One of the marks of great writing is the ability to draw me into a subject that otherwise would not interest me. Hollywood and its inhabitants bore me, and I watch fewer movies than just about anyone I know, so a novel centered around film people didn't have much appeal. However, I'd heard from others that Jess Walter was a good writer, so I gave it a shot, and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed each of the characters and points of view equally, and the expertly entwined plot lines provided just the right amount of suspense and resolution. I was left dreaming about running away to Italy.
