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A Death In Beverly Hills
This book was materially revised in September, 2014 and is substantially different from the earlier edition.
A Death In Beverly Hills
When the pregnant wife and three year old step-daughter of fading movie star, Tom Travis, dis-appeared, a massive, fruitless, search was launched. Three months later, the body of Travis’s wife was discovered in a shallow grave only a few miles from where Tom had been riding his dune buggy on the day she vanished. Of the three year old little girl, Sarah, no trace was found.
Arrested and placed on trial for capital murder, Tom Travis is now only a days away from an almost certain guilty verdict. Desperate to find some way out, his lawyer hires suspended Ex-Deputy D.A., Steve Janson, to review all the files and find some over-looked clue that might keep Travis off death row.
Janson, whose own wife had been murdered almost two years before, accepts the assignment, not to help Travis, but in the faint hope of finding Sarah still alive. Janson’s investigation leads him on a twisted path from Travis’s mistress to her drug-dealing brother to the writer and producer of his last movie and on across the landscape of Southern California until, eventually, Janson begins to wonder if Travis might really be innocent after all.
A Death In Beverly Hills
When the pregnant wife and three year old step-daughter of fading movie star, Tom Travis, dis-appeared, a massive, fruitless, search was launched. Three months later, the body of Travis’s wife was discovered in a shallow grave only a few miles from where Tom had been riding his dune buggy on the day she vanished. Of the three year old little girl, Sarah, no trace was found.
Arrested and placed on trial for capital murder, Tom Travis is now only a days away from an almost certain guilty verdict. Desperate to find some way out, his lawyer hires suspended Ex-Deputy D.A., Steve Janson, to review all the files and find some over-looked clue that might keep Travis off death row.
Janson, whose own wife had been murdered almost two years before, accepts the assignment, not to help Travis, but in the faint hope of finding Sarah still alive. Janson’s investigation leads him on a twisted path from Travis’s mistress to her drug-dealing brother to the writer and producer of his last movie and on across the landscape of Southern California until, eventually, Janson begins to wonder if Travis might really be innocent after all.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2009
335 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
David Grace
53 books9 followersDavid M. Alexander (writing as David Grace) Biography
David Grace is the pen name for David M. Alexander. David Alexander was born in Upstate New York in the mid-nineteen forties. His family moved to Northern California in the early nineteen sixties. He graduated from Stanford University in 1967 with a major in history and a minor in economics. He received a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of California Law School, Boalt Hall, in June 1970, graduating in the top ten percent of his class. He was licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of the State of California in January 1971 and before the Supreme Court of the United States in November, 1977.
His first novel was "The Chocolate Spy," Coward, McCann & Geoghigan, 1978. His second novel was "Fane," Pocket Books/Timescape Books, 1981.
"My Real Name Is Lisa" was published in hardcover by Carroll & Graf 1996.
The author alone and with Hayford Peirce has published
10 pieces of short fiction in "Analog Magazine" and "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine."
The complete list of David Grace novels available from Wildside Press (print) and as ebooks from Amazon, Smashwords and other ebook distributors are:
"The Accidental Magician"
"The Concrete Kiss"
"Daniel"(ebook only)
"A Death In Beverly Hills"
"Doll's Eyes"
"Easy Target"
"Etched In Bone"
"Fever Dreams"
"The Forbidden List"
"Shooting Crows At Dawn"
"Stolen Angel"
"The Traitor's Mistress"
"True Faith"
Mr. Grace's latest novel is "The Concrete Kiss."
David Alexander shared story credit with Dan Wright and Sam Egan for the Outer Limits TV series episode, "Joyride," starring Cliff Robertson and broadcast during the 2000 season.
David Grace is the pen name for David M. Alexander. David Alexander was born in Upstate New York in the mid-nineteen forties. His family moved to Northern California in the early nineteen sixties. He graduated from Stanford University in 1967 with a major in history and a minor in economics. He received a Doctor of Laws degree from the University of California Law School, Boalt Hall, in June 1970, graduating in the top ten percent of his class. He was licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court of the State of California in January 1971 and before the Supreme Court of the United States in November, 1977.
His first novel was "The Chocolate Spy," Coward, McCann & Geoghigan, 1978. His second novel was "Fane," Pocket Books/Timescape Books, 1981.
"My Real Name Is Lisa" was published in hardcover by Carroll & Graf 1996.
The author alone and with Hayford Peirce has published
10 pieces of short fiction in "Analog Magazine" and "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine."
The complete list of David Grace novels available from Wildside Press (print) and as ebooks from Amazon, Smashwords and other ebook distributors are:
"The Accidental Magician"
"The Concrete Kiss"
"Daniel"(ebook only)
"A Death In Beverly Hills"
"Doll's Eyes"
"Easy Target"
"Etched In Bone"
"Fever Dreams"
"The Forbidden List"
"Shooting Crows At Dawn"
"Stolen Angel"
"The Traitor's Mistress"
"True Faith"
Mr. Grace's latest novel is "The Concrete Kiss."
David Alexander shared story credit with Dan Wright and Sam Egan for the Outer Limits TV series episode, "Joyride," starring Cliff Robertson and broadcast during the 2000 season.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 31, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
When the wife and three year old stepdaughter of fading movie star, Tom Travis, disappear, a massive, fruitless, search was launched. Three months later the body of Travis's wife was discovered in a shallow grave only a few miles from where Tom had been riding his dune buggy on the day she vanished. Of the three year old little girl, Sarah, no trace was found. Arrested and placed on trial for capital murder, Tom Travis is now days away from an almost certain guilty verdict.
A mysterious whodunit murder mystery. A disbarred lawyer is searching for evidence to clear Tom Travis of murder whilst trying to deal with his own traumatic personal life. There is quite a lot of characters to remember. It took me a few chapters to get into this book and then I was hooked. I loved the twist at the end. There's a few spelling mistakes that can put you off track for a few seconds.
#FreeKindleBook
When the wife and three year old stepdaughter of fading movie star, Tom Travis, disappear, a massive, fruitless, search was launched. Three months later the body of Travis's wife was discovered in a shallow grave only a few miles from where Tom had been riding his dune buggy on the day she vanished. Of the three year old little girl, Sarah, no trace was found. Arrested and placed on trial for capital murder, Tom Travis is now days away from an almost certain guilty verdict.
A mysterious whodunit murder mystery. A disbarred lawyer is searching for evidence to clear Tom Travis of murder whilst trying to deal with his own traumatic personal life. There is quite a lot of characters to remember. It took me a few chapters to get into this book and then I was hooked. I loved the twist at the end. There's a few spelling mistakes that can put you off track for a few seconds.
#FreeKindleBook
January 28, 2017
This was a book that has been sat on my Kindle for a fair while, and finally I decided to give it a read. In spite of the various spelling mistakes, and the occasional jumbled name, this was actually a very entertaining read. Everything seemed to have been well thought out, and there were plenty of twists throughout the book, certainly enough to keep me engrossed. So much so that I even started overlooking the spelling mistakes. This was a 'just one more chapter before I put it down book', but I became so caught up in things one chapter carried on to another.
I also believe that there is a re-edited version available, which will help any future readers.
I also believe that there is a re-edited version available, which will help any future readers.
December 25, 2017
'A Death in Beverly Hills' surprised me with how good the story line was. I guess I haven't read any books from this author before, so I was pleasantly surprised. The way the book played out it held me glued to the pages. Full of action, deceit, thrilling scenarios, great characters and one heck of a plot. Janson was a great lead. He had his own demons to deal with and this case helped him through that. I liked the twists. An overall good read. A good add to your tbr list.
July 2, 2017
9021-uh-oh
This story was great! It held my interest right up to the last page and didn't falter. I begrudgingly held back a star because theatre are quite a few mistakes throughout the book that, in spite of the story's pull, were very distracting. If not for those, it would have been a solid 5 stars!
This story was great! It held my interest right up to the last page and didn't falter. I begrudgingly held back a star because theatre are quite a few mistakes throughout the book that, in spite of the story's pull, were very distracting. If not for those, it would have been a solid 5 stars!
July 26, 2017
The best book I've read in a long time
An outstanding story, we'll put together. Very good carector study and technical enough without being overbearing. Good court room drama. This is a complete story,not one of those "buy the next one to see how this one ends". I liked the Arthur enough to buy another of his works.
An outstanding story, we'll put together. Very good carector study and technical enough without being overbearing. Good court room drama. This is a complete story,not one of those "buy the next one to see how this one ends". I liked the Arthur enough to buy another of his works.
August 2, 2021
Long Read
Took forever to read. Maybe it was just me. I skipped a lot of long passages. That said, character development was great. Steve Janson is sexy as hell if you like the still water runs deep type. Smart. Aware of himself. And just a little tortured. I'm glad his efforts paid off.
Took forever to read. Maybe it was just me. I skipped a lot of long passages. That said, character development was great. Steve Janson is sexy as hell if you like the still water runs deep type. Smart. Aware of himself. And just a little tortured. I'm glad his efforts paid off.
August 18, 2019
Great read
What a great reAd!! What a twist at the end. I want sure about this book in the very beginning but once I got into it, it was exciting. I love the Steve Jansen character!
What a great reAd!! What a twist at the end. I want sure about this book in the very beginning but once I got into it, it was exciting. I love the Steve Jansen character!
Read
July 17, 2020So many errors! There’s no way I’m going to review this book if the author himself is too lazy to pick up and correct his and the proof reader’s, errors after so long. Language, punctuation, calling a character by an incorrect name.. and the list goes on.
April 9, 2021
This book was a joy to read.
Tom Travis, Hollywood action hero, is accused of murdering his pregnant wife.
Is he guilty or not. If not, who is?
He's not helping his defence team much.
Even some of the minor characters really came to life for me.
Happy to recommend.
Tom Travis, Hollywood action hero, is accused of murdering his pregnant wife.
Is he guilty or not. If not, who is?
He's not helping his defence team much.
Even some of the minor characters really came to life for me.
Happy to recommend.
June 30, 2017
Good read
Minus the grammatical errors, this was a good read. I would read another book by this author. I do recommend it.
Minus the grammatical errors, this was a good read. I would read another book by this author. I do recommend it.
July 4, 2017
Very moving. Great book
Very well written. It is one you
do not want to put down. Will read other books like it as well.
Very well written. It is one you
do not want to put down. Will read other books like it as well.
July 31, 2018
Murder story was complicated and too many characters, and the background story of the main character was a little unnecessary so it slowed the pace down
August 5, 2019
Long winded finally got interesting as the trial approached
August 19, 2019
Race to the end!
I could not out this story down! The reader feels the frustration of the investigator, Steve. It was a fantastic story with a complete ending!
I could not out this story down! The reader feels the frustration of the investigator, Steve. It was a fantastic story with a complete ending!
December 6, 2019
Not captivating
The book is so slow I didn't finish it. Not fast paced for a murder mystery. I read more than half to give it a chance.
The book is so slow I didn't finish it. Not fast paced for a murder mystery. I read more than half to give it a chance.
July 1, 2021
Intriguing
Excellent plot, memorable characters, and a classic example of what happens when an 'open and shut case' goes sideways for lack of effort
Excellent plot, memorable characters, and a classic example of what happens when an 'open and shut case' goes sideways for lack of effort
dnf
October 30, 2023After starting this in May, it has sat untouched til October. I've tried to cajole myself to finish, but I don't have the slightest interest in it.
March 29, 2012
Another free ebook download, but this one is rather good. Yes, it's got it's fair share of typos, but mostly it's a missing or extra word here and there rather than spelling errors or grammatical howlers, so it didn't impinge on my enjoyment too much. In fact, the few spelling mistakes were actually quite funny. The author obviously has trouble with double consonants, so there were a lot of scared tables and shinny clothes and so forth, which was quite entertaining. Well, it amused me.
The plot revolves around an ex-cop called in to reinvestigate the murder of a celebrity's wife, but since the ex-cop's wife was also murdered, there are echoes of the previous case. The style is confusing at first - there are here-and-now scenes, scenes recalled from the present murder's investigation and flashbacks to the ex-cop's past, all jumbled up without much explanation, but you get used to it after a while. It would have helped, though, to have some more memorable names - Steve, Tom, Greg, Simon... they're just too easy to mix up. Even the author gets them mixed up occasionally. The author has a habit, too, of using both first name and surname interchangeably: "Steve said... Janson nodded..." sometimes in the same paragraph, but you get used to that, too, in time.
The first half of the book is quite slow. The ex-cop reads the investigation files and sometimes visits the key people in the case, and it may seem as if nothing much is happening here, but I really liked the subtle way characters are built up in layers, and events are revealed piece by piece. If you pay attention, too, there are all sorts of clues as to what really happened - or are they just red herrings? I found myself devising possible scenarios in my head - always a good sign in this kind of book.
The characters had more depth than is usual for a murder mystery. The cops all tended to come from the same cookie cutter - brusque, wise-cracking, macho types, but the women were more varied and less predictable, and the accused was a wonderful mixture of bravado and sheer stupidity. The ex-cop's history was interesting, and there's a thought-provoking theme on the question of justice - not just the commonplace one of ensuring that the innocent are not unfairly convicted, but the more awkward one of when (or whether) it's acceptable to take the law into your own hands, and how a civilised society deals with that.
It surprised me that this book has received quite a few critical reviews in some places. It's not perfect, it needs some solid editing and it's not great literature, but then it doesn't pretend to be. It did exactly what I expected of it - created a satisfyingly tangled plot and characters who behave believably, without depending on car chases or gun fights or unlikely coincidences. In the end, the identity of the killer was very logical without being blindingly obvious, and didn't come out of left field in the final chapter. Too many authors use sleight of hand to conceal vital clues, allowing them to reveal the killer with a triumphant flourish at the end. My only complaint is that I found the courtroom scenes an unnecessarily drawn-out extension to the plot, and I suspect the author was overly focussed on the visual dramatics of a possible film version. It made the ending a little simpler than it could have been. But it was still good exciting stuff, a thoroughly enjoyable read. Four stars.
