Hollywood Murder Casebook

by Michael Munn

This superficial survey investigates 13 mysterious Hollywood deaths, some of them possible murders, others perhaps suicides. Munn is particularly interested in unsolved cases, like the fatal shooting of director William Desmond Taylor in 1922, the death of actor-writer-director-producer Thomas Ince in 1924, which, the author speculates, may have occurred aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht, and the simultaneous deaths of actor Gig Young and his bride Kim Schmidt in 1978. Also covered are infamous cases involving the gunning down of underworld figure Bugsy Siegel, Cheryl Crane's stabbing of her mother Lana Turner's lover, the Sharon Tate massacre and the knifing of Sal Mineo. Munn's (Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston) overview is macabre and so sketchy that some cases are dealt with in as few as five pages. Photos.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several vignettes showcasing murders and death of several Hollywood stars from the Silver Screen to late 1970s. Each has a biographical and cliffhanger mystery writing.

One theme I did pick up through is the cycle of you're either too much or not enough for Hollywood. For those that want neat, tidy endings or solved mysteries this is not the book.

Also could have used more of an edit. Several grammar and typos to make you notice. Good book to pick up and put down.

[Randy]

good history book interesting

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few of the usual ones, but some other cases you may never have heard of. Great beach or bathtub reading.