Friday, August 12, 2016

Mount TBR #38

I read this book for the Mount TBR Reading Challenge hosted over at My Reader’s Block from January 1 – December 31, 2016. The challenge is to read books that you already own.

A Cast of Killers – Sidney D. Kirkpatrick

This book centers on the unsolved 1922 murder of silent film director William Desmond Taylor. The author was researching for a biography of movie director King Vidor. In Vidor’s study he found hidden a cache of Vidor’s research notes concerning the murder. Vidor made a conclusion as to whom was the perp, but buried his findings for fear of opening of a can of worms. The author received the permission of Vidor’s estate to go ahead with a book about the murder. He wrote the book in a novelistic way, tracing Vidor’s research, interviewing, notes, and drafts as if telling a story. He therefore “makes up” conversations. This effort, I think, is based on a sincere seeking of the truth. It provides many stories of interest to any Hollywood buff. I would recommend this book in its 20th Anniversary edition to readers who are both interested in Hollywood lore and looking for a workout in critical thinking.

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