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Where the Truth Lies
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
O’Connor, a vivacious, free-spirited young journalist known for her penetrating celebrity interviews, is bent on unearthing secrets long ago buried by the handsome showbiz team of singer Vince Collins and comic Lanny Morris. These two highly desirable men, once inseparable (and insatiable, where women were concerned), were driven apart by a bizarre and unexplained death in which one of them may have played the part of murderer. As the tart-tongued, eye-catching O’Connor ventures deeper into this unsolved mystery, she finds herself compromisingly coiled around both men, knowing more about them than they realize and less than she might like, but increasingly fearful that she now knows far too much.
O’Connor, a vivacious, free-spirited young journalist known for her penetrating celebrity interviews, is bent on unearthing secrets long ago buried by the handsome showbiz team of singer Vince Collins and comic Lanny Morris. These two highly desirable men, once inseparable (and insatiable, where women were concerned), were driven apart by a bizarre and unexplained death in which one of them may have played the part of murderer. As the tart-tongued, eye-catching O’Connor ventures deeper into this unsolved mystery, she finds herself compromisingly coiled around both men, knowing more about them than they realize and less than she might like, but increasingly fearful that she now knows far too much.
432 pages, Paperback
Published June 8, 2004
About the author
Rupert Holmes
36 books1,010 followersRupert Holmes was born on February 24, 1947, in Northwich, Cheshire, England. Soon after, he ventured forth to America (New York) with his British mum and Air Force dad. After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music, Mr. Holmes delved into the art of melodious sound. A successful piano player for both the Cuff Links and the Buoys, with whom he had his first international hit, "Timothy," in 1971, Rupert also wrote and arranged songs for Gene Pitney, The Platters, The Drifters and the Partridge Family.
With the new millennium, Holmes added novel writing to his repertoire. His critically-acclaimed mystery, Where the Truth Lies, was a Booklist Top Ten Debut Novel; his second, Swing, was a San Francisco Chronicle Top Ten Best Seller, called “imaginative, smart, sophisticated and impressively elaborate” by Janet Maslin of the New York Times. His short stories have been anthologized in such prestigious collections as Best American Mystery Stories, On a Raven’s Wing, A Merry Band of Murderers and Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop. He was also commissioned by The New York Times to write the Arts and Leisure tribute celebrating the one hundredth birthday of Irving Berlin.
With the new millennium, Holmes added novel writing to his repertoire. His critically-acclaimed mystery, Where the Truth Lies, was a Booklist Top Ten Debut Novel; his second, Swing, was a San Francisco Chronicle Top Ten Best Seller, called “imaginative, smart, sophisticated and impressively elaborate” by Janet Maslin of the New York Times. His short stories have been anthologized in such prestigious collections as Best American Mystery Stories, On a Raven’s Wing, A Merry Band of Murderers and Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop. He was also commissioned by The New York Times to write the Arts and Leisure tribute celebrating the one hundredth birthday of Irving Berlin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
February 25, 2012
Okay, I fully admit the main reason I sprang this book from its nice, warm home on the library shelf was because the author's name caught my eye. Rupert Holmes? Surely not the same Rupert Holmes who wrote one of most iconic soft rock hits of the '70's, and, incidentally, one of my favorite songs from my childhood, even though it surely must have pained my mother to hear her nine year old sing about "making love at midnight in the dunes of a cape?" Yes, the same Rupert Holmes, and, yes, based on his name (and song) alone I checked out this book.
Well, this is a great story! I was hooked from the first page. Well, maybe the second. O'Conner, a young, female journalist, is the narrator of this tale, and her voice is so strong that she jumps off the page, and I can envision her as my pal chatting with me over cocktails. Set in the '70's, hers is the story of a smart woman who gets a little overly involved with two "rat-pack"-esque stars past their prime, one of whom she is interviewing for a biography that she's hoping will include details about a shady episode in his past. I was more than pleasantly surprised by this novel's complexity of plot and the fullness of its characters. The word duplicitious can be applied to both, and I found myself at once both loving and loathing O'Conner and the men she investigates.
A page turner until the very end, this book is very fun to read has twists and turns to make one giddy, and amazingly Holmes is able to wrap them all up tightly at the end. Wonderful read!
