Along with Elizabeth Gage I would say Davidyne Saxon
Mayleas is another writer who definitely should go digital. Her work is always
fun and exciting, even her less than stellar titles like THE WOMAN WHO HAS
EVERYTHING, which in hindsight is a lot better than some of the current
bestsellers on the charts. Forgive me for saying that but I’ve come around some
real clunkers lately and they only make me glad that I’ve decided to stick with
vintage books. But moving on. This week is all about Mayleas’ NAKED CALL, her second to last 1991 paperback
novel from Avon Books.
Wall Street, the mafia and Hollywood go hand in hand
in this fine tale of money embezzlement and the woman who suffers because of
it. She is Christie Larsen, the president of United Cinema studio, a Sherry
Lansing-like single mother who is one heck of a fighter despite adversities,
like the inevitable downslide of her career when she’s accused of stealing
studio cash. What a girl to do? Trust author Mayleas to shake it all up as she
delivers a strong narrative of the business behind the business that includes
colorful but extremely narcissistic characters. What really makes NAKED CALL stand out, however, is the
way the reader gets caught up in the money laundering plot while learning the
ABC's of the financial industry; not your typical fluffy Hollywood novel, per
se, but a riveting one at that if you're in for something different.
Many tried to follow Jackie Collins’ trail after her
mega-hit HOLLYWOOD WIVES. Most failed miserably but some did turn out to be impressively
good, like this Davidyne Mayleas person (probably a pseudodym). I’ve said it
before and I’ll say it again, she’s just what the doctor ordered if you’re on
the lookout for something quite unique. She may not be a household name but she
sure as heck deserves to be.
Until next post—Martin
