Why a Booktrail?
2000s: Birthday parties have a habit of throwing up some fun surprises…
2000s: Birthday parties have a habit of throwing up some fun surprises…
There’s more than one way to capture a life.
When Elspeth arrives at her ex-husband’s LA mansion for his 50th birthday party, she’s expecting a crowd for the British film director. Instead, there are just seven other guests and Richard’s pet octopus, Persephone, watching over them from her tank.
Come morning, Richard is dead.
In the weeks that follow, each of the guests come under suspicion: the school friend, the studio producer, the actress, the actor, the new boyfriend, the manager, the cinematographer and the ex-wife, Elspeth herself. As stories of Richard’s past surface, colliding with Elspeth’s memories of their marriage, she begins to question not just who killed Richard, but why these eight guests were invited, and what sort of man would want to trap this mysterious, intelligent creature.
There’s a vague nod to locations here. Everything is vague yet has the flavour of a rich Hollywood landscape. A landscape where money talks and rich people talk the loudest of all.
Sedgewick House is fictional of course but there’s more than likely a house like it in the Hollywood Hills. And you can bet that someone does own an octopus like in the book. Take yourself off to the aquariums in Los Angeles and New York to try and find one of his friends.
Norfolk does feature but as a backdrop only.
Destination/location: Hollywood, New York City, Norfolk Author/guide: Tess Little Departure Time: 2000s
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