One of the things I like best about working on films is there’s no such thing as a “typical day.” Every day is different because a film is like a shark — it’s got to keep moving forward to stay alive.

My name’s Joey Jessop, and I’m a key costumer for movies. My specialty is big movies like the one I’m working on now, The Golden Age, about Hollywood in the 1930s — many would say the most glamorous time in the history of film.

We’re shooting a big scene this evening, a nightclub sequence featuring beautiful showgirls and a full orchestra, along with 200 background players in evening gowns and tuxedos — a real tour de force for our costume department.

The entire cast is on set in costume, ready for camera. Of course, that includes our leading lady, Gillian Best, one of the biggest box office stars in the world. Gillian’s beauty has always been her claim to fame rather than her acting ability, but she’s still clinging to stardom at age 40 — and on this film she’s added “executive producer” to her resume.

But the tension on set tonight is palpable. We’re a day behind in our schedule because of a fatal traffic accident that happened two blocks from our location shoot the night before, a tragedy that most of the movie company witnessed. I think we’re all still on edge, feeling the lingering horror of seeing a young woman run down in the street.

Gillian in particular has seemed brittle and terse. And when she arrived on set with her entourage in tow, I was surprised to see a new face among her attendants — a young woman I recognized from the accident site last night. I’d never seen her before, but I noticed her because she was standing on the curb with Dan Lomax, Gillian’s personal manager. The young woman appeared very distraught; Lomax was trying to calm her. At the time, I wondered who she was, but I soon forgot the episode. Everyone was upset, and I had other matters that needed my attention.

But it was curious to see her again now, apparently part of Gillian’s inner circle. And I couldn’t help noticing that Gillian’s personal assistant, Rita Ranucci, was staring daggers at the young woman.

Then suddenly, the tension on set blew up when Mack, the first assistant director, told Gillian it’s too busy to have extra people watch the filming tonight — only crew with a specific purpose. Most of her entourage would need to wait off set. Rita stepped right up, looking like a storm cloud ready to burst.

“I’m part of the crew, and I’m always on set with Gillian. Tell him, Gil,” she demanded.

“Rita, please,” Gillian murmured. “Not now.”

“Don’t treat me like an idiot!” Rita pointed to the young woman she’d been eying. “You want to replace me with that little bimbo just so she’ll keep her mouth shut.”

“You’re impossible!” Gillian snapped. “Take a Xanax and calm down.”

“I‘m the one who always has your back!” Rita hissed. “Think about that before you kick me to the curb.”

“Careful,” Gillian said coldly. “You’re about to cross a line you’ll regret, so think about that before you say another word.”

“You’re the one who’ll be sorry.” Rita pivoted and stalked away. “I’ll make sure of that!”

The anxiety in Gillian’s eyes as she watched Rita go made me wonder if our leading lady had more to hide than her Botox appointments.

Star Struck, A Hollywood Mystery Book #2
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: May 2024
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link

Perfect for fans of Elle Cosimano and Kellye Garrett, in this second Hollywood mystery, film costumer Joey Jessop discovers that Hollywood buries its secrets deep when a superstar’s assistant turns up dead.

Costumer Joey Jessop is working on a movie set in 1930s Hollywood and starring two of the world’s biggest stars. The male lead is also a dedicated social activist, and the female lead, Gillian Best, is known for her lifestyle brand. After a hit-and-run near the set, Joey realizes that the car involved belongs to Gillian, and she begins to wonder if the actress has more to hide than her Botox appointments.

Her suspicions deepen when Gillian’s personal assistant, Rita, vows to get revenge for Gillian replacing her and is found dead shortly after. Gillian quickly labels Rita’s death a suicide, and the police seem to agree–but Joey isn’t so sure.

With the police standing aside, it’s up to Joey to dig up the truth—but Hollywood stars know how to keep their secrets close, and a woman like Gillian Best won’t take kindly to someone sniffing around her affairs. Joey is certain that Gillian has something to hide–and she’s determined to find out what.

About the author
Marjorie McCown spent 27 years working on the costumes for movies such as Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Her cozy murder mystery, FINAL CUT (Crooked Lane Books, June 2023) which features film costumer Joey Jessop, is set behind the scenes of a big budget Hollywood movie and was chosen as an Amazon Editors’ Pick in the best Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense category. FINAL CUT was also selected by the Los Angeles Public Library blog as one of the favorite books of 2023, and Deadly Pleasures Magazine named FINAL CUT as one of the best cozy mysteries of 2023. STAR STRUCK, Book #2 in her Hollywood Mystery series publishes May 7 of this year. Marjorie is a member of Sisters-in-Crime and Mystery Writers of America.