Review: Good Noir Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 17, 2011
Marley used to be big in Hollywood but now he has nothing. He has lived in the back of his Mustang and in a no rent apartment from a friend. About the only thing he has is his daughter, which he can see from a telescope on the roof of his apartment. But that is iffy depending on how is ex-wife feels about him and that moment.Marley's old partner Buzz offers him a job. Marley remembers the last job with Buzz where he took the money and ran. But when Buzz offers Marley a good amount of money daily to find a missing actress, Marley thinks this is not going to be that big of a deal, even though he has no idea where to start.Madison is a midwestern girl that became an overnight hit in Hollywood. How Buzz got her to be a star in his cheap movie is still questionable. Then she disappears. Marley first talks to her sister, Justine. Then he talks to Celeste, a publicist for actors and actresses. At Celeste's Marley learns that Madison is pregnant and had been staying in the pool house. There is no Madison but there is a large amount of blood left on a bed.Then a call is placed to Buzz that for a million dollars he can have Madison back. Buzz talks Marley into becoming partners on the film to get a million dollars from the studio. Marley agrees thinking this should be easy, but when he is robbed and has no Madison he realizes how Buzz has shafted him again.This book is done as classic noir. I can feel a lot of truth in the events that happen throughout the story, even if some of it is hard to swallow. Marley basically messed his life up and doesn't seem to want to really take control until Buzz cons him into work. I did like part of the ending; it leaves an opening for future books. And I admit that I am not totally into books like this but I did want to keep reading to find out what happens next.I received this book from Book Rooster for free to review.