The Actor’s Guide to Adultery
Rick Copp
Kensington, Jan 2005, $22.95, 224 pages, ISBN: 0312324111
reviewed by Harriet Klausner

Former child star Jarrod Jarvis’ hopes of a comeback flop worse than a raw wiener. Worse the California parole board releases Jarrod’s personal stalker from his fame days, Wendell Butterworth, over his objection. Finally bad things always come in three when his manager and best friend Laurette Taylor marries odious soap opera actor Juan Carlos Barrancos.

Jarvis accompanied by his lover, LAPD officer Charlie Peters, attend the wedding celebration at Hearst Castle. However, someone poisoned the champagne and one guest collapses into the wedding cake dead. Jarvis wonders if Juan is the culprit having had a spat with the victim in public view just a little earlier. To find out Jarrod accepts a role in a horror flick starring Juan so that he can be close to the groom while he investigates the poisoning. He also must cope with the return of wonderful Wendell, who plans to kill his soul mate Jarrod. Of course the actor must also deal with a child star who deserves boiling in water and a mobster or two.

As he did with THE ACTORS GUIDE TO MURDER, Rick Copp provides an irreverent amusing anti-urban noir amateur sleuth that lays naked LaLa land. The who-done-it is cleverly presented while the Hollywood minute or two serves as a delicious background. Readers will appreciate this way out exposé of the stars, the wannabees, the has-beens, and the killers through Jarrod’s insightful perspective.