The Girl Who Took What She Wanted: Stewart Hoag Mysteries

Written by David Handler

Narrated by J.S. Arquin

Stewart "Hoagy" Hoag hasn't written any fiction since his debut novel rocked the literary world of the 1980s and then left him with a paralyzing case of writer's block. Since then, he's been reduced to ghostwriting celebrity memoirs. But his newest project could have him diving back into the world of fiction in a way he never imagined.

Nikki Dymtryk is Hollywood's hottest reality TV star, known for her wild party lifestyle and prolific sexual conquests. But when the ratings for her show Being Nikki begin to drop, the Dymtryk family engineers a new plan to keep Nikki in the limelight: reinventing the young star as a bestselling author. Nikki's team hires Hoagy to ghostwrite a steamy romance novel showcasing the glitz and glamor of the Hollywood elite.

Reluctantly, Hoagy flies out to LA with his trusty basset hound Lulu. But when he finally meets the starlet, she's nothing like the aimless, airhead image she presents to the media. This project may just be the key to getting Hoagy's creative juices flowing again-and staying in LA might also give him a chance at getting back together with his actress ex-wife, Merilee. But spending time with Nikki isn't all parties and poolside lounging. As Hoagy gets closer to the young woman, he begins to uncover the Dymtryk family's dark secrets. Secrets that are worth killing for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Highbridge Company
• Release date: Mar 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781696611787

David Handler

David Handler was born and raised in Los Angeles. He began his career in New York as a journalist, and has since written thirteen novels about the witty and dapper celebrity ghostwriter Stewart Hoag, including the Edgar and American Mystery Award-winning The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald and the newest entry The Man in the White Linen Suit. David's short stories have earned him a Derringer Award nomination and other honours. He was a member of the original writing staff that created the Emmy Award-winning sitcom Kate and Allie and has continued to write extensively for television and films. He lives in a 200-year-old carriage house in Old Lyme, Connecticut.