Overview

Lily Torrence is a Hollywood murder mystery set among people who helped create the jaded, doomed characters of the postwar movies we call film noir. Was it the tension, the suspicion, and the exploitation of war that led to these dark and devious movies? Noir -and the pulp fiction it sprang from-gloried in the cynical exploitation of sex and ambition, the enshrinement of greed and corruption, and ruefully pondered the demise of brutal thugs, sniggering deviants and hypocritical socialites. This particular story is set in a richly-detailed wartime Los Angeles. The narrative and dialogue play off of classic hard-boiled style, but plumb the fears and aspirations of today's reader. Aspiring screenwriter Lyman Wilbur becomes a reluctant alibi in what seems to be a banal and tawdry love triangle among Hollywood aristocrats. Max Beckerman is a young director on the rise until he is accused of killing powerful agent Marty Nuco, who was having an affair with Max's wife. Because Nuco is the key figure in a prostitution and blackmail ring, his death creates both problems and opportunities for his criminal associates. But there is another triangle involving Max and Nuco with Deborah Boynton, one of Hollywood's most glamorous and coldly calculating stars. These three share a despicable secret from their early, hungry days. The lacquered nail that stirs this cocktail is Lily Torrence, a beautiful young dancer who is Deborah's protégée and lover, but also a former call girl for Nuco. Having escaped from sexual slavery, she is intent on creating a new life, and rubbing out all traces of her past. Lyman has to try, for both selfish and noble reasons, to untangle the sordid threads that bind these people. This becomes dangerous for Lyman when all the parties-Max, Deborah, Lily, the police, and Nuco's henchmen-try to control what the truth will be. The story ends in a brutal and tragic climax. And then life goes on.

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9781736845400

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Reviews

"Do you remember the 25 cent pocket paperbacks of Mike Shayne? Yeah - I'm not that old either. However this book reminded me of these as it is a classic noir mystery or pulp mystery. The book takes place in the long ago days of Hollywood. There is a bombshell actress with a past and a brain as well as the every day guy who is just trying to do the right thing - in between trying to keep a job as a screenwriter and controlling his alter ego Detective he writes about. While there is some sleeping around it is done in the days of ""cut away"" scenes. The murder mentioned in the summary happens pretty late in the story but at this point I was nicely pulled into the characters and their entwined secrets. If you enjoy jumping into this bygone era then this should be on your reading list. The author does a stand up job of placing you into the time, the atmosphere and the story. And with this tagline on the cover ""...all because twenty-six hours earlier he'd reached for a bottle and found a gun."" - You know it's going to get interesting! Jennie Reads (Jennie Rosenbaum) 5/28/18 Author Fred Andersen has created a bevy of memorable characters. They include the Hollywood starlet with the career-ending secret, the unfaithful playboy screenwriter, the chorus girl who would do anything to get that part, and the corrupt agent with ties to the Mafia. The title character and protagonist, Lily Torrence, is a girl from the streets who is willing to use anyone and do almost anything to get that big break. Middle-aged mystery writer Lyman Wilbur reluctantly becomes the sleuth/hero, helping free a wrongly accused colleague, and discover the true murderer of a prostitute. Lyman starts the story as a mild man, a loving husband, and a hard-working writer. Surrounded by the Hollywood crowd, he starts to lose himself to the some of the temptations of the ruthless and perverse characters he is dealing with. The world of Hollywood and Los Angeles in the 1940s is recreated so effectively you feel as if you have gone back in time. The clothing and cars and city streets are described in detail. The author is, moreover, a talented wordsmith. He used some humorous expressions popular at that time, such as ""hobbledehoy"" which means an awkward youth and ""snoozling"" which means to cuddle. This book is filled with mystery, intrigue and a touch of humor. I was impressed with the writer's style and character development. I enjoyed discovering the character's secrets and following the numerous twists of the story. This is an excellent book, and I heartily recommend it. J.S. Overmyer, Online Book Club, 8/25/19 Who doesn't love a good classic Hollywood murder mystery? The setting already is filled with glamour and lies that are fascinating to watch unfold. It is a world that feels so separate from the real one and filled with so many strange and fascinating characters, each with their own agenda. All of the characters have a lot of backstory to them that as the reader, we slowly get to uncover, bit by bit. I appreciated the fact that we get to see multiple different perspectives so that each character feels more alive. Not only is their murder, naturally, but the story delves into alcoholism, drugs, sex, prostitution, and blackmail, so it's not a YA read. Each and every character is faced with choices about morality: do the right thing, or risk all for success, fame, wealth. Each character takes a slightly different path, and all are hiding something. USA Book Reviewers, 6/15/19."

Author Information

"Fred Andersen is a historian and mystery writer whose books include the noirish Hollywood mysteries Lily Torrence and Pamela Carr, the contemporary Southwestern Border thriller Line in the Sand, and a comics mystery, The Dead Cartoonist. His stories have appeared in Thriller, Close 2 the Bone, Imitation Fruit, Yellow Mama, and most recently, ""Seven Snow Whites"" in the Feb. 2023 issue of Fleas on the Dog (fleasonthedog.com)"

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