February 13, 2018
Read this quite a while ago, but was thinking about it today and wanted to put a review out there because this is an absolutely gripping book. (PLEASE skip the movie. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't the book and changing one of the main characters from a suave Dean Martin to a suave Brit just didn't do it. No offense to Colin Firth who is a great actor, but it just didn't work.) The fact that I can remember reading it at lunch over 10 years ago and not being able to put it down speaks volumes. (This was in pre-e reader days.) I had work to do, but I just couldn't stop reading. I had it in my lap and was sneak reading it. I stayed at the office LATE on a Friday because I couldn't put it down. It had so many twists and turns and I couldn't help but get caught up with it.
I've re-read it, even knowing how it ends (and who the killer is and how it happened...which is pretty amazing) and it STILL grips me every time.
Put simply: I LOVE this book and it takes suspense and mystery to a new (and sometimes kinky level). Plus if you love the 1970s and Disneyland, you'll want to check this out too.
I've re-read it, even knowing how it ends (and who the killer is and how it happened...which is pretty amazing) and it STILL grips me every time.
Put simply: I LOVE this book and it takes suspense and mystery to a new (and sometimes kinky level). Plus if you love the 1970s and Disneyland, you'll want to check this out too.
October 6, 2008
I picked this up on whim while I was mourning the fact that I had finished "Rebecca." I thought it might be in somewhat of the same drama, mystery, suspense, love, etc... 22-pages in, it referenced "Rebecca," and I knew I was in for a good time.
Full of wonderfull, albeit dark, comedy, thrilling suspense, and a shocking-reveal at the end, this book more than met my expectations. Scenes and questions are still realing within my head, as I can't seem to let go of the characters.
O'Connor tells her story and pulls you in. My emotions traced right along with hers as she got tangled in her own lies, uncovered dark secrets, was wooed by two very differnet men, and watched her world crash down around her.
This novel was satisfying on every level... an indulgence that was suspenseful, funny, and sexy.
Full of wonderfull, albeit dark, comedy, thrilling suspense, and a shocking-reveal at the end, this book more than met my expectations. Scenes and questions are still realing within my head, as I can't seem to let go of the characters.
O'Connor tells her story and pulls you in. My emotions traced right along with hers as she got tangled in her own lies, uncovered dark secrets, was wooed by two very differnet men, and watched her world crash down around her.
This novel was satisfying on every level... an indulgence that was suspenseful, funny, and sexy.
January 19, 2016
This was actually a good mystery. I loved the depictions of Disneyworld and old Hollywood. I gave it 3 stars because I thought it was a little too raunchy, but otherwise, it was enjoyable.
August 18, 2026
Thank you for NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, a good book. I enjoy Holmes’ writing style and appreciate the dry sense of humor. The homage to comedy duo’s of the 60’s was interesting, but I can imagine that this might be missed by some readers.
I can see that the author’s writing has evolved, since this release is a reissue, I am assuming with the success of his more recent release, How to Murder Your Employer. This book was good, and a solid story. It did not blow me away but if you are a mystery fan, it was a good story.
3 stars.
Overall, a good book. I enjoy Holmes’ writing style and appreciate the dry sense of humor. The homage to comedy duo’s of the 60’s was interesting, but I can imagine that this might be missed by some readers.
I can see that the author’s writing has evolved, since this release is a reissue, I am assuming with the success of his more recent release, How to Murder Your Employer. This book was good, and a solid story. It did not blow me away but if you are a mystery fan, it was a good story.
3 stars.
November 8, 2018
This was NUTS. Starts off kinda slow and easy and ramps up to crazytown, especially for the last 50 pages which just keep whipping out twists until the last sentence. As somebody who's been in her own personal crazytown this year, reading and watching Martin and Lewis media like a fiend, I enjoyed a lot of this, and seeing just how much these guys matched up to the real thing. That said, it was also had a hard time imagining these characters as separate entities. Lanny truly felt like middle-age Jerry, down to the nastiness and manipulative generosity, but Vince was definitely a bit further from Dean in multiple ways... I mean, Also thought it was a bit much to have Vince .
I also had mixed emotions about the narrator, though I largely thought she felt pretty real and not too Mary-Sue. Her 'dates' with the two of them are wonderful and get your heart fluttering in the right spots – shoutout to Doyers Street and Disneyland – but also she's too indulgent and it's a bummer about how she undercuts her own professional working relationships. But I know I'm not meant to be thinking about furthering the cause of working women when I'm reading a noir-esque love triangle novel so. All in all, there's a lot dopey here but it gets so far into it it's fun as heck to read. I didn't even try to piece anything together, I just enjoyed the ride.
I also had mixed emotions about the narrator, though I largely thought she felt pretty real and not too Mary-Sue. Her 'dates' with the two of them are wonderful and get your heart fluttering in the right spots – shoutout to Doyers Street and Disneyland – but also she's too indulgent and it's a bummer about how she undercuts her own professional working relationships. But I know I'm not meant to be thinking about furthering the cause of working women when I'm reading a noir-esque love triangle novel so. All in all, there's a lot dopey here but it gets so far into it it's fun as heck to read. I didn't even try to piece anything together, I just enjoyed the ride.
February 15, 2009
‘The village doesn’t always take to grockles.’
Kings Duncombe is a village small enough for everyone to know everyone else’s business, or so it seems, and insular enough to turn a blind eye to many transgressions. Josie Welford, the widow of one of Britain’s most notorious criminals, hopes to make a fresh start in the village as the licensee of the local pub: the White Hart. Josie is more or less accepted because she has left the White Hart largely unchanged ... for now.
The status quo is changed, though, when a former policeman from Josie’s past makes an appearance. Nick is now an Inspector for the Food Standards Agency and causes Josie to wonder about the quality and provenance of the meat she is buying. As a consequence, Josie changes meat suppliers and this leads to a series of events which test Josie’s determination and seem to turn the village upside down. Who is involved in what, and why?
Josie is perhaps an unlikely but likeable hero. A feisty woman who is 50+, can keep secrets and is fighting a weight problem while maintaining a keen interest in what is going on around her is someone that many readers could relate to. Josie is not perfect and not super human, but she is very observant and highly organised. It took me a few pages to get caught up in this novel, but once I did I read through to the end because I wanted to see how it would all end. Some aspects were predictable and others were not. Put it this way: I’m off to read the second novel to feature Josie Welford. It is called ‘The Chinese Takeout’.
Kings Duncombe is a village small enough for everyone to know everyone else’s business, or so it seems, and insular enough to turn a blind eye to many transgressions. Josie Welford, the widow of one of Britain’s most notorious criminals, hopes to make a fresh start in the village as the licensee of the local pub: the White Hart. Josie is more or less accepted because she has left the White Hart largely unchanged ... for now.
The status quo is changed, though, when a former policeman from Josie’s past makes an appearance. Nick is now an Inspector for the Food Standards Agency and causes Josie to wonder about the quality and provenance of the meat she is buying. As a consequence, Josie changes meat suppliers and this leads to a series of events which test Josie’s determination and seem to turn the village upside down. Who is involved in what, and why?
Josie is perhaps an unlikely but likeable hero. A feisty woman who is 50+, can keep secrets and is fighting a weight problem while maintaining a keen interest in what is going on around her is someone that many readers could relate to. Josie is not perfect and not super human, but she is very observant and highly organised. It took me a few pages to get caught up in this novel, but once I did I read through to the end because I wanted to see how it would all end. Some aspects were predictable and others were not. Put it this way: I’m off to read the second novel to feature Josie Welford. It is called ‘The Chinese Takeout’.
January 24, 2016
Author Rupert Holmes is a real renaissance man. A musician early on, famous for "Escape(The Pina Colada Song)", he's written 2 novels(this book was his first), and plays, including the Tony winning "The Mystery of Edwin Drood", which was based on Dickens last, incomplete, novel. So, he's won a Grammy, a couple of Edgars, and several Tonys. I read his second novel, "Swing", aka "The Musician's Daughter", a couple years ago, and really enjoyed it. When I spotted this one, at the library, I grabbed it immediately. The story is set in the '70's, told in first person, by a female writer, who wants to write a book about the break up, under unusual circumstances, of one of the great comedy acts of the '50's(who are very much like Martin & Lewis). The prime circumstance seems to be the finding of a dead woman, in the bathtub of their hotel room, upon their arrival, in New Jersey, from Miami. There's much more to this than meets the eye, and the writer gets in over her head very quickly. There's a lot of suspense, and a twisted plot, which makes for some serious page-turning. I would recommend this book, to any serious mystery fan.
September 2, 2018
It’s been a long time since I read it but I remember being highly entertained by it. I should perhaps say that my feelings towards it are prejudiced by the subject matter. Taking place in the 70s, it’s based loosely, though not terribly subtly, on the partnership between comedy act Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, though they are obviously renamed here. In a fictionalized version of events Rupert Holmes explores through the eyes of a young investigative journalist what transpired between the two that ultimately broke them up. Having read Dean and Me: A Love Story by Jerry Lewis, I don’t think Holmes is far off the mark, either.
May 3, 2023
A fun piece, with a barely fictionalized version of the comedy team of Martin & Lewis front and center in this fairly complicated who did what to whom? Type detective novel. I loved the voice of the narrator, a young, attractive, sexually-randy, writer who pens tell-all type articles for local mags, and now is going for a big book prize. Clever, busy, quick and very entertaining.
March 8, 2008
I LOVED this book--twists and turns--gangsters, drugs and murder. However, the movie made me want to turn in my membership card for the Colin Firth Fan Club. STAY AWAY from the movie.
August 14, 2016
Loved it, loved Holmes' writing style enough to make me seek out his other work. Don't want to spoil what is a top-notch read, but it was excellent!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review❣️
❤❤❤.5 Hearts!
I went into Where the Truth Lies knowing absolutely nothing about the book, so when I received the ARC, I actually did a little research first just to understand what I was getting into. That helped me have some context before starting it, but even then, the book took a little while for me to settle into. The first part felt very much like I was being given a lot of information and background rather than being pulled straight into the story. It was interesting, and I could appreciate the detail, but I found myself waiting for the mystery and the actual plot to really take over.
Once I got further in, I could definitely see the strength in Rupert Holmes’ writing. His prose is thoughtful and well written, and there were moments where I really appreciated the way he put things together. My main struggle was that I never became as immersed in the story as I usually do. I kept wanting that feeling of being completely absorbed in the characters and the mystery, but somehow there was always a little distance between me and the book. It wasn’t a bad read at all; it simply required more patience from me than I expected.
By the end, I think this was more a case of the book not quite finding me at the right time than the book being poorly written. I can absolutely see why it would work for readers who enjoy a slower, more detailed mystery with plenty of atmosphere and character background. For me, though, the pacing made it difficult to stay fully invested, I’m still glad I picked this one up because it introduced me to Rupert Holmes’ writing, and I’d definitely be open to trying another book by him in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
❤❤❤.5 Hearts!
I went into Where the Truth Lies knowing absolutely nothing about the book, so when I received the ARC, I actually did a little research first just to understand what I was getting into. That helped me have some context before starting it, but even then, the book took a little while for me to settle into. The first part felt very much like I was being given a lot of information and background rather than being pulled straight into the story. It was interesting, and I could appreciate the detail, but I found myself waiting for the mystery and the actual plot to really take over.
Once I got further in, I could definitely see the strength in Rupert Holmes’ writing. His prose is thoughtful and well written, and there were moments where I really appreciated the way he put things together. My main struggle was that I never became as immersed in the story as I usually do. I kept wanting that feeling of being completely absorbed in the characters and the mystery, but somehow there was always a little distance between me and the book. It wasn’t a bad read at all; it simply required more patience from me than I expected.
By the end, I think this was more a case of the book not quite finding me at the right time than the book being poorly written. I can absolutely see why it would work for readers who enjoy a slower, more detailed mystery with plenty of atmosphere and character background. For me, though, the pacing made it difficult to stay fully invested, I’m still glad I picked this one up because it introduced me to Rupert Holmes’ writing, and I’d definitely be open to trying another book by him in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There is nothing inherently wrong with this book. It just isn’t a me book. There was a lot about it in the first portion of the book that was like reading a documentary. I struggled to get into the actual story because of that. It was interesting but at the same time it was dry. I kept wanting to get to the actual plot/murder/mystery. I am not usually like that. Usually I can sink into whatever I read and become absorbed. This was not one of those times.
Rupert Holmes can write a solid book there is no doubt about that. His prose is great. I enjoyed the writing style.
I had a difficult time actually with Vince and Lanny. That is solely because of the connection my brain made to Martin and Lewis this obliterated any chance of me getting wrapped up in the characters.
No matter what was happening their faces were all I could see. Having seen a lot of their films the whole Lanny is hot in the bedroom and all I could see is Jerry Lewis. LOL! No just no. Well actually either one of them for some reason the whole thing was just weird for me.
So in the end it was a trudge for me. Would I read anything else by Holmes? Absolutely! Would I watch the film based on WTTL? Again absolutely!
I do not like not finishing a book. But I decided there were too many books in my TBR pile to keep forcing myself back to one I am not really enjoying at the moment.
I may try it again someday. I also have wish listed the Audible book coming out in September.
And for those who may not know this is a reprint of the novel released in 2003.
But I thank NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.
Rupert Holmes can write a solid book there is no doubt about that. His prose is great. I enjoyed the writing style.
I had a difficult time actually with Vince and Lanny. That is solely because of the connection my brain made to Martin and Lewis this obliterated any chance of me getting wrapped up in the characters.
No matter what was happening their faces were all I could see. Having seen a lot of their films the whole Lanny is hot in the bedroom and all I could see is Jerry Lewis. LOL! No just no. Well actually either one of them for some reason the whole thing was just weird for me.
So in the end it was a trudge for me. Would I read anything else by Holmes? Absolutely! Would I watch the film based on WTTL? Again absolutely!
I do not like not finishing a book. But I decided there were too many books in my TBR pile to keep forcing myself back to one I am not really enjoying at the moment.
I may try it again someday. I also have wish listed the Audible book coming out in September.
And for those who may not know this is a reprint of the novel released in 2003.
But I thank NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Where the Truth Lies had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it never fully came together for me. The combination of old-school entertainment, scandal, murder, and a journalist determined to uncover the truth seemed to have all the ingredients for a compelling mystery. Unfortunately, the story felt much slower and more drawn out than I expected.
It takes a long time for the story to really get moving, and while there are plenty of secrets, twists, and revelations along the way, I often found myself waiting for something more substantial to happen. The mystery was interesting enough to keep me reading, but it never created the suspense or sense of urgency I was hoping for.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. There is plenty of dysfunction, manipulation, and questionable behavior, but I never became particularly invested in their personal stories. At times, the characters felt more like pieces being moved around to reveal another part of the mystery rather than people I genuinely cared about.
Holmes is clearly a talented writer, and there are some clever ideas and atmospheric moments throughout the book. Unfortunately, the slow pacing, emotionally distant characters, and somewhat convoluted storytelling kept me from enjoying it as much as I had hoped.
Overall, Where the Truth Lies had an intriguing premise that ultimately didn't work for me.
It takes a long time for the story to really get moving, and while there are plenty of secrets, twists, and revelations along the way, I often found myself waiting for something more substantial to happen. The mystery was interesting enough to keep me reading, but it never created the suspense or sense of urgency I was hoping for.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. There is plenty of dysfunction, manipulation, and questionable behavior, but I never became particularly invested in their personal stories. At times, the characters felt more like pieces being moved around to reveal another part of the mystery rather than people I genuinely cared about.
Holmes is clearly a talented writer, and there are some clever ideas and atmospheric moments throughout the book. Unfortunately, the slow pacing, emotionally distant characters, and somewhat convoluted storytelling kept me from enjoying it as much as I had hoped.
Overall, Where the Truth Lies had an intriguing premise that ultimately didn't work for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the 4,068th book I've rated since I started tracking and my 25th 1 star review. A book has to work extra hard for me to give this low of a rating. Most of my friends feel I am an easy grader. Okay, well, I like books and tend to read ones that appeal to me! This is a noir, which isn't fully in my favorites, but with a female main character, I thought it might be a good one. Also, because this is a re-release of a book, it must have something going for it, right? Publishers said "oh yes!" twice! Nope! Still a horrible misogynistic book with even the female lead making crude comments about her own nipples (multiple times. I've never read a female character so focused on her own breasts!) and a man's potential circumcision. Really? There was too much sex. There were no females who weren't ready to sleep with whomever. The story went all over the place. And throughout the story a supposed additional memoir is inserted. Then when you see that you are almost to the end (thank goodness!) the story goes in to telling mode and the last 10% of the book is the whole thing laid out for the reader. No. Just no. I usually tap out at 2 stars just because an author has (assumably) given their best. But they all had a second chance to make this book better and didn't take it. Is the movie better?
Thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the Advanced Review Copy.
Where the Truth Lies is a complex murder mystery that focuses more on the lives of the people surrounding the murder (and the journalist investigating the murder) than it does on the murder itself. Set around fifty years or so ago (give or take), this might be a trip down memory lane or a peek into a distant past, depending on the age of the reader. I know there were a number of period specific parts that I was surprised about, not having lived it for myself.
Your perspective will also probably influence how you wind up feeling about the characters, including the point of view character of the investigating journalist who certainly does some questionable things for the sake of her manuscript. Is she more moral and justified than the people she's investigating is a question I think everyone is going to have to answer for themself, though I wound up having some negative feelings about the protagonist.
Overall, a very nice mystery wrap up (who doesn't enjoy a good and twisty reveal) and thought provoking story about how media and journalism interact and what it means for the people caught in between.
If you enjoy murder mysteries with a lot of focus on the investigator and the surrounding characters rather than on the victim and the scene of the murder, then this book is likely for you.
Where the Truth Lies is a complex murder mystery that focuses more on the lives of the people surrounding the murder (and the journalist investigating the murder) than it does on the murder itself. Set around fifty years or so ago (give or take), this might be a trip down memory lane or a peek into a distant past, depending on the age of the reader. I know there were a number of period specific parts that I was surprised about, not having lived it for myself.
Your perspective will also probably influence how you wind up feeling about the characters, including the point of view character of the investigating journalist who certainly does some questionable things for the sake of her manuscript. Is she more moral and justified than the people she's investigating is a question I think everyone is going to have to answer for themself, though I wound up having some negative feelings about the protagonist.
Overall, a very nice mystery wrap up (who doesn't enjoy a good and twisty reveal) and thought provoking story about how media and journalism interact and what it means for the people caught in between.
If you enjoy murder mysteries with a lot of focus on the investigator and the surrounding characters rather than on the victim and the scene of the murder, then this book is likely for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this mystery novel, a re-issue of the debut novel by Rupert Holmes, via NetGalley.
Rupert Holmes is an interesting character and it shows in his writing. While I had known him only as the artist with a the very popular pop music hit, Escape (The Pina Colada Song), I know now him to be a renaissance man who succeeded is multiple aspects of the entertainment industry.
This book is narrated in the first person by a female writer, quite a trick for a male author. She is writing a book about a famous entertainment duo who were a popular nightclub act and co-stars in many a movie. But after their partnership was terminated for over a decade, she is commissioned to write a book about the duo. Their names are fictionalized but they resemble Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
The process of writing this book turns out to be a real adventure. Haunting the process is the murder of a young woman that may have involved the Martin and Lewis clones, which is the mystery in this book that needs to be solved,
This was a fun read and eloquently portrayed the times in was written in and the many settings (Miami, New York, LA) that were part of this rollicking adventure.
Rupert Holmes is an interesting character and it shows in his writing. While I had known him only as the artist with a the very popular pop music hit, Escape (The Pina Colada Song), I know now him to be a renaissance man who succeeded is multiple aspects of the entertainment industry.
