Sex and Violence In Hollywood [Paperback]

Ray Garton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2009

This breakout thriller by the master of horror was previously released only as an oversized Subterranean Press hardcover edition. Sex and Violence in Hollywood will take its place on the shelf next to other Garton classics like Live Girls and The New Neighbor. This blockbuster is a chilling combination of thrills, terror, and black humor, plot reversals and a climax so shocking that it will leave you shaken. Adam Julian, son of a Hollywood screenwriter, has a life many would kill for... and some would kill to keep. He's tangled in a web of forced sex, coerced into robbery, and it's only a short step to killing as a choice. At the center of the book is a sensational murder trial which oddly resembles the O.J. Simpson case. The cast features an abrasive, star-struck female judge, blundering prosecuting attorneys, a nerdy defendant who reserves his right to silence, and Rona Horowitz, a pint-sized, ball-of-fire of a defense lawyer. The defendant may be guilty, but energetic Rona tries one outrageous legal stunt after another in order to exonerate her client. Drenched in the glamour, and the sleaze, of high line and lowlife Hollywood, this satirical and entertaining look at the criminal justice system, turned inside out and upside down by showbiz at its best and worst, is a panorama of crime, corruption and violence delivered with grim authenticity and hilarious awfulness.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nasty, raucous, at times hilarious, Garton's (Live Girls) latest delivers what the title promises, in spades. But the core of the book is a sensational murder trial clearly inspired by the O.J. Simpson case. The cast features an abrasive female judge who swoons over the film stars who flit in and out of the courtroom, tongue-tied prosecuting attorneys, a nerdy defendant who reserves his right to silence, and Rona Horowitz, a pint-sized, high-octane defense lawyer. Even Johnny Cochran, among a host of real-life celebrities, makes a brief appearance. The defendant may be guilty as hell, but part of the fun is watching dynamo Rona cook up one outrageous legal trick after another to try to extricate her client. Meanwhile, the story's hero, young buck Adam Julian, is sleeping with his hated schlock-film producer father's new wife, as well as her underage but wildly sexed, drugged and dangerous daughter, Alyssa. Alyssa is the unlikely chip the author will eventually cash in to supply enough gore for two or three more trips to the courtroom. Other grotesques include a porn filmmaker with a stable of young boys available for rent, a maimed explosives maker, and Adam's fat friend Carter, who unfortunately dashes outside screaming with a realistic-looking water pistol just as two nervous cops are approaching. This over-the-top excursion into the underside of Tinseltown provides more thrills than a high-speed car chase on an L.A. freeway. (Oct.)Forecast: While technically a crime novel, this deluxe limited edition will be quickly snatched up by fans of Garton's horror fiction.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 504 pages
• Publisher: e-reads.com (November 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759244294
• ISBN-13: 978-0759244290
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,562,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jackie Collins watch your back!, December 9, 2001

By 

Pat Millard (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex and Violence in Hollywood (Hardcover)

I read some of Garton's horror novels and they were good, but "Sex and Violence in Hollywood" tops them all, and its not a horror novel. Its the funniest, sexiest book I've read in a long time. He's left horror behind to invade Jackie Collins territory, and she's got some real competition in Garton now! The story follows Adam Julian whose dad is a Hollywood screenwriter -- a bad one but he's successful, and he's also a real jerk. Adam is convinced his dad killed his mom, and now he's decided to kill his dad. It sounds simple, but the plot is like a twisty turny rollercoaster that just keeps picking up speed as it goes along for a length of 506 jam-packed pages all the way to a shocking ending that made my jaw drop. There's plenty of sex and violence, especially sex, but its Garton's characters that make the book the great reading experience it is. From Adam and his best friend Carter to a hilarious celebrity attorney named Rona Horowitz and everyone in between, including a sexy devious vixen named Rain, this is a big cast of fascinating funny and naughty people. It goes from the story of a murder plot to a gripping trial that rivals the trial of O.J. Simpson. Even some real life celebrities make appearances in the book! Garton's mix of sex and violence tops the glitzy Hollywood novels of Jackie Collins, and with more meat on its bones than a few of hers all combined. This hardcover is a little pricey but its well worth the cost for all the entertainment you'll get out of it. If this doesn't make Garton's name a household word nothing will. If you want a book to get lost in that will make you laugh and keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the book for you! Don't miss it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lives up to the title and then some, February 2, 2002

By 

Michael Oliveri (Peoria, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex and Violence in Hollywood (Hardcover)

Hands down, this is Garton's greatest accomplishment to date. And judging by the thickness of the sucker, he's earned it!

The 500+ pages fly like the bullets within its pages, starting off as a suspense thriller and winding down as a bitter, satyrical legal drama. Garton's characters are quirky and unique, the kind of people Quentin Tarantino or Oliver Stone would have a field day with on screen. Sometimes they're serious, sometimes they're touching, sometimes they're humorous. But they're ALWAYS dangerous.

Garton paints a mean picture of the LA/Hollywood scene, with just enough spice to nail the pop culture phenomenon and America's enamoration with it as well. The book's labeled a horror novel, but it's not the events themselves that make it so.

No, it's the fact that these things could happen tomorrow is what scares the crap out of me.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sex and Violence are Fun With Garton, November 23, 2001

By 

Regina Mitchell (Mt. Pleasant, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sex and Violence in Hollywood (Hardcover)

Garton fans rejoice: Sex and Violence in Hollywood will not let you down. Never a dull moment in this book, it jumps from one scene to the next in a mix of action, sex, and fun. The Publishers Weekly review gave WAY too much information about the goings on, so I'll skip that bit. Suffice it to say that this is the best kind of read: it's fun, it's fast and just slightly sleazy.