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Rita Farmer Mysteries #1
The Actress
Single mother and aspiring Hollywood actress Rita Farmer just can’t catch a commercial break…and if she doesn’t find work soon, her ex-husband could take away Petey, her four-year-old son. So when a celebrity defense attorney approaches Rita with an unsual job offer—to act as a private drama coach for tabloid queen and murder suspect Eileen Tenaway—she’s on the case.
Now it is up to Rita to secretly help Eileen, accused of killing her own daughter, seem sympathetic to the jury. She will teach her defendant the subtle cues of body language, facial expressions, even vocal style…but at what cost? Rita’s dream money-making scheme soon turns into a living nightmare as details about Eileen’s private life begin to unfold—and Rita finds her own life, and Petey’s, in jeopardy…
Now it is up to Rita to secretly help Eileen, accused of killing her own daughter, seem sympathetic to the jury. She will teach her defendant the subtle cues of body language, facial expressions, even vocal style…but at what cost? Rita’s dream money-making scheme soon turns into a living nightmare as details about Eileen’s private life begin to unfold—and Rita finds her own life, and Petey’s, in jeopardy…
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 27, 2008
581 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Sims
28 books112 followersElizabeth Sims is an American author and writing authority. Her novels include the Lambda Award-winning Lillian Byrd crime series and the Rita Farmer mystery series, and she writes frequently for Writer's Digest magazine, where she is a Contributing Editor.
Booklist calls her work "crime fiction as smart as it is compelling," and Crimespree magazine praises her "strong voice and wonderful characters."
Are you a writer too—or would you like to be one? If so, you might find inspiration in Elizabeth's book You've Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams, published by Writer's Digest Books.
Elizabeth earned degrees in English from Michigan State University and Wayne State University, where she won the Tompkins Award for graduate fiction. She has worked as a reporter, editor, photographer, technical writer, bookseller, street busker, ranch hand, corporate executive, and symphonic percussionist. Elizabeth belongs to several literary societies as well as American Mensa.
To learn more about her and to view a full list of her available works, including free excerpts and book discussion guides, visit www.elizabethsims.com
There you can get in touch and / or join her newsgroup.
Booklist calls her work "crime fiction as smart as it is compelling," and Crimespree magazine praises her "strong voice and wonderful characters."
Are you a writer too—or would you like to be one? If so, you might find inspiration in Elizabeth's book You've Got a Book in You: A Stress-Free Guide to Writing the Book of Your Dreams, published by Writer's Digest Books.
Elizabeth earned degrees in English from Michigan State University and Wayne State University, where she won the Tompkins Award for graduate fiction. She has worked as a reporter, editor, photographer, technical writer, bookseller, street busker, ranch hand, corporate executive, and symphonic percussionist. Elizabeth belongs to several literary societies as well as American Mensa.
To learn more about her and to view a full list of her available works, including free excerpts and book discussion guides, visit www.elizabethsims.com
There you can get in touch and / or join her newsgroup.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 27, 2019
I remember reading this book beginning of the year.
I don't remember how it ended up in my to read list, since it's not a lesfic mystery, but it was pretty satisfying.
Strong woman lead, with a quirky sense of humor and a nice circonvoluted plot that didn't disappoint at the end.
I don't remember how it ended up in my to read list, since it's not a lesfic mystery, but it was pretty satisfying.
Strong woman lead, with a quirky sense of humor and a nice circonvoluted plot that didn't disappoint at the end.
April 10, 2021
Now this was a wonderful mystery ride. Told in an entertaining first person narrative, this gay adjacent story held me spellbound. It is chock full of suspense with an eclectic cast of characters. A solid five star novel.
5⭐️
5⭐️
January 28, 2020
3.5 Stars
Well, this certainly put a smile on my face. Most of the plot is completely implausible but you know what, the very over-the-topness of it all is what saved it from falling at every hurdle. Like Los Angeles itself everything is overblown and just a facade of beautiful people, phoney wealth and image means more than anything. Yes, the scenarios are pretty much laughable (in a bad way) but such is the talent of the author that you simply don't care about any of that because the telling is so good. Ms Sims' tongue is firmly in her cheek all the way through and that makes it a particularly joyous read - nothing is taken too seriously but neither is it mocked, it is just warm and wry and witty (some snort aloud moments crop up too).
The details of Rita's single mom life are crushingly accurate; particularly the struggles with her son as he pushes against his boundaries. At points I found myself wanting to grab Rita and tell her this is normal - all kid's go through a hitting phase and through a telling you they hate you phase; they just do and it gets better, honeslty it does. Of course her home situation isn't helped by lack of funds and a skeevy ex-husband who makes your skin crawl whenever he appears on the page (melodramatically so). Actually, the whole thing is high camp melodrama (darn, that should have been my review title!).
I was expecting a little more of the struggling actress shtick but it is strangely truncated; not sure if that was to the overall detriment of the story or not. The whole Tenaway plot though left me rolling my eyes. I was with it until the tale of Eileen's husband dieing in Brazil starts to be investigated and then it just goes very, very bizarre - so bizarre it makes Dexter look like real life. The threads of the plot do come together in the end but not without some heavy string pulling by the author and, in places, it shows just what a stretch some of the links are.
You know what, I don't actually care that it had no verisimilitude and was completely over the top - I loved the telling, I loved Rita and I WILL be reading more Elizabeth Sims because she knows how to entertain a reader.
Well, this certainly put a smile on my face. Most of the plot is completely implausible but you know what, the very over-the-topness of it all is what saved it from falling at every hurdle. Like Los Angeles itself everything is overblown and just a facade of beautiful people, phoney wealth and image means more than anything. Yes, the scenarios are pretty much laughable (in a bad way) but such is the talent of the author that you simply don't care about any of that because the telling is so good. Ms Sims' tongue is firmly in her cheek all the way through and that makes it a particularly joyous read - nothing is taken too seriously but neither is it mocked, it is just warm and wry and witty (some snort aloud moments crop up too).
The details of Rita's single mom life are crushingly accurate; particularly the struggles with her son as he pushes against his boundaries. At points I found myself wanting to grab Rita and tell her this is normal - all kid's go through a hitting phase and through a telling you they hate you phase; they just do and it gets better, honeslty it does. Of course her home situation isn't helped by lack of funds and a skeevy ex-husband who makes your skin crawl whenever he appears on the page (melodramatically so). Actually, the whole thing is high camp melodrama (darn, that should have been my review title!).
I was expecting a little more of the struggling actress shtick but it is strangely truncated; not sure if that was to the overall detriment of the story or not. The whole Tenaway plot though left me rolling my eyes. I was with it until the tale of Eileen's husband dieing in Brazil starts to be investigated and then it just goes very, very bizarre - so bizarre it makes Dexter look like real life. The threads of the plot do come together in the end but not without some heavy string pulling by the author and, in places, it shows just what a stretch some of the links are.
You know what, I don't actually care that it had no verisimilitude and was completely over the top - I loved the telling, I loved Rita and I WILL be reading more Elizabeth Sims because she knows how to entertain a reader.
July 30, 2018
Finally finished this one after setting it aside 2 times. Sims' previous sleuth, Lillian Byrd, was much more fun and authentic. I can't get happy with this new gal, (Can't even remember her name which says something.) I finished it a few weeks ago and I do remember that Sims pulled off some intriguing twists so the plot had merit. I just prefer hanging out with Lillian.
February 19, 2020
Very well written! An engaging mystery about a single mom would be actress in L.A. who is trying desperately to make ends meet and raise her four year old son Petey. She gets hired to help teach a Beverly Hills trophy wife accused of infanticide to develop strategies to win over the jury during the trial and gets pulled into a larger international criminal investigation involving the socialite's husband.
It's much better than that description sounds. I cared about the characters, I believed the conversations. I learned about the everyday life of struggling actors in Los Angeles and I also learned about how to influence a jury. This main character is a quick study and we don't waste time with lollygagging; the plot keeps moving forward and the situation becomes steadily more complex.
At times I thought Petey was a tad too precocious for just four years old, but like everyone in the book, I fell in love with the charming innocence and happy determination of the kid, a big fan of Spiderman. I also enjoyed not only the main character, but the distinctive personalities of the supporting characters. There are a few surprises, some adventures, some exciting confrontations. I will read more in this series!
It's much better than that description sounds. I cared about the characters, I believed the conversations. I learned about the everyday life of struggling actors in Los Angeles and I also learned about how to influence a jury. This main character is a quick study and we don't waste time with lollygagging; the plot keeps moving forward and the situation becomes steadily more complex.
At times I thought Petey was a tad too precocious for just four years old, but like everyone in the book, I fell in love with the charming innocence and happy determination of the kid, a big fan of Spiderman. I also enjoyed not only the main character, but the distinctive personalities of the supporting characters. There are a few surprises, some adventures, some exciting confrontations. I will read more in this series!
February 12, 2020
Rita Farmer needs cash. As a single mother she is responsible not only for her needs but those of her young son and she hasn't been able to land an acting job recently. In addition to seeking paying acting jobs she also volunteers at the local library as the story lady, reading to an eager and captive young audience.
Spotted by a local defense attorney she is hired as a tutor of sorts to coach one of his clients, Eileen, a wealthy but extremelyunsympathetic woman on trial for murdering her own child. (This scenario puts me in mind of the TV series BULL where they often coach their clients on body language, facial expressions and their general demeanor in court). He offers Rite $1,000 a day for her services. How could anyone turn down an offer like that!
Rita accepts the job and begins her “hush-hush” job of “acting coach” to the accused but soon finds herself embroiled in not only the current case but in Eileen’s past. Told in the first person, this is a quick and reasonably enjoyable read.
Spotted by a local defense attorney she is hired as a tutor of sorts to coach one of his clients, Eileen, a wealthy but extremelyunsympathetic woman on trial for murdering her own child. (This scenario puts me in mind of the TV series BULL where they often coach their clients on body language, facial expressions and their general demeanor in court). He offers Rite $1,000 a day for her services. How could anyone turn down an offer like that!
Rita accepts the job and begins her “hush-hush” job of “acting coach” to the accused but soon finds herself embroiled in not only the current case but in Eileen’s past. Told in the first person, this is a quick and reasonably enjoyable read.
March 24, 2020
I started this over a week ago and I've not been well, so reading less than usual, but I'd still only got as far as 33% and I realised it just isn't for me. I like the general idea and concept of what she's supposed to be doing BUT the author has created a main character who doesn't seem to take anything too seriously, and it let it down. It's a serious business, murder and legalities, yet we keep hearing how she has the hots for her boss and this wasn't really the story I felt we'd been promised at all. Considering Rita's an adult mother, she needs to grow up. And the fact the murder was of a child, you'd expect her to act with a lot more maturity than she did.
There were the odd amusing little remarks but for me, there's a time and place and in this instance the timing's all off.
I liked her character Daniel a great deal and what Rita did for the mission, too. But the way she treated the whole crime spoilt it and made it too farfetched.
There were the odd amusing little remarks but for me, there's a time and place and in this instance the timing's all off.
I liked her character Daniel a great deal and what Rita did for the mission, too. But the way she treated the whole crime spoilt it and made it too farfetched.
June 15, 2020
Good novel with intriguing premise
I like the overall premise of this novel, a struggling actress who is hired by a defense attorney to coach up his client in the courtroom. I felt that the ending was not satisfying, and seeing the future of the series, I think it would have been more interesting if it stayed with the original premise. I don't wanna give away too many spoilers, But the death of a major character midway through the book was the point where it started to run out of steam. I'll give the second book a try, and I hope that the unique perspective of Rita as an actress continues.
I like the overall premise of this novel, a struggling actress who is hired by a defense attorney to coach up his client in the courtroom. I felt that the ending was not satisfying, and seeing the future of the series, I think it would have been more interesting if it stayed with the original premise. I don't wanna give away too many spoilers, But the death of a major character midway through the book was the point where it started to run out of steam. I'll give the second book a try, and I hope that the unique perspective of Rita as an actress continues.
September 17, 2021
Not a Lillian Byrd wannabe
For fans of Lillian Byrd, don’t expect Rita and Lillian to have anything in common besides likability. OK, likability and not always knowing where the rent money is coming from. I’m a big fan of Lillian’s, but the creative mind of Elizabeth Sims gave birth to this totally different character I’m looking forward to getting to know better.
The Actress is your basic good mystery, with intrigue, drama and plot twists to keep you guessing. It was satisfying, yet left me just hungry enough for the next serving.
For fans of Lillian Byrd, don’t expect Rita and Lillian to have anything in common besides likability. OK, likability and not always knowing where the rent money is coming from. I’m a big fan of Lillian’s, but the creative mind of Elizabeth Sims gave birth to this totally different character I’m looking forward to getting to know better.
The Actress is your basic good mystery, with intrigue, drama and plot twists to keep you guessing. It was satisfying, yet left me just hungry enough for the next serving.
March 2, 2022
Love this author's Lillian Byrd series and I liked the plot of this mystery; in fact I liked everything about it except the main character, Rita ... not in a bad way, I just didn't gel with her as much as even the other characters in the book. I was hoping this would be another series that I would devour, but it looks like it may well be one I return to, but not as avidly as her stories. Too bad.
February 9, 2020
I seldom give 5-star reviews, but there was never a question in my mind, about how I'd rate The Actress. From the beginning, I found Rita to be a delight. She is smart, ambitious, brilliant and FUN. The story is a new spin, and I am left with a desire to see what Rita Farmer does next. There was never a moment that I was bored, and as soon as I finished it, I wanted to have the next book.
July 2, 2024
I have been a follower of Elizabeth Sims for fifteen of more years, but this is the first time I have read one of her fiction books. At first Rita Farmer irritated me, but I became accustomed to her sudden outbursts and, on the whole, enjoyed this story. It taxed my ability to believe however, when a tiny child accomplishes a feat Spider Man would be proud of.
January 18, 2020
Book One!
The actress received 5 stars because it deserves them! A different type of story line keep A your attention. The characters are very real; we've all met people such as these. Colorful, descriptive and a great read!!
The actress received 5 stars because it deserves them! A different type of story line keep A your attention. The characters are very real; we've all met people such as these. Colorful, descriptive and a great read!!
February 6, 2020
It took me a few days to get into the storyline, but when I did, WOW. Many facets of character are displayed in Elizabeth Sims' novel. The novel weaves a believable tale that is well worth the time to read.
February 11, 2020
What a poor excuse for a book
How many scenarios can you put in one book? None are well developed. Settle on a couple of ideas and then learn how to develop them. There is very little that I can reccomend in this book. Not worth reading!
How many scenarios can you put in one book? None are well developed. Settle on a couple of ideas and then learn how to develop them. There is very little that I can reccomend in this book. Not worth reading!
March 17, 2020
Whilst entertainingly written, for a chunk of the book it felt a bit.... dont know. Off? But oh my it goes some places.
Entertaining... like a new breed of Reacher (albeit less ex-army violence and more crime fiction).
Will read more of the series at some point
Entertaining... like a new breed of Reacher (albeit less ex-army violence and more crime fiction).
Will read more of the series at some point
April 21, 2020
Not at all what I expected when I started to read the book but it quickly took hold. Loved it. Very likable characters and a decent plot. I am looking forward to the second in this trio of books with Rita Farmer.
September 12, 2021
I liked the idea of an actress coaching a defendant for court and then trying to find out who is the real culprit, but the story was too over the top and the crime too overconstructed for my taste.
Written quite well and entertaining enough, but it will soon be forgotten.
Written quite well and entertaining enough, but it will soon be forgotten.
July 10, 2024
I'm very happy to have found this writer! The protagonist Rita Farmer is a cool sideways take on the amateur detective. (I'm charmed enough to overlook annoying and unneeded POV shifts--thankfully brief and few in number.
March 2, 2019
This was a fun book and a nice change of pace.
January 16, 2020
Good
Very good book. I enjoyed reading it. Will tell others about it. Liked Rita, Daniel and Peter. Nice ending on it.
Very good book. I enjoyed reading it. Will tell others about it. Liked Rita, Daniel and Peter. Nice ending on it.
January 18, 2020
Lots of surprises and wry humor
Was not real compelling at first, but I was soon hooked. Great character development throughout, and felt as though I was living in LA.
Was not real compelling at first, but I was soon hooked. Great character development throughout, and felt as though I was living in LA.
Read
January 31, 2020Glossy, pulpy fun. Mmmmmaybe one quirky character and one plot twist too many, but that's no great crime.
February 6, 2020
Surprise ending
This book was surprisingly refreshing. I enjoyed it immensely. I have a new author to read! I love finding a new author that is entertaining.
This book was surprisingly refreshing. I enjoyed it immensely. I have a new author to read! I love finding a new author that is entertaining.
February 9, 2020
I'm glad I continued on
It was hard to get into it, but holy cow, I loved every bit of it to last word!
It was hard to get into it, but holy cow, I loved every bit of it to last word!
February 13, 2020
I liked the first half, but then it kinda went off the rails.
February 19, 2020
Very promising novel that I felt fell flat. I really enjoyed the court case and how she was working with the defendant. But I found the ending just another poor straight to tv thriller.
March 25, 2020
A great ride
Well written and engaging. Loved the various characters as they tried to navigate the mystery. Couldn't put it down (so it's long after my usual sleep time)!
Well written and engaging. Loved the various characters as they tried to navigate the mystery. Couldn't put it down (so it's long after my usual sleep time)!
May 31, 2020
Fun read
Loved the characters and plot. I enjoyed the legal scene and twists. Entertaining and made we want to keep reading.
Loved the characters and plot. I enjoyed the legal scene and twists. Entertaining and made we want to keep reading.
June 1, 2020
Stunning read
From actress to teaching a mother how to act innocent during the murder trial of her daughter.
A thrilling read.
From actress to teaching a mother how to act innocent during the murder trial of her daughter.
A thrilling read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews