Customer Reviews

North of Sunset

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

North of Sunset is one of those books that sort of creeps up on you. You're reading along, and suddenly you realize that you are reading something amazingly well written. I really enjoy being wowed by a self-published book. It doesn't happen often, but when it happens, I want to make sure every book I come across that's of excellent quality gets the credit it deserves.

Michael Sennet is a world famous Hollywood actor. Gifted and gorgeous, women swoon over him, people automatically respect him; and he floats through his world as if everything orbits around him; and to some degree, it does. He's used to getting his way, so much so he is bored by it; Michael is not emotionally equipped to deal with anything disrupting his universe, with anyone telling him `no'. Two significant things happen to Michael... two things that come out of line with his universe; two things that bring Michael to cross paths with a cold-blooded killer, but only after becoming one himself.

Curt is the "Vanity Plate Killer". His M.O. is to go after people with vanity license plates. He has is own motivations, his own ideas. Curt is writing a book about his exploits. He's proud of his accomplishments. And then he discovers that someone is copycatting his killings. Michael and Curt are two characters from opposite, but oddly similar, pitiless worlds; both vain and superior, both essentially the same.

The characters of North of Sunset are extremely well portrayed; from Michael's quiet slip into insanity--his foibles and his flaws, to the studies of his wife Cheryl and her selfish blindness, to the careful descriptions of the other broken souls that populate Michael's unforgiving universe. There are no random, unmotivated actions in this book. There is a depth to each character; a believability that is rarely found in any writing these days.

Truth be told, this is quality writing. This is an experienced author, who knows his stuff; understands how to present a book, and does so professionally and with significant skill. I think you should go out and buy this book and read it. It is extremely good.

Five Medallions (stars), hands-down.

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (7/07)


Award-winning writer, Henry Baum, is destined to become a best selling author. His "North of Sunset" is brilliant storytelling. Baum has created a cast of characters that reveal insight into the emptiness of self-indulgence and the power of celebrity.

Narcissist Michael Sennet, successful Hollywood star, has made it to the top. He is the hero of the entire American movie-going public, and recognized and adulated everywhere. Michael, bored with his superstar status, has become an egomaniac, seeking new venues for his prowess.

Movie producer Martin Goldfarb, a man without a conscience, has become Michael's nemesis, denying his request to produce an upcoming movie. Cheryl Leigh, a beautiful actress, is married to Michael. Although star-struck by her husband, the marriage is a love - hate relationship. Frank Vicente, a paparazzi photographer, a thorn in the flesh for Michael, blackmails him.

Add to this cast Curt Knudsen, a serial killer, known as the Vanity Plate Killer; Curt has the citizens of Hollywood in a frightened frenzy. Curt is on a mission to alert the country of the danger of personal pride. He seeks out, and stalks, selected "vanity license plate" holders. Once familiar with their habits and daily patterns, he murders the victim and steals their vanity plate.

My favorite character in the story was Homicide Detective Harry Stein. He became cynical after a failed marriage and threw himself into his work. His primary escape from the pressures of police work was found in his love for movies. Suddenly faced with a twist in the direction of the case of the Vanity Plate Killer, Harry becomes disillusioned again. This time it is with movies and movie stars.

Baum has put these characters into a fast-paced, satirical novel that is engrossing, and effective. His dialog is strong, sometimes overly graphic. Growing up in Hollywood, Henry is able to convey insights into the psyche of those in the movie industry: the superficial, the sophisticated, the artist, and the intellectual.

"North of Sunset" is a compelling read, well written and brilliant.

Received book free of charge.

"The best Hollywood novel I've read including my own" - Richard Rushfield, author of On Spec.

The Vanity Plate Killer (VPK) is stalking the streets of Los Angeles, murdering those denizens shallow enough to have a clever license plate. So far NVRLERN, BEMYGIRL, JESUS4U and four others have paid the price. In an interesting twist on the standard thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the penultimate pages, here the author reveals the killer and his motives in the third chapter.

We learn that the VPK is Curt Knudsen, a small-minded bigot from North Carolina, who moved to California in order to be at the heart of the beast. Along with several other members of the American Purity Church he aspires to cleanse Los Angeles of its sin. When church-sponsored cleansing activities turn out to be little more than conversations and the occasional picnic, Curt takes matters into his own hands.

The author also introduces several other key players, including Michael Sennet, a typically narcissistic celebrity. Michael has everything: too much money, a fast car, and any woman he wants at the snap of a finger. So what's next? Where can he go from here? Life is boring when it's handed out on a silver platter wrapped in gold leaf.

Celebrity gets into your head, it makes you feel better than everyone else, and makes you feel entitled to special treatment. So when things don't go your way, it's easy to snap, cause an accident, commit murder, whatever you feel like. In fact, why not use the M.O. of the Vanity Plate Killer to eliminate the obstacles in your path, surely the media will blame it on that other guy...

But what if that other guy doesn't like the direction you're taking his killings?

Henry Baum's satirical output is penned in a no-nonsense, corner of the mouth, noir style suggestive of Marlon Brando in The Godfather. His ending is nicely done; tying all the outstanding threads into a neat package, without feeling overly contrived.

There are some moments that might make a sensitive reader uncomfortable. For one, profanity is liberally sprinkled throughout, which while it fits neatly into the story is not for every reader. In addition, the book is a little heavy-handed on the cultural stereotypes. As an example, a minor character Judy is referred to as Jew-dy, which becomes gratuitous with endless repetition.

The author not only spotlights the American obsession with celebrity culture he lampoons it. Almost everyone from the parking attendants to the investigating detective comment on what a great movie the VPK's story would make. And it would, the book seems almost a natural to be made into a movie, maybe along the lines of Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Raymond Chandler is among the very best authors of modern literature, and not just detective pulp. He started late in life and didn't write nearly enough books and short stories. Henry Baum is officially my new hero. The books are sexy and violent, sure...but they are also well crafted with an attention to descriptive detail and an unsettling insight into the darkness inside us all. Raymond Chandler, I think would approve or at least accept Henry Baum's talent. I could NOT put it down from the first 10 pages on, and I intend on reading all the other books by Baum that I can find. I notice a polarized response to this book, you either love it or hate it. For 99 cents ? You have Got to be Kidding me. I would have paid ten bucks for that many vicarious thrills.

Article first published as Book Review:North Of Sunset by Henry Baum on Blogcritics.

Hollywood is the place where dreams are made and occasionally nightmares find their way into the glitter and glamor of the stars.

In North Of Sunset by Harry Baum, we get a fictional glimpse into this world through the eyes of Michael Sennet and his beautiful actress wife Cheryl Leigh. Michael has become a big star, known throughout Hollywood; his face is a household phenomenon. Michael feels he has reached the pinnacle and is ready for the next step which he perceives as producing movies. The producer he works with, Martin Goldfarb is concerned that he is not ready for the big leagues on production and tries to keep his sights low. Michael is upset and having none of it.

At the same time in the city, there are a slew of murders happening. The only thing each victim has in common is their vanity license plates. Because at each crime scene the plate is taken, the serial killer has been coined by the name of the Vanity Plate Killer. Enter Curt Knudsen. He follows a group that talks about the ills of the world and his best friend is the leader. But he has tired of the continued rhetoric and has chosen to do something about those perceived ills. The murders make him feel powerful and he trolls the streets looking for those whose lives he feels makes others suffer. He has his own thought process, and determines the next victim based off his feelings.

Something is pulling these two bigger than life personalities inexorably together; the draw begins with just a bit madness for Michael, and a strange hint of pride from the killer. Michael too has vanity plates that came with his car which he received after one of his first gigs. As fate slowly brings these two together, bodies begin to pile up. Suddenly the murders change as well, is there now a copycat killer? Can California's finest find this killer before he strikes again?

Henry Baum has written a view of Hollywood from the inside. His characters are much like you would expect both with their flaws and their grandeur. Boredom between work breeds contempt and trouble, and Michael finds himself up to his neck in both. The excitement of being well known comes with the downside of everyone knowing or wanting to know your most personal secrets. As with the real deal, we meet the Paparazzi, and are introduced to the Homicide Detective in charge of the case.

As each of the characters is introduced Baum creates a catalyst that twists them all together creating a situation where Michael feels he has no way to go but down. But even in this twisted scenario he feels a sort of power, even in his shame. The Hollywood Baum creates is very like what we expect, there is the glamor, but there is also the dark undertow waiting for the unwary.

If you enjoy suspense and murder mysteries you will enjoy this work. The world of the stars is so different and yet somewhat like that of our own, and it is interesting to get such a vivacious and fresh description. Baum has found a way to bring his characters to a maddening low, and then executed an ending that pulls them out of the abyss. It is one I did not see coming.

This book was received as a free copy from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

This is a very good mystery book. I very much enjoyed it and I highly recommend it but I must warn you, the F-word is used often so if you don't like books with a lot of swearing then I think you will not like this book. Personally it doesn't matter .

Michael Sennet is a celebrity. Everywhere he goes, he's instantly recognized as a star who has it all. Eventually, this narcissistic actor yearns for more and ends up making a careless mistake that catches the eye of the paparazzi. Blackmailed by photographs that could ruin his career, Michael murders the offending journalist, and uses the method of a local serial killer, the "Vanity Plate Killer," to throw off the police. Finding new energy and power in the murder, Michael finds himself falling deeper and deeper into the mind of a killer.

North Of Sunset is a study in the human mind. The depth in which he developed the characters, while playing on the life of arrogant movie stars, is entertaining and believable. The lengths to which man will go for their own celebrity is also studied.

A scandalous murder mystery of human self-promotion. You truly believe in the end that there is nothing you can't get away with if your address is North of Sunset.

(Review written by Charlie - A Literary R&R review team member)

I need to start off by saying that the language in this book really held me up for some time. During the first few pages I think I read the F-word used in every part of speech. Seriously... noun, verb, adjective. The whole bit. For me, it was a bit much, even though I know people talk like this often. I managed to keep reading because I knew the story line would be good, I just had to make myself read through the language. Usually my intuitions are right, and they did not disappoint me this time.

