereader store, check it out at your favorite retailer today!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute and fast read. This was a mystery about who killed Halsey on the red carpet at the Academy Awards, while she was being interviewed on GLAM-TV. The only thing I didn't like was that Joan Rivers and her daughter were OBVIOUSLY the main characters, but in the book, Joan's name was Max and her daughters name was Drew. Why Joan Rivers decided to go that route, I'll never understand. She mentions celebrity's names in almost every chapter, which I thought was pretty cool.

At the end of the book, we find out that this is only the first of a new Mystery series penned by Joan Rivers.

It was MUCH better than one of the "Murder She Wrote" mystery books.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was it a great mystery? No.
Was it a fun read? Yes.
Was it true to Joan Rivers? Definitely!

If you do not like Joan Rivers, you will probably not like this book. Her voice was in my head the whole time I read it; but I like Joan. The story was intersting. I'm not sure many other peope could have pulled it off. Only someone who has lived the life could write this.

It was an easy read, but I was not dying to keep reading. It did not keep me really engaged.

The title makes me wonder if there will be others, making this a series.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read. You can hear Joan Rivers voice in your head as you're reading.

I don't know about it being a series. How many actors can drop dead on the red carpet before they stop showing up to the Oscars? But we'll see.

[Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was fluffy and the motive while believable was not the shocker I thought it would be. Nothing inherently wrong with this book other than the fact that I expected more comedy.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Liked the dialogue and even all the name-dropping but the plot was so weak it made me wonder why she thought she needed one.

[Miranda Morrone · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this because it was $2

[René · Rating 1 out of 5]

What was I thinking?

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entreating entertainment murder mystery. creating n alter ego much like herself Joan rivers delves into Hollywood's academy awards season and rehab to find out what happened to a young lady who dies during a red carpet interview. Fun and lighthearted.

[Past Tenseee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a humorous book with touch of mystery on it. I love how Max begun to be a detective, and the book makes you feel you are in the Hollywood yourself. It's suspenseful when Max found out who the killer is. It is easy to read, but I'm not satisfied by the ending. I still have questions in mind.

[Cynthia Bemis Abrams · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been too many years since Joan's passing, so hearing her voice in this rollicking murder mystery is a wonderful treat. As with so much of Joan's work, there are life lessons and observations made that seem true to her values and beliefs.

An easy read that never gets boring.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very sad to read knowing Joan is gone. It was not that great a read, not very suspenseful more like just talking about herself.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joan wrote about what she knew and it shows in this fun mystery. Joan brings her legendary wit and backstage knowledge to life. You'll never guess who done it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice light read, no sex or violence, some humor

[Veronica Freeney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a silly, light hearted read. I expected that it would be wittier than it was.

[Beth Tobin Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and easy read and I thought that Joan did a great job writing. That's the reason I read it - to see how Joan would do.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok mystery, but the characters were not very likable. Max, the main character made me thing of Jane Lynch!

[Christine Lucia Asha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Jerrilyn Farmer I miss you so!!!

This mystery was hilarious and witty and totally rewarding.

[Robert Velasco · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute book. Made me miss Joan Rivers.

[Sadist3x'sfast · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it b/c it was free and I love some of Joan Rivers's humor and her gossip about Celebrities. I'll be brief b/c I thought it was generic in part and deserves a generic review. This was mainly Joan talking about her life circa 2009'ish . It really has more about backstage press "goings on" than it does about who killed victim. The victim is a mix of Tara Reid/Paris Hilton/Lindsey Lohan and her murder isn't even investigated much b/c it was drug related. Anyone who has turned on the news over the past 4 years knows young, drug addicted Hollywood stars is nothing new. This is why this novel in particular gets relegated into the generic category. Joan personalized it so much that it feels like a memoir about a woman telling about her life during the time a random celebrity died. It reads very similar to Mary Higgins Clark and Nancy Drew so the writing too is typical. It does have it moments of amusement but not enough to make this book warrant a rave review.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxine Taylor is the queen of the red carpet interviews. But her scoop at this year's Oscars, troubled teen star Halsey Hamilton, turns to tragedy when Halsey collapses at her feet. When no one else thinks it might be murder, Maxine decides to find out. I bought this book only because it had Jerrilyn's name on the cover (love her Madeline Bean books), and I'm glad I did. While the mystery was rather light, the book was fun from beginning to end.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fans of Joan Rivers' brand of dish and humor will undoubtedly rate this more highly than I. Maxie, a woman whose career and family life are much like Rivers interviews a nearly nude, dying starlet on the red carpet at the Awards. She checks into a rehab clinic to see if the starlet had really been clean when she died, as Maxie's beloved daughter's ex-fiance is suspected of involvement in the death.