And the award goes to… …Dayna Anderson, the semi-famous actress turned PI who steps up her sleuthing swagger in this follow-up to breakout hit Hollywood Homicide, winner of the Lefty Award and the Agatha Award for Best First Novel! Tinseltown’s awards season is in full swing, and everyone is obsessed with dressing up, scoring free swag, and getting invited to the biggest awards shows of the … swag, and getting invited to the biggest awards shows of the year. But when celebrity publicist Lyla Davis is killed, the festive mood comes to an abrupt halt.
Apprentice private eye Dayna Anderson thinks she’s uncovered the killer. Unfortunately, what starts as an open-and-shut case turns out to be anything but. Diving deeper into the investigation, Dayna gets a backstage look at gossip blogging, Hollywood royalty, and one of entertainment’s most respected awards shows—all while trying to avoid her own Hollywood ending.
Praise for Hollywood Ending:
A 2019 Lefty Award Nominee
Named Best of 2018 by Suspense Magazine
“Garrett continues to build an appealingly quirky crime-solving team.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Garrett, who wrote for TV’s Cold Case, brings a smart insider’s view of contemporary Hollywood to this lighthearted series.”—Publishers Weekly
“Fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series will feel right at home.”—Library Journal
“Day’s funny and determined, the sort of woman who really WOULD make a wisecrack when faced with danger.”—Donna Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of the Meg Langslow series
“Kellye Garrett’s Hollywood Ending glitters with stardust. A fun, fast-paced mystery, it’s definitely an A-lister.”—Elaine Viets, author of the Dead-End Job mysteries
“Fasten your seatbelts. A star is born!”—Nancy Martin, author of the Blackbird Sisters mysteries
“An entertaining whodunit that provides readers a peek behind Hollywood’s star-studded curtain.”—Diane Kelly, award-winning author
Praise for Hollywood Homicide:
Winner of the 2018 Agatha Award for Best First Novel
Winner of the 2018 Anthony Award for Best First Novel
Winner of the 2018 Lefty Award for Best Debut
Winner of the 2018 IPPY Gold Medal for Best First Book
“[A] winning first novel and series launch…Garrett writes with humor and insight about the Hollywood scene.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A smart, sassy debut.”—Library Journal (starred review) and Debut of the Month
“Veteran TV writer Garrett uses her Cold Case experience to inform her debut, which sets up more than one charming character and isn’t afraid to go cynical on all things LA.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Funny, lively characters populate this new Detective by Day series.”—RT Book Reviews
“Dayna Anderson is a heroine readers will fall in love with.”—Kyra Davis, New York Times bestselling author
“A non-stop, fun read with humor sharp as a stiletto heel.”—Ellen Byron, USA Today bestselling author
“Toss in a hit-and-run, a steep reward, and more one-liners than a Marx Brothers marathon and you’ve got Hollywood Homicide.”—Catriona McPherson, Agatha Award-winning author
“Has a heart as big as Los Angeles.”—Rachel Howzell Hall, author of the LAPD Detective Elouise Norton series
“Garrett has written a novel with great voice, characters, hilarious moments, and a lot of Hollywood.”—BookRiot
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This book really comes to life with its witty heroine and real-to-life details of living on the fringes of celebrity Los Angeles. Very enjoyable!
Kellye Garrett is genius!! I loved everything about this book. Dayna Anderson is so easy to relate to and funny. She’s beautifully written and lovably full of flaws. She’s mouthy, completely lacking tact when she’s flustered, and not afraid to eat a chili burger in the midst of Hollywood. Omar is equally wonderful and her friends are simply the best! Now, how can I get me some Hollywood Swag bags? Or crash a Gift Lounge?
I was positive I had the whole thing figured out and I was delighted to be absolutely wrong! The thing is, I spent most of the book telling it who was guilty and why (which made those around me think I was a little nuts – which could be true) and when the big reveal came, I actually gasped. That’s unusual for me.
This book had a little of everything and it was so good. If you’re looking for a cozy that’s a little different, this is definitely where you should go. I had a blast casting the characters in my head. I am full on stalking this author from now on. No question about it.
Thank you to Midnight Ink, NetGalley, and Kellye Garrett for allowing me the opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts and opinions with others.
I liked this book even more than the first in the series (and I really enjoyed the first one). There were some fun twists and turns in this book that really kept me on my toes. I love being surprised in a cozy (it doesn’t happen all that often) and I was surprised in this one. Day is such a fun protagonist and you are cheering for her one minute and trying to shout through the pages for her to not do the silly thing she is about to do the next. The book leaves you with some questions and I cannot wait to see where this series goes next!
Another enjoyable installment in Kellye Garrett’s Detective by Day series. This time, the death of a Hollywood publicist is the catalyst that sets the story in motion and Dayna Anderson after the perp(s). In this second book in the series, we get a little deeper dive into Dayna’s friends from Book #1 and meet some new characters that help keep the pages turning. Enjoy this for what it is: an enjoyable cozy series that rewards the reader with enough twists and turns to bring you to a satisfying conclusion with plenty of laughs to maintain the “fun beach read” feeling throughout.
Unfortunately, the fate of the planned third book in the series remains in question, as the imprint Midnight Ink is no more. But I’m sure we’ve not heard the last of Kellye Garrett.
This book was a good solid read. I’d totally try another future book by this author!
You can check out my booktube video review at https://youtu.be/OyFQpXw0dX4
or read my review on my blog at https://lisasiefert.com/book-review-hollywood-ending-by-kellye-garrett-a-detective-by-day-mystery/
I love Garrett’s A Detective Day Mystery series. She has the best sense of humor and is a wonderful story teller. Add these fun reads to your TBR list.
HOLLYWOOD ENDING? Not with Kellye and Dayna in town!
Kellye Garrett’s cozy mystery Hollywood Ending begins after the first book, Hollywood Homicide, ends. Amateur investigator and former one-hit wonder food commercial actress Dayna Anderson soon finds herself sleuthing for the murderer of Tinseltown hotshot publicist Lyla Davis the victim of a botched ATM robbery. The homicide takes place during the time of the biggest party of the year: The 18th annual Silver Sphere Awards for TV and movies. The SSA’s surpass the prestigious Golden Globes and nip the heels of the Oscars for the most coveted awards show in Hollywood. This is a big deal to Dayna because her boo, Omari Grant, the star of the new series LAPD 90036, is up for a Silver Sphere Best Actor in Television Award.
The basis of the investigation centers upon was it live or was it Memorex moments that lead to little sex, plenty of lies, and yes, videotapes and DVDs. Oh yeah, and a big money payout that sets Dayna hot on the trail of Davis’ killer.
Back as Dayna’s unofficial sidekicks are Omari, Emme Abrams, the Internet shorthand speak and computer whiz, Sienna Haynes, the vain sidekick and still shooting-for-the-stars girlfriend, though some of her tolerance of those high-profile entertainers made me want to slap some respect into her, and of course, Day’s partner-in-crime-busting, Aubrey S. Adams-Parker.
Concurrent to the investigation, Danya and Aubrey pursue official private investigator documents so when she hands out business cards, it reads who they say they are. This thread takes on a bit of mystery as well when the humorless and straight arrow Aubrey discloses other career plans. With this pursuit, however, drama and comedy follow.
Who killed Lyla Davis and why takes the reader through a labyrinth of interesting characters including the married duo Mack and Janet Christie, Silver Spring Award President Gus ‘The Gossip’ Ortiz, Omari’s high-strung publicist Nina Flynn, Nina’s stressed assistant Kitt, mechanic limo driver Dante Brooks, Dow Jones couple Javon Junior Reid and Regina Jones, and lastly the mystery friend or foe Z, who possess an uncommon knack for phantom manifestations alongside one creeped out Dayna Anderson. Girl, pepper spray might not be enough! She expresses her fear with a Hollywood nod when she internally thinks if captured by Z: “…I’d have to hope someone tweeted my pic and it somehow went viral. That would be my only chance of escaping from the hole in Z’s basement. I made a promise to myself I would not put the lotion in the basket. No matter how melodic his voice was.”
With these characters, author Garrett casts a wide net of blackmail and betrayal that had this reader pointing at every one of them at some point or another. Once more Garrett’s depiction of Anderson rules the day. Her exasperation phrases like, ‘Fudge’ or ‘Blurg’ or ‘At All’ and other one-liners with that LA insider’s knowledge peppered throughout the book like its predecessor, Hollywood Homicide. Garrett provides additional growth to her characters since the first book too. Dayna’s relationship with Omari steps up to another level, the Dayna/Aubrey investigation status, and the novel concludes with a clear open door for the third story in A Detective By Day Mystery series. I know I’m walking through it. Come on and join me! Four and half stars.
I love this series. The main character, Dayna is hilarious, likeable, and relatable, and Garret”s writing is engaging and fun. Here are just a few things I loved:
-Garrett’s writing. She’s hilarious, relatable, and can turn a phrase like nobody’s business.
-Dayna. First, we need more people of color represented across genres, so I love that Dayna is a black woman who solves mysteries. She’s also how I imagine many of us would be if we were to find ourselves suddenly in the role of private investigator: she doesn’t quite know what she’s doing, but she asks questions, she sticks with it, and she’s not afraid to run AWAY from danger (and sometimes toward it).
-The secondary characters who all have their quirks and who we are getting to know a little better with each book.
The way Garret weaves in bits of Hollywood into the story: she describes people by what type of role they might be cast in, and situations in terms of what kind of movie they’d be a part of.
If you like mysteries but like them on the lighter side (you know, without the gory details or the scare-the-pants-off-of-you moments) then this is a series you should definitely check out.
It’s awards season in Hollywood and actress turned PI Day Anderson is celebrating when her boyfriend, Omari, is nomination for the Silver Sphere Award. However, after one of the parties he has to attend to mingle with the judges, Lily Davis is murdered. Lily was a publicist for the Silver Sphere Awards, and they have offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of her killer, so naturally Day jumps in to solve the case. This one seems much easier than her first murder case. Is she missing something?
Of course, she is, and the book soon involves plenty of complications that kept me reading as fast as I could. There are some fun twists before we reach the climax. Day and all her friends are back, and I loved spending more time with them and seeing how their relationships have changed. I also really enjoy the insider’s look at life in the Hollywood world. Everything is brought together by humor that had me laughing and smiling the entire way through the book. Those who loved the first book will be equally delighted with this one. And if you haven’t started this series yet, you need to do so today.
Things are looking up for our hero, Dayna Anderson. Day is a former spokesperson for the Chubby’s Chicken franchise who had until recently, when she was unceremoniously let go, her own fame and fortune. Now she’s the girl that people think they remember from high school.
But losing her job didn’t get slow Day down. She and the love of her life, the up and coming actor Omari Grant, are now together. Her BFF and roommate, the reality star Sienna a/k/a Ms. Lady of the Red Vine, upgraded to a nicer apartment providing Day with a new and improved “bloset” (bedroom/shoe closet). The former cop and quirky guy, Aubrey S. Adams-Parker, whom she met in HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE, has agreed to form a private investigating firm with her. And she has fabulous shoes.
In HOLLYWOOD ENDING, the publicist Lyla Davis was murdered at an ATM late one night after a party. Together with Aubrey, Sienna, and the former child star now recluse computer geek, Emma, Day treks through the glitter and glam of a Hollywood award season complete with pre-awards swag parties, appearances, and media interviews while Day’s arch nemesis, Omari’s publicist Nina Flynn, positions and connives to get him nominated for an award. Nina’s efforts are the perfect cover for Day’s investigations, if only Nina didn’t hate her, so Day is forced to walk a thin line as she tries to please and/or avoid Nina long enough to get her foot in the door.
Kellye Garrett, the self-described “recovering TV writer”, uses her inside knowledge of the entertainment business’ behind-the-scenes machinations to provide an authenticity and excitement to these Hollywood tales. Her protagonist, Dayna, is spunky, intelligent, resourceful, and downright laugh-out-loud funny and someone whom I look forward to following as this series continues. Hoorah for Hollywood!
I was so excited to see the sequel to the frequently nominated and so far Agatha time winner Hollywood Homicide. Author Kellye Garrett has a unique style and it is one that works SO well. Hollywood Ending had me rolling with laughter but has an intelligent plot. I can so relate to Dayna which is a bit surprising when you consider how different we are. She is so adorable and but she is also smart enough that she actually takes time to think things through instead of diving into trouble blindly…well, most of the time. I didn’t get as much of a feel for secondary characters as I did in Hollywood Homicide but I still enjoyed the time I spent with them.
Ex-actress Dayna Anderson has passed her 15 minutes of fame as a commercial actress and is not working to earn her private investigator license under an ex-police detective, talk about unique! It would sure help if he had his license, oops. Her first case brought in a nice bit of change but cases that she can handle have been a little thin so when a Hollywood blogger is murdered at an ATM, she figures that this one will be a breeze, witness, camera, what could be easier? Naturally nothing is easy but Dayna is not one to give up; she likes to eat too much.
Thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for the chance to jump into this ARC! I love Dayna and Hollywood Endings and look forward to seeing what she gets into next time. #NetGalley #HollywoodEnding