StarBash is the hottest thing on TV. Featuring desperate actors facing off in madcap competitions to win a movie deal, the reality show is famous for making fools of its fame-starved participants.
So it seems odd that respected Hollywood A-lister Cassandra "Casmo" Moreaux would become a contestant. But her motivation is simple: revenge against the program’s producer, Lenora Danmore, the legendary movie star who blacklisted Casmo’s mother during the McCarthy era.
Casmo plans to use StarBash to confront and embarrass Lenora in front of the entire country—but what Casmo doesn’t know could kill her.
Vindictive and wicked, Lenora is determined to set a trap for the upstart movie star. But when Casmo unexpectedly falls in love with the show’s wry host—Lenora’s illegitimate son—the murder plot bubbles over with unforeseen complications.
Featuring sarcastic celebrities, murderous androids, and off-the-wall humor from beginning to end, Death of a Movie Star masterfully pulls Hollywood culture apart at the seams. It’s a Tinseltown romp that’s part mystery, part suspense, and two parts roller derby!
Patrick has a knack for description and setting. For example, an interactive museum, where visitors can become part of a Danmore movie through high-tech magic, comes alive with cinematic detail...Additionally, the story delivers taut pacing, interesting character development, and amusing lines...it's a breezy read with interesting insights throughout.
Timothy Patrick's Death of a Movie Star paints a vivid picture of the price of fame. It is a compelling and engaging tale of revenge, suspense, and romance...Writing is stellar and polished, with an easy tone that balances humor with suspense and satire. Major characters start out as outlandish caricatures but become rounded and realistically grounded. The story arc ends in a satisfying and unexpected manner, sowing the seeds for potential sequels...Shattering the potentially formulaic TV framework, Death of a Movie Star evolves past satire into an examination of the people behind public faces. It is an engaging and surprisingly family-friendly thriller. 5 out of 5.