The Doom List – you’d rather be dead than be on it: the intriguing new 1920s mystery featuring Irish-born cop turned private investigator Tom Collins.
July, 1922. Newly-appointed ‘movie czar’ William H. Hays is about to arrive in town on a single-minded mission to clean up Hollywood. He is said to be compiling a list of ‘undesirables’ whom he plans to bar from screen work. They call it the Doom List.
With the industry in the grip of fear and paranoia, Hollywood’s hottest young director Rex Ingram is determined that no hint of scandal should mar the premiere of his new movie, The Prisoner of Zenda, and hires private investigator Tom Collins, a fellow Irishman, with instructions to protect his leading lady’s reputation at all costs. But, as Collins discovers, Barbara La Marr isn’t the only member of the cast hiding a dangerous secret.
Meanwhile, a body is discovered in the Baldwin Hills to the south of the city. Could there be a connection? Against his better judgement, Collins is drawn into a case of scandal, forbidden love, blackmail . . . and cold-blooded murder.
Circa l’autore
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 three previous highly-acclaimed crime novels, including one previous Tom Collins mystery.