Shooting for the Stars by R.G. Belsky

Talk about cold cases.

The Prime Time Files, a NYC-based local news magazine TV show, is preparing to do a story on the 20-year old murder of America’s sweetheart Laura Marlowe. Abbie Kincaid is the show’s host and destined for national exposure. Maybe even 60 Minutes?

Marlowe was a nothing teenage actress wannabe hitting the audition circuit when she hits the big time with a surprising leading role in an award winning film. She followed up with another winner. Her third film was beset with delays due to various Marlowe illnesses. After the film was released, Marlowe was in NY on a promotion junket where she was murdered outside her hotel by an obsessive fan. In the aftermath, Marlowe’s body was cremated quickly and the fan hung himself in a two bit hotel. Marlowe’s husband and mother worked tirelessly to keep her memory alive through foundations and fan supported cruises, film fests, memorabilia, and more. 

Abbie Kincaid uncovered some long suppressed information that implicated a mob connection with Hollywood back when Marlowe broke in and was going to run with it. The show’s producer contacted the New York Daily News and asks that Gil Malloy write a few pieces in the lead up to the big show. 

Why Gil? He’s an up and down reporter who, many years before, printed a fabricated story and suffered the eventual fall from grace. But his recent outing (see The Kennedy Connection, which was favorably reviewed here by MRB) put Malloy back on page 1 with a byline. Despite his history, the producer and Kincaid have a high opinion of his abilities as a reporter. 

Now Malloy doesn’t see himself as a publicist, much less for a TV show, but goes anyway. The teaser show and series of articles brings Marlowe’s death back into the public’s eye. 

Then Kincaid is killed in the same hotel where Marlowe was murdered. 

Malloy convinces his editor that he sort of owes it to Kincaid to continue her investigation into Marlowe’s death and what he should learn will also help find Kincaid’s killer. His editor is more interested in web hits than investigative journalism, but grudgingly agrees.

Malloy’s investigation into Marlowe’s history takes a number of unexpected turns through the underbellies of Hollywood, the Mob, obscure cults, Manson worship, serial killings, and lots more. 

I really enjoy Belsky’s style. His Gil Malloy has this wise cracking, to hell with it all attitude that reminds me a great deal of Nelson DeMille’s John Corey of the NYC anti-terrorist task force and Brian Haig’s Army lawyer Sean Drummond. Characters that will say and do what we readers could only dream to have the same nerve. Belsky has been in the newspaper business for years, mostly in NYC and his familiarity the the peaks and valleys of being a reporter are plainly evident as his descriptive narrative and dialogue appear spot on. Readers are taken on a personal ride through the investigative process of journalism while also displaying his obvious contempt for the ‘new media’ that places more value on electronic hits than it does on The Story.  I have an opening on my power rotation and am seriously considering elevating Belsky. Great story that I could’ve read in a single sitting. Malloy may be a deeply flawed character, but that’s part of what makes this a highly readable book. 

Shooting for the Stars will be available August 11, 2015. Put in your pre-order now.

East Coast Don