Emma Mills takes readers to 2008 Los Angeles, where tabloid journalism and internet gossip sites are on the rise, in Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet.
Rachel West is working as a copy editor for a celebrity-focused tabloid when she befriends actress Molly Byrne, a former child star who’s just as likely to make headlines for her partying exploits as her film work. The unlikely pair develop a genuine friendship, and Molly helps Rachel jumpstart her career as an entertainment reporter. When Molly is found dead, law enforcement officials and fans alike assume she overdosed. But a skeptical Rachel teams up with a photographer who knew Molly, and the pair investigate the actress’s last hours and attempt to figure out who had something to gain from killing Molly Byrne.
Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet offers readers a fast-paced and well-plotted mystery set against a backdrop of early 2000s Los Angeles. Early internet gossip sites were on the rise, and toxic tabloid culture meant that celebrities like the fictional Molly Byrne were equally beloved by the public and smeared in the headlines. Mills deftly navigates this, showing how paparazzi and journalists collected and curated stories and how the entertainment gossip mill impacted those it both elevated and tore down.
The novel is told in alternating timelines; Rachel’s present storyline, solving Molly’s murder, is punctuated by chapters that show how their friendship developed. These are some of the most emotionally resonant parts of the book, and they help readers understand Rachel’s grief, regret and commitment to finding justice for Molly.
The novel is stronger for an outstanding secondary cast of characters. Rachel is not only aided by her co-worker Anton and the enigmatic photographer Casper, but she also finds support in several residents from her apartment building. The characters, though numerous, are all distinct, and each contributes to Rachel’s journey. Anton and her neighbors are particularly funny, leading to many of the book’s lighter moments.
Mentions of flip phones and Juicy Couture tracksuits may leave readers nostalgic for the early aughts, and Rachel and her friends will definitely leave readers satisfied in Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet.