Lone Star: An Edna Ferber Mystery [With Earbuds] (Playaway Adult Fiction) [Preloaded Digital Audio Player]

Edward Ifkovic (Author), Bernadette Dunne (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2009 | Series: Playaway Adult Fiction

In Hollywood for the filming of her novel, Giant, author Edna Ferber and her sidekick, Mercedes McCambridge, get involved in investigating the murder of a young actress, said to be James Deans mistress.

--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Here’s an interesting premise: a mystery narrated by novelist Edna Ferber. Recently arrived in Hollywood, where shooting on the movie version of her novel Giant is about to wrap, Ferber is quite taken with one of the stars of the movie, a brooding young actor named James Dean. When Dean becomes the prime suspect in the death of an actress, Ferber teams up with her old friend, actress Mercedes McCambridge, to clear the actor’s name. This is Ifkovic’s first novel, but it reads like it was written by an old pro. The mystery is sharply plotted (with a very clever bit of misdirection), and the setting, 1955 Hollywood, is vividly realized (including cameos by Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor). All the characters, fictional and real, are well drawn, and, even though Dean’s tragic fate is well known, Ifkovic smartly avoids any maudlin foreshadowing, portraying the actor as an enthusiastic, completely original talent with a long career ahead of him—assuming, of course, that Ferber can unmask the real killer. A promising debut in what could be a long-running and highly entertaining series. --David Pitt --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"Ifkovicas promising debut, the first in a series, features real-life writer Edna Ferber as an amateur sleuth in 1955 Hollywood. The Pulitzer Prize winner is visiting there because her bestselling novel, /Giant/, is being made into a film starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. While sheas repelled at how show biz distorts the thinking of everyone involved in it, she becomes fascinated by young Deanatruculent, winsome, infuriating and brilliant. Though heas the hottest actor in town, heas still vulnerable to blackmail letters from an unstable actress, so heas the prime suspect when sheas murdered. The septuagenarian Ferber, an equally shrewd but tarter version of Miss Marple, begins investigating with the help of /Giant/ co-star Mercedes McCambridge, sorting through a city built on vanity and glamour. Ifkovic handles the mystery plot competently, but the main pleasure is looking beneath the surface of the movie business to see the stars as people, in particular the doomed Dean." -- Publishers Weekly of Lone Star, April 2009

 

“A promising debut in what could be a long-running and highly entertaining series....” --Booklist of Lone Star

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Preloaded Digital Audio Player
• Publisher: Playaway (June 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433265702
• ISBN-13: 978-1433265709
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars engaging Hollywood historical mystery, April 11, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lone Star: An Edna Ferber Mystery (Hardcover)

In 1955 septuagenarian novelist Edna Ferber riding the success of her books is in Hollywood to work on the movie adaptation of her latest bestseller Giant. As the George Stevens' directed movie is almost finished, rumors spread that one of the stars "Rebel Without a Cause" James Dean sired a child with unbalanced extra Carisa Krausse.

However, as the Warner Brothers studio worries about the negative publicity a child out of wedlock would bring, someone murders Carisa. The evidence points towards the volatile womanizing Dean as her killer. Though his ego is "So Big", Edna likes the unique Dean who probably does not know that water exists outside of alcohol. With the help of actress Mercedes McCambridge, Edna investigates the homicide.

This engaging Hollywood historical mystery stars renowned novelist Edna Ferber who at first look is probably the last person to investigate a homicide. Starring with Edna and James Dean, the cast of Hollywood real people like McCambridge and Rock Hudson come to life. In fact the strong cast casts a giant shadow over the amateur sleuth prime theme. Still fans will enjoy Edna Gerber meets James Dean.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars Dean fans will love this book., February 13, 2012

By 

M. Pharms - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lone Star (Edna Ferber Mysteries) (Kindle Edition)

As a newer fan of James Dean, I've been devouring everything I can on this great artist. After reading
Biographies and I was curious about fiction and first found The James Dean Affair. That one wasn't
What I expected and I didn't care for the portrayal of James and a psyco-killer-rapist. So, when I found
This book I was pleasantly surprised. I checked it out of the library so I could see if it was worth spending money on.
This is very well written Dean fans will not be disappointed.

5.0 out of 5 stars edna ferber as a sleuth, August 21, 2011

By 

carlaf "carlaf" (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lone Star (Edna Ferber Mysteries) (Kindle Edition)

I greatly enjoyed this story and I loved the interplay between Edna Ferber and James Dean,who despite the chasm of years, recognize in each other a kindred spirit- two unconventional people who live their lives as they please and answer only to their muse and their particular set of values. The murder mystery provides a backdrop of a long-ago time of the studio system in Hollywood.