The Starlets
The Starlets by Lee Kelly, published by HarperCollins Focus in 2024, is a captivating narrative set in the summer of 1958. The story unfolds on a remote Italian island where Vivienne Rhodes, initially excited to play Helen of Troy in a major film, finds herself relegated to a secondary role while her rival, Lottie Lawrence, takes the lead. As tensions rise on set, the plot thickens when the two women uncover illegal activities among the crew, forcing them to join forces to protect their lives and careers.
Readers will follow Vivienne and Lottie as they navigate a dangerous world filled with corrupt officials and criminal elements, leading them from the glamorous casinos of Monaco to the breathtaking Alps. Their journey is not only a thrilling adventure but also a chance for personal growth as they learn to collaborate despite their rivalry. With elements of mystery, action, and romance, The Starlets offers a rich exploration of the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated industry during the 20th century. This stand-alone novel spans 336 pages and is presented in English.
Official synopsis Publisher
One perfect island. Two rivals. A star-studded cast.
But underneath the glitter, disaster is brewing.
Summer, 1958. Vivienne Rhodes thinks she’s finally landed her break playing Helen of Troy in Apex Pictures’ big-budget epic, A Thousand Ships, an anticipated blockbuster meant to resurrect the failing studio. Naturally, she’s devastated when she arrives on the remote Italian island of Tavalli and finds herself cast as the secondary character, Cassandra–while her nemesis, the fiancé-stealing Lottie Lawrence, America’s supposed “sweetheart,” is playing the lead role instead.
The tension on set, though, turns deadly when the ladies discover that members of the crew are using the production as a front for something decidedly illegal–and that they are willing to kill to keep their dealings under wraps. When the two women find themselves on the run and holding key evidence, Vivienne and Lottie frantically agree to work together to deliver the proof to Interpol, hoping to protect both their lives and their careers.
Staying one step ahead of corrupt cops and looming mobsters, the archrivals flee across the seas. Their journey leads them into Monaco’s casinos, Grace Kelly’s palace, on a road trip through the Alps–even onto another film set, before a final showdown back on Tavalli, where the lives of the entire cast and crew hang in the balance. Vivienne and Lottie finally have the chance to be real heroines–to save the day, the film, maybe even each other–but only if they can first figure out how to share the spotlight.
- “A spry and suspenseful crime novel set just after Hollywood’s golden age” (starred Publishers Weekly review)
- Stand-alone novel
- Book length: 84,000 words
- “A sheer delight! This fast-paced caper is fresh, fun, and exactly the escape readers need right now.” –Marie Bostwick, New York Times bestselling author of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly
- Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Clive Cussler
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
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