Long Silence, The: A 1920s' Hollywood noir mystery

By Gerard O'Donovan

"Readers will hope this marks the start of a long-running series" - Publishers Weekly Starred Review

Introducing Irish-born cop turned private investigator Tom Collins in the first of a brand-new historical mystery series.

February, 1922. Hollywood is young but already mired in scandal. When a leading movie director is murdered, Irish-American investigator Tom Collins is called in by studio boss Mack Sennett, whose troubled star, Mabel Normand, is rumoured to be involved.

But Normand has gone missing. And, as Collins discovers, there’s a growing list of suspects. His quest leads him through the brutal heart of Prohibition-era Los Angeles, from speakeasies and dope dens to the studios and salons of Hollywood’s fabulously wealthy movie elite, and to a secret so explosive it must be kept silent at any cost …

Inspired by the unsolved real-life murder of movie director William Desmond Taylor, The Long Silence is the first in a richly evocative, instantly compelling series of new noir mysteries set in Hollywood’s early days.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers
• Release date: May 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781780109510

Gerard O'Donovan

Gerard O’Donovan is an Irish journalist and TV critic for the Daily Telegraph. Shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association’s Debut Dagger Award, he is the author of two previous thrillers, The Priest and Dublin Dead.

Reviews for Long Silence, The

[vesper1931 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

1922 Hollywood and film producer William Desmond Taylor has been found dead. Chief suspect is star, Mabel Normand. But Mack Sennett, producer, wants her proven innocent. That's where Tom Collins comes in. Coerced by Sennet, Collins starts his investigation.
This is the first book in a series of ex-cop Collins mysteries and a good start. Well-written and an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more.
A NetGalley Book