A. Night in Hollywood Forever

by Andrew J. Fenady

Alex Night has moved into the mystery writing profession in Beverly Hills. But after too many false starts and near fatal distractions, he finds himself on the treacherous trail of two missing... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 159414379X
• ISBN13: 9781594143793
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Five Star (ME)
• Length: 285 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Is that all there is....

This is Fenady's second novel featuring retired detective Alex Night -- and it was just as good as the first. If, like me, you are a fan of Hollywood mysteries, this is a fun read with a good puzzle. I hope Fenady's continues the series.

A noirish mix of Hammett and humor

In view of the lightning swift read full of noirish style, gut-humor, sex, hitmen, gorgeous women and a hero who is quite able to take care of himself in any altercation, these relevant details should be all that's really necessary to set forth on author Fenady's knockout punch of a yarn. It's a tight and antic tale that not only is a product of Hollywood, but helps, in its small, legend-provoking way, to define it. It's an insider's imagination taking a big gulp of fictionalized fact, factual fancy, and leaping in with a noirish mix of Hammett and humor--all descriptive barrels blazing. To get the title out of the way. "A. Night" is the abbreviated form of the central character's name, Alex Night, deriving from his real name, Nyktaas, Greek for --you guessed it-- night. Hollywood Forever is the new name for Hollywood Memorial Park, a final resting place for the Hollywood elite and those who want to rest near them. As a book sequel to "A. Night in Beverly Hills," it sounds like a series pattern to me. A. Night is tired of the P.I. game and has hung up his shield (or what serves as one) in order to put to use his knowledge of Hollywood lore, movie history and legend into a first novel. He calls it "The Big Changeover" and envisions it as the next Edgar Award mystery. But he never gets past the title when writer's block, a string of crimes, and other distractions lead him back to what he knows best. As part of his commitment to his new vocation, he takes an office in the famed Writers and Artists building which, in its day, "officed some of the most famous scribblers and celebrities in Hollywood history." But, even more exquisitely, he finds himself across the hall from Goldie Rose, a dame whose lips "looked like they had just licked something sweet--and fresh as a spring garden." He's a goner. Ms. Rose is not only a heart-stopper but a novelist who completes a murder mystery in precisely 11 days, knowing exactly what has to happen on each page and when she'll be writing it--down to the hour. With this productivity, she uses a string of pen names, most of them male. Among other feelings, our hero is envious. But, then, who amongst us wouldn't be? Not everyone from his past is impressed with Alex's new line of work--in fact, hardly anyone is. Mike Meadows, for example, studio boss at Tri-Art Pictures, prevails upon Alex (with a 5 grand fee) to get aging sex goddess Frances Vale to attend the premiere of his new film with the million dollar "Star of Good Hope" necklace around her still-beautiful neck. She's reluctant because she's only got a supporting role. But Alex understands the fears and insecurities of movie personalities, and persuades her. What Alex didn't count on, however, was the attempted robbery of the "Star", which he bravely and single-handedly thwarts by throwing the robber off a roof. But, that's just the start of Alex's wayward path to writing and it triggers a fusillade of violence, mystery and murder, involving a friend's ex

fine urban noir

Tired of being shot and heeding his mom's advice, Alex Night quits as a real private investigator to write a great novel. He even takes an office at the Writers and Artists Building in Beverly Hills. However, his former clients keep hiring him to sleuth so that the great American mystery has not progressed beyond the title, The Big Changeover. He vows no more sleuthing but cannot resist the lure of finding a missing Faberge Egg once given by Hearst to his lover Mandies, However, the prime reason is gumshoeing is his fiancée, prolific author Goldie Rose, has vanished with her office broken into and ransacked. Though Goldie keeps putting off their wedding date, Alex fears for her life so like Sam Spade begins investigating her disappearance; however, he will soon find himself over the edge of night as half of Hollywood and the former KGB crowd amongst others want him out of the way whether it is over an Egg or the writer. Fans of urban noirs will want to spend a night or three following the escapades of "retired" sleuth turned wannabe writer Alex. As with A NIGHT IN BEVERLY HILLS, the story line centers on Alex who once again uses asides to pay homage to classic pictures and actors. The investigation begins late in the tale, but the plot before, during, and after contains plenty of action. Andrew J. Fenady makes A NIGHT IN HOLLYWOOD worth reading. Harriet Klausner