In the glitz and decadence of 1970s Hollywood, an era when sex and drugs were readily available on any movie set, the writer of the next Western blockbuster, Bloodrock, has just been found dead in his motel bathtub. Now publicist Harvey Jason is desperately trying to keep the project on track while the famed Harlow Perkins, a brilliant and ruthless investigator, begins to unravel the mystery and hunt the killer down.
From scorching-hot desert locations to sleazy motel bars, the members of the cast and crew—each one with a very dark secret of their own—will send this case deeper and deeper into a maze of confusion and shadows until the shocking truth is revealed.
Will the murderer be found?
Or will the true identity of the killer turn out to be just another Hollywood illusion?
If you love classic Hollywood movies and film stars and whodunnit murder mysteries that keep you guessing, this one is for you! What makes this book fascinating is that Michael Crichton wrote it in 1973 under his pseudonym (John Lange), but it’s only being published now. As you’re reading, you can feel the older style of writing, but it perfectly matches the premise and setting. The dialogue, the movie set, the studio politics, and the larger-than-life movie star personalities all feel authentic to the era. The murder mystery kicks off right in the opening chapter, and the short chapters and fast-moving narrative make it easy to remain engaged. And the book is packed with tropes—Hollywood noir, everyone is a suspect, corrupt studio executives, ensemble cast, dangerous secrets, glamor, hiding corruption, and more!
The entire story is told through Harvey’s first-person POV, and he speaks directly to the reader, recounting how he had to manage (and survive) a major Hollywood nightmare. From an early-morning phone call informing him of Arthur McDougall’s death all the way to the explosive final reveal days later, he narrates everything with an almost exhausted voice full of dark humor that makes him likable. It’s so fun following him as he desperately tries to manage the scandal, hold the production together, and not get fired. Meanwhile, he’s up against self-absorbed studio executives, including producer Charles Mann and production manager Claude Bingham, who treat him very poorly—and it shows how brutal film productions of that era could be. As Harvey’s investigation unfolds, he interacts with every member of the production, including lead actor Clete Williams, actress Brenda Conrad, and an unstable newcomer, Sally Oldman. They all seem suspicious, and nearly all of them have secrets tied to Arthur McDougall—a man who made enemies everywhere he went and seemed to be a thorn in everyone’s side. Add in Harlow Perkins, a cold, brilliant genius insurance investigator who’s always several steps ahead of Harvey (and everyone else, including the reader!), and you have a puzzle-plot mystery that will have you scratching your head throughout.
With under 250 pages (less than five hours on audio), you can easily finish this book in a single day. Even if you figure out the killer, you probably won’t guess all the moving parts of the mystery or how everyone is connected, as a lot of information is withheld until just before major reveals. The final chapter has one more last-minute twist that may pull the rug out from under you and leave you shaking your head!
If you’re an audiobook listener, this is definitely one to experience on audio, as actor Ray Porter brings Harvey and all the colorful personalities vividly to life, and his performance transports you back to that era of Hollywood filmmaking, making the listening experience cinematic and immersive!
Narrator Performance
A Murder in Hollywood is read by award-winning actor and narrator Ray Porter. He portrays protagonist Harvey Jason with an engaging, slightly exhausted-sounding voice that instantly makes you like him and feel invested in all the drama that unfolds. Harvey recounts the wild events directly to the reader as if he were sitting across from you, and Porter’s tone and delivery are perfect for this style of storytelling.
A major highlight of Porter’s performance is how engaging he makes Harvey’s conversations and interrogations with the cast and crew members—each interaction is entertaining and full of suspicion as Harvey realizes almost everyone has secrets or hidden motives. You can really feel the early 1970s Hollywood vibe in his delivery, especially in the voices of the actors and crew members, who genuinely sound like film stars and personalities from that era.
Another highlight is Porter’s portrayal of genius investigator Harlow Perkins. The exchanges between Harvey and Harlow are some of the most entertaining moments, as Porter both comically and dramatically conveys how Harvey slowly falls into the role of assistant while trying to keep up with Harlow’s brilliant investigative mind. Porter gives Harlow a cold, calm, intelligent-sounding voice that commands attention. And you can literally hear Harvey’s fascination with Harlow’s ability to decipher clues, read people, and piece together connections.
Porter also paces the story brilliantly—every scene feels immersive and cinematic, almost like a movie playing in your head that transports you to that era! If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is a highly recommended way to experience it!
Narrator Performance
A Murder in Hollywood is read by award-winning actor and narrator Ray Porter. He portrays protagonist Harvey Jason with an engaging, slightly exhausted-sounding voice that instantly makes you like him and feel invested in all the drama that unfolds. Harvey recounts the wild events directly to the reader as if he were sitting across from you, and Porter’s tone and delivery are perfect for this style of storytelling.
A major highlight of Porter’s performance is how engaging he makes Harvey’s conversations and interrogations with the cast and crew members—each interaction is entertaining and full of suspicion as Harvey realizes almost everyone has secrets or hidden motives. You can really feel the early 1970s Hollywood vibe in his delivery, especially in the voices of the actors and crew members, who genuinely sound like film stars and personalities from that era.
Another highlight is Porter’s portrayal of genius investigator Harlow Perkins. The exchanges between Harvey and Harlow are some of the most entertaining moments, as Porter both comically and dramatically conveys how Harvey slowly falls into the role of assistant while trying to keep up with Harlow’s brilliant investigative mind. Porter gives Harlow a cold, calm, intelligent-sounding voice that commands attention. And you can literally hear Harvey’s fascination with Harlow’s ability to decipher clues, read people, and piece together connections.
Porter also paces the story brilliantly—every scene feels immersive and cinematic, almost like a movie playing in your head that transports you to that era! If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is a highly recommended way to experience it!
A Murder in Hollywood is read by award-winning actor and narrator Ray Porter. He portrays protagonist Harvey Jason with an engaging, slightly exhausted-sounding voice that instantly makes you like him and feel invested in all the drama that unfolds. Harvey recounts the wild events directly to the reader as if he were sitting across from you, and Porter’s tone and delivery are perfect for this style of storytelling.
A major highlight of Porter’s performance is how engaging he makes Harvey’s conversations and interrogations with the cast and crew members—each interaction is entertaining and full of suspicion as Harvey realizes almost everyone has secrets or hidden motives. You can really feel the early 1970s Hollywood vibe in his delivery, especially in the voices of the actors and crew members, who genuinely sound like film stars and personalities from that era.
Another highlight is Porter’s portrayal of genius investigator Harlow Perkins. The exchanges between Harvey and Harlow are some of the most entertaining moments, as Porter both comically and dramatically conveys how Harvey slowly falls into the role of assistant while trying to keep up with Harlow’s brilliant investigative mind. Porter gives Harlow a cold, calm, intelligent-sounding voice that commands attention. And you can literally hear Harvey’s fascination with Harlow’s ability to decipher clues, read people, and piece together connections.
Porter also paces the story brilliantly—every scene feels immersive and cinematic, almost like a movie playing in your head that transports you to that era! If you’re considering this book, the audiobook is a highly recommended way to experience it!
