The big break Toni Abbott longed for has finally arrived. She has been
cast as the soap opera villainess everyone loves to hate, and because of
her, ratings are soaring. Then her lucky streak runs out. During a
late-night photo session, Craig, the photographer, is shot to death. In
the confusion Toni hits her head and is knocked unconscious, and when
she awakes, she can’t recall what happened. If she could regain her
memory, could she identify the killer? Apparently the killer thinks so,
because soon after the incident, Toni hears someone breaking in to her
apartment and barely escapes. Too bad the police believe she is somehow
responsible for Craig’s murder. It doesn’t help that her character on
the show is so convincingly nasty and conniving. Was the target really
Craig, or did the killer aim for Toni and miss? Craig was an
unscrupulous womanizer. Any number of people might have wanted him dead,
including a career criminal he helped convict, his business partner,
his wife, and his mistress. Despite her winning personality, Toni has
her share of enemies, among them an older actress jealous of her success
and the show’s director, whose animosity baffles her. With the help of
Michael Benedict, a handsome young criminal lawyer, Toni sets out to
awaken her dormant memory and unmask the killer. Meanwhile the character
she plays, Alexandra, is in a coma, fighting for her life. The writers
will decide Alexandra’s fate, but Toni must save herself.
Purchase Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Eyewitness-Carolann-Camillo-ebook/dp/B016L5P9H6/
REVIEW:
RATING: 4 Stars
Toni Abbott is building her acting career on a soap opera, and has
become extremely popular, although her character is as much villainess
as heroine. Her popularity may please the producers and the network,
but not all of the cast members, some of whom want the director to kill
off her character. Toni is thinking about this one evening, when she is
working with a photographer on a publicity shots, but suddenly she is
shockingly interrupted. The photographer is shot, and while trying to
save herself, Toni is knocked out. When she regains consciousness, she
cannot remember anything about the murder.
From this vivid opening, ‘Eyewitness’ proceeds to grow as an
intriguing mystery, with possible suspects turning up all over the place
– and as far as the police are concerned, Toni is definitely one of
them. Also, because of the character she portrays on the show, a lot of
viewers blame her, too. A top criminal attorney, Michael Benedict,
takes her case, and ends up protecting her physically as well as
legally. The puzzles weave back and forth, through incidents on the
set, her character’s storyline, the interactions between many of the
show’s performers – and their off-screen family and friends. As the
circumstances become more and more complicated, Michael and Toni
predictably come closer together. They face an array of unpleasant
people, jealous of Toni and eager to build their own stature by
trampling on her, and a variety of individuals engaged in criminal
activities related to other aspects of show business.
There are few quiet or slow parts to this story, with new suspects
cropping up all the time, along with new possible motives. Mystery
readers are not likely to get bored, nor will you easily figure out who
the murderer is. Oh, you’ll find a few favorite suspects, but you will
probably still be surprised. Of course, if you’re at all like me, when
reading a murder mystery, you want to be surprised, and I doubt you’ll
be badly disappointed.
Actually, the only problem I had with ‘Eyewitness’ was having too
many possible explanations! I got a bit tired of how the list of
suspects just kept growing, leaving some small questions unanswered,
while you’re trying to sort out all the elements. Still, I enjoyed
reading the book; I liked getting to know Toni and Michael; the intrigue
was nicely portrayed, for the most part, and I enjoyed the final
surprise. I recommend the book to most romantic murder mystery fans,
and give it 4 stars.
I am grateful for the reviewer’s copy I was given.
Reviewed by: Roberta
