Book Review: Trashed

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Trashed     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Alison Gaylin
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Thriller
Obsidian, 2007, 336 pps.

Simone Glass has a mind of her own and proves it when she packs up and takes off across the country to live in LA. Her sister Greta, a cable TV news anchor, begs Simone not to go to LA but Simone is determined. There is a job opening at LA Edge, a weekly newspaper, and Simone is hoping to be on the staff. Simone makes it to LA but finds that before she can experience the first day on the job LA Edge has folded. So she is stuck in LA with rent to pay, no job, and unable to admit these facts to her family.

The Asteroid is advertising for reporters and even though the paper has been labeled as sleazy Simone is determined to get the job. Her determination pays off and her first assignment is going through the trash of celebrity Emerald Deegan. Fellow worker Elliott is showing her the ropes and one of the items that they uncover is a shoe. Traces of blood on the single shoe remind Simone of the fact that another celebrity has recently committed suicide and one of her shoes was missing.

As Simone learns the ropes of investigative reporting she runs into Neil Walker a man who professes to be security officer. Simone soon learns that the truth is not something that you run into every day in the LA world.

When there is another suicide Simone’s suspicions get stronger and she is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Trashed is an exciting mystery and an eye-opener into investigative journalism. It is certainly not all glamour.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM