Customer Reviews

Murder at the Academy Awards (R): A Red Carpet Murder Mystery

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Can we talk?
Sometimes it seems Joan Rivers is everywhere - TV shows, selling her gorgeous jewelry, etc.
When I heard her say she with Jerrilyn Farmer was writing a mystery book called Murder at the Academy Awards, I couldn't wait to order it.
In fact I read the book in 2 days!
Joan Rivers' literary counterpart is Max Taylor. Max's daughter Drew, is Melissa's counterpart. They do what the real Rivers ladies do - Troll the Red Carpet at the Academy Awards and get the scoop and vie for interviews that other networks/shows are trying to grab.
Ms. Rivers' knowledge of Hollywood and the Red Carpet brings the reality to the story. I am sure the partnership between Rivers and Farmer was magic because every page of this book was a delight to read.
The plot is simple - a young starlet who had just gotten out of rehab - and had been close to Max and Drew - comes out of her limo (she was an Oscar nominee) and she collapses near Max and dies.
While everyone thinks it was a relapse of drug overdose, Max and Drew don't think that for a minute. They are sure she was murdered.
They, especially Max, go the extra mile to untangle the mystery. And there are some hilarious scenes that could only happen in Hollywood!
If this first of the series is this good, I cannot wait for more mysteries starring Max Taylor and Drew with her crew and her WONDERFUL pooch named Killer!
Bravo, Ms. Rivers! You've got a hit on your hands!!!

Murder at the Academy Awards is chock full of what you'd expect from a Rivers that runs deep: a red-carpet mom and daughter team (think hard), glitter and glitz, fashionistas and stars in rehab, sprinkled with a heavy overdose of real starry-eyed names. While the book doesn't make a killing, it's page-flipping fun doused with Joan's ribald wicked humor.

This was a fun read - reminded me of the great Steve Allen's murder mysteries where he'd combine real celebs with a fictional story. The concept works. I wonder why the lead characters weren't Joan and Melissa though - I think that would have made readers connect with the characters a little more.

I'd buy another Red Carpet mystery for certain. In this world, we need some fun escape!

This book is at its best in the beginning when the descriptions of the "red Carpet" are lively and shed some light on the rivalry and competitive process of the TV commentators. Its downhill after that, and falls apart at the end. Joan Rivers can be funny and her co-author knows how to inject that humour but as a mystery, the book doesn't make it.

I've always like Joan Rivers and her wonderful sense of humor and thought this book would reflect same. Unfortunately, appart from the name-dropping and unecessary fashion information, there was very little substance to the story. I saw a review where Ms. Rivers stated that the book had recieved good reviews. I don't know who was reading it! Don't waste your money - watch her on a tv show instead.

Jerrilyn Farmer and Joan Rivers have conspired to deliver a smashing mystery set under the lights on the biggest night Hollywood has to offer. Imagine the temerity (or as Joan would say, the chutzpah) of a killer who would dispatch a victim in the middle of the most watched pre-show of them all, the Oscar night teaser where all the stars strut their stuff, not to mention their facelifts, borrowed jewels and designer duds. What fun to read a mystery with all your favorite celebs. You never know who Max Taylor and her daughter, Drew, will interview next or which designer they'll be wearing! This dynamic fictional duo takes us 'backstage' in movie town and lets us in on the drama that never stops, from the Ritzy rehab retreats to the swag lounge, and from fabled 'do lunch' hangouts to the most exclusive after-parties (Don't even think about crashing, Honey.). And not even Spielberg could come up with the glitterati-studded funeral send-off this book delivers. It's all here, the biting Rivers humor on a collision course with the greatest of material, the fickle, ambitious, loony, calculating, deluded, chemically-enhanced, fame-hungry denizens of Tinseltown. Plot twists, a career roller coaster ride, mother-daughter 'issues' and a little dog too. A fun read! Can't wait for the next in the series.

I'm a big fan of Jerrilyn Farmer's books, so I was glad to read this collaboration with Joan Rivers.

While I loved Max/Joan and her entire entourage (especially Killer), I absolutely couldn't stand Drew/Melissa, who was nothing but a whiny, spoiled brat. I'd love to see the series continue without her, but I know the chances of that are slim to none!

I'll definitely read the next one...and hope there's a lot less Drew.

If you enjoy mysteries, this will be a light pleasure for you. The background of Hollywood and the Red Carpet, with Joan Rivers "insider" view is fun and interesting. This is not the best mystery ever BUT it is one that offers information that is not available to all of us, and a bit of the sarcasm that Joan Rivers does so well.

Joan Rivers and Jerrilyn Farmer have written a humorous murder mystery based on the experiences of Rivers and her daughter on the Red Carpet of Hollywood premieres. "Murder at the Academy Awards" begins with a young actress dying on the red carpet at Max Taylor's feet after Max finished interviewing stars attending the awards. While this is certainly an escapist novel, I did not find it has funny as I thought Rivers could be.

Do not waste your time. I had high hopes for this book...I love Ms. Rivers' humor but this was painful to read.