Movie stars are people, just like everyone else. Yeah, they tend to have to work out more to stay in tip top shape, unlike the rest of us. They always seem to need a diet of some sort. They typically have their privacy invaded most of the day, unlike the rest of us. And they have connections…until something happens like a drug bust or an overdose and then the trouble comes their way. What does a celebrity do to get out of the limelight while they try to get their bearings on reality again? In Maizie Albright’s case, she changes her name back to small town Maizie Spayberry and takes a trip down to Georgia where her dad lives. Reinhart has a fun and entertaining cozy mystery with 15 Minutes as Maizie takes her celebrity role of private investigator…off camera and to the streets of Black Pine.
Maizie’s ex-boyfriend gets caught in some pretty illegal stuff and goes to jail, but the judge takes leniency on Maizie. His instruction is very clear and unwavering. Get off the movie set and get a job…in ten days or go to jail. Moving from LA to Black Pine is refreshing, but what she brings to the town might be too much to handle. Figuring that she’ll start as an apprentice to the only private investigator in town, Mr. Nash of Nash Security Solutions, everyone thinks she’s a complete joke and plays it off as research for a new film. After one assignment of following a client’s wife around…and losing the client’s wife, Maizie begins to wonder if being a real detective is in her cards. It is certainly easier to be one in the movies, for sure! As if this isn’t hard enough, the one person she didn’t want hounding her, her mom and also manager, has come to persuade Maizie to come back to LA for the next signed film. Saying goodbye to the camera was the easiest choice of her life, but establishing some normalcy has proved more challenging. When some of the town’s folk are found murdered, Maizie adds possible death to her “cons for becoming a private investigator” list, but her sleuthing is not over. She knows that if she can find the client’s wife, this may be the key to getting back into the good graces of her skeptical boss, the star-struck town, and the judge who wants to put her away.
Reinhart has some intriguing characters, portraying strength, doubt, desire, mystery, and a healthy dose of discernibly. 15 Minutes appears to be well-written purely by assessment, but lacks some creativity. The narration is clean, steady, and easy to follow. The story did appear to be very predictable, but a fun and light read none-the-less. Dukore’s narration is amusing, allowing the reader to get an accurate sense of the characters and how they react to certain situations. She does stumble over a few words, but not enough to hinder enjoyment. Overall, the story will entertain readers who like cozy mysteries, amateur detectives, and chick lit. Since this is the first installment within the Maizie Albright Star Detective series, the reader is able to dive right in.
An audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a four-star rating to 15 Minutes by Larissa Reinhart.