Murder At The Academy Awards (R): A Red Carpet Murder Mystery (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
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. 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.
What do You think about Murder At The Academy Awards (R): A Red Carpet Murder Mystery (2010)?
It's a fun and easy read. Something I'm into these days. Light and breezy.
—grady
