Review of "Saltwater: A Novel of Suspense" by Katy Hays

The wealthy Lingate family always holidays on Capri, where they stay in a gorgeous villa near the Mediterranean Sea.



Even after a tragedy befell the vacationing Lingates many years ago, they continued their annual visit to Capri. Three decades ago, in 1992, brothers Marcus and Richard Lingate were on Capri with their families. The members of the household were:

Marcus and his wife Naomi;



and Richard, his wife Sarah, and their 3-year-old daughter Helen.





One evening the adult Lingates went to a party, everyone got drunk, and Richard and Sarah were seen arguing. The next morning Sarah's battered body was found in the Mediterranean Sea, right below the Lingates' villa. Evidence was scarce and Sarah's death was called an accident or suicide. Nevertheless, the residents of Capri regarded the family askance, and suspicion continued to simmer over time.

It's now thirty years later and the Lingates, as usual, are vacationing on Capri. As is their habit, the Lingates flaunt their wealth, look down on 'the help', and make sure to see and be seen by their fellow glitterati.



Things within the family are tense though. Marcus and Naomi remain childless, and Naomi drinks too much and takes prescription medicine. Naomi frequently seems befuddled, but Marcus is conspicuously caring, solicitous, and affectionate.



To help the family during the trip, Marcus has brought along his assistant Lorna - a recovering alcoholic who makes reservations, books activities, rents boats and cars, and takes care of all details related to the vacation. Marcus's wife Naomi seems to resent Lorna, who's young, pretty, intelligent and capable.



Widower Richard never remarried after his wife Sarah died. Over the years, Richard has become an ascetic who promotes meditation and thoughtful living.



Richard and Sarah's daughter Helen, now 33-years-old, is accompanied to Capri by her boyfriend Freddy - a carefree young man from a rich family.



The Lingates have sheltered Helen all her life, which Helen sees as being controlled. Moreover, Helen never got over the loss of her mother, whom the family NEVER talks about. The secrecy makes Helen skeptical about Sarah's death, and she wants to know the truth.



The book is narrated in the rotating voices of Lorna, Helen, and Sarah (before she died), and the story skips back and forth in time. Thus it takes some concentration to keep up with the tale.

To avoid spoilers, I'll be circumspect. Thirty-plus years ago, Richard and Sarah met in New York City. At that time Sarah was a successful playwright, Richard was an aspiring writer, and they 'clicked' and got married.



When the family patriarch in Los Angeles became ill, Richard and Sarah visited the west coast and, to Sarah's dismay, got 'stuck' there. Little Helen was born and the marriage limped on, in part because Lingates don't divorce.



In Sarah's sections she talks about the decay of her marriage, the nosedive her career took when she had to stay in California, and the feeling that she's trapped.



All this leads to the discord between Richard and Sarah on Capri in 1992.....and presumably to her death. When Sarah's corpse was found, her rings were on her fingers, but the gold serpent necklace she always wore was missing.



Skip to 2022, and during the Lingates' holiday on Capri, a package arrives at their villa. When the box is opened, it contains Sarah's gold serpent necklace!!

From the chapters narrated by Helen and Lorna, we discover they've known each other for years, and have hatched a scheme to expose the truth about Sarah's death. Their plan involves the gold serpent necklace, blackmail, and 10 million dollars.



Big money is often a dangerous thing, and another death occurs. This leads the Italian police to re-open the investigation into Sarah Lingate's death. The subsequent dual homicide inquiries make members of the Lingate family very nervous.

Many secrets are revealed in the course of the story, and the narrative leads to a surprising climax that - for some readers - will stretch credulity too much.



That said, the ambiance of Capri is wonderful: the yachts; the techno music mixed with church bells; the Hermès, Gucci, and Ferragamo stores; the bougainvillea dripping off balconies; the visitors dressed in linens and straw hats; the champagne and bespoke cocktails; the gourmet pasta; the ancient cobblestone streets; and more. Capri is undoubtedly a lovely, but expensive, place to visit.









For me, the fractured style of the narrative was distracting, but all in all, I'd recommend the novel to readers who like destination mysteries.

Thanks to Netgalley, Katy Hays, and Ballantine Books for a copy of the novel.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "'Clint: The Man and the Movies―A Comprehensive Biography of Hollywood's Most Iconic Actor-Director" by Shawn Levy

To say Clint Eastwood (b. 1930) is an American actor and movie director hardly does justice to the icon. In his biography of Eastwood, film critic and writer Shawn Levy observes, 'C-L-I-N-T. In that short, sharp syllable, there is an emblem of American manhood and morality and sheer bloody-minded will, for better and worse, on-screen and off, for more than sixty years....He is a genuine box office superstar, tall and lean and handsome, with a glint in his eye and a record of hit films spanning more than five decades.'

Clint Eastwood as a young man

There are other biographies of Clint Eastwood, including the laudatory book by Richard Schickel and the censorious tome by Patrick McGilligan. Levy takes the middle ground, extolling Eastwood's accomplishments while detailing his affairs and one night stands. Clint was a notorious philanderer who fathered eight children with six women, two of whom were his wives. While Eastwood's personal life was messy, his professional accomplishments were (and continue to be) legion.


Clint Eastwood's eight children

Levy's 550+ page book seems to recount every detail of Eastwood's life and work, but I'll just give a brief overview. Starting with Eastwood's early years, Levy covers Clint's birth in San Francisco during the Great Depression and his peripatetic childhood as the family moved around for work.


Clint Eastwood as a child

Levy goes on to write about Clint's mediocre performance in school; his attraction to girls, hot rods, and music; his early interest in movies and who made them; his passion for cars and engines; his work as a paperboy, lawn mower, grocery bagger, caddy, and pool digger to keep himself afloat; and his conscription into the U.S Army in 1950, where he became an army lifeguard at Fort Ord in California.


Clint Eastwood training to be a lifeguard

Levy writes, 'Among the other grunts hanging around the pool at Fort Ord were a few fellows with nascent careers in Hollywood: guys like Richard Long (The Big Valley), Martin Milner (Route 66), and David Janssen (The Fugitive), who gave Clint the idea there might be some potential for him in that line of work.'

When Eastwood got out of the army he took a few college classes, and in 1953 Clint married Maggie Johnson, who shared his passion for music, fitness, and surfing.

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Clint Eastwood and his first wife Maggie Johnson

At this time, Universal Studios had a Universal Talent School (UTS) for actors, with courses in elocution, poise, fitness, horsemanship, singing, dancing, stage fighting, fencing and acting. After one semester in college, Clint enrolled in UTS, and this is where Clint's seventy-year career in movies began.


Clint Eastwood (middle of top row) at an acting seminar given by Marlon Brando at UTS

It seems Levy watched every movie and TV episode Eastwood was connected with as an actor, producer, or director, and the critic writes extensively about every aspect of Clint's work.



Eastwood's early performances were amateurish - 'he didn't know how to stand on a mark, where to aim his glance, how to inhabit his body, how to read a line' - but Clint learned. By the time Clint had a small role in 'Francis in the Navy' (1955), about an army lieutenant and a talking mule, he was getting the hang of acting, but not everything was rosy. For instance, in 'Ambush at Cimarron Pass' (1958) - which has been called the worst western ever made - 'Clint is as stiff and mumble-mouthed and emotionally shallow as in any of his least convincing TV work.'


Clint Eastwood (right) in 'Ambush at Cimarron Pass'

Eastwood pressed on nevertheless, and with excellent foresight, he made good use of his downtime on movie and TV sets, 'wandering through sound stages and various post-production facilities and learning about more than just the acting side of filmmaking.'

Clint got a big break when he was cast as Rowdy Yates in the television series 'Rawhide' (1959 - 1965), about cowboys leading cattle drives in the 1860s. This led to Clint being cast in Sergio Leone's three spaghetti westerns: 'A Fistful of Dollars' (1964), A Few Dollars More (1965), and 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966), which were shot in Spain and Italy. The three films, which featured a gunman (Eastwood) dispensing his personal brand of justice, became known as 'The Man With No Name Trilogy'. From here on, there was no stopping Eastwood.


Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns



Back in the states, Eastwood and producer Robert Daley formed the Malpaso Company, to make their own movies. Daley was the businessman, Clint was the creative force, and Malpaso focused on 'sober budgets; location shoots; long-term relationships with production personnel; and new money- and time-saving technologies.'

Malpaso's early films, such as 'Hang 'Em High' (1968), Coogan's Bluff (1968), and 'Where Eagles Dare' (1968) are action-packed movies starring Eastwood, who was toiling at a brutal pace. The ability to work on one film after another - with almost no respite - helped spur Clint's success, and the Malpaso Company (with studio backing) continued to put out film after film.



Levy mentions each of Eastwood's movies in turn, writing about the scripts, writers, actors, producers, directors, plots, locations, budgets, success (or failure) at the box office, his own opinions, and more. For films helmed by Eastwood, Levy emphasizes Clint's directing style, which is to move fast and do as few takes as possible, an approach most actors must get used to.

By the late 1960s, when Eastwood was approaching 40, he was an international film star commanding more than $1 million per movie. Levy writes, 'Eastwood now found himself among the very, very few people who could command the highest salary AND steer his own journey going forward. And he chose to go small. In many ways, Eastwood was choosing the most out-of-the-box of all the options that lay in front of him, and he was taking the very first steps on his iconoclastic path.'

Among other things, Clint made 'The Beguiled' (1971) about a wounded Union soldier healing at a girls' school, and 'Play Misty For Me' (1971), about a radio disc jockey being stalked by a disturbed woman. 'Play Misty For Me' was Eastwood's first directorial effort, and 'he demonstrated complete ability with the task: shooting, pacing, scoring, casting and working with actors, finding the spine of the story, and assembling a complete package.'



Afterwards, Clint starred in 'Dirty Harry' (1971) about a tough as nails San Francisco police inspector. 'Dirty Harry' spawned four sequels (1971 - 1988), and the franchise contains some of the most iconic quotes in film history, such as "Go Ahead, Make My Day".



During all this time, Clint was wed to Maggie Johnson, but admits he wasn't cut out for marriage. Clint comported himself as if he were a bachelor, giving himself free rein with other women, including classmates at UTS; girls at nightspots and jazz clubs; neighbors; actresses; stuntwomen; girls he met on location; etc. Maggie either didn't know or chose to ignore Clint's behavior, and the couple had two children and stayed together until 1984, when they divorced.

Clint went on to have long-term relationships with Sondra Locke and Frances Fisher, and was married to Dina Ruiz from 1996 to 2014. Afterwards, Eastwood was involved with Erica Fisher followed by Christina Sandera. As mentioned above, Clint's extended relationships and casual encounters resulted in eight children with six mothers.


Clint Eastwood with Sondra Locke


Clint Eastwood with Frances Fisher


Clint Eastwood with his second wife, Dina Ruiz

                                        Erica Fisher

                                Clint Eastwood with Christina Sandera

         

To get the scoop on all of Eastwood's movies and accomplishments, you'll have to read the book, but I will say Clint and his films were nominated for multitudinous awards and won many. Clint's most lauded films are probably 'Unforgiven' (1992) and 'Million Dollar Baby' (2004), which won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director for Eastwood;

'Mystic River' (2003) and 'Letters from Iwo Jima' (2006) which were nominated for Best Picture and Best Director for Eastwood;





and 'American Sniper' (2014) which was nominated for Best Picture.



One might think Clint would slow down by his eighties, but nothing could be farther from the truth. At age 88, Eastwood directed and starred in 'The Mule' (2018), based on a true story, about a nonagenarian horticulturist and Korean War veteran who becomes a drug mule for a Mexican cartel; at age 91, Clint directed and starred in 'Cry Macho' (2021), about a broken-down rodeo star who rescues a boy kidnapped by his alcoholic mother, and teaches him to be a good man; and at age 94 Clint directed Juror #2 (2024), about a juror who realizes he may be guilty of the crime attributed to the defendant.



So far, Eastwood has appeared in more than 60 movies and directed 40. And rumors hint that Clint is looking at scripts and hoping to get behind the camera once again.

Eastwood has done more than make movies. Levy writes that Clint is a committed lover of nature who purchased tracts of land for preservation and (appropriate) development. Clint is a dedicated fan of jazz, blues, and country music and has lifted them into the limelight at every chance. Moreover, Clint has written the music for some of his movies. Clint became mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California - where he lives - for two years, to promote business; Clint was a regular at the annual pro-am golf tournament at Pebble Beach; Clint was a dedicated Republican who supported Ronald Reagan and Mitt Romney (he's entitled to his views); Clint is a loving father to his children; and more.

                                 Clint Eastwood was mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea

Levy's book is a well-researched and informative biography of Clint Eastwood, highly recommended to readers interested in the show business mogul.

