Customer Reviews

Diva Las Vegas: A Soap Opera Mystery

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This is the third book in the Soap Opera Mystery Series and we find Alexis on a new soap, The Bare and the Brazen. An old friend, really the wife of one her past castmates, and a former Playboy Playmate, Shana Stern, invites Alexis to a Halloween party at the Playboy Mansion.

Dressed as Little Bo Peep, complete with her friend George dressed up as her sheep, they are stunned to arrive at the party to find the playmates costumes are really just painted on their naked bodies. Well it is the Playboy Mansion. They finally catch up with Shana who is also scantily clad, Alexis feels terribly overdressed as her petticoats, bows, and ruffles bump into everything within several feet of her. Her costume is soon forgotten as Shana tries to tell her something important. Shana is not acting at all like herself and she keeps dropping hints that she has a serious problem. Before Alexis can find out what the problem is, Shana is dragged off to have her picture taken with a bunch of other former Playmates.

Alexis and George mingle while they wait for Shana to return and end up going through the famous Hef's Haunted House and are scared out of their wits as they enter each room, but the fun all ends when they find Shana in one of the scenes and she isn't getting her picture taken or acting, the blood is very real and she is very dead.

The investigation leads to a soap opera convention in Las Vegas and as Alexis tries to help the handsome detective, Jakes, the bodies continue to pile up. They have to catch this killer and there is no script to follow.

I LIKE IT!!

I read all three books in the series last week devoured every one of them. They were funny and suspenseful. Eileen Davidson is a real live Emmy nominated soap opera actress that has appeared on Days of our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless, so she definitely writing about something she has experienced, with the exception of all the real murders. Each book in the series was better than the last as you could see Davidson get comfortable in her role as author. All three were fun cozy mysteries, and if you are a soap opera fan that's an extra bonus!!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

For fans of the incredibly talented Eileen Davidson from her long running role as Ashley Abbott on the #1 CBS soap "The Young & The Restless" reading "Diva Las Vegas" is great fun. The scenes at the Playboy mansion are great and so is the mystery. The writing is snappy and the dialogue great. One wonders why she is not writing for her very own soap opera? I loved it as well as all her other books and await the next offering.

Who knew Eileen had it in her? She is a very good writer and I agree with everyone else who critiqued her books. Being in the soap business definitely helped her build her scenery and construct the dialog for the book. She knows a lot of things we don't. Easy reading and just darned enjoyable. She's good and its a pleasure to read her books.

When Alex finds her friend Shana dead body, she works her way into her detective boyfriend's case and they travel to Las Vegas where they trip the light fantastic as they search for clues. In the meantime, Alex's ex comes back seeking something that Alex is not willing to give up to him at all. I love the characters and the tome to soap operas. This was an enjoyable and entertaining read that left us in typical soap opera fashion with a cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

I am a big cozy mystery fan. I have read all three of the Davidson books and am eager to see the next one. Eileen Davidson has done a good job creating characters that you care about. She has been able to "grow" them in realistic relationships. I hope that the humor continues. I need the escapism.

This being the third book in the series for Eileen Davidson, it does not disappoint. I downloaded this one from Kindle and read it in less than a week! Of course, being a Young and Restless fan, in my mind's eye I always see Eileen as Alex, so it really puts more of a face to the character. I can't wait for the fourth installment just to find out what happens with Alex and Jakes! Totally divalicious!!

Former Playmate Shana Stern invites soap opera star Alex Peterson to the annual Halloween party at the Playboy Mansion. Alex escorted by her BFF George comes as Little Bo Peep, but looking at the nakedness surrounding her feels more like a lost sheep. However, instead of a good time, she finds her hostess dead, a murder victim. Unable to resist due to a connection to the victim especially since Shana was telling her she was in trouble and she has had success as an amateur sleuth (see Dial Emmy for Murder) the actress investigates.

As she makes her inquiries, Alex finds there is little progress. However, she works the case in between taping of the TV show and eluding her fans who interfere with her investigation. Alex also deals with her ex Randy who wants custody of their daughter Sarah and her boyfriend LAPD Detective Frank Jakes who wants her off the case and demands more quality time with her.

Diva Las Vegas is an amusing whodunit with the tsuris that Alex seems to step into being the prime story line while the investigation takes a back seat. The sleuthing is pure "luck being a leading lady tonight" (from the cover) as Alex makes no progress investigating the case until she "lucks" into the solution. Still fans of the soap opera amateur sleuth series will enjoy this jocular entry because it takes a talented writer to create a work like this.

Harriet Klausner

She is a very entertaining writer and a very good actress. Started watching her many years ago when she was on Days of Out Lives...mean, mean, mean. She is just as entertaining in her books as she is now in her role as Ashley on The Young and the Restless. Can't wait for her newest book because I have read both of her books.

Eileen Davidson's DIVA LAS VEGAS tells of Alexis, who is a soap opera star finding the road to the Vegas strip is fraught with danger. A Halloween invitation leads to murder in this fine mystery.

THIS IS A GREAT SUMMER READ!!! HAVE THE OTHER 2 BOOKS--GET THE ENTIRE COLLECTION!!! CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE TO COME OUT!!!