Fade to Black

This is the second of Borton's books that I have read. This is apparently the first of the series. The characters are outrageous and the mystery is pretty good also.

The writing is simple but the plot is full of imagination. Star of the silver Screen, Mae Liberty abandons Hollywood for small town life yet when she dies the whole family (all of whom are some how involved in the "industry") come rushing home.Quirky and entertaining, Mae has planned out her death scene yet all goes awry and her last word uttered is "Rosebud" - her funeral hits the papers and reporters from around the country show up but not before a murder and arson are committed. Now her beloved niece Gilda must figure out how to keep her great-aunt's movie theater open while she tries to solve a mystery. The book is filled with flamboyant, colorful and crazy characters - all of whom you will fall in love with.This was a funny and easy read that I highly recommend for a quick beach read or a rainy Sunday.

I've enjoyed the Cat Caliban series by the same author (under the name of D.B. Borton) and this one is fun, too.The protagonist, Gilda Liberty, is one of the few sane members of a movie-obsessed family. The characters throughout are believable and the mystery and its unraveling plausible. Well-written.The large cast of characters is easy to keep track of, due in part to the geneology in the front of the book.Lots of references to movies, not all of them explained, so a particular delight for movie lovers like me.I look forward to the next installment.