Before she can piece together the details of the evening, she is approached by a smarmy photographer who has photos of her and an unknown man in compromising positions - photos he is willing to let Lauren have for a price.

Lauren is tough and not terribly concerned about her reputation so she plans to ignore the blackmailer. When she learns her friend Helen, who is having an affair, is also being blackmailed, as is her estranged husband’s girlfriend, Lauren decides she has the least to lose and decides to take action.

Lauren hires sexy private eye Peter Winslow (who she first suspects of being the man in the photographs) to help her ferret out the blackmailer and find out if the three women are being specifically targeted or if they are part of a larger ring.

Star Struck Dead has many things going for it, a strongly drawn heroine, a rich atmosphere and a dashing hero. The glamour and glitz of late-forties Hollywood through a writer’s eyes shines through, as does the seedier side of fame and fortune and the remnants of Prohibition.

The characters are all well drawn and sometimes the opposite of what might be expected. Lauren is a very strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a man to define who she is. By contrast, her husband, a studio leading man, seems to require a woman and has no problem asking Lauren to desert him so they can divorce and he can save face.

The action in Star Struck Dead is fast paced and the chemistry between Lauren and Peter is unmistakable, even early on when she isn’t sure of him.

There are plenty of red herrings to distract, but also clues to the identity of the blackmailers. A strong setting, interesting characters and a fun, quick-grabbing plot all make for a terrific introduction to the world of Lauren Atwill.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry