Pettijohn (Travels with Hafa) deftly displays Hollywood glitter flanked by the seamy side of a world whose denizens have too much money and a grotesque sense of entitlement, made evident in scenes like the "big shots" visiting a New Orleans massage parlor and discussing whether sexual services are available. The bland prose in these scenarios exposes their commodification of sex: "We’re going to get massages and hand jobs, then go back to my place for dinner and poker." Some readers may find the graphic sex—alongside some horrific violence—overwhelming, but there's no doubt those elements effectively color this noirish tale.
Pettijohn’s main character focus is on Herbert and Ruby, and the balancing act between Ruby’s sordid career and her high ideals is handled beautifully. She doesn't lie to Herbert, continuing to act while becoming more deeply involved with him—something he has trouble with, but this isn't Pretty Woman, and Pettijohn takes this couple down a path as dark as it is believable, as Herbert copes with the lows in their doomed relationship in some seriously inappropriate ways while his crimes escalate. Their haunting end, centered on her naiveté and his weakness, serves as an eloquent reminder that desperation is more commonplace than we think.
Takeaway: A dark and glittering tale that exposes Hollywood’s sordid underbelly.
Great for fans of: Nathanael West’s Day of the Locust; Martin Turnbull’s Twisted Boulevard.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: NA
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B+
