Title: Dazzled
Series: Nikki Easton Mystery Series, Book
1
Author: Maxine Nunes
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Five Star
Date of Release: October 23, 2013
ISBN-13:
978-1432827304
Available on
Amazon (Paperback, Kindle and Hard Cover):
Author Website: www.maxinenunes.com
“I wondered how anyone ever felt at home here, where there
was nothing you could trust to hold on to, not even the ground beneath your
feet.”—Dazzled
Synopsis: Feisty one-liner actress Nikki Easton finds herself
embroiled in a quest to either find out who murdered her best friend—the
"dazzling" aspiring actress Darla—or verify that the unrecognizable corpse
buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is really someone else. Along the way,
Nikki finds herself smitten with a sexy cop, looks for clues at a Playboy-type
mansion, and tangles with unsavory Underworld characters whose antics and
shocking connections are nearly indistinguishable from the rest of Hollywood's
movers who slither through this book. Sex, drugs and lost souls who are torn
between the need to be "somebody" and the desire to flee L.A. keep this mystery
ticking like the proverbial time bomb.
Critique: Maxine Nunes' “Dazzled” is a tale told with such
precision for atmospheric details, lifestyle annoyances and pitch perfect
dialogue, it should come with a cautionary disclaimer for Los
Angelenos:
"Warning: May induce the sensation that you are still inside
the plot every time you look up from the book."
True to its genre, the
story takes readers where others have gone before, but Nunes puts a fresh spin
on the familiar elements through inspired turns of phrases ("...a man who
evidently thought a strip of chest hair would do for a necktie") and quirky 21st
Century updates (gifted with a bouquet, the only "vase" Nikki can find is an
empty Slurpee cup).
Nunes also has a gift for depicting layered
characters. To this end, she makes excellent use of an acting class that demands
"honest emotions" of its students. In the hands of a lesser writer, these scenes
could come off as satire or excessively dramatic; but here they skillfully
alternate between humor and pathos while giving readers the necessary insights.
“The stronger the personality the more it hid.”—Dazzled
“Dazzled” lovingly and painstakingly explores the
paradoxical contradictions of Los Angeles and its hapless inhabitants. The smell
of night jasmine juxtaposes with the stench of the morgue...an actress with a
"show biz" sensuality hides her true self in plain sight...and all the sleights
of hand resonate in the book's first line:
What's real?
At its
core, the mystery explores love in its various forms and disguises. Twists,
turns and double-crosses abound. Enough to keep the pages turning, but not so
complicated or overloaded with characters that it ever feels
unwieldy.
All in all, a fun read—unless you are living in L.A., in which
case you might have fun while also thinking about leaving town; or if you are
the optimistic type, you might find yourself looking forward to a sequel.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Marlan Warren is an avid tweeter (@MalanWarren). You should know her! And--obviously--a book fan. But she is also a PR girl who writers should get to know.
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