TIGHT SHOT

by Kevin Allman ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 22, 1995

Hollywood columnist Kieran O'Connor, who says he specializes in ""event coverage,"" yearns for the front page, and it looks like he's finally made it when he hears a pop from the ladies' room at the Women in the Industry banquet and goes inside to find producer Monica Slezak, who'd been at the point of presenting an award to her colleague and husband, Gregory Slezak, dead on her throne. But Kieran's one clever idea -- faxing Monica's suicide note to himself at home before he phones his newspaper and then the police -- fizzles when the paper sends out a real reporter to take the story away from him. Why did Monica kill herself?. More important, is there still a story left on her after the media pros are done picking the bones? Hoping there is, Kieran backtracks from his one unreleased bit of evidence -- that telltale note -- planning interviews with everybody Monica mentioned, from New Age charlatan Suzan Morninglory to Dr. Erich Schroeder, the dietitian who'd been fighting her mood swings with inspirational homilies and heavy medication. Some hot news about the film that Monica had pencilled herself in to direct finally supplies a motive for her suicide, but, really, will even the dumbest reader think Monica killed herself? Juiced-up gossip about could-be-real celebrities, and a juiceless plot full of interesting but aimless people. It's too late for another rewrite, but maybe first-novelist Allman can fix it all in the sequel.

Pub Date: March 22, 1995

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 272

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1995

Categories: FICTION