Reviews
The book is so evocatively written, right down to the weather, characters' glances, and what they are feeling, . .. [and] seductively cinematic . . . should be made into a film itself., Mann spins this yarn with all the suspense and intrigue of a Dashiell Hammett novel. From beginning to end, the engrossing true tale will keep you guessing., For folks interested in true crime and the heyday of Hollywood, this book is a match made in a rather sinister version of heaven., Sex! Drama! Scandal! If you have the slightest curiosity about the dark purple scars of Hollywood history, this is the go-to book you cannot miss. . . Epic and fabulous—every page is haunting, every chapter a film noir. I was up all night., Massive, exhaustively researched, endlessly fascinating . . . It's a gripping ride with innumerable twists and turns and scenarios . . . If you love a good mystery and vintage Hollywood lore—which doesn't read much differently than current Hollywood lore—I recommend Tinseltown without reservation., Sex! Drama! Scandal! If you have the slightest curiosity about the dark purple scars of Hollywood history, this is the go-to book you cannot miss. . . Epic and fabulous-every page is haunting, every chapter a film noir. I was up all night., William Mann fires on all cylinders in this fascinating real-life crime story that has stumped film fans since 1922. A page-turner with incredible research and prose double-boiled, Tinseltown is a whodunit tour de force, revealing the dark heart of Hollywood., Mann's call sheet of colorful characters is so richly painted, they not only make the Roaring '20s come to life, they're so bizarre they seem like they could only exist in a movie., Massive, exhaustively researched, endlessly fascinating . . . It's a gripping ride with innumerable twists and turns and scenarios . . . If you love a good mystery and vintage Hollywood lore--which doesn't read much differently than current Hollywood lore--I recommend Tinseltown without reservation., [A] gripping true-crime narrative. . . . Mann expertly juggles the various threads of the narrative to a satisfying conclusion that is sure to please both true-crime and film-history enthusiasts., Mann tells his story expertly . . . When it's all over, Mann has argued so ably for his killer-candidate that he finally may have put this controversy to rest., A gripping true-crime narrative. . . . Mann expertly juggles the various threads of the narrative to a satisfying conclusion that is sure to please both true-crime and film-history enthusiasts., Sex! Drama! Scandal! If you have the slightest curiosity about the dark purple scars of Hollywood history, this is the go-to book you cannot miss. . . Epic and fabulous--every page is haunting, every chapter a film noir. I was up all night., A lucid solution to the crime that feels almost as airtight as the final chapter of an Agatha Christie mystery.", Tinseltown does a fine job of parceling out its complex plot, and its author brings early Hollywood to life with the flair of a popular historian., The book's power derives not just from piecing together the clues and analyzing motives; Los Angeles is very present as well., [Mann] brings the early days of the movie industry to sparkling life on the page, whether he's evoking Los Angeles' demimonde or explaining how the era's scandals drove the film industry toward protectionism in the face of morality campaigns., A gripping true-crime story that encompasses a colorful period in film history . . . Mann seamlessly weaves the details of the murder investigation, witnesses and newspaper accounts into the rich history of early film . . . Mann masterfully captures the zeitgeist of Hollywood in its early days., A stellar and gripping true-crime narrative . . . An engrossing and comprehensive look at the birth of the motion picture industry and the highs and lows it faced in the early 1920s . . . Mann has crafted what is likely to be a true-crime classic., If you love a good mystery and vintage Hollywood lore-which doesn't read much differently than current Hollywood lore-I recommend Tinseltown without reservation., Tinseltown is an immensely enjoyable read as a recreation of a murder, and a fascinating time [and] place., Tinseltown is entertaining enough to feel illicit, but its reporting makes it an essential addition to any respectable bookshelf of L.A. history.", Author William J. Mann paints a striking portrait of Los Angeles in the Roaring Twenties--a sparkling yet schizophrenic town filled with party girls, drug dealers, religious zealots, newly-minted legends and starlets already past their prime; a dangerous place where the powerful could still run afoul of the desperate., Massive, exhaustively researched, endlessly fascinating . . . It's a gripping ride with innumerable twists and turns and scenarios . . . If you love a good mystery and vintage Hollywood lore-which doesn't read much differently than current Hollywood lore-I recommend Tinseltown without reservation.