Murder at San Simeon

Rating:
Summary: Murderous ending
Review: This book was reasonably entertaining, if not classic literature, until the end -- or, rather, the LACK thereof. After introducing all sorts of suspects and clues, the book doesn't even give a resolution. The main character, the story's sleuth, simply decides not to pursue her investigation any further. Thus we never find out who really murdered Tom Ince, or the identity of Mademoiselle X, or whether Abigail's death was really a suicide, et cetera, et cetera. Maybe this kind of ending is acceptable in an artsy, "slice of life" short story, but not in a whodunit. It left me feeling cheated

Rating:
Summary: Childish writing
Review: This could have been a crackerjack story if it weren't for the writing. Both Ms Hearst and her co-author seem to have just graduated from a sophmore English class and are putting what they have learned to use. The characters are cutout figures with no depth and are the sum of all stereotypes in the early days of the film industry. I could only get through the first hundred pages, before it became unbearable to continue. I hope nobody wastes their money on this.

Rating:
Summary: It seemed so real I felt like I was there
Review: To read this novel is to revel in the sensuality of 1920's Hollywood and San Simeon. I can't remember the last time I read a novel which seemed so alive in my mind. I felt like I was really there at San Simeon with W.R., Marion, Abigail and the other characters. I hope Ms. Hearst will write a sequel soon, because she leaves so many tantalizing loose ends--uncertainty as to whether the murder has really been solved, her view on W.R.'s role in World War I, who Mademoiselle X really is--that I hope she doesn't leave us in suspense forever...