Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "The Princess of Las Vegas: A Novel" by Chris Bohjalian

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Review of "The Princess of Las Vegas: A Novel" by Chris Bohjalian

Las Vegas is rife with tribute shows, and visitors can enjoy ersatz versions of Mick Jagger, Frank Sinatra, Janis Joplin, Prince, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Lady Gaga, the Carpenters, and more.

In that group of entertainers, Crissy Dowling is unique because she does a tribute show to Princess Diana. Crissy looks remarkably like Diana, and though Crissy grew up in Vermont, she's perfected a posh British accent......which often creeps into her everyday speech.

Crissy has a residence at the Buckingham Palace Casino (BP), a less than stellar venue that's 'off the strip', where high rollers DON'T stay. Still, Crissy's show - in which her Princess Diana tells stories and sings tunes by Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, and Bonnie Tyler - is VERY popular. In fact many fans see the show multiple times and send Crissy gifts.

Conversely, in her real life, Crissy is a mess. Crissy had a difficult childhood; her stepfather committed suicide; she's semi-estranged from her younger sister Betsy; she recently lost her mother; she's bulimic; and her adulterous senator boyfriend has decided to go back with his wife. Crissy copes with her situation by drinking and popping pills like Adderall and Valium. In fact, there's not a minute in the day when Crissy is stone cold sober.

Nevertheless, Crissy is fairly happy with her situation since she has a satisfying job, a decent apartment in the BP, a personal cabana at the BP's pool, and people she can rely on.

Crissy's friends include Nigel Ferguson, who plays Prince Charles in her show;

and Eddie Cantone, the entertainment director at the BP.

Unfortunately, Crissy's situation is now threatening to go downhill. A consortium called Futurium, which deals in cryptocurrency, is determined to buy the BP. Futurium is really a group of gangsters who'll do anything to get their way, including murder.

Futurium arranges for the death of BP's owners; buys corrupt cops, lawyers, and judges; and has plans to get a 'friendly' politician elected as a senator. In a roundabout way, this nefarious project involves Crissy.

Crissy's sister Betsy, who's just adopted a 13-year-old girl named Marisa, decides to move to Las Vegas with her boyfriend, a Futurium investor called Frankie Limback.

Crissy is less than thrilled to have Betsy living nearby, and things get even worse when Betsy - who looks almost identical to Crissy except for her hair - gets drawn into a scheme to impersonate Crissy and benefit Futurium.

The novel is compelling, kept my attention, and made me eager to see how things turn out. My major criticism is that Betsy, who's an educated social worker, is rather naive with respect to Futurium. On the other hand, Betsy's adopted daughter Marisa is a computer prodigy and math whiz who has her head screwed on right.

I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to fans of suspense novels.

Thanks to Netgalley, Chris Bohjalian, and Doubleday for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars

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Barb's Book Reviews

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Review of "The Princess of Las Vegas: A Novel" by Chris Bohjalian

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