Book Review: Hollywood Scandals

Hollywood Scandals by Gemma Halliday

If you read my book review on Fearless in High Heels you know that I 1) love cozies and 2) love Gemma Halliday. The two of those things combined is like heaven on paper. I finished the High Heels series, and decided to download the Hollywood Headlines series when I learned that Felix played an important role in these books. I figured it would be the closest thing to the High Heels series. I haven’t ventured much outside of Gemma Halliday when it comes to the cozy genre, so I’m sure there are many other good cozy authors out there, but I really enjoy Gemma’s writing style.

If you read the High Heels books you know that Felix works for the Informer, a trashy tabloid magazine based out of Los Angeles. Meet lead gossip columnist: Tina Bender. Tina is good at digging up dirt on famous Hollywood celebrities and trashing them in her daily column. She also drives a hot pink scooter, has a crush on a mysterious man whom she has only ever chatted with online, and lives in a senior citizen community with her nearly deaf aunt, Sue. What Tina isn’t good at is making friends; in fact she is best at making enemies and that becomes even more clear when a mysterious caller threatens her life.  

The mystery caller leaves messages threatening to kill Tina because of stories that she has recently printed in her gossip column. Felix, not feeling safe about the situation, takes matters into his own hands and hires Cal (“rent-a-goon”) to follow Tina around and keep her safe. Tina is of course outraged by the situation but finds that she has no choice in the matter. Since talking to the police is out of the question, for fear of losing her gossip informants, she puts on a happy face and deals with it. But, she has her own agenda.  

This is when Tina takes on the task of tracking down her mysterious caller.  With Cal by her side, she is led on a wild goose chase that seems to have no answers or end in sight. Along the way she encounters everyone from sobbing wives to teenage celebrities. While she’s on the case she even digs up some Hollywood dirt that no one ever thought imaginable.  It’s like two mysteries in one!

Tina eventually has to deal with feelings she could never have imagined and situations that are so far out of her control that she could wind up dead if she doesn’t alert the police. The tough girl act seems to be coming to a close when things really heat up and someone close to Tina ends up dead.

There were many similarities between Gemma’s High Heels series and this one. If you were a High Heels reader you’ll notice the similarities right from the start. A lot of the same expressions are used and many of the characters share both the same physical and behavioral characteristics. Cal is a less Mexican version of Ramirez, Cam and Dana share many of the same qualities (ie: blonde, gorgeous, big boobs), and both Maddie and Tina have the same love for In-and-Out Burgers. You’ll also run into Marco and Fernando in this book!

This book is sure to keep you laughing (yes there is LOTS of humor in this book) and guessing all at the same time!

Rating: ★★★★