Review of Between Good and Hollywood
Posted: 28 Mar 2025, 20:29
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Between Good and Hollywood" by Tyler Patrick Wood.]
"Between Good and Hollywood" by Tyler Patrick Wood is a crime/action/romance novel. It is fast-paced and fun to read. The narrative begins with Benjamin Billings sitting at the breakfast table anticipating the return of his partner, Tabitha Johns, from a party. When she finally does appear, she is so wasted that she can barely talk. Benjamin and Tabitha are two washed-up Hollywood actors whose careers tanked when their last movie flopped. Consequently, they have turned to a very lucrative life of crime, specifically the con game. The party that Tabitha attended would ultimately be part of the long con.
The reader is introduced to many intriguing, albeit shady, characters along the way. From Fowler Dane, an oversized bouncer type, to Davy Lucas, a wiry tech type whose fashion sense and command of the English language are questionable, they are all members of Ben Billings' crew. However, as with any good con, you never know who is going to double- or even triple-cross whom and who will prevail in the long con.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author is a master of wordcraft, pulling the reader in and not letting go. The first part of the book was somewhat slow, but there were many characters to acquaint myself with. By the latter part, I couldn't put it down. It was intriguing, thrilling, scary, and emotional, often all at once. I was swept up in the midst of the action, with my heart and breath racing. I felt confusion, pain, joy, and relief, all at the whim of the author. The plot twists and turns were remarkable without being implausible.
One aspect that would have made this novel better is some extra editing. Furthermore, the author sometimes refers to characters by their first names and at other times by their last names. With so many characters involved, it was challenging to keep track of who he was referring to. Nevertheless, that did not diminish my joy in reading it. For these reasons only, I removed one star and rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
I rarely recommend a book to my family and friends, but I will make an exception for this one. I wouldn't recommend this to young readers as there is some violence with blood and gore, but anyone who likes a gripping action thriller will enjoy this book.
******
Between Good and Hollywood
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"Between Good and Hollywood" by Tyler Patrick Wood is a crime/action/romance novel. It is fast-paced and fun to read. The narrative begins with Benjamin Billings sitting at the breakfast table anticipating the return of his partner, Tabitha Johns, from a party. When she finally does appear, she is so wasted that she can barely talk. Benjamin and Tabitha are two washed-up Hollywood actors whose careers tanked when their last movie flopped. Consequently, they have turned to a very lucrative life of crime, specifically the con game. The party that Tabitha attended would ultimately be part of the long con.
The reader is introduced to many intriguing, albeit shady, characters along the way. From Fowler Dane, an oversized bouncer type, to Davy Lucas, a wiry tech type whose fashion sense and command of the English language are questionable, they are all members of Ben Billings' crew. However, as with any good con, you never know who is going to double- or even triple-cross whom and who will prevail in the long con.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author is a master of wordcraft, pulling the reader in and not letting go. The first part of the book was somewhat slow, but there were many characters to acquaint myself with. By the latter part, I couldn't put it down. It was intriguing, thrilling, scary, and emotional, often all at once. I was swept up in the midst of the action, with my heart and breath racing. I felt confusion, pain, joy, and relief, all at the whim of the author. The plot twists and turns were remarkable without being implausible.
One aspect that would have made this novel better is some extra editing. Furthermore, the author sometimes refers to characters by their first names and at other times by their last names. With so many characters involved, it was challenging to keep track of who he was referring to. Nevertheless, that did not diminish my joy in reading it. For these reasons only, I removed one star and rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
I rarely recommend a book to my family and friends, but I will make an exception for this one. I wouldn't recommend this to young readers as there is some violence with blood and gore, but anyone who likes a gripping action thriller will enjoy this book.
******
Between Good and Hollywood
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon