Dem Bones' Revenge

Tracy Eaton #2

by Kris Neri

When the cops catch mystery writer Tracy Eaton's mom, Hollywood legend
Martha Collins, alone with the bloody remains of celebrity litigant Vince
Sperry — holding nothing but a lame excuse — Tracy leaps to her mother's
defense, despite her own publication woes.

Only Martha seems determined to impede Tracy's attempts to clear her.
That just convinces Tracy her mom has pulled a doozy this time, even if Tracy
can't see how anything Martha does relates to Sperry's murder.

Not that other suspects don't abound — but those scare Tracy even more.
Was Martha right, had Tracy's stuffy lawyer husband, Drew, settled his
career-making lawsuit with a bullet? Or did her dad, aging Hollywood
heartthrob Alec Grainger, decide to end an old feud once and for all?

All roads seem to lead to the past, to one Hollywood scandal after
another. Will Tracy's digging clear Martha's past and free her future? Or
will she unearth something that's sure to slam the cell door shut on her
exasperating, but much-loved mother?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kris Neri's first Tracy Eaton Mystery, Revenge of the Gypsy Queen, has
been nominated for Agatha, Anthony and Macavity Awards for Best First Novel.
Neri, a Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA member, has combined her acting
background with her love of mystery fiction to create a ground-breaking new
chapter in the evolving L.A. Detective Story that began with Raymond
Chandler. Her humorous mystery novels, Revenge of the Gypsy Queen and Dem
Bones' Revenge, feature Tracy Eaton — mystery writer, detective wannabe and
the offspring of eccentric Hollywood stars — a heroine as impulsive,
energetic and imaginative as the city that shaped her. The quintessential
industry brat, Tracy is both a product of her background and its most droll
critic.

Geraldine Gallentree has written of Revenge of the Gypsy Queen in her
Cozies, Capers & Crimes newsletter, "This was a book I kept trying to cast as
a movie. What potential this would have on the big screen. Imagine Marisa
Tomei as the errant bride who's actually named Marisa and Alec Baldwin as
Tracy Eaton's rock solid, blue-blood husband, Drew. What fun! Rush to your
local bookstore and demand they order Revenge of the Gypsy Queen by Kris
Neri." Orange County bestselling author, Jan Burke, has described it as, "I
Love Lucy meets Murder She Wrote." L.A. mystery novelist Dale Furutani has
called it, "A great read." And The Charlotte Austin Review describes the
ending of Revenge of the Gypsy Queen as "ingenious and unpredictable . . .
needs to be read in one sitting. Don't miss it." Tracy Eaton was introduced
in Neri's humorous Derringer Award winning story, "L.A. Justice" (Murder by
Thirteen). She's made two new short story appearances in "L.A. Memorial"
(Dead on Arrival/Gerstenberg, Germany) and "Beverly Hills Halloween"
(Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine).

Neri has published more than forty short stories in such publications as
Woman's World, TheCase.com, Blue Murder Magazine, Murderous Intent Mystery
Magazine, Mystery Time, Crimestalker Casebook and many others. Her story,
"Capital Justice," which took a dark, edgy look at the convoluted path
justice must sometime follow in the City of the Angels, also won a Derringer
Award for Best Short Story.

An L.A.-area resident since 1978, Kris Neri has spoken before many local
and national audiences. She's appeared on Larry Mantle's "Airtalk" on KPCC-FM
radio, and has been interviewed on CNBC-TV. The former president of the Los
Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime, she is also a member of the SoCal
chapter of Mystery Writers of America. She teaches crime writing at various
Southland campuses.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy

294 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2000

About the author

My latest novel is MAGICAL MUSHROOMS, the third adventure in my Samantha Brennan and Annabelle Haggerty Magical Mystery, featuring a questionable psychic who teams up with a contemporary goddess hidden within the FBI.

The earlier books in the series are HIGH CRIMES ON THE MAGICAL PLANE and ANNABELLE HAGGERTY. Both novels were Lefty Award nominees for Best Humorous Mystery Novel and MAGICAL ALIENATION was a New Mexico-Arizona Book Award winner.

I've written one women's fiction-crime crossover, HOPSCOTCH LIFE, featuring quirky protagonist Plum Tardy. HOPSCOTCH LIFE is also a New Mexico-Arizona Book Award winner.

I also write the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity and Lefty Award-nominated Tracy Eaton mysteries, featuring the daughter of eccentric Hollywood stars, REVENGE OF THE GYPSY QUEEN, DEM BONES' REVENGE, REVENGE FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE and the latest, REVENGE ON ROUTE 66, which takes place in the quirkiest spots along the Southwestern Route 66, and which is a New Mexico-Arizona Book Award finalist.

I also write thrillers and short stories.

I've published some sixty short-plus stories, which have appeared in periodicals and anthologies in the US and overseas. I'm a two-time Derringer Award winner and a two-time Pushcart Prize nominee for my short fiction. One of my Derringer Award winners, "L.A. Justice," is the story in which my Tracy Eaton series was born. You can read that and another Tracy Eaton short story, as well as some other stories, on the Stories page of my website: www.krisneri.com.

I teach writing online for the prestigious Writers' Program of the UCLA Extension School, and other organizations.

I have been a lifelong voracious reader. My tastes are varied. I love mysteries -- both cozies and those that are darkish, but humorous mysteries are my favorites. I also read thrillers, urban fantasy, humorous urban fantasy, general fiction, and loads of personal growth books -- in short, a little bit of everything. As a former bookseller, I've read it all!

Reviews

[Karen Holman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a mystery book set in the Hollywood area of California. These characters make the story questionable and the ending calls for the reader to wonder the value of the chosen ending. copy right 2000

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery author Tracey Eaton must keep her mother, movie star Martha Collins, from taking the blame for a murder she couldn't have committed. But as Tracey digs into her mother's past, she begins to suspect her mother might be hiding a very good murder motive. This is my third time reading the book, and I still loved it.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery writer Tracy Eaton doesn't plan to get involved in another mystery, but when her difficult diva of a mother, famed actress Martha Collins, is the main suspect, Tracy and her husband's uncle Philly, a man of elastic morals, have to help out. The fast-paced, funny mystery gives an insider view of Hollywood royalty.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the series and another fun outing with Tracy Eaton and her crew. A couple of times while reading this one I had to stop and read again just because her writing is fast and a reader can get confused if they are distracted while reading. Not a complaint, I like fast paced writing, but people talking on cell phones while you're reading won't fly with this one! Recommend.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty disappointed by this book, especially after all the glowing reviews. The main character seemed surrounded by bossy, stupid, or thoughtless people. There was no one I would want in my life, especially her mother.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Confusing plot. Not recommended for an audio book choice.

[Janeal · Rating 4 out of 5]

read it several years ago so will have to read again to type a review, I do know I want to read the rest of her books.