August 29, 1994
In Trust Me on This , his comedy mystery published in 1988, Westlake and the reader both had a great deal of fun with the scurrilous goings-on at a supermarket tabloid whose models are on view every day at--well, supermarkets. This time the Weekly Galaxy is covering (and how!) the murder case against popular Missouri country singer Ray Jones. So is pretty Sara Joslyn, a Galaxy escapee who now works for a trendy New York magazine called--well, Trend. Ray is also being pursued for zillions in back taxes by the IRS and seems determined, despite his lawyers' best efforts, to screw up everything in sight, in court and without. Meanwhile, can Trend expose Galaxy 's hideous newsgathering methods and get their own scoop as well? Westlake's practiced hand soon has these elements spinning cheerfully. Sara is a delightfully feisty, smart heroine; Ray is suitably enigmatic; there are some spot-on takeoffs on typical country lyrics; and the windup is both utterly surprising and entirely logical. For light entertainment conducted by an ace practitioner, they don't come any better that this. Author tour.
April 17, 2000
Mystery author Westlake's humorous 1994 parody of the country-music world seems doubly hilarious when spoken aloud by soap-opera and Broadway actress Nicola Sheara. Acting out the voices of a legion of overweight, RV-driving, fast-food-eating fans who flock to Branson, Mo., Sheara hits the nail on the head with her ability to quickly switch gears from a deep rasp, a sweet drawl, or even various English and Australian dialects. With a gravelly voice, and the help of Westlake's awkwardly phrased song lyrics, Sheara perfectly captures the gritty vulgarity of country music star, Ray Jones, whose upcoming murder trial and troubles with the IRS have hordes of reporters jostling for a scoop. Among them are New York Trend magazine reporter Sara Joslyn, and her editor/boyfriend, Jack, who can't quite get a handle on Jones, even after they are given personal access to his private life. Based on the Warner mass market edition.