Death of a Blue Movie Star

Rating:
Summary: Good follow-up story
Review: A good follow up to Manhatten is my beat . This second Rune novell takes the reader on the usual Deaver ride and leaves them kicking themselves for not guessing the final twist of the plot . Although not as captivating as the Lincoln Rhyme series , Rune's individuality and attitude grabs the reader and brings them into the story . The only down-side , for me is that it portrays Australians the wrong way to an international audience . Loved it all the same .

Rating:
Summary: GOES OUT WITH A BANG
Review: DEATH OF A BLUE MOVIE STAR is a follow up to MANHATTAN IS MY BEAT, both books featuring the character of Rune, an aspiring film maker with a nose for trouble. This time around Rune is working for an agency that makes bad commercials and good documentaries. While out and about she witnesses a bombing of a pornography theatre and decides to use footage of the scene as a springboard for her first ever documentary. Her look into the life of a porn star takes a twist when the subject of her film is killed in a subsequent explosion that appears to be one in a series initiated by religious zealots. Rune becomes determined to find the killer and along the way she strikes a romance with the lead cop, makes a film, and gets herself caught right smack in the middle of all the killing.

In classic Deaver fashion there are some dizzying plot flips that keep you guessing from page to page. However Rune is no Lincoln Rhyme and the weakness of her character curses the book as a whole. She is naive and whimsical to say the least and thus unbelievable. The reader has to believe that she would have been killed just as a result of the law of averages. As a character, her survival skills are questionable at best.

The book starts off great but lags through the middle chapters. The pockets of action and intrigue are not enough to make up for lulls. However the book ends spectacularly and therefore the novel ends up being worth the read. It is a better than average suspense book but it is also not the best of Deaver. Don't expect the same chills you got in DEVILS TEARDROP, COFFIN DANCER, OR THE LESSONS OF HER DEATH. Overall a solid three star read.

Rating:
Summary: AN EXCELLENT FOLLOWUP IN THE RUNE SERIES!
Review: The first novel in the Rune series was "Manhattan is My Beat," and I didn't care for that novel very much. But "Death Of A Blue Movie Star" was ten times better. Rune is now a production director's assistant. She gets in the middle of bombings of movie theaters and production companies. Rune's new friend dies in one of the bombings. Can Rune stop the bombings and discover who killed her friend before she dies herself? Trust me, it's worth the money. The third and final Rune novel comes out in late January/ early February, and it's called "Hard News!"

Rating:
Summary: An average sequel
Review: The main character Rune does not continue her unique development and insight to the world, as she did in Manhattan is My Beat. And while it does deal with an interesting story of those that are sometimes forgotten by a society who considers some less than worthwhile, it never really gets enough steam to say that they shouldn't be forgotten. On the other hand, it does get into the personality quirks of several people, including those that society would deem worthwhile, but have secrets the world doesn't know.
Reading this story will be ok, but don't expect the same level of enjoyment as from Manhattan is My Beat.
EJ

Rating:
Summary: 2nd in Rune series is a winner!
Review: This is the second of the Deaver reissues in the "Rune" series. A third, HARD NEWS, is set to be released soon. That said Deaver delivers another brilliant soft mystery.

Rune is once again in the middle of trouble! This time she is walking sown the street when a bomb goes off in a porno theatre, nearly killing her. Our heroine can't pass up a chance to find out what is going on so she eavesdrops and finds out a cult, the Sword of Jesus, is claiming responsibility and warning of six other bombings.

Rune befriends the lead cop and a porno actress and together they try and solve why these bombings are taking place and who is doing them. Deaver's twists and turns are in full force here.

The ending alone is worth the price of the book...talk about a shocker. Waiting anxiously for HARD NEWS and any other Deaver reissues.

Rating:
Summary: 2nd in Rune series is a winner!
Review: This is the second of the Deaver reissues in the "Rune" series. A third, HARD NEWS, is set to be released soon. That said Deaver delivers another brilliant soft mystery.

Rune is once again in the middle of trouble! This time she is walking sown the street when a bomb goes off in a porno theatre, nearly killing her. Our heroine can't pass up a chance to find out what is going on so she eavesdrops and finds out a cult, the Sword of Jesus, is claiming responsibility and warning of six other bombings.

