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The Producer’s Daughter
Lindsay Marcott

Crooked Lane Books
November 2015/ ISBN 978-1611290752
Mystery / Thriller

Reviewed by Leslie C. Halpern

 

Intriguing from the first page to the last, The Producer’s Daughter looks at the lives of the rich, famous, and corrupt inside Hollywood, California’s movie industry. The story focuses primarily on Hannah Doran, the daughter of big-time film producer Warren Doran and his late wife, Pamela, a beautiful socialite who mysteriously took her own life for no apparent reason. After a brief prologue revisiting the night of Pamela’s death in 1990, the story begins in the present as Hannah prepares to be released from prison.

Charged, convicted, and incarcerated for grand theft of an expensive diamond necklace, Hannah has fuzzy memories of that day, but accepts the consequences for her out-of-control behavior prior to the incident. In a misguided effort to get attention from her father, she had dropped out of college and begun behaving like other spoiled celebrity children, abusing substances, partying all night, and hanging out with the wrong crowds. Now, after serving her time for the crime, Hannah’s convinced she wants to re-enroll in school and spend her time and substantial amount of trust funds on a worthy cause, such as feeding the homeless, instead of squandering her money on designer clothes, shoes, and jewelry.

Yet again, she finds her newfound freedom and altruistic attitude don’t elicit her father’s approval. In fact, Warren and his business partner, Thad, seem determined to undermine all her efforts to start a new life for herself. With the help of Mitch, a handsome celebrity photographer who’s been stalking her, they begin a dangerous quest to find answers to various mysteries among Hollywood’s elite. The more they explore (and their relationship becomes romantic), the more dead bodies start appearing around town. From studio executives to high-priced hookers, lies, greed, and violence lie beneath false facades. Throughout their adventure, Hannah also wonders if Mitch’s interest in her may be merely a ploy to get the money shot that will solidify his career. Is there anyone in Hollywood she can trust?

Marcott, a screenwriter, script-doctor, and producer who lives in Los Angeles, fills her story with multi-faceted characters, natural dialogue, and an intricately woven plot that successfully connects all the dots. The lively writing style, sordid details, and many conspiracies will keep readers guessing until the very end about who did what to whom and why. For those seeking even more meaning, the book addresses issues of abandonment and identity as Hannah replays her past over and over again as she struggles to make sense of the present. This fascinating mystery thriller should delight readers looking for an insider’s look at what could be happening behind locked doors of the entertainment industry’s most powerful executives.

Reviewer Leslie C. Halpern is the author of Passionate About Their Work: 151 Celebrities, Artists, and Experts on Creativity, Rub, Scrub, Clean the Tub: Funny Children's Poems About Self-Image, and Shakes, Cakes, Frosted Flakes: Funny Children's Poems About Table Manners.
Reviewed 2015
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