This book is narrated in the first person by a female writer, quite a trick for a male author. She is writing a book about a famous entertainment duo who were a popular nightclub act and co-stars in many a movie. But after their partnership was terminated for over a decade, she is commissioned to write a book about the duo. Their names are fictionalized but they resemble Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
The process of writing this book turns out to be a real adventure. Haunting the process is the murder of a young woman that may have involved the Martin and Lewis clones, which is the mystery in this book that needs to be solved,
This was a fun read and eloquently portrayed the times in was written in and the many settings (Miami, New York, LA) that were part of this rollicking adventure.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book which reads like a true historical account. I read Murder your Employer and was blown away! I was excited to read this book to see if it is equally exceptional. This book is so very different, but the writing is just as good. The story just feels true, with its lush references to the locations and events of the past. Despite that the book is about a murdered young woman, there is so much humor in the book that I found myself laughing out loud many times. The characters all have depth and are at times likable, at other times not. You really cannot compare Holmes previous work to this book because the style is completely different, yet this story sucks you in with the hint of foul play, the playful banter, living the lives of the rich and famous. I so want to go to the drive-in theater restaurant! So, not only is the story gripping and entertaining, Holmes gives us a realistically flawed heroine in O'Connor. Plenty of laughs, heartbreak, history and twists in the story display the range of Homes' talent. I don't agree with the other reviews because I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an amusing story, with two of the main characters — Lanny and Vincent — being an homage to Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. In essence, a fictionalized account of their professional relationship and the breakdown of that relationship. Although in this fictional account, it is the death/murder of a young woman, whom they both knew intimately, that is a major catalyst in (but not the only reason for) the breakdown of their professional relationship. And there is Kerry, who is writing a book about Vince, and will also have an unexpectedly close experience with Lanny. She is hoping to get dirt on Lanny or possibly both of them. Her interactions with the two men provide some of the more amusing moments. She will figure out the “truth” behind the murder, which will not be what she expected. And her thoughts on the parties involved will have to be revised multiple times. There is lots of trickery and deceit, as well as opportunistic behavior.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Similar to others that have reviewed this book, I was disappointed to see that this is a 20+ year old book that has been repackaged and redesigned to look more like Rupert Holmes' other book, How To Murder Your Employer. Similarly frustrating, is that this book was sent to me directly by the publisher for review, I didn't request it. Not a fan of them trying to sneak in an old novel and make it look new. It has also already been a movie.
I will say that I hadn't read the novel, and it was fine. A thriller with some erotic elements thrown in, it wasn't boring by any means, and I do love the way Holmes puts his novels together. I just wish I knew more about the history of this book before I spent time reading it.
As always, thanks to NetGalley for being the best place to have access to new (and apparently, new-to-me) books.
I will say that I hadn't read the novel, and it was fine. A thriller with some erotic elements thrown in, it wasn't boring by any means, and I do love the way Holmes puts his novels together. I just wish I knew more about the history of this book before I spent time reading it.
As always, thanks to NetGalley for being the best place to have access to new (and apparently, new-to-me) books.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The reviews at the front of the book read like they were written by Rupert Holmes himself, so I assumed I was reading a Hawthorne and Horowitz-type novel. But everything I looked up was...true. He wrote the Pina Colada song. There is a movie of this book.
I think.
I literally combed through the edit logs on Wikipedia to confirm the book and movie existed in 2003/2005 and hadn't just been seeded about the internet to add verisimilitude to a meta book. The front matter seemed so carefully constructed! I was going to write that I wish I’d been as clever as Holmes and written a line like "It’ll keep you tossing and turning pages all night long." It seems that really was written by Newsweek, though?? The 2003 book reviews don't sound anything like today's!
(By the way, the book was fun, too!)
I think.
I literally combed through the edit logs on Wikipedia to confirm the book and movie existed in 2003/2005 and hadn't just been seeded about the internet to add verisimilitude to a meta book. The front matter seemed so carefully constructed! I was going to write that I wish I’d been as clever as Holmes and written a line like "It’ll keep you tossing and turning pages all night long." It seems that really was written by Newsweek, though?? The 2003 book reviews don't sound anything like today's!
(By the way, the book was fun, too!)
September 15, 2026
O'Connor is a gutsy woman journalist, and her confidence fascinated me. She's the kind of person who steps into a room and you can't help but stare, all verve. Her maneuvering to get information was a bit questionable at times, and that's exactly where things got complicated for her.
The unraveling of Collins and Morris's partnership came as a slow reveal, and it was worth the wait. I truly didn't see it coming. Just when I thought the grand reveal had landed, Holmes threw in a curveball.
The writing carried a true vintage mystery tone throughout. This one did run a bit long, though, and the pacing dragged in places.
I paired this with the audiobook, narrated by Marin Ireland and Danny Burstein. Ireland's voice for O'Connor was perfect, capturing that gutsy reporter energy while still letting her feel human once work and personal feelings started to complicate things. Burstein's performance of both Collins and Morris sounded exactly of the era.
The ending was satisfying.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster Audio, and NetGalley, for my advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
The unraveling of Collins and Morris's partnership came as a slow reveal, and it was worth the wait. I truly didn't see it coming. Just when I thought the grand reveal had landed, Holmes threw in a curveball.
The writing carried a true vintage mystery tone throughout. This one did run a bit long, though, and the pacing dragged in places.
I paired this with the audiobook, narrated by Marin Ireland and Danny Burstein. Ireland's voice for O'Connor was perfect, capturing that gutsy reporter energy while still letting her feel human once work and personal feelings started to complicate things. Burstein's performance of both Collins and Morris sounded exactly of the era.
The ending was satisfying.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster Audio, and NetGalley, for my advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
Three and a half stars K. O'Connor is a journalist and she is given the assignment of writing a book about one of a comedy/musical duo who broke up their very successful act 15 years previous. Although they both had alibis, their act ended when a young woman was found dead in the bathtub of their hotel room. The lies start very early and like quicksand, the more you try and extricate yourself with more lies, the deeper you go. Maybe you will go all the way through and come out on the other side where truths are lies and the lies are true. Cleverly written. It lost a half a star because I am still not sure about the ending.
A Goodreads pop-up tells me the book has not been published. The copy I have notes that it was published in 2003!
A Goodreads pop-up tells me the book has not been published. The copy I have notes that it was published in 2003!
September 11, 2026
Where The Truth Lies
By Rupert Holmes
Pub date 9/15/26
Thank you NetGalley, Avid Reader Press and the author for the advanced digital copy of this story in exchange for my honest and original thoughts.
This was a slow-paced, detail-packed mystery. It was an entertaining look at old Hollywood (with a nod to Martin & Lewis). I enjoyed the voice of the narrator, the lively writer trying to make a bigger name for herself.
I loved the McMaster’s Guide to Murder Your Employer, and this one was pretty on-par for what I expected by the author.
3.5/5
By Rupert Holmes
Pub date 9/15/26
Thank you NetGalley, Avid Reader Press and the author for the advanced digital copy of this story in exchange for my honest and original thoughts.
This was a slow-paced, detail-packed mystery. It was an entertaining look at old Hollywood (with a nod to Martin & Lewis). I enjoyed the voice of the narrator, the lively writer trying to make a bigger name for herself.
I loved the McMaster’s Guide to Murder Your Employer, and this one was pretty on-par for what I expected by the author.
3.5/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wanted to rate this four stars, but Goodreads didn't let me.
I received this edition from NetGalley, but it has been published in print form already.
I actually had seen the movie that the book inspired. From what I can remember, the movie was pretty true to the book.
It was a good mystery with a great surprise twist at the end that I really didn't see coming as I hadn't remembered the movie's ending.
It was well-written. I recommend the book...reading it before you see the movie.
I received this edition from NetGalley, but it has been published in print form already.
I actually had seen the movie that the book inspired. From what I can remember, the movie was pretty true to the book.
It was a good mystery with a great surprise twist at the end that I really didn't see coming as I hadn't remembered the movie's ending.
It was well-written. I recommend the book...reading it before you see the movie.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was here for the comedy… and honestly, it was really funny! 😂 But unfortunately, the story was just too slow for me. We finally get to the truth about what happened between Lanny and Vince, and Kerry ends up caught in way too much drama between these two. I was hoping for more of a mystery, and I felt like that part got lost along the way. Overall, the humor definitely kept me entertained, but I wanted more from the mystery!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This had a lot of potential - it had so much drama! (And I love drama to a mystery story!) But there didn't seem to be much depth to that drama. I felt like it could've gone somewhere and it didn't. It felt more like a reality tv show (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just wasn't utilized as well as it could've been).
Sadly, I just wasn't all that impressed with this. And I wanted to be.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Sadly, I just wasn't all that impressed with this. And I wanted to be.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
September 15, 2026
This is undoubtedly unique. The writing style evokes the free spirit of the seventies. However, it might not be for everyone. Because there's quite a bit of stream if consciousness on the page, it can seem disjointed. But if you remember the seventies this might be the intriguing mystery for you.
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