DIAL EMMY FOR MURDER

Author: Eileen Davidson ISBN: 9780451228253 7/2009 MYSTERY Publisher: OBSIDIAN

Tabloids and fans are stunned when Alexis Peterson leaves her popular show for another soap, but she's too busy preparing to be a presenter at the Daytime Emmy Awards to even notice. When her copresenter loses his life before presenting a winner, Alex realizes she has another murder mystery on her hands. Working behind the scenes to find out how her costar could have met such an end, Alex invites handsome Detective Frank Jakes—a man she can't stop imagining having a real love scene with—back into her life. But first Alex must focus on finding the killer before she sees another one of Hollywood's brightest stars burn out.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

DIAL EMMY FOR MURDER is a fun read. I must admit that although I am not a fan of soap operas, I was completely entertained by this whodunit-among-the-stars mystery. Filled with over-the-top characters and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of daytime television stars, it moves along at such a fast pace that it is easy to read in one sitting.

The tone of Alex’s internal monologue is witty, funny and often snarky—just what one would expect of a soap opera veteran. An amateur sleuth, she is once again thrown into solving a murder before another occurs. Rushing to her aid is a hot, hunky detective. Together, Alex and Jakes work to solve a death while their sexual chemistry is at near-explosive levels. There are more twists and turns to this romantic romp than you can shake a fist at, and each is a bit more outlandish than the previous one.

Insanity mixes with Porsches very well, and while this isn’t a blood-and-gore (a hanging body didn’t so much as spatter the floor beneath it!), suspenseful mystery, it is nicely entertaining. The star-turned-crimesolver is smart and has a sense of humor…what more could anyone ask of her? I enjoyed this amusing story. Nicely done!

Kay James