by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

As a Hollywood key costumer, Joey Jessop is used to the illogical decisions and impractical demands made by film actors, producers, and directors. Her latest job on the 1930s-set film The Golden Age stars two genuine movie stars, climate change activist Andrew de Rossi and ambitious lifestyle guru Gillian Best. The two actors couldn’t be more different, and it’s going to be a problem for everyone considering that they are also both executive producers and Gillian is not afraid to wield her hefty power. That attitude seems to overflow into her entourage, especially with her condescending, extremely demanding personal assistant. Joey is distracted from her duties of protecting her vintage costumes by a hit-and-run death that occurs right in front of her at a bodega, especially when Joey believes that it was one of Gillian’s cars that was involved and police are unwilling to investigate further. When Gillian’s unlikable assistant Rita Ranucci is found dead in what is presumed to be a suicide, Joey knows that the fictional movie world has bled into her real life.

While Joey is already pushed to the limits keeping track of the thousands of details and departments involved in keeping the cast appropriately costumed while adhering to union and state laws, her recent brush with death and betrayal by someone she trusted still have her traumatized and reeling from the effects. Joey’s protective instincts still kick in though, not only for the cowed young women working at the bodega but for the unhoused man and his canine sidekick who were witnesses. Unfortunately, Joey’s boss, the award-winning costume designer Gregory Benthan, has had to rush home to England due to his husband’s health crisis, meaning that she is alone in battling an uphill battle in changing anyone’s minds regarding the production schedule or an investigation that could inhibit the film’s schedule. Joey’s not-so-stealthy questions get her blackballed by Gillian, but while she’s banned from the star’s fittings, she’s at least able to stay on set. That allows her to investigate just what the actress is hiding as Joey continues to order aviator boots, pick out 1930s material, and arrange to have all of the extras and actors costumed for scenes pushed to the top of the schedule.

As someone who watched every single episode of Project Runway and adored the new Fall Guy movie and its behind-the-scenes depiction of movie making, I absolutely loved this new mystery. The second in the series delves deep into the machinations of filming a period piece movie, depicting how even minor changes to the script or schedule can cause ripple effects that disrupt a plethora of departments. Despite the real-life #MeToo scandals and multiple entertainment business union strikes – and the recent crew car crashes due to 14-hour long night shifts – those at the top of the call sheet and with the most money still wield the most power and have employees reluctant to rock the boat. The author’s decades of experience in the costume departments of massive movies shines through as Joey works insane hours and performs miracles to meet the impulsive demands of the production. Woven in throughout are California’s struggles to compassionately deal with both the unhoused and the undocumented, who are often overlooked or exploited. Readers who love to learn and explore new worlds will find this mystery fascinating, as the author skillfully shares her knowledge of the overwhelming moving parts that must all come together to make a movie. Props, footwear, catering, and permits all demand planning before a single frame can be filmed.

This is a delightful mystery that not only keeps its characters very real but also makes the moviemaking business come alive and burst off of the page. Movies love to come out in trilogies, so the third installment of this series can’t come out soon enough.

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To enter to win a copy of Star Struck, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “star struck” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen June 8, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.