Thanks to Netgalley, Shawn Levy, Mariner Books, and Harper Audio for copies of the book.

Rating; 5 stars

Review of "You'll Find Out: Two Romance Novels" by Lisa Jackson

I've enjoyed suspense novels by Lisa Jackson and I thought 'You'll Find Out' belonged to this genre. Instead, 'You'll Find Out' is a re-release of two romance novels published by Jackson in the 1980s. This was early in Jackson's writing career and the books have the feel of young adult novels for girls dreaming of that GEORGEOUS, IRRESISTIBLE, RICH man they'll love forever. Older gals don't really expect this to happen, but anyone can fantasize, right?

Both books have the same format: girl and boy meet; girl and boy are parted; boy tries to get in touch, but someone or something prevents it; girl and boy meet again a few years later; and nature takes it course.

The 'love scenes', which begin almost immediately when girl and boy meet again, are formulaic and approach soft porn.

I'll provide a brief review of both tales.

*****

The Shadow of Time

Four years ago, in Asheville, North Carolina, Mara - a beautiful, blue-eyed, blonde, business administrator.....



......and Shane Kennedy - a handsome, black haired, dark-eyed, documentary filmmaker, were madly in love. Shane went to Europe, where he was making a movie about the political battle in Northern Ireland, and didn't return when expected.



Mara called Shane's father, and was told Shane died in Northern Ireland. Mara was shattered and pregnant and inconsolable, and her long-time friend Peter Wilcox, whose family owned Imagination Toys, provided comfort.

Mara and Peter wed, and Mara had baby Angie (now three years old). The marriage turned cold, Peter became terminally ill, and recently died. Shane read about Peter's funeral in the newspaper and he came to watch from a distance.



Mara is now head of Imagination Toys, which is going bankrupt because of an economic downturn in the country. Shane, who owns Delta Electronics, makes an offer for the toy company, which (of course) leads to Mara and Shane meeting again. It's lust at first sight all over again, but there are flies in the ointment.



Mara can't understand why she was told Shane died; and Shane can't accept that Mara married another fellow so quickly. Then Shane discovers Angie is his daughter, and wants to tell the world, and raise Angie with Mara.



The 'mystery' part of this story lies in the fact that Shane returned from Ireland four years ago, and wrote to Mara, but she never received the letters.

Things play out as they will, primarily because Mara is SO in love with Shane. Shane doesn't deserve Mara because he's self-centered, arrogant. and determined to get what he wants by any means necessary. I don't know how Mara can even stand him!!!

I don't think this same story would be written in current times, or at least Shane would be portrayed differently.
_________________________________

Gypsy Wind

Six years ago, in Seattle, Washington, Becca - a gorgeous, blue-eyed, blonde, horsebreeder......



......and Brig Chambers - a handsome black-haired, dark-eyed hunk, whose East coast family breeds horses, were madly in love.



Together, Becca and Brig owned a talented filly named Sentimental Lady, who was expected to excel on the racing circuit.



Sentimental Lady was entered in a race against a colt, had a terrible accident, and had to be euthanized. Testing revealed Sentimental Lady had been drugged, and Brig blamed Becca. Brig then went back East to work in his family business and hasn't spoken to Becca since.

Unknown to Brig, Becca bred another horse, named Gypsy Wind, using a $50,000 loan from Brig's father Jason Chambers. Sadly, Jason was recently killed in a small plane crash, and the probate of Jason's will, along with other factors, lead Becca and Brig to meet again.

Guess what? It's lust at first sight once more, and there are flies in the ointment again.



Becca is hurt because Brig blamed her for the death of Sentimental Lady and went away; and Brig is angry because Becca hid the existence of Gypsy Wind from him. Also, Brig tried to phone Becca after Sentimental Lady's accident, but was never put through.

The 'mystery' part of this story is 'Who drugged Sentimental Lady and why'.

Once again, things play out as they will because Becca and Brig are SO IN LOVE. Unlike Shane (above) Brig is an okay guy so I don't mind.
_________________________________

Both books are similar. The main characters are great-looking and they meet at a party; there's a secondary character who's manipulative and has bad intentions; and things work out in the end.

I'm giving 'You'll Find Out' three stars because I think the stories might appeal to fans of second-chance romance novels.



Thanks to Netgalley, Lisa Jackson, and Kensington Publishing for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3 stars