The plot revolves around an ex-cop called in to reinvestigate the murder of a celebrity's wife, but since the ex-cop's wife was also murdered, there are echoes of the previous case. The style is confusing at first - there are here-and-now scenes, scenes recalled from the present murder's investigation and flashbacks to the ex-cop's past, all jumbled up without much explanation, but you get used to it after a while. It would have helped, though, to have some more memorable names - Steve, Tom, Greg, Simon... they're just too easy to mix up. Even the author gets them mixed up occasionally. The author has a habit, too, of using both first name and surname interchangeably: "Steve said... Janson nodded..." sometimes in the same paragraph, but you get used to that, too, in time.
The first half of the book is quite slow. The ex-cop reads the investigation files and sometimes visits the key people in the case, and it may seem as if nothing much is happening here, but I really liked the subtle way characters are built up in layers, and events are revealed piece by piece. If you pay attention, too, there are all sorts of clues as to what really happened - or are they just red herrings? I found myself devising possible scenarios in my head - always a good sign in this kind of book.
The characters had more depth than is usual for a murder mystery. The cops all tended to come from the same cookie cutter - brusque, wise-cracking, macho types, but the women were more varied and less predictable, and the accused was a wonderful mixture of bravado and sheer stupidity. The ex-cop's history was interesting, and there's a thought-provoking theme on the question of justice - not just the commonplace one of ensuring that the innocent are not unfairly convicted, but the more awkward one of when (or whether) it's acceptable to take the law into your own hands, and how a civilised society deals with that.
It surprised me that this book has received quite a few critical reviews in some places. It's not perfect, it needs some solid editing and it's not great literature, but then it doesn't pretend to be. It did exactly what I expected of it - created a satisfyingly tangled plot and characters who behave believably, without depending on car chases or gun fights or unlikely coincidences. In the end, the identity of the killer was very logical without being blindingly obvious, and didn't come out of left field in the final chapter. Too many authors use sleight of hand to conceal vital clues, allowing them to reveal the killer with a triumphant flourish at the end. My only complaint is that I found the courtroom scenes an unnecessarily drawn-out extension to the plot, and I suspect the author was overly focussed on the visual dramatics of a possible film version. It made the ending a little simpler than it could have been. But it was still good exciting stuff, a thoroughly enjoyable read. Four stars.
April 25, 2016
SUCH A GREAT BOOK
One of the other reviewers said this book made them late for an appointment. I can identify with that! This was an amazing read. I loved it and actually tried to slow my reading for the last chapters because I didn't want the book to end (I tried!!). You will not be disappointed. There are a few typos but except for one, they are easy to skip over. Wonderful suspenseful story.
One of the other reviewers said this book made them late for an appointment. I can identify with that! This was an amazing read. I loved it and actually tried to slow my reading for the last chapters because I didn't want the book to end (I tried!!). You will not be disappointed. There are a few typos but except for one, they are easy to skip over. Wonderful suspenseful story.
July 10, 2011
This book (at least on my kindle) was very confusing. It kept getting the names all mixed up among some other things. This book could have been written and finished in a quarter of the time that what it was originally done.
I will never read this book again...and probably nothing else by David Grace.
I will never read this book again...and probably nothing else by David Grace.
October 15, 2011
Murder mystery in which a disbarred lawyer seeks evidence to clear a murder suspect, whilst dealing with his own traumatic personal history. A satisfyingly complex plot somewhat let down by some fundamental spelling errors.
January 27, 2012
This was a free book which is why I downloaded it. It's an ok read but very predictable. I'm not a huge fan of who-dunnits other than the classics so perhaps I'm biased against the genre. I wouldn't pay money for it.
March 22, 2016
A very good read!!!
I really loved reading A Death In Beverly Hills. I had quite a hard time putting it down at night and was kinda sad when I completed the book. Its a great who dunit and I highly recommend reading this book!!!
I really loved reading A Death In Beverly Hills. I had quite a hard time putting it down at night and was kinda sad when I completed the book. Its a great who dunit and I highly recommend reading this book!!!
January 14, 2017
Thoroughly enthralling
I found this book almost impossible to put down. Just as I thought there was an opportune break something happened to make me read another chapter and so on it went. Recommend as a great read.
I found this book almost impossible to put down. Just as I thought there was an opportune break something happened to make me read another chapter and so on it went. Recommend as a great read.
April 11, 2011
Couldn't finish that. Was just a complete bore and all the characters were just cookie cutouts. No wonder it was free.
September 24, 2012
I enjoyed this book, good storyline and easy reading for my holiday. Lots of mistakes in it though in relation to spelling etc but what do you want from a free kindle book :) Worth a read.
September 16, 2015
This is a who done it book. A man's wife disappears and he get charged with the crime. Other than that this book is very fuzzy on details and I had a hard time following it.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews