A brilliant script doctor is murdered.A CIA officer is investigating the case.Everyone is trying to survive the naming game.Jack Marshall, a CIA officer, was really hoping to enjoy his vacationfrom work in DC and to spend some time in Malibu with his family, but a call from theLAPD’s Chief William Parker changed everything. Not only was script writerCharles Loew murdered, Jack has reason to … Chief William Parker changed everything. Not only was script writerCharles Loew murdered, Jack has reason to believe FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover wassomehow connected to the homicide.
In post-war Hollywood, everyone lies for a living but with Senator JoeMcCarthy’s hunting for Communists, even one harmless secret has the power todestroy lives. With the help of his subordinates, Walker and Leslie, they investigatethe case for Jack, and quickly enter the world of Hollywood scandals and blacklistedwriters, which may prove more dangerous than fighting Nazis. When Jack’s ownfamily is threatened, time is running out.
The second book in The Company Files series, The NamingGame is a historical noir that draws you into the familiar world ofHollywood names and reveals secrets from a forgotten era of Los Angeles historyyou never knew existed.
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Excellent historical thriller!
The Naming Game is book 2 in the series, and though it can be read as a standalone, I think I missed some crucial plot points that would have made some of the plot points clearer.
There is really fabulous immersion here. We are dropped right into post WWII, in the world of the film industry in Californina. Valjan thoroughly researched what he was writing about, because this just feels authentic.
I love the witty dialogue and the characters felt realistic. It is paced well, and kept me hooked. I recommend checking this one out!
*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Partners In Crime Book Tours. All opinions are my own.*
I first was exposed to author Gabriel Valjan’s writing through his Roma series and became an instant fan. I love a reading a good thriller/mystery, so was intrigued when he launched his new series – The Company Files. The first book was set in post war Germany and offered an intriguing mix of politics, history spies, subterfuge and of course murder. I was curious where he would take this series in book 2.
For The Naming Game, the main characters have returned to the US and become embroiled in what lies behind the murder of a Hollywood scriptwriter. It is set during the reign of McCarthyism, a crazy time where parts of the government were radical about finding communists. Those working in Hollywood found themselves particular targets. Many were blacklisted and unable to work openly. Fellow workers turned on each other to climb the ladder.
Jack again pulls in agents Walker (inserted as a scriptwriter)and Leslie (inserted as a receptionist to a psychiatrist) to start following the threads and see where they lead. We meet a wide range of intriguing characters along the way and are often left guessing as to who has secrets relevant to the case. The mystery behind the the increasing body count is slowly revealed – the element of danger always present. Along the way the reader gets a great historical look into the inner workings of Old Hollywood.
A great read.
For fans of noir this is a very good read. Interesting characters, lots of plot twists, and, given the current political climate, a frightening context.
Fasten your garters! Hold on to your hat! Get ready to step out for a night on the town with Gabriel Valjan’s glitzy historical noir piece, the second book in his crime fiction series, The Company Files. The dialogue is clever and witty, and masterfully written. Be prepared for banter that’ll take you back, to a time and place in which the reader feels transported (1950’s Hollywood) via expert research and description of the era. Valjan’s use of language and metaphor is brilliant, playful and engaging, so much so that the reader is enticed to read his numerous other works. Valjan’s myriad historical references to social and political popcorn-culture of the day is genuine and forthright, yet his realism in presentation makes aspects of the story equally relevant today. His characters are intriguing and compelling, though I admit I was grateful for the cast cheat sheet at the front of the book. It’s a quick, fun read that will appeal to fans of James Ellroy’s L.A. Confidential or to Spillane’s Hammer novels.
Valjan has a gritty elegance to his beautiful prose that adds that golden age of Hollywood aspect to his work. You can feel the sway of the palm branches and the soft breeze of a California night juxtaposed against the unpredictable fear of HUAC and its untouchable power. He has an unforgettable turn of phrase, making his books charming in a unique way. The Naming Game brings the haunting nature of the McCarthy era to life in a novel that was hard to put down. Excellent prose mixed with the an intriguing take on historical mystery. He is absolutely a favorite author of mine.