Book Review of “Paper Doll (Jana Lane #1)” by Joe Cosentino

Blurb:

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense / Dark Theme

Jana Lane was America’s most famous child star until she was attacked on the studio lot at eighteen years old. Now a thirty-eight-year-old beauty and mother of two living in a mansion in picturesque Hudson Valley, New York, Jana’s flashbacks from her past turn into murder attempts in her present.

The local suspects include Jana’s down-on-his-luck husband with a dislike for living off the fruits of his wife’s young labor, Jana’s sister and male friend (who both have eyes for Jana’s husband), Jana’s show business father, her deranged loyal fan, and Jana’s young Guy Friday who covets her fame and shares an uncanny resemblance to Jana.

Forced to summon up the lost courage she had as a child, Jana visits the California movie studio she once called home. This sends her on a whirlwind of visits with former and current movie studio personnel. It also leads to a romance with the son of her old producer—Rocco Cavoto—the devilishly handsome filmmaker who is planning Jana’s comeback both professionally and personally. With Rocco’s help, Jana uncovers a web of secrets about everyone she loves, including the person who destroyed her past and threatens to snuff out her future.

My Review Rating – 4 Stars

So much suspense in a book gets unbearable. Paper Doll starts with a suspense. The very first line, first page of the book starts with the question “Who did it?”. The story is about a child actor who quits show business after something happens which terrifies the girl out of the show business altogether.

The character building right from the first page has been heavy and strong. Every single character has given an individuality which is very strong. The story was unraveled like a Christmas gift with multiple layers. And the ending was amazing too, totally unpredicted. The life of a child star was shown with the depth and complexity required for it. The husband from non – glamor background, the power-hungry parent, the jealous counterparts, jealous and/or confused siblings, crazy fans, dark secret in the past, the child star wanting just a normal life with no shenanigans – it was a complete package. The characters and the story was totally relatable with the ideas we have of the stars and their lives.

A suspense packed novel.

Other books in the Jana Lane Mystery Series

• Porcelain Doll (Jana Lane Mystery Series #2)
• Satin Doll (Jana Lane Mystery Series #3)
• China Doll (Jana Lane Mystery Series #4)
• Rag Doll (Jana Lane Mystery Series #5)

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