Double Feature

"The Movie Star and the Movie Critic" is a collection of two classic Donald E. Westlake novellas, "A Travesty" and "Ordo", which were later adapted into films. The story follows a movie critic who murders his girlfriend and forms an unlikely crime-solving partnership with a police detective, while a movie star visits a Navy sailor who claims to know her from her past. The novels are considered some of Westlake's best works and showcase his sharp writing and ability to create compelling characters.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 04 February 2020
Publisher: Titan Books Ltd

The Movie Star and the Movie Critic: A Tale of Secrets and Betrayals

In the heart of New York City, a movie critic found himself entangled in a web of deceit and murder. Having just committed a heinous act, he now sought to evade the consequences and protect his secrets. However, fate had other plans.

Unbeknownst to the critic, a diligent police detective was hot on his trail, determined to unravel the mystery and bring the perpetrator to justice. As the investigation unfolded, an unlikely partnership formed between the movie critic and the detective. Together, they navigated through a labyrinth of lies and deceit, uncovering a web of secrets that threatened to engulf both their lives.

On the opposite coast, a movie star named Dawn Devayne found herself confronted with a shocking revelation from her past. A Navy sailor claimed to have known her before her rise to fame, when she was just an ordinary girl named Estelle Anlic. Dawn, determined to put her past behind her, brushed off the sailor's claims as mere coincidence.

Little did she know, the secrets from her past were about to resurface, and they would have far-reaching consequences. As Dawn's fame grew, so did the interest of those who wanted to exploit her for their own gain. With the help of her trusted manager, she sought to protect her secrets at all costs, even if it meant resorting to illegal means.

Meanwhile, the movie critic continued to elude the authorities, using his knowledge of the film industry to manipulate and control the narrative. He manipulated public opinion, created false narratives, and even resorted to violence to protect his secrets. But as the stakes grew higher, he realized that he could not keep his secrets buried forever.

In a dramatic climax, the movie critic was finally brought to justice. The police detective, with the help of a witness who had come forward, uncovered the truth and brought the perpetrator to account. Dawn, too, was forced to confront the reality of her past and the consequences of her actions.

As the movie critic faced the harsh reality of his punishment, he realized that his obsession with fame and secrets had cost him everything. He had lost the respect of his colleagues, the trust of his fans, and the love of his life. Dawn, on the other hand, had learned the hard way, way that secrets have a way of not staying buried, and that the price of fame was often too high to pay.

In the aftermath of the scandal, the film industry was left in shock. The movie critic, once a respected voice in the industry, was now a pariah, his reputation destroyed. Dawn, too, faced a difficult road ahead, as she struggled to rebuild her career and regain the trust of her fans.

However, through it all, they learned a valuable lesson. They learned that the truth always has a way of coming to light, no matter how far one tries to bury it. They learned that the price of fame was often too high to pay, and that the true measure of success was not the number of awards one received, but the impact one had on the lives of others.

These two short novels, one hilarious and one heartbreaking, are two of the best works Westlake ever wrote. And fittingly, both became movies, one starring Jack Ryan's Marie Josée Croze, and one starring Fargos William H. Macy and Desperate Housewives Felicity Huffman. A book by this guy is cause for happiness - Stephen King.

Weight: 230g
Dimension: 187 x 111 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781785657207