Michael Sennet is an A-list celebrity. Actually, more like an A+ list celebrity. He thinks he's a god, but that does not keep him from being bored with his life. Everything is given to him, which makes his ego almost unbearable. However, the one thing he wants the most he can't have.

Cur Knudsen is a kool-aid drinking lunatic. As I read through his description and role in the American Purity Church, I just couldn't help but thinking about some of the various cults you hear about in the news. He would be grade-A material for such a news segment. In case you don't figure it out early on, Curt has some issues. He is the Vanity Plate Killer.

As a general rule, I try not to read the back covers of books. I tend to read the first chapter and the last page. I can tell whether or not I'll like a book from the first 20 pages or so. Going into this book, I had no idea about the twists in events that I would encounter fairly early on. Needless to say, I was surprised. Given Michael's arrogant nature, I thought he would be a target and that would be the story. I really didn't anticipate his role in the copy cat murder. It made complete sense though, since his selfishness has created this unobtainable view of perfection that no one can live up to. Not even Michael Sennet himself. When all the loose ends start to wrap up, I got my Pulp Fiction tingles. At least that is the mood I contribute to the ending. (By the way, Pulp Fiction is one of my favorite movies--even with the language.)

The characters in this book are phenomenal. The are well written, flaws and all. I liked how the story was told from one character's view at a time. You really had an opportunity to get into their heads. The hubris of each of the "celebrity" characters (mainly, Michael Sennet) was real. All of the characters were flawed but believable. Surprisingly, the traits that made Michael vain and arrogant can also be found in many of the other characters. Personally, when I think of Hollywood, these are the types of people I imagine.

Overall, I can't give the book a four (4) because of the over-abundant use of the F-bomb. Seriously. It really did hamper my reading. I found myself only being able to read three or four pages at a time because of it. I eventually conditioned myself to it and made it through the remainder of the story fairly quickly. (Michael's slip into crazy land made it easy to become engrossed.) I give it a solid three (3) for my tastes. If language doesn't bother you, I'm sure you'll rate it higher. The basis of the story is original and well written/ developed. And, the characters--as screwed up as they were-- were actually likable (to some extent). North of Sunset is marketed as a satire, and I fully agree. It's a well-written Hollywood satire.

Henry Baum has crafted a story that I found addictive. It follows one Michael Sennet, a movie star who has become disillusioned with fame and numb with the reality he faces. It is really his story, the other characters serving as supporters to his overall character arc.

It is quite an engrossing story, full of sex, movie scandal, and a serial killer. I found myself wondering where the story would go. I won't give the entire tale away, but Michael finds himself caught up in the serial killer's streak of murder.

The ending seemed a little too clean, the final meeting of Michael and Curt, the serial killer, way too movie-ish. But that is what this book is: a life in movie form and Michael's attempt to escape it either by his own self-destruction or all those who stand in his way. Do I believe his wife would have returned to him after the affair? Do I believe the police would have accepted the captured "killer" as responsible for all the killings? Do I believe Michael could have kept functioning after everything he did? It's a story! A fun story. This is what I miss about books: a story that is willing to explore new places.

I want to give it a four, but a part of me simply can't because of the ending. Way too clean!!! I wanted something less...anti-climactic. Do I endorse it? Yes, yes, and yes!

North of Sunset
Henry Baum
Lulu.com
3.5 Stars

North of Sunset is a novel about a movie celebrity star,Michael Sennet,along with a cast of secondary characters. Even though the book is dealing with a serial killer better known as the Vanity Plate Killer it seems the main emphasis is on Michael. Michael who when in high school and college got a little taste of acting and now he wants more, not the little stage plays and Shakespeare but the movie screen and Hollywood, women ,money and fast cars. Once he got the fame he gave up the college drug habit. Now he has what he was wishing for but before long that gets boring.

Curt Knudsen belongs to the American Purity Church who believe that the only pure people are the Caucasians and that the Jews are descendents of Satan and California is the devils sin bin. Along with several members of the church Curt moves to Los Angeles and starts his killing spree. If you are one of these that have a vanity plate be aware; these with plates NVRLERN, BEMYGIRL, JESUS4U plus others have met their fate at the hands of this murderer. Now there is talk of a movie and Michael playing the part. Will the two meet and what fate will become them.

This is a very good mystery book and a fast read. A book full of sexual affairs, and scandals along with murder. I enjoyed the book but the one thing that deterred it from me giving it a higher rating was the *coarse language. I can put up with the occasional "F" word in a book but when you find it 3 or more times in a sentence or paragraph and used so frequently throughout the book that is a little much for my liking and really adds nothing to the book. I gave it a 3.5 but since we cannot use half stars I used a 3. Other than that one fault it is a very entertaining read.

*I always like to note this for the simple reason there are many people who would see a review and think the book sounds good and then this would deter them from enjoying the book if they did not know about it.