Rune befriends the lead cop and a porno actress and together they try and solve why these bombings are taking place and who is doing them. Deaver's twists and turns are in full force here.

The ending alone is worth the price of the book...talk about a shocker. Waiting anxiously for HARD NEWS and any other Deaver reissues.

Rating:
Summary: Hooked by Rune
Review: This is the second Rune novel. I was quite impressed with the first one, but this second one literally blew me away!

Rune is an absolutely great character. She is likeable, amusing, and great company. Deaver's writing is puncy, to the point, and exciting. I found myself turning the pages rapidly.

the plot is really good, as always with a Deaver novel. there is also some emotion packed in with it. There is excitement, tension, intrigue...all the things you need to make a good thriller. these Rune books are really easy, they're light, too, but not over simple. I find them even more pageturners than his normal stuff. i don't know why...i just really cant wait to find out whats going to happen and why. the characters are compelling and the plot great.

i really cannot describe what i like so much about this series, but i absolutely love it! It is a breath of fresh air, and i am really sad that there is only one book left. i really hope Deaver writes another Rune book sometimes, because this really is a great series.

With "Death os A Blue Movie Star" he creates his usual complex plot, and packs it with stuff. it's fast paced, and fairly races along to what is an absolutely stunning climax, in true Deaver style. As always, there are several twists throughout the book, and its great fun trying to guess what they'll be...and i was not right once!

Deaver is the best thriller/suspense writer out there. I love his books to pieces.

Rating:
Summary: Rune a Character That Grows On You
Review: When I first started to go back and read Jeffery Deaver's older novels, I was not sure where the character Rune fit in. This character is so off from the rest of Deaver's characters that most reader have come to expect. However this wildly dressed, mostly unemployed young woman with the Peter Pan "I will never grow up" attitude toward life has a tendency to grow on you. The reader starts to like her more and more with every page turned.

"Death of A Blue Movie Star" finds Rune working for a production company that does good documentries and bad commercials. On her way to work Rune is a witness to the bombing of a adult movie theater. This gets Rune to thinking that a documentary on the bombings is a good idea. She borrows the equipment from work and befriends Shelly Lowe, and adult movie actress whose film was showing in the theater. Then a second bomb goes and takes the actress with it and Rune is thrown into a murder mystery that takes her through the wide range of suspects. She also befriends and falls in love with Sam Healy a NYPD bomb unit officer. Will Rune find the killer and get her movie made is the main theme of the novel.

Once again Deaver uses many sub plots and motives for the bad guys, which makes for a gripping ending. Rune is much more well rounded in this novel from the first and is not as irritatiing. Maybe Deaver is letting her grow up a little in this one, but she still is the same Rune. This is a strong solid read for any Deaver fan.

Rating:
Summary: Rune returns
Review: With this, the second novel to feature the bizarre Rune, Deaver once again tempers his hard-edge tale with Rune's usual wierdness and inexperience in the world of crime fighting.

This time, Rune becomes obsessed with a porn star whose murder she witnessed. Armed with a camera and her quirky attitude, Rune dives into the porn industry and ferrets out clues and suspects ... and once again puts her life in mortal danger.

Once again Deaver delivers a compulsively readable novel, but the twists in this one are more guessible than usual, especially the final (whichs shows Rune is kinder to certain people than they deserve) and next to no mention is made of the murders she experienced in the first book. Still, pretty good.

Rating:
Summary: Rune returns
Review: With this, the second novel to feature the bizarre Rune, Deaver once again tempers his hard-edge tale with Rune's usual wierdness and inexperience in the world of crime fighting.

This time, Rune becomes obsessed with a porn star whose murder she witnessed. Armed with a camera and her quirky attitude, Rune dives into the porn industry and ferrets out clues and suspects ... and once again puts her life in mortal danger.

Once again Deaver delivers a compulsively readable novel, but the twists in this one are more guessible than usual, especially the final (whichs shows Rune is kinder to certain people than they deserve) and next to no mention is made of the murders she experienced in the first book. Still, pretty good.