wampusreynolds's review
3.0
The idea of a film archivist investigating crimes involving old films and the people involved with them is a very good and intriguing one. It may compel me to read the next in the series and see if the structure and ideas are better fleshed out than this one.
One detail that nettled me are that the three main female characters under the age of forty are all described as gorgeous and sexy. In fact, no one is described as ugly except some of the protesters against the removal of a skeleton from a theater. They are presented as silly comic relief from the serious business with the sexy people.
The main idea that the film has to be impounded as evidence by the LAPD is a big headscratcher as is the way a person's confession is provoked. Plus a visit by a ghost makes this way more lighthearted than is to my taste. Maybe it's more yours.
Big respect for the book recommendations in the afterword, though. Great and interesting selections.
One detail that nettled me are that the three main female characters under the age of forty are all described as gorgeous and sexy. In fact, no one is described as ugly except some of the protesters against the removal of a skeleton from a theater. They are presented as silly comic relief from the serious business with the sexy people.
The main idea that the film has to be impounded as evidence by the LAPD is a big headscratcher as is the way a person's confession is provoked. Plus a visit by a ghost makes this way more lighthearted than is to my taste. Maybe it's more yours.
Big respect for the book recommendations in the afterword, though. Great and interesting selections.
joyblue's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
So, I probably shouldn't admit that I have absolutely no recollection of having read this book in 2008. No matter—it was a delightful cozy mystery starring a UCLA film archivist who buys an old movie theater in desperate need of renovation, in which he finds a lost movie . . . and a skeleton.
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