The Girl Who Took What She Wanted

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Description

The latest mystery in the Edgar Award-winning series from David Handler. Ghostwriting sleuth Stewart Hoag investigates a trail of murder amidst Hollywood's rich and famous. Stewart 'Hoagy' Hoag hasn't written any fiction since his debut novel rocked the literary world then left him with a paralyzing case of writer's block. Since then, he's been reduced to ghostwriting celebrity memoirs. But his newest project could have him diving back into the world of fiction in a way he never imagined. Nikki Dymtryk is Hollywood's hottest reality TV star, known for her wild party lifestyle and series of partners from the music, film, and sports industries. But when the ratings for her show Being Nikki begin to drop, the Dymtryk family engineers a new plan to keep Nikki in the limelight: reinventing the young star as a best-selling author. Nikki's team hires Hoagy to ghostwrite a steamy romance novel set in the glamour of Hollywood. Reluctantly, Hoagy flies out to L.A. with his trusty basset hound Lulu in tow to see what he's gotten himself into. But when he finally meets the starlet, she's nothing like the 'airhead' image she presents to the media. This project may just be the key to getting Hoagy's creative juices flowing again... and staying in L.A. might also give him a chance at getting back together with his actress ex-wife, Merilee. But spending time with Nikki isn't all parties and poolside lounging. As Hoagy gets closer to the young woman, he begins to uncover the Dymtryk family's dark secrets. Secrets that are worth killing for.

Reviews

PRAISE FOR DAVID HANDLER: 'One of my all-time favorite series!' Harlan Coben. 'David Handler is the master of the sly, comedic mystery' Adriana Trigiani. 'Full of dark secrets and potential suspects, so many of each that they threaten to overwhelm Hoagy, although it should be noted that they never overwhelm author Handler, who keeps a sure hand on the steering wheel' Booklist. 'Handler's breezy, unpretentious and warm-hearted hero provides a breath of fresh air in a world of investigative angst' Publishers Weekly. 'Adultery, blackmail, trick-or-treaters, unseemly ties to organized crime, and New York in the 1990s. What's not to like' Kirkus. 'David Handler is a hoot, and his books are just the thing for what ails you. I find it hard to begrudge him his Edgar!' -- Parnell Hall, author of You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled

Author Bio

David Handler was born and raised in Los Angeles. He began his career in New York as a journalist, and has since written thirteen novels about the witty and dapper celebrity ghostwriter Stewart Hoag, including the Edgar and American Mystery Award-winning The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald and the newest entry The Man in the White Linen Suit. David's short stories have earned him a Derringer Award nomination and other honours. He was a member of the original writing staff that created the Emmy Award-winning sitcom Kate and Allie and has continued to write extensively for television and films. He lives in a 200-year-old carriage house in Old Lyme, Connecticut.