by Lynnette Baughman
Top Publications, Trade Paperback, $14.95 ISBN 1-929976-07-0
On her first day in Las Vegas, Olivia Wright arrives to apply for a job
writing the memoirs of fading movie star Margot Farr, famous for her carousel of husbands
and her roller coaster weight. When Margot is murdered and Olivia discovers the detective
is her former lover, Mace Emerick, she agrees to be the homicide department's secret
witness inside the investigation. Plenty of suspects stood to gain by Margot's death, but
when Olivia is exposed to the press as a witness and Mace is fired, the two of them are on
their own to solve the crime.
Review from The Merc News
by Margaret Baker, Merc Member
Culinary Mystery Review
Thin Disguise by Lynnette
Baughman
This is more of a diet mystery than a culinary
mystery; as the subtitle says, "Murder--the diet plan that really works."
However, if the cuisine wasn't so good, we wouldn't need diets!
Olivia Wright has come to Las Vegas to rethink her
life after learning that her doctor's first diagnosis of terminal cancer is
incorrect-she's healthy enough to outlive the doctor.
She stumbles into ghostwriting movie star Margo
Farr's memoirs. The lovely Ms. Farr has a long history of acting successes, but
Olivia suspects more readers will be intrigued by her famous weight loss.
The weight loss is often attributed to her personal
chef Kim Taylor and trainer Ted Landers. The ability to shed 50 pounds swiftly,
something Margo has done a time or two under the Taylor/Landers regime, would cause tubby
folks anywhere to salivate.
Olivia's ghostwriting is intended to offset an
unauthorized biography. When she arrives at the Farr mansion, she finds Margot
definitely needs to get back on the program.
During the preliminary interview, however, Margot
is fatally shot poolside. Olivia, inside, was able to hide under Margot's voluptuous
bed, making her a witness who didn't actually see either the shooting or the shooter.
If life wasn't complicated enough, the homicide
investigator is Olivia's old flame Mace Emerick. Dry humor, twisty plot, zany
characters and a touch of romance!
Merc News, June 2003
A Book Review from MyShelf.Com
Brenda Weeaks, Owner
Address: 607 West Apache Street, Marlow, OK 73055
THIN DISGUISE by Lynnette Baughman
Murder: The Diet Plan That Really Works
What a way to start a new job! Olivia Wright started a
new job as a ghostwriter for the actress Margot Farr by trying to solve her murder. Olivia
knows that the murderer was someone who would suffer from Margot's weight gain, possibly
her personal chef, her personal trainer, her manager, or even her daughter. Olivia seeks
the help of her own daughter, who is a caterer, to get the inside track of Margot's
personal life. Olivia does finally find out who killed Margot and for what reasons.
The story takes place in Las Vegas and it was nice that the
portrayal of casinos did not overwhelm the scenery. The plot line goes along very smoothly
and is very easy to understand. The story moves quickly so the reader is not bored. The
characters and story line are enjoyable; the ending is quick and understandable.
Overall, this is a great book and it grabs you right from the
first page. Even though Margot was characterized as a selfish actress, you want to find
out who murdered her and you hope that Olivia gets the killer. This is a great piece of
work by Ms. Baughman!
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