Money Shot

Angel Dare, a former adult film star turned industry mogul, leads a comfortable life running her talent agency until violence shatters her world. After surviving a brutal attack, she finds herself caught between dangerous criminals and corrupt law enforcement. The novel moves through the gritty underworld of Los Angeles and the adult entertainment industry as Angel pursues both survival and vengeance. Her background in adult films and industry connections become vital tools as she navigates increasingly treacherous situations. Following the conventions of classic hardboiled noir but told from a female perspective, Money Shot examines exploitation, power, and agency through its protagonist's journey. The book challenges assumptions about the adult film industry while delivering a hard-hitting crime narrative.

Readers praise the book's gritty noir style, strong female protagonist, and authentic portrayal of the adult film industry. Many note the fast-paced action and dark humor. Several reviews mention being surprised by the depth of character development, particularly for a pulp crime novel. The main criticisms focus on graphic violence and explicit sexual content, with some readers finding these elements excessive. A few reviews note that secondary characters could use more development. Review quotes: "A hardboiled crime story that happens to feature a porn star, not a porn story with crime elements" - Goodreads reviewer "Angel Dare is one of the toughest female protagonists I've encountered" - Amazon review Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (150+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.9/5 (200+ ratings) The book maintains high ratings across review platforms, with 80% of reviews being 4 stars or higher.

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🎬 "Money Shot" draws on author Christa Faust's real-life experience working in Times Square peep shows during the 1980s, lending authenticity to her portrayal of the adult entertainment industry. 💪 The protagonist, Angel Dare, was inspired by 1970s exploitation film heroines and represents a subversion of the typical "fallen woman" narrative common in noir fiction. 📚 The novel won the 2009 Crimespree Award for Best First Novel and was nominated for the Anthony Award, establishing Faust as a significant voice in modern hardboiled crime fiction. 🖋️ This was the first female-authored book published by Hard Case Crime, a publishing imprint known for pulp-style crime fiction that typically featured male authors. 🎥 The book's title has a double meaning - referring both to the climactic scene of a porn film and the payment received for performing in one, reflecting the noir tradition of wordplay in titles.