Hollywood Homicide

Dayna Anderson, a semi-retired actress in Los Angeles, becomes an amateur detective to earn reward money when she witnesses a deadly hit-and-run. Her financial struggles from her stalled acting career drive her to pursue the case despite having no investigation experience. She recruits help from her friends - including a computer whiz and a former reality show star - to navigate the darker side of Hollywood and track down leads. Her investigation takes her through film industry parties, casting offices, and behind-the-scenes dealings as she follows a trail of clues. The investigation forces Dayna to confront both the glamorous and gritty aspects of Los Angeles entertainment culture. She must balance her sleuthing with attempts to restart her acting career and manage her mounting bills. This mystery novel uses humor and insider knowledge to examine themes of ambition, friendship, and survival in modern Hollywood. The story explores how far someone might go to achieve their goals in an industry built on appearances and hidden truths.

Readers found this cozy mystery entertaining and funny, with many highlighting the fresh perspective of a Black female amateur detective in Los Angeles. The main character Dayna's voice resonated with readers who appreciated her humor and relatability. Liked: - Quick-paced narrative - Authentic Hollywood setting details - Diverse supporting characters - Pop culture references - Realistic financial struggles of the protagonist Disliked: - Some found the amateur sleuthing unrealistic - A few readers wanted more depth to the mystery - Several mentioned predictable plot elements - Some felt the pop culture references dated the story Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (300+ ratings) Reader quote: "The protagonist's desperation for money and side hustles feels real and makes her motivations believable" - Goodreads reviewer The book won the 2018 Agatha Award for Best First Novel and the 2018 Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery Novel.

Murder by Remote Control by Rachel Woods A reality TV producer investigates a murder on her show's set while navigating Hollywood politics and racial dynamics.

Sweet Tea and Secrets by Joy Avon The owner of a Black-owned mystery bookstore becomes entangled in a real murder case while fighting to save her family business.

IQ by Joe Ide A high school dropout uses his deduction skills to solve crimes in Los Angeles, taking cases from clients who can't afford traditional investigators.

Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia A young Black woman in 1920s Harlem becomes an unofficial detective after surviving an attempted abduction and discovering more missing girls.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano A struggling novelist gets mistaken for a contract killer and finds herself caught between solving murders and managing her chaotic personal life.

🎬 Author Kellye Garrett drew from her real-life experience as a Hollywood TV writer, having written for the CBS drama "Cold Case," to create an authentic entertainment industry backdrop. 🏆 The novel won multiple prestigious awards, including the 2018 Agatha Award for Best First Novel and the 2018 Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery Novel. 👗 The protagonist Dayna Anderson is a former commercial actress known as "The Face of Chubby's Chicken," reflecting the often typecast and fleeting nature of commercial acting careers in Los Angeles. 📱 The book's modern approach to amateur sleuthing incorporates social media and smartphone technology as key investigative tools, setting it apart from traditional detective fiction. 💫 The series title "Detective by Day" is a clever play on words, referencing both the main character's surname (Day) and the fact that she's an unofficial detective operating in the daylight world of Hollywood.