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Renee Patrick

Author of Design for Dying

5 Works 244 Members 24 Reviews

About the Author

Disambiguation Notice:

Renee Patrick is the pseudonym for married authors Rosemarie and Vince Keenan.

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Works by Renee Patrick

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Disambiguation notice
Renee Patrick is the pseudonym for married authors Rosemarie and Vince Keenan.

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Reviews

Another mystery dripping with the glittery Golden Age of Hollywood, even when not all that glitters is gold, and the war overseas continues to be a distant but ominous threat.

This isn't the first book in the series to give me the impression that Lillian's main (not only, but main) role plot-wise is to serve as the reader's eyes while she watches Edith, Hollywood actors, and key fictional players do their thing. But what Lillian watches remains interesting overall, I dig the twists as they gradually come, and I learn a little something more about Hollywood history in every book.

I kind of like that this story pretty much takes a break from romance for Lillian, since I was never a fan of her old beau as a beau for her, and I didn't like how she handled another man who was really into her. But we'll see what happens on that minor-ish front.

The fifth Lillian Frost & Edith Head novel gave this lifelong historical fiction lover just the mystery fix she was looking for. As usual, I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for more to come.
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NadineC.Keels | Aug 1, 2022 |
So far so good; this series continues to impress for atmosphere, characterisations and plotting.

Some of this, I know, is because of the inclusion of so many real life, prominent characters of the time - 1938 Hollywood, but the writers are faithful enough to each of the stars they include that I, at least, never felt like I wasn't reading about the real life actor. Extra points go to the authors for including Hedy Lamarr; not for her acting accomplishments, but for her scientific ones.

The fictional characters hold their own too, although the authors struggle with romantic tension; introducing another love interest (which given the era doesn't feel quite as triangle-ish somehow) doesn't help either. Although I sort of like the new guy better than the old guy.

The story didn't get the full five stars because it did drag just a little; the plot is a complex one that is intricately enmeshed with another, so that around the mid-book mark it felt like the story wasn't really getting anywhere - things were happening, but they didn't seem to mean anything to either the characters or the reader. It all comes together in the end, of course, and it's so damn interesting I forgave the exercise in patience.

An author's note at the end takes the time to not only separate the fact from the fiction, but recommends several non-fiction books that go in-depth into the real life events borrowed for Dangerous to Know. At least two of which, one about Hedy Lamarr and her work as an inventor - not an actress - and one about the Hollywood-funded spy ring in place to watch the Nazis, are definitely going on my list.

This was my Free Friday read (#3) and was 336 pages (including the author's note, which was a must read, in my opinion).
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murderbydeath | 4 other reviews | Feb 8, 2022 |
A fun read taking place in Hollywood, 1932.

Lillian Frost, being crowned Miss Astoria Park of 1936 also won a train ticket from New York to Hollywood and a screen test. She took the test, but wasn’t surprised to not get a part. That was fine, as her real interest was movies and the work making them. She’d been raised by her Uncle Danny, who was a painter for Paramount Studios in Astoria, New York.

Lillian found a job at Tremayne’s Department Store and her own flat. Tremaynes being a little more secure than making the constant round auditioning.

When two detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department show up at her work, enquiring about her ex-roommate, Ruby Carroll, her job security gets shaky, but her love and knowledge of movies comes into play.

Lillian identifies Ruby and also recognizes the gown Ruby is found dead in as one she had seen in a recent movie from Paramount Studios. She goes with the detectives to Paramount Studios to have confirmation she is correct. This is where she meets Edith Head, who is at the beginning of her award winning career in costume design. The two strike up a friendship and agree to solve the mystery.

It is a fun read with appearances by various celebrities of the time. The characters and settings, along with the wardrobe make a great package. Lillian is a strong and motivated woman, just as Edith Head is. There is a nightclub owner nick-named “The Shark,” other actresses, directors, writers, and Argentine playboy, news reporters, photographers, an Hungarian princess with a shady past, just to name a few characters. A good amount of twists and turns on the way to the solution make it a good read.
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ChazziFrazz | 10 other reviews | Sep 12, 2021 |
Los Angeles, 1937, and Lillian Frost realising how bad an actress she is has given up on her non-existent acting career and is working in a deparment store. Only to be questioned by the police - Detective Morrow and Hansen - when her ex-roommate and actress Ruby Carroll is found murdered, wearing clothes purloined from the wardrobe department of the Paramount studios. Lillian and Edith Head decide to worked together to clear their names.
An enjoyable start to a new mystery series which establishes the main characters for the future.… (more)
 
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Vesper1931 | 10 other reviews | Jul 29, 2021 |

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Works
5
Members
244
Popularity
#93,239
Rating
½ 3.6
Reviews
24
ISBNs
17

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