Hollywood Homicide

Hollywood Headlines #5

by Gemma Halliday, Anne Marie Stoddard

From New York Times bestselling author Gemma Halliday USA Today bestselling author Anne Marie Stoddard...


Cameron Dakota, photographer and paparazzi for the L.A. Informer tabloid, thinks her relationship with movie star Trace Brody is her very own Hollywood happily-ever-after. That is until Trace proposes that the couple go on the reality TV show, Celebrity Relationship Rehab. While Trace assures her that it's just for publicity, and all the arguments are faked, Cam has her reservations. Reservations that prove to be well-founded when the host of the reality show winds up dead, and Cam suddenly finds herself in the middle of a real-life crime drama!


Cam knows the police are on the wrong trail, and when the producers make the decision to keep filming despite the murder, it's up to her to ferret out the killer in their midst. Between a rap star with a reputation for violence, an aging soap opera star with a hidden past, a Kardashian-wanna-be, and the show's co-host and not-so-grieving widow, there are no shortage of people who would want the victim dead. Trapped in a house full of over-the-top suspects, forced into doing ridiculously hilarious relationship-saving drills, and with her every move watched by dozens of hidden cameras, Cam works to catch the story of her career and a cold blooded killer...before she finds herself canceled permanently!


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
Hollywood Homicide – book #5


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

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 8, 2018

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

[Leslie Langtry]

Like all of Gemma Halliday's books - this is a winner!

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trace asks his girlfriend Cameron for a big favor, he wants her to appear with him on the reality show Celebrity Relationship Rehab. There isn't anything wrong with their relationship, but he thinks this will help his image after his last movie did not do well. The first day there a murder occurs and Cameron can't help sticking her nose into things, after all she does work for a celebrity tabloid. Can their relationship survive the show and her snooping? Pick up a copy and find out. This can be read as a stand alone, but if you read the previous 4 books you will get a better feel for the characters backgrounds. This is a great series!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series and having a peek into Cameron Dakota’s personal life was awesome.

When her Hollywood “hunk” boyfriend books them a spot on a couples’ reality boot camp, things start going downhill very quickly.

This is a great story and fans of reality tv will really enjoy this “look behind the scenes.” Grab a copy and enjoy!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been a longtime fan of Anne Marie Stoddard, and I was excited when I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve never read any of Gemma Halliday’s work, and I usually shy away from anything too gimmicky, so I was honestly surprised when I found myself enjoying this book as much as I did. The ‘celebrity reality show’ is overdone, but Anne and Gemma found a way to make it fresh again with a wonderful cast of characters (Apple Pie may be a name that made me cackle but I wanted to wrap the character up in a blanket and feed her cookies) and, of course, a murder mystery. I was honestly surprised by the murderer in this one, and isn’t that what you want from a murder mystery?

The writing was engaging, there were no plot holes or places where I scratched my head wondering what was going on, and while I’m not sure I’ll pick up the next in this series simply because (again) I’m not one for Hollywood stories in general, this book was a pleasant romp and a great way to spend a few days escaping reality. If you love a good cozy mystery with some fun (and some dastardly) characters, absolutely give this one a try!

[K-BRC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series with fantastic characters that steal your heart. The murders are just gritty enough to keep you guessing the killer’s identity. Although this is book 5, you can read it in isolation without missing a beat; it’s a must read.

Merged review:

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series with fantastic characters that steal your heart. The murders are just gritty enough to keep you guessing the killer’s identity. Although it is book 5, you can read this in isolation without missing a beat; it’s a must read.

[Sandy Bartles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cameron, who works for the tabloid “L.A. Informer”, and her boyfriend, Trace, a movie star, agree to appear on Celebrity Relationship Rehab to see if they can get his career back on track after a failed movie gig. There are a lot of interesting characters involved that makes this a wonderful story. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[Gracie Boissel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book and I couldn’t put it down. Love!!!

[terry stallings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder on a Reality Show

When Cameron Dakota's boyfriend gets her to go on a reality show, she is thrilled. But it is short lived. The reality show is about relationships in trouble. To make matters worse, one of the hosts is murdered. But who killed him? Was it the rapper with a jealous streak? Or the quiet football player? Or the aging soap opera star? Or one of their love partners? Read it, and find out. You'll be glad you did!

[KimberlyDawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gemma Halliday & writing partner Anne Marie Stoddard have written another winner in the Hollywood Headlines series. Paparazzi photographer Cameron Dakota stars with her actor boyfriend Trace in this light-hearted mystery. The reality show participants will keep you laughing all the way to the end. The characters and dialog are outstanding.

[Lyn Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reality tv, really isn't.

While it's been a long time coming, this new installment of Hollywood Headlines is well worth the wait. Trace needs a kicker to jump start his stalled career and talks Cameron into doing a week long relationship program. The hilarity of having so many egos with secrets in one place is a hoot.

[Lynnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tabloid TV

This novel takes our intrepid paparazzi Cameron behind the scenes and in front of the cameras with her actor boyfriend, Trace. All the cliches are visited and a murder is solved.

[Nancy Finley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series. Well defined characters. Fast read especially if you are waiting somewhere.

[Danielle Eisner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a different kind of mystery series since it has 3 different leading ladies taking over the lead in different books. I think they could be read as mostly stand alones but I would still prefer to read them in order.

Cam is back as the lead in this book and it was nice to see her and Trace again all this time after book 2. I wished there had been a bit more of Trace. They were at a couples counceling type environment and so it lead to some tension with them and that wasn't very fun. I hope they are in a better place next time.

The cast of wacky reality show couples were pretty funny and interesting and that kept the book even more entertaining. With a ghetto white rapper and a ex porn star and an old washed up couple and a talentless celebrity famous for nothing this book had a pretty impressive cast of wacky characters. That will keep you laughing.

I am someone who can usually figure out the answer to the mystery. That's just the kind of person that I am. I'm good at figuring out context clues and my instincts are pretty good. Sometimes it honestly comes down to gut instinct. There's no reason for me to think its that person but I know I'm right, deep down in my gut. But this book had me stumped. I kind of figured out like one part of the mystery but otherwise I was completely clueless and wrong. That's a sign of a good mystery to me. If you can leave me shocked by the big reveal then you have a pretty impressive mystery in your hands.

If you are a pop culture junky like myself and love good mystery that is laugh out loud funny. You will not be disappointed so grab this book and all the others in the series right now.

[Sharon Grow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly enjoyable fifth book in the Hollywood Headlines series. Cameron Dakota, photographer and paparazzi for the L.A. Informer has been involved with actor Trace Body (see book #2 if you have not read the series) and he proposes that they go on the reality show “Celebrity Relationship Rehab”. Now at first, she is offended that he might think they have relationship issues but instead, he hopes to use the publicity to give a boost to his acting career. Cam finally agrees and the fun begins. Various intriguing and entertaining characters are introduced and things become really serious when one of the doctors, who is to provide the therapy, is found murdered. Cam can’t help but get involved and she spends her time trying to avoid the hidden cameras, figure out who wanted the victim dead, participating in laugh out loud relationship saving drills, and trying to get information (without being caught) to Felix, editor in chief, at the paper (Felix was not happy that he heard about the murder, not from his photographer on site, but from another news source). I have read the entire series and you can count on Ms. Halliday & Ms. Stoddard to bring you a laugh-out-loud story and characters. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth book in an entirely fun series, this book does not disappoint! Cameron a photographer for a tabloid and Trace an actor who needs a boost to his career are an item. In order to get more camera time and boost his on screen acting performance, he convinces Cameron (she really didn't want to to this) to go on a relationship reality show. With a lot of craziness and a lot of laughs, you are taken into a tv reality show and its operation. But as things go, one of the reality show therapy doctors gets murdered and it is in Cameron's DNA to get involved and try and figure out who did the murder and why, without giving herself away so she becomes the next victim while trying to get information out to her editor, Felix. Who and why was the therapy doctor murdered? You will keep guessing until the end! This is a thoroughly enjoyable series, and although you can read it as a stand-alone, you will definitely want to read the series for absolute enjoyment! I laughed throughout the entire book and I am sure you will to. I received and ARC from the authors, but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Hollywood Homicide with unforgettable characters and a good mystery that kept me entertained and intrigued from beginning to end. I really liked Cameron Dakota, paparazzi for the tabloid LA Informer and her dynamic with the other characters as she sought to find the killer of the host of Celebrity Relationship Rehab while she was a contestant with her boyfriend movie star Trace Brody. I couldn't put this fun mystery down and was turning the pages faster than ever to see what would happen next. This is a must-read for those who enjoy a light-hearted well-crafted whodunit. I received an ARC from the publisher for the purposes of an unbiased review.

[Julie Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all the Hollywood Headlines books and this was no exception. These books feature different characters that work for The Informer. This one features Cameron who is a photographer and dates a Hollywood star, Trace. To help boost Trace's career, Cameron agrees to go on a reality TV show about relationships. Here is where the fun begins, we have an overbearing boss who expects all the inside scoops, conflict in the house, a murder. Some rocky seas for the couple and of course some humor. You will not regret getting this book. Go ahead and get the series!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. The story flowed very well and was very enjoyable. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. I read this book in one day. An easy, fast read that let's you get that guilty pleasure of tabloid/reality TV without actually intruding on the lives of real people. UnReal meets Agatha Christie...You don't have to read the books in order to understand it although there are references to the previous books.

[Angela Verdenius · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light, entertaining read, with a good mystery and engaging characters.