FALLING STAR

by Lillian O'Donnell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 20, 1979

The second sleuthing appearance of Mici Anhalt of N.Y.'s Crime Victims Compensation Board is something of an improvement over her dreadful debut in Aftershock (1977); Mici herself is, thank heavens, a grittier gal than before. But O'Donnell still seems to save the good plots for her Norah Mulcaheney series--this one is all about the Times Square tenement murder of washed-up alcoholic actress Julia Schuyler, the Diana Barrymore-like daughter of a John Barrymore-like acting legend. Since Mici was one of the last to see friend Julia alive, she investigates, rejecting the obvious suspect (Julia's estranged actor husband) in favor of other leads--like Julia's young-actor/lover or someone interested in Julia's forthcoming memoirs. And as she sleuths (while fending off a rapist, the sexy young actor, and a ""sweetie""-talking married cop), her job at the Compensation Board becomes imperiled--through no fault of Mici's. Corny and unconvincing solution, dated theatrical milieus (the Compensation Board locales are better)--but O'Donnell, even at her shakiest, is enough of a pro to make this a passable reworking of formula materials.

Pub Date: Aug. 20, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Putnam

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1979

Categories: FICTION