Hollywood Deception

Hollywood Headlines #4

by Gemma Halliday, Anna Snow

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gemma Halliday & Anna Snow...


Tabloid reporter Allie Quick thinks she has the hottest story in Hollywood when she lands an exclusive with the scandalous Bobby Baxter—host of the exposé TV show Bobby Tells All. But when Bobby turns up dead just hours before her interview, Allie wonders just whom he was planning to “tell all” about. Between an angry fan, a crew full of disgruntled employees, an estranged wife, and a list of secrets about to be exposed there’s no shortage of people who wouldn’t mind seeing Bobby cancelled permanently. And Allie isn’t the only one digging—her rival is hot on her tail, and her editor-in-chief and maybe-boyfriend, Felix Dunn, isn’t playing favorites when it comes to headlines. With the help of her eclectic co-workers at the L.A. Informer and a teenaged hacker with a major crush, Allie vows to get to the truth about Bobby’s death…before the killer gets to her.


Hollywood Headlines
Hollywood Scandals – book #1
Hollywood Secrets – book #2
Hollywood Confessions – book #3
Twelve's Drummer Dying – holiday short story
Hollywood Deception – book #4


What critics are


"Halliday's Hollywood Headlines series is a fun story with intriguing characters and a good mystery. The action is fast paced, the hero is delightful and the heroine is spunky and independent but smart enough to know when she needs help."
—RT Book Reviews


"Fresh, funny, and has just enough heart to balance the snark."
—All About Romance


"Gemma Halliday's witty, entertaining writing style shines through in her new book! I look forward to seeing lots more of Tina as this series continues. A fun read!"
—Fresh Fiction


"Well written with smart and funny dialogue. It is a well-paced story that is thoroughly enjoyable with a mystery, a little romance, and a lot of laughs. Readers are sure to enjoy this delightful tale which is highly recommended."
—Romance Reviews Today

Genres: Cozy Mystery

211 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2012

About the author

Gemma had a hard time figuring out what she wanted to be when she grew up. She worked as a film and television actress, a teddy bear importer, a department store administrator, a preschool teacher, a temporary tattoo artist, and a 900 number psychic, before finally selling her first book, Spying in High Heels, in 2005 and deciding to be a writer.

Since then, Gemma has written several mystery novels and been the recipient of numerous awards, including a National Reader's Choice award and three RITA nominations. Her books have hit both the USA Today and the New York Times Bestseller lists.

Gemma now makes her home in the San Francisco Bay area where she is hard at work on her next book.

Reviews

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time, a fast-track author and publisher wrote a mystery series about a tabloid called the L.A. Informer. Book one featured columnist Tina Bender and her famous swear pig. Book two featured Cameron Dakota, L.A. Informer's staff photographer and paparazzi extraordinaire and a story about Hollywood's favorite couple's wedding, especially the groom, Trace Brody. The third book in this series is about a young journalist, Allie Quick, who among other things has the hots for her boss. Now, many years later from this well known author comes this book called Hollywood Deception. It picks up right where the series left off, with Allie Quick still hung up on her boss, Felix, and still trying to write a knock-your-socks-off article for L.A. Informer.

Allie is determined, foolhardy, unstoppable, and frankly a good investigative journalist. Like a dog with a bone, she doesn't give up no matter who or what stands in her way or tries to stop her. It is a fun read as you follow Allie's methods of extracting information even when you want to scream at her, "NO don't do it Allie!" She innocently acquires a side-kick/stalker who becomes her devoted helper as she bungles her way through a murder case with surprising results. It is one of those books that you don't want to put down until you get to the final page.

I have read all the books in the series, and although many years separate the first three books from this one, the spark of tabloid reporting, the magic of LA, and the fun characters have not aged or suffered from time-off. I highly recommend reading this book. For an even better experience, read the entire series that is bundled and sold on Amazon for a special price. You will have a greater appreciation for the L.A. Informer, Felix, Allie, Tina, Cam and even Max if you read them in order!

[Angela Verdenius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is the killer? What is Allie's relationship with her boss, Felix? Is he into her or going off her? Will their relationship last? Who killed the very unlikable Bobby, star of his own TV cable show? And will Allie survive the bruises mounting up due to her reporter-nosing-gig? Enjoyable!

