One of Horowitz's books about a case he worked on with Hawthorne has been optioned to be made into a film. Horowitz is less than excited. He doesn't get to write the screenplay; Hawthorne is being paid more than him by a good amount and actors are lining up to play Hawthorne while casting his character is much more difficult. Still, it's good exposure. He meets with the woman who will be doing the screenplay and realizes that her focus is the environment and she doesn't want any suggestions from him as she turns his murder mystery into a screed for her favorite cause. The casting has brought her and the two actors playing Hawthorne and Horowitz together from an earlier movie they did.
Then the actor playing Hawthorne is murdered; stabbed in his trailer between scenes. Who could it be? His co-star who still harbors resentment from their first film? The screenwriter who lived with him for two years and had a child with him? Those he treated horribly on the set and away from it? His agent whom he just fired? Suspects abound.
This is the sixth book in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series. I love the satire and the fourth wall mentions of Horowitz's real life as a famous author whose works have successfully been made into television series and who is one of my favorite mystery writers. Horowitz works with Hawthorne on the murder and is constantly surprised by Hawthorne's insights into events as always and the ending is satisfactory. This book is recommended for mystery readers.
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