3.5
Once in a while, I like to read something completely outside of my usual choices.

Which explains why I fell for a call for book reviewers for a book described as, "A clever look into the machinations of Hollywood from the bestselling author of the blockbuster hit The War of the Roses," in which "Hollywood producer Zane Galvin’s failed movie leaves him with a $5 million debt and thirty days to pay it off." Zane "goes to unpredictable extremes to raise the money. Joining in on his scheme are Zane’s girlfriend, his gardener, the film’s writer, and the director. The plan quickly turns into a wicked game of switching sides, blackmail, betrayal, and greed."

It sounded wacky and fun and completely opposite of what I had been reading.

I was at first disoriented, the Hollywoodese talk like a foreign language, the nasty and rude comments, demeaning view of women, and sex talk a turn-off. This is no idealization of Tinseltown. This is Harvey Weinstein world. A place where money rules, sex is a commodity, and alliances are tenuous and dependant on what you can offer. It is no place for art for art's sake.

"I wanted the audience to feel the contagiousness of evil...How happily ever after is a myth" from High Noon in Hollywood ARC

Zane Galvin, named for his father's favorite writer Zane Grey, and his writer and director had imaged a film that spoke the truth. The film's ending was not marketable, killing off a dog, for goodness sake. He can't pay his debt, or his writer or director. And, his girl's career was dependent on that film. Even his illegal immigrant gardener is being stiffed his meager salary.

Together they hatch a ridiculous plan. What they have on their side is the artistic vision and imagination to turn their bad luck around.

The dialogue and story are studded with film references. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Errol Flynn in Robin Hood, "all for one and one for all," Cagney's voice saying "You dirty double-crossing skirt," Murphy's Law, "I never promised you a rose garden," Macbeth, El Norte, "this one for the Gipper," "somebody up there likes us" recalling the Story of Rocky Graziano.

Stereotypes abound. A taxi driver comments, "who's got time for that shit" about the movies. And no one in Hollywood reads. Actresses forgo love for men who can get them roles. And stereotypes are broken; the illegal Mexican gardener Oneismo ends us being the man knows how to get things done, while the producer and writer and director do the grunt work and are mistaken for Mexican illegals.

I did enjoy the story. It made me laugh (and flinch) and the plot twists were fun. I can see it as a movie.

I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. ( )

High Noon in Hollywood by Warren Adler is a down and dirty look inside of Tinseltown. It is what is left after the glitz and glitter have been stripped away from the surface and you are left with the seedy under belly of the beast we call Hollywood.

Zane Galvin has made a movie, Drowned Rats, an apt name since it has left him drowning in $5M of debt. To him it seems like every debt collector in Hollywood is after him and he is facing bankruptcy. He will never make another movie again. In addition, Mim, his budding actress girlfriend, is depending on him to jump start her career.

In a desperate attempt to stave off the inevitable, Zane hatches a plan to rob a bank. More specifically to tunnel under a bank in Beverly Hills to reach the vault and steal the contents of the safe deposit boxes. He realizes he cannot do it alone; so, he enlists the help of the director and the editor of “Rats” as well as his illegal immigrant gardener. He owes all three money and they are as desperate as he is. Not long into the plan, the betrayals begin to happen, starting with Mim. Before it is all over, Zane will be lucky to escape prison.

The story is fast paced and includes an abundance of the sleazy things we associate with the darker side of Hollywood such as sex, greed, betrayal, and blackmail. All the characters are of questionable morals to say the least. Yet, I can’t help feel some sympathy for them. The story is abound with Hollywood speak and numerous references to movies, which leaves me to wonder if all Hollywood talks this way. In addition, I felt the story was very original. The prose was just average, not that I was expecting anything different.

Overall, I enjoyed. The book was funny, in a dark sort of way, and imaginative. It left me feeling glad I do not live in that world.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com. ( )

When Mr. Adler asks book reviewers to read and post their thoughts on his latest book he surely could count on me to volunteer. I cannot pass over any of his books: they are unpredictable, so diverse in topics and style. I simply love how generous this prolific author is: a book in exchange for a post.

“High Noon in Hollywood” is the story of Zane Galvin, a failed producer that is so deep in debt he would go to extreme to raise the money. At the heart of the plot is his scheme to get out of trouble and the wicked game that came out of it. This story is all about blackmail, betrayal, greed and the machinations of Hollywood.

I have mixed feelings about this story, way too predictable and rather slow moving for my tastes. I could visualize miles ahead what would happen next. I guess the idea of becoming a sewer rat, making tunnels to reach the vault of a bank is not a new idea at least in my book. We saw this numerous times always with a similar outcome, nothing original here. The players are the run of the mill, none really stood out.

Having said this, the story is well-done in imagery and effect. This is a fun read but no more. Unfortunately this latest is not my preferred book in Mr. Adler’s huge library but I still enjoyed passing time reading it. Some books you like and other a little less….. ( )