Review of Hollywood on Trial

[Bertha Jackson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hollywood on Trial" by Dale E. Manolakas.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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The Hollywood A-list controls the industry, including the young and beautiful (Y & B) men and women willing to do anything to become stars. Directors, agents, and studios can make anything go away, including sexual harassment, drug usage, and abuse, to name a few. Lawyer Josh Stein ensures this as long as the quid pro quo continues. Josh's wife, Miriam, knows about his many affairs, sexual assaults, and other crimes he has committed throughout their 30 years of marriage. Pregnant Y & B Kaitlin O'Keefe dies after being found below a cliff wedged between a rock and a tree. A DNA test proves that the unborn child was Josh's, and he is arrested for Kaitlin's and her unborn child's murder, resulting in a high-profile court case. Los Angeles's best criminal attorney, Greg Sobel, represents Josh in a trial of lies, deceit, and betrayals. All the best and most experienced actors play a significant role in determining Josh's fate. Who murdered Kaitlin? Was it Josh, Miriam, one of Kaitlin's many other lovers, a stalker, or another member of the A-list? What is the Hollywood A-list?

In Hollywood on Trial: A Legal Thriller by Dale E. Manolakas, the author provides each character's background before, during, and after the trial with short, to-the-point chapters. This style allowed me to visualize and understand how the privileged one percent of the population had different lifestyles with different rules or lack thereof. The mystery and suspense keep the storyline moving forward throughout the book. I enjoyed learning entertainment jargon (A-list and Y & B, among others). The explanations of courtroom tactics and procedures, like the black-robe revenge syndrome, were appreciated. The author's excellent writing skills brought forth many emotions in me: disgust, laughter, empathy, etc. I had to laugh at the jury when they would fall for the actions of some of the characters. For example, actors are good at crying at will. The way the men thought of women and how women would go along with anything for material and financial wealth was disgusting. However, it made for a good story. I enjoyed reading the excerpts of two more of the author's books at the end, entitled The Russian and Lethal Lawyers.

The only negative aspect of this fascinating legal crime thriller was the lack of professional editing, which resulted in my deducting one star from this otherwise perfect book. This book deserves 4 out of 5 stars because of the suspense, unexpected trial events, my reading enjoyment, and the many positive aspects discussed above.

I recommend this book to mature fans of legal crime thrillers. Although sexual content is abundant, it is not descriptive, and the religious content within the storyline does not promote religious beliefs. This book is inappropriate for young or sensitive readers because of its non-borderline profanity content.

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Hollywood on Trial
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[Siddharth Kamble]

The Hollywood elite runs the show, including the pretty and young (Y & B) men and women who will do anything to be famous. Directors, agents, and studios can make anything disappear, such as sexual harassment, drug use, and abuse, just to name a few. Lawyer Josh Stein makes this happen as long as the quid pro quo persists. Josh's wife, Miriam, is aware of his numerous affairs, sexual attacks, and other offenses he has committed during their 30 years of marriage. Pregnant Y & B Kaitlin O'Keefe dies after being discovered under a cliff wedged between a tree and a rock. A DNA test confirms that the unborn baby was Josh's, and he is arrested for the murder of Kaitlin and her unborn baby, leading to a high-profile court case. Los Angeles' top criminal lawyer, Greg Sobel, defends Josh in a trial of deceptions, lies, and betrayals. The crème de la crème and most seasoned actors have a lot to do with deciding Josh's destiny. Who killed Kaitlin? Was it Josh, Miriam, one of Kaitlin's numerous other lovers, a stalker, or another A-list member? What is the Hollywood A-list?

In Hollywood on Trial: A Legal Thriller by Dale E. Manolakas, the author gives each character's history prior to, during, and after the trial in brief, concise chapters. This format enabled me to see and comprehend how the privileged one percent of the population lived different lives with different rules or no rules at all. The suspense and mystery keep the story going throughout the book. I loved learning the entertainment slang (A-list and Y & B, et al). The descriptions of courtroom strategy and practice, such as the black-robe revenge syndrome, were welcome. The writing ability of the author evoked all sorts of feelings in me: disgust, hilarity, compassion, etc. I had to laugh at the jury when they got taken in by the antics of some of the actors. Actors, for instance, are proficient at shedding tears on demand. The manner in which the men perceived women and the way women would accept anything for money and wealth was revolting. Yet, it was a good read. I liked reading the preview of two other books by the author at the end, titled The Russian and Lethal Lawyers.

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

The premise of the book seems original and shocking. I think I might give it a chance when I come across it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[Louis Donald]

The premise sounds gripping, with a mix of high-stakes legal drama and dark Hollywood secrets. The suspense, courtroom tension, and emotional depth seem like they’d make for a thrilling read. It’s a shame the editing wasn't up to par, but the rest of the story seems well worth it for fans of legal thrillers.

[Pearl Flourish]

Sounds like a gripping legal thriller that dives deep into the dark side of Hollywood. The mix of mystery, courtroom drama, and industry corruption seems like it would make for an intense and thought-provoking read.

[George Bastem]

Sounds like a gripping and gritty legal thriller that doesn’t shy away from the dark side of Hollywood. The mix of courtroom drama, power struggles, and moral corruption makes it an intense and thought-provoking read.

[NetMassimo]

This novel takes some inspiration from real stories that showed the show business's dark side to create a legal thriller in which that dark side gets exposed with twists and surprises. I hope the author does proper proofreading to make it excellent. Thank you for your great review!