BAD ACTOR

A reluctant detective gets mixed up in murder in Vaughn’s comedic mystery novel, the second in a series.

Ellis Dunaway is an unusual and unlikely detective. A struggling television writer who only took on detective work after inheriting his father’s P.I. firm and Porsche (and nearly destroying them both), he’s a recovering alcoholic with few close connections aside from his former secretary and her troubled teenage son. Just as he’s on the verge of landing a profitable if unfulfilling new TV writing gig, he’s thrown back into the shamus business when Larry Price, a sleazy Hollywood agent (“Only occasionally did he look up from his phone to offer non-sequiturs about ‘Sundance,’ ‘marketing synergy,’ and ‘digital rights management’ without taking the swizzle stick out of his mouth”), is killed right next to him. Ellis’ investigation sends him all over LA—the city is rendered here with obvious love and appreciation even for its seediest corners. Detective stories live or die on the strength of their leads, and Ellis carries the novel wonderfully. Funny, flawed, self-deprecating, and charming, he’s a mess in a way that will make readers want to root for him. Vaughn has crafted a character who stands out from his peers, especially when it comes to his earnestness; Ellis, a modern, relatable spin on classic detective characters, is no jaded, hard-edged flat foot. He’s a guy readers will feel they know and wish the best for who displays some skill at investigative work when he gets into it. The fact that he’s always more interested in getting back to writing for television than in solving murders is a source of humor and pathos that sustains narrative. It doesn’t hurt that he’s surrounded by a substantial but not overwhelming cast of colorful characters who, despite falling into some familiar tropes, each have their own clearly defined quirks and motivations. As the tension and the pace pick up toward the end, the novel never loses the heart and tongue-in-cheek attitude that make it so engaging.

A fun, charming, quirky mystery featuring an unlikely detective navigating the seedy side of showbiz.