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am voluntarily reviewing an advanced readers copy. This book is a collaboration of two awesome writers who come together to write this amazing story. Anna Snow and Gemma Halliday. I have read books by both authors and loved them, so when I got this one, I wasn't worried if it would be a good one or not. These two girls put together a great read that will make you laugh out loud. I can also relate to the lead character,Allie (who is a tabloid reporter) who is dating her boss, and just happens to be 10 years older than her. As the story goes on, she begins to wonder if Felix is still interested in her because he seems to be distancing himself from her, as she is investigating the murder of a big star. I think this book is a great read and these two have done an amazing job with this one. I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves a little romance with their mystery!

[Cecelia Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie Quick was on the set of Bobby Tells All waiting to interview Bobby Baxter about an altercation he had with a fan at a local restaurant. She had been waiting for several hours and he had not shown up on set yet. Bobby finally came out. They did a couple of different takes and he had a meltdown and stomped offstage. Henry Klein, Bobby's personal assistant, informed me that Bobby would not be able to see me that day. A whole day wasted with no exclusive to show for it.

Allie is an interesting character. She is intelligent, good looking and quirky. She is also determined to get the story without thinking about her personal safety. She is funny, irrevent and little bit naughty. I loved this book and look forward to reading more about the L.A. Informer and it's staff.

[Crystal Toller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allie Quick, a reporter for the L.A. Informer is on set to interview Bobby Baker about his recent run-in with a fan at a local restaurant. After waiting all day, Bobby has a meltdown and Allie's interview is put off until the next day. That evening someone kills Bobby. Allie is out to write a killer article about Bobby's death but is lacking clues. She teams up with a teenager who lives across the street from the widow who helps her do some not very legal hacking and b & e to find out what happened. Allie is also dating her boss, the editor of the L. A. Informer, Felix Dunn. How Allie finally discovers the real killer and writes a great story while living to tell the story makes for a entertaining read. My first by these authors and I really enjoyed it.

[terry stallings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who Killed Bobby Baxter?

Allie Quick, a reporter for The Informer, is set to interview Bobby Baxter, a cable TV show host. But her interview takes a dangerous turn when Bobby is found murdered. Who killed him? Was it his wife? Or his assistant? Or was it tied to a story he was working on about a sinister sanitation company? Add in a teenager with a knack for hacking, and a crush on Allie, and you have Hollywood Deception, a clever whodunit. Can Allie solve the case without getting killed? Read it, and find out. You'll be glad you did!

[Carole Craddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fun, fun!!! Reality TV and murder, add in the paparazzi and you have an awesome book!

[Danielle Eisner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie is back again. This time she’s chasing a juicy story when the subject of said story is found dead the day after he blew her off her an interview. To keep her job and impress her maybe boyfriend/boss she better find out what really happened to the not so nice tv personality. With the help of a kid with a slightly strange crush on her and while trying to figure out why her boss/ maybe boyfriend is blowing her off she will solve the murder…if only she can keep from becoming a murder victim herself.
One thing I can always count on with this author is fun and witty writing. Everything I've read by her has cute mentions of pop culture, which I really enjoy. I'm a pop culture junky so I like the references.
I think this series would be considered stand alones but I would recommend reading the other books first. Especially book 3 since the main character is the same in both. They are also really good so why not right?
This book is the 4th book in the series and it was written like 5 years after the 3rd book was released. But I read them all together and one thing that bothered me was that some serious things happened at the end of book 3. There was a break in and somebody was shot. There was no mention of those things. The book is supposed to be only a few months after the last one, but then some of the pop culture references were current. I guess it didn't really feel consistent. I don't know, maybe I'm focusing on the wrong things. Don't let this one thing get you down about this book though, because it's still very good. That was only one small part of the book as a whole.
The mystery was very good, it kept me guessing. I didn't figure out who the killer was until right before it was revealed. It shows how good the mystery was because I have a tendency to guess early, even when it doesn't make sense for it to be that person.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone that likes good salacious mysteries. With the main character being a tabloid reporter how can that not get interesting lol.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an exhilarating adventure! Allie and her "sidekick" are a hilarious duo as they get down and dirty for the sake of her story research. She needs the distraction so she won't dwell on her romance status with her reserved boss and Shane is in puppy love with this "older babe." Very enjoyable whodunit with a dual plot and realistic supporting characters to help make this a great & sometimes dangerous mystery as Allie is determined to do whatever it takes to get the truth. I had moments of laughter, shock, oohed, aahed, crossed my fingers on pins and needles & yuck! Lol, very engaging and well rounded story.

