ARC Review: Star Struck by Marjorie McCown

Star Struck
Author: Marjorie McCown
Series: A Hollywood Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (May 7, 2024)

Description: Perfect for fans of Elle Cosimano and Kellye Garrett, in this second Hollywood mystery, film costumer Joey Jessop discovers that Hollywood buries its secrets deep when a superstar’s assistant turns up dead.

Costumer Joey Jessop is working on a movie set in 1930s Hollywood and starring two of the world’s biggest stars. The male lead is also a dedicated social activist, and the female lead, Gillian Best, is known for her lifestyle brand. After a hit-and-run near the set, Joey realizes that the car involved belongs to Gillian, and she begins to wonder if the actress has more to hide than her Botox appointments.

Her suspicions deepen when Gillian’s personal assistant, Rita, vows to get revenge for Gillian replacing her and is found dead shortly after. Gillian quickly labels Rita’s death a suicide, and the police seem to agree–but Joey isn’t so sure.

With the police standing aside, it’s up to Joey to dig up the truth—but Hollywood stars know how to keep their secrets close, and a woman like Gillian Best won’t take kindly to someone sniffing around her affairs. Joey is certain that Gillian has something to hide–and she’s determined to find out what.

My Thoughts: The second book in the Hollywood Mysteries really delves into the guts of making a motion picture. Joey Jessup is a film costumer who is working on the latest blockbuster-wanna-be starring two of the world's biggest stars. 

The female lead is Gillian Best. She's known for her lifestyle brand and her difficult personality. If there is a word for the actress equivalent of a bridezilla it would have Gillian's picture next to it in the dictionary. Gillian can't function without her entourage Including her agent, personal assistant, and personal videographer among a host of others. 

Besides dealing with the star's outrageous demands, Joey and the other costumers have to deal with schedule changes that mean costumes originally slated for later in the production have to be ready almost immediately. And the producer's interference with one of the costume shops in Italy forces that shop to cancel the contract with almost no notice leaving Joey scrambling for a new shop which can make the costumes immediately.

Joey is still traumatized by the events of the first book in the series. So, when she sees an accident outside the area where she was shooting which results in the death of woman she has seen in a shop where she was getting lunch, the trauma just grows. Even more suspiciously, the vehicle seems to be the same one she'd seen at Gillian Best's house earlier. 

Then a blow up between Gillian and her assistant adds more tension to the set. When Joey goes to the assistant's house to try to smooth things over, she discovers the assistant has apparently committed suicide while wearing a borrowed Harry Winstone diamond and ruby necklace. The police seem willing to write the death off as a suicide, but Joey isn't convinced. 

This is a busy story. Between dealing with the possible murder of the assistant, the drugging Gillian's daughter, various hijinks in getting the costumes made in union shops and discovering that they are actually being made in non-union sweatshops, Joey is under lots and lots of stress before she manages to solve the murder and bring the culprits to justice. 

Fans of Hollywood behind the scenes action will enjoy this mystery. 

Favorite Quote:

The scuffed linoleum floor and crummy fluorescent lighting created the same welcoming atmosphere you'd find in a minimum-security prison.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.