Slow Dissolve

by Della Borton

Retried filmmaker Leo Mayer, stricken by Alzheimer's, is haunted by memories of WW II and someone named Auggie. His wife, Shirley, hires a detective to find Auggie, but now Shirley lies face down in a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0449007057
• ISBN13: 9780449007051
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Fawcett Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.3" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

A triple feature, at the very least --

Many authors write more than one series; some even write in more than one genre. I'm personally delighted that Della Borton started this second series known as- A Movie Lover's Mystery. I tried several times to read her first series, but it just didn't ring my bell, so I gave up. Not so this one, however. I was hooked after about five pages of the first book, FADE TO BLACK, enchanted with FREEZE FRAME, and am totally captured by this third one, which I'll happily rank as one of the best books of 2001 -- in any genre. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that if you can read chapter 42 without shedding a tear, 'you're a better man than I, Gunga Din', and you should be auditioning for the part of Hard-Hearted Hannah in Pete Kelley's Blues.This book is a total package, in my opinion. The characters, many of whom we've met in the earlier books, are well-drawn and very believable in their actions. The plot of this book is multi-faceted, always including the famous Liberty family, well-known to the world because of their ubiquitous history in American film. In addition to the mystery element, the author also delves into the mysterious world of the Alzheimer's patient and the disastrous effect of the illness on those close to the patient, as well. An added bonus is the wonderful tribute to the early 'race' movies. As the Blacks from the South moved northward, many of them wanted to see movies featuring Black actors and other artists. An entire genre developed to feed this desire, and despite its popularity and the many stars it produced, it is still considered almost a step-child of the so-called 'real' movie industry. Gilda Liberty has returned to her family hometown of Eden, somewhere in southwestern Ohio. The Libertys were among the founders of the American Film industry, and since the very first of them, in the early 1900s, they've all been named for early film stars. In spite of the author's excellent descriptions and character studies, I'll bet you'll still find yourself conjuring up the appropriate mental image of Ollie and Douglas and Adele and Duke, to name just a few of the family you'll encounter. Gilda inherited the town's original movie theater, and is struggling to keep it going. Imagine her surprise then, to discover yet another movie family - the Mayers of down near Dayton. She's never even heard of them, but will soon be nearly a part of their extended family, which will include Leo's first wife, a famous Black movie star, India Williams. Leo, you see, has early-middle Alzheimer's, and can't remember very much, but he does remember Auggie, and desperately wants to talk to him. Or her. The problem is, Leo has no way to release his memories to help anyone try to find Auggie, much less to be able to tell anyone just who--or what--is Auggie. When a serious accident happens to Styles, the female detective friend of Gilda, and several near-misses occur in or around the house now belonging to Leo and his current wife, Shirley--Gilda, Styles and

one of the best mystery books to deal with the film industry

Della Borton's mystery novels dealing with the wacky movie crazy Liberties and film industry is probably one of the best series that deals with that subject matter. And this series is based in Ohio, lending an even more off the wall wackiness to the whole thing. This time around Gilda Liberty dons her sleuthing cap to go to the aid of an almost relative suffering from Alzheimer's and who desperately needs to find someone before it's too late.Gilda runs the Palace cinema and one afternoon Leo Mayer, a likeable old man walks into her cinema, claiming to have once made movies. Gilda then meets Leo's daughter-in-law, who informs Gilda that Leo has Alzheimer's. Gilda feels sorry for Leo and beyond confirming that Leo is a relative of sorts, she more or less puts the whole incident out of her mind until she gets a 'phone call from Styles, a detective she's had dealings with in previous mysteries. Styles had been hired by Leo's third wife, Shirley, to try and find someone Leo seems desperate to get in touch with. The only clue they have is a name: Auggie. No one seems to have any idea of whom "Auggie" may be, and when Styles descends into the basement to go through Leo's files and computer, she trips over a wire stretched across the stairs and falls, injuring herself rather badly. So Syles recriuts Gilda to do some sleuthing for her. It soon becomes apparent to everyone that someone either has it in for Leo or Shirley, as a string of accidents dog the pair. Is someone trying to prevent the Mayers from finding "Auggie" or is one of Leo's or Shirley's children trying to get to their bequests early? This was a really enjoyable mystery. Della Borton realisticly gives the reader an insight as to what living with someone suffering from Alzheimer's entails as well as a look at the early years of movie making. And the search for "Auggie" was gripping as well, eventhough I more or less was able to deduce who Auggie was halfway through th novel. (But then I'm a PBS junky). As usual the shenanigans that the wacky movie crazed Liberty tribe gets up, not only provides a side order of comedic relief but also makes for great and enjoyable reading. This is a really fun series, and so far none of the three books in the series have disappointed. So if you' re a fan of movie making, give this series a go. You'll really enjoy it.

For the movie fan in all of us as well as a social commenary

In Eden, Ohio, Gilda Liberty runs the town's independent movie house. She recovers rather slowly from the pain her lover dealt her when she deserted Gilda and left with her kids in tow with a biker. The extended Liberty family consists of a bunch of delightful eccentrics who have been involved in various aspects of the film and live stage industry. Gilda resides in the family mansion, complaining about the lack of privacy, but never bothering to relocate.Leo Mayers enters Gilda's theater where the two meet. Gilda learns that someone has tried to kill Leo's wife Shirley by putting acid in the family swimming pool. Another attempt is made on her life. Gilda enlists the aid of private detective Styles to keep the woman safe. Meanwhile Shirley, Leo's wife, demands that Leo's oldest son (from another marriage) open the financial books, but the young man refuses to listen. The detecting duo think something is wrong with Leo's finances thanks to his sons While investigating Leo's children, Gilda and Styles seeks someone named AUgie, who Leo calls for in his lucid moments.Harriet Klausner