Merged review:

Wow, what an exhilarating adventure! Allie and her "sidekick" are a hilarious duo as they get down and dirty for the sake of her story research. She needs the distraction so she won't dwell on her romance status with her reserved boss and Shane is in puppy love with this "older babe." Very enjoyable whodunit with a dual plot and realistic supporting characters to help make this a great & sometimes dangerous mystery as Allie is determined to do whatever it takes to get the truth. I had moments of laughter, shock, oohed, aahed, crossed my fingers on pins and needles & yuck! Lol, very engaging and well rounded story.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great mystery loved all the plot twists love the characters Ally is a sweetheart with a tenacious reporter attitude she may be young but seriously L.A lookout Ally is on the story. Felix oh Felix omg I felt like kicking his butt throughout most of this story and yes I actually yelled at my ipad a few times for Felix to grow a set I mean man up Ally may be young but um Felix acted like a spoiled little boy most of this story, but I did love the ending.

An action packed cozy mystery with some great characters I love reading more about.

[Sandy Bartles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read in this series and I really enjoyed it. Allie is a reporter for the L.A. Informer who is trying to get the scoop on a fight in an upscale restaurant between Bobby Baxter, host of "Bobby Tells All", and a fan. Bobby gives her the runaround and tells his assistant that he will talk with her the next day. Unfortunately, that night Bobby is found shot in the head. This story takes a lot of spins and turns as Allie tries to solve the case before a co-worker does. Just when you think you know who did it, another twist comes along. While trying to solve the murder, Allie is also trying to learn why Felix, her boss/boyfriend is suddenly trying to avoid her. Poor Allie, she steps into problems with every turn. I really love Shane, the teenager who has a crush on Allie. He really adds to the story.

Some of our reviewers like to put a disclaimer in their reviews. If you would like to add one, here is some language that we have found very useful:

I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of an unbiased review.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the Hollywood Headlines Mysteries series. You could read this book as a standalone although I would recommend reading the series from the beginning. If you are looking for a cozy mystery series to try, I highly recommend anything by Gemma Halliday. Her books are well-written, incorporate humor, aren't terribly gruesome, and just the right length.

The series has three main female characters. This book focuses on Alli Quick, a young tabloid reporter who takes her job seriously. Those around her may take her a little less seriously because she is a girly girl, loving pink and driving a VW Beetle. I wasn't a huge Alli fan before, but this book gave me a new-found respect for her.

[booklover · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure if I’ve just outgrown Halliday’s work or if it’s just this one book that I disliked. I found 85% of the content to be utterly vapid and devoid of any wider thought to the affect it might have on younger readers. Especially when bandying around terms like ‘anorexic’, the frequent mentionings of ‘this will go straight to my thighs’ as if women have to constantly care/feel guilty about eating a scone grew tiresome and irritating. Overall, not an overly enjoyable read, though the plot did have some interesting twists and turns.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series and was happy to see a new book. I really like these characters, they're fun and entertaining. The story is fast paced and kept me turning the pages. There are plenty of suspects that will keep you guessing. I hope there will be more books in this series.

I received a copy of this manuscript from the publisher, my review has been voluntarily submitted.

[JigsawGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out a little slow, but gradually got better. Allie's friendship with 17&3/4 year old Shane was the most entertaining part of the book.

The murderer was pretty predictable. This book is the third in the series. The first two seemed to move a little faster.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy.

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Hollywood mystery with a great cast of characters and fast-paced plot that quickly became a page-turner. I loved tabloid reporter Allie Quick and her dynamic with the other characters especially her boss, Felix Dunn, and teenage hacker, Shane. I can't wait to read more Hollywood Headline Mysteries. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun book

Concerned through the book about Felix and his intentions regarding Allie. She is a reporter looking into the death of Bobby Baxter. She is smart and brave and eventually comes up with the answer. Great book. Very enjoyable. Looking forward to another Allie Quick book

[Anne Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shane is so adorable and Felix is an idiot. Allie was doing on story on Bobbie Baxter and he just so happened to be murdred! Is it his soon to be his ex wife or the people that he was doing a story on from sanitation company? What mischief does Allie get herself into.

[Stacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollywood Headlines is a great series! This book is a great addition to the series as we get to know Allie Quick and follow the progress of her relationship with Felix. Those who enjoy a great cozy mystery will love this book.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy these crazy stories about the people at the LA Reporter. We waited a long time for book four, but it was worth it. There are two more titles announced. I will be preordering them as soon as they are available! These tales are the best escapist reading I have found.

[Mare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun romp from Ms. Halliday.

[Robyn Choate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun light read by Gemma Halliday. Lots of laugh out loud moments. I gave the book 3 stars versus 4 because the the book was somewhat predictable. However, still looking forward to the next book by Gemma!!!!