Diva Las Vegas by Eileen Davidson is the third book in the “Soap Opera” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian (Penguin), July 2010
Alexis Peterson’s days are filled with scheming, backstabbing, adultery, and murder. She is a soap opera star, after all. But when she trades the bright lights of the studio for those of the Vegas strip, Alexis is taking a big gamble…with her life.
Hard at work on her new soap, The Bare and the Brazen, Alexis Peterson is delighted when her ex-Playboy Playmate friend, Shana Stern, invites her to Hugh Hefner’s infamous Halloween party. But that night Shana isn’t quite herself, and after a few drinks, she hints that she has a serious problem. Before Alex can wrangle more information out of her, however, Shana is found dead.
Alex turns to handsome Detective Frank Jakes for help, and their investigation leads them to a soap opera convention in Las Vegas. As bodies pile up, the duo realizes they’re aiming to catch a killer who’s far more vicious than any television critic.
While attending Hugh Hefner’s Halloween party, Alex’s friend Shana, asks to speak with her about a serious matter. When Alex goes looking for Shana, she finds Shana dead. Alex works her way into her detective boyfriend’s case and they travel to Las Vegas where they trip the light fantastic as they search for clues. In the meantime, Alex’s ex comes back seeking something that Alex is not willing to give up to him at all. I love the characters and the tome to soap operas. This was an enjoyable and entertaining read that left us in typical soap opera fashion with a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. My rating: 4 stars