This sounded interesting but failed to capture my interest. Kept reading hoping that would change (it did not). 

 

Energy: Brusque. Dogmatic. Impulsive. 

 

Author has specific appearance in mind for the main character but waited to tell it 31 pages in (annoying for mind’s eye readers). Many events related to some past thing were introduced to far too late and on a shallow level (putting the ‘past’ timeline earlier would have helped). Reader is left out of story or kept distant – like when Salma reacts with shock about Hurricane Blonde stuff I didn’t feel anything because I didn’t know enough about it. Referring to one character as ‘the Black lady’, while our MC noticed the nuanced hair and accessories of White people was cringe. 

 

We're told the sister is famous, the fam is famous, our MC was famous, but I never got a sense of that (too much Tell, not enough Show); same for the sisterly bonds. The writing style felt cheesy and dialogue was too. Convoluted plotting that ignores things like being recognized. Or stuff like “I don’t trust him” ~immediately signs contract without reading~.  Murder mystery is so sub-plot it’s C-level at best. Chapters focused on revisiting the main plot point(s) over and over. 

 

Scene: 🇺🇸 Set in Los Angeles, California

Perspective: A former child star from a famous acting family fallen from grace in a public way after substance abuse was documented by tabloids. They lead a celeb death tour, including the spot where their sister was murdered. 

Timelines: Current (2020s). 1997 (when main character’s sister died).

🔥 Fuel: Withholding. Quests and scheming. Was Salma’s sister murdered? If so, by who? Is the death of another actress in the same spot related? 

📖 Cred: Realistic to plausible 

 

Bus hydraulics. Gnarled cypress. Marble staircases. Miles Davis. Tuberose. Neroli. Cherry air freshener. 

 

Content Heads-Up: Death. Dead body. Murder. Addiction (drugs, alcohol; rehab, maintenance). Loss of parent (as adult). Infidelity. Domestic abuse. Physical assault. Adult/minor relations. Rape (off page; of preteen). 

 

Rep: White, Black Americans. Pale and dark skin tones. Cisgender. Hetero.

 

📚 Format: Paperback