A Murder in Hollywood by Casey Sherman is a deep dive into a seedy time of Hollywood history where the world and people associated with organized crime intermixed with the entertainment industry.
The focus of the story is around the killing of gangster Johnny Stompanato in the home of actress Lana Turner, supposedly at the hands of Turner’s teenage daughter, Cheryl. To get to the sordid details leading up to the killing the author widens the story that is equally a history of the mob into the late 1950’s, as the writer does with Hollywood, providing an epic story that reads almost like fiction.
This reader only knew the surface elements around the Stompmanato killing, and I love how Sherman engaged me as I took a journey through this fine book into the darkness of the period. Not for the faint hearted this work presents rape, pedophelia and misogyny usually only hinted about around the period.
If you are a fan of true crime, mobsters and’/or Hollywood, Casey Sherman’s A Murder in Hollywood is an excellent read.

Wasn’t my favorite read, I found it a little slow, I wanted to like it a lot more. I did finish it and did not DNF but it took me a lot longer than usual. Just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC! As a huge fan of old Hollywood, I was really excited about this one.

Lana Turner has an incredible life story, beyond what happened with her daughter and Johnny Stomoanato, but I loved that this book really dove into each of their stories individually before their paths (and fates) intertwined.

I loved that the author took a narrative nonfiction approach to telling this story, and I can tell that it was incredibly well researched. Part of me wishes that it had gone farther into Turner and her daughter’s lives following the aftermath of the crime, but I digress.

I truly enjoyed reading this story, and I love the deep dive it sent me on (once again) with exploring the press articles from this time period. The author did such a great job that I’m very interested in reading more of their work, and I hope to see more old Hollywood stories from them!

A Murder in Hollywood by Casey Sherman is about the shocking 1958 case of movie star Lana Turner and her mobbed-up boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, and how their relationship ended at the point of a butcher’s knife. While it does dive a bit deeper into the mafia side of things than I would have liked, it’s very well-written in a fun, engaging style, and is meticulously researched.

Set in the dazzling past of Hollywood, the story of Lana Turner's rise to stardom is well told in this book. Apart from her acting career, her choices of the men in her life were difficult to understand and her involvement with mobster Johnny Stopanato resulted in abuse and ultimately the trial of her life. Well researched and recommended.

While it was well researched, I wish the author spent more time on Cheryl Crane instead of in Lana Turner.

I thought this was super interesting! I know very little of 'old Hollywood' and had certainly never heard of this case. I do think it ends a little quickly for me, as I would have loved to hear more about Lana and her daughter's relationship as Cheryl grew older.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an Advanced Reader Copy - pub date 2/13/2024. Lana Turner was gorgeous and talented and rich and had the absolute worst taste in men. We're talking Go On Jerry Springer And Hang Your Head As The Audience Hoots taste. But she was scrappy and determined and has given us both one heck of a movie catalog and one of the Great Classic Hollywood Scandals... Involving a man, of course.

The author chose to approach the death of Johnny Stompanato from two sides, setting the format of this book as a sort of v, two lines converging to that fatal night and its fall-out. On one side, you have Lana Turner, formerly Julia Jean Turner, coming from poverty and a broken home and a father's unsolved murder to become the famous Sweater Girl, then the most glamourous actress, then, against all odds of the time, an independent woman with her own production company - paving the way for the likes of Marilyn Monroe (who, ironically, she gave advice to when Monroe was still young and new). On the other side, you have the mob and gangsters and the likes of Mickey Cohen, Johnny Stompanato's boss and buddy. Following this structure, the reader gets a really layered look at the various levels of Hollywood and how the worlds overlapped and interacted.

The book was well written and well researched and I really enjoyed the two prong approach. That said, every so often, there were points where it suddenly felt less like non-fiction and more like a would-be novel. Some of the rumor and hear-say presented as factual as the actual facts and some things handed to the reader as This Is What Happened. Plus a little redundancy in places but you can't fault the author for that when Lana's dating history is filled with a lot of abuse and cover-up. Blame the times and you understand why she avoided going to the police - even if every fiber of you screams at her to get a PFA immediately.

True Crime investigator/writer Casey Sherman has written an awe-dropping account of movie star Lana Turner’s life and what led up to the death of her boyfriend, mobster Johnny Stompanato, as well as the effect it had on both her and her 15-year-old daughter Cheryl.

Sherman intricately delves into the history of both Lana Turner, her life prior to Stompanato’s death which occurred in her bedroom as he was allegedly beating her, which sadly was nothing unusual. When her daughter heard the commotion, she allegedly came into the room and stabbed Stompanato in the stomach. He also gives a history of the rise of the mob and how they were able to not only manipulate the Hollywood studios, but how they were able to manipulate her.

Ms. Turner’s life unfortunately was filled with trauma, abuse and abandonment from men in her life, including her own father. It covers how she became famous by infamously being “discovered” in a diner at a very young age.

Sherman also takes the reader into the lives of mobster Mickey Cohen as well as Johnny Stompanato and in great detail writes to what led up to the killing and the effects it had after the fact on Turner, her daughter and even Cohen.

Lana Turner’s life story is heartbreaking. Married many times, she seemed to always pick someone who would physically or mentally abuse her (or her young daughter) or steal her money. Because of her fame, she put her daughter on the backburner as she tried to live up to her bombshell image, which after a while began to fade. She then had to try and reinvent herself over and over again as new younger bombshells came on the scene.

Of course, the most riveting account was the story and facts of her relationship with Stompanato and how she was unable to get away from him and how he continually abused and threatened her. Sherman takes the reader step by step of not only their relationship but what is said to have occurred during the killing and smoothly moves into what happened next as well as the trial and Mickey Cohen’s hatred of Lana Turner after the death of his friend.

A Murder in Hollywood is a juicy can’t put down tell-all of a beloved, beautiful yet tortured movie star whose introduction to stardom was too fast and as she naively believed all the men who ran the studios had her well-being and would take care of her. Unfortunately, that would never happen, and her life was filled with abuses and overwhelming sadness. Yet, because of the actress she was no one would have ever guessed she lived her life practically walking on eggshells.

Thank you #NetGalley #Sourcebooks #CaseySherman #AMurderinHollywood for the advanced copy.

Before reading this, all I knew about Lana Turner, outside of her being an actress, was that her teenage daughter was accused of killing Turner’s boyfriend during an altercation.
This book turned out to be quite enlightening, going into great detail about Lana’s upbringing, her discovery at a soda counter, her rise to Hollywood golden girl, and her bad luck (and/or judgment) when it came to romantic relationships.
It also covered some mobster history, including the inception of the west coast mob scene and the eventual, inevitable coupling of gangsters and Tinsel Town.
It pretty much checked all the boxes - old Hollywood glamour, wise guys and mob hits, gossip, innuendo, contentious relationships, and a murder scene with more drama and intrigue than any Hollywood script being shopped around.
Thanks to #netgalley and #sourcebooks for this #arc of #amurderinhollywood by #caseysherman in exchange for an honest review.

For most of the book, the author alternates between telling Turner’s backstory and Cohen’s. They each move to Hollywood for different reasons, and establish themselves. Eventually, Stompanato enters the picture.

Let’s focus on Lana Turner first. Her parents were rarely together, although married, and she spent some time in foster care. Her dad was murdered when she was still young, and this event brought her and her mother back together. She attended high school in L.A., with others who were already in the Hollywood machine. While still a teen, she was discovered at a soda shop across the street from her high school.

She had only minor roles at first, and most thought of her as just a pretty face (and not a good actress). Eventually, though, her roles grew bigger and better, and she even went on to be nominated for some big acting awards.

Her personal life, however, was messier. Lana dated around, which wasn’t necessarily uncommon, but her studio bosses were constantly reminding her of the morality clauses that were common in contracts at the time. So, she would often just marry whoever she was dating, even if they hadn’t known each other long. She married a lot of men, most of them for lust, and at least one for money. More often than not, though, she was the moneymaker of the family.

She had a daughter, Cheryl, with her first husband, and she maintained custody of her for most of her childhood. One of her later husbands molested Cheryl for two years before Lana found out. The girl’s father was nearby, and sometimes pitched in with parental duties.

Mickey Cohen was raised around gang culture, and became involved while still in his teens. He moved around – Cleveland, New York, Chicago – to learn from the best, including Al Capone. He eventually resettled back in L.A., where he was involved with various gambling ventures.

Johnny Stompanato was a known ladies man in his hometown in the Midwest, and eventually moved to Hollywood to land some ladies with more money. After befriending Cohen, they devised a plot to lure in actresses, photograph them having sex with Johnny, and then use those photos to blackmail them.

Lana started off as a target in this plot, but Johnny supposedly fell in love with her. Over time, he became more and more controlling, and ultimately abusive. Any time she tried to distance herself from him, he would panic – let’s be honest, in addition to sex and an “in” with the local elite, she was also paying his bills. Even the threat of violence was usually enough to make Lana cower, though, because she couldn’t work if she was battered too badly or visibly.

Things came to a head one night in Lana’s bedroom, while Cheryl was home in her own bedroom. A fight ensued, and Johnny ended up with a kitchen knife through his abdomen. Whether it was Lana or Cheryl who did it remains a mystery. Lana called her lawyer before she called the cops, and they assumed the crime scene had been “staged” before they got there. Cheryl said she did it, and stood trial for the murder. It was determined that it was an act of defense.

Mickey Cohen did not like this answer, and threatened to come after Turner’s family. He did convince Stompanato’s family back home to sue Lana Turner in a civil suit, but that was settled out of court. Eventually, Cohen ended up in prison for tax evasion, and was unable to carry out any further threats.

This was a fast-paced page turner, and would be perfect for fans of true crime or fans of old Hollywood glitz and glamour.

I am a true crime fan through and through...and have even been intrigued by Hollywood true crime stories. This book outlines the background of the death of Johnny Stompanato with additional background context and information. I think I could have enjoyed this more if it were shorter and more straightforward. I lost interest in some areas, but overall, it's a pretty good read.

Casey Sherman tells a detailed tale of the Murder of mobster Johnny Stompanato. She writes of the dark side of Hollywood during the days of the studio system and how orgnized crime was in control during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

You would have thought that Lana Turner had it all in those days being at the top box office But women were treated as merchandise and passed around like like a cheap bottle of booze. She had many failed marriages and each of them were entered because she thought it would bring financial stability and safety for her daughter, Cheryl,

The latest in a long line of bad choice lovers for screen siren, Lana Turner, Stompanato left her physically and emotionally abused. He would not let her go. and his jealousy came with rage. Ultimately, Johnny is stabbed to death in Lana's home by her daughter, Cheryl. Cheryl saying that she was trying to protect her mother. What really happened that night and who was wielding the knife will never really be known. What we do learn from Sherman is how all of these parties ended up in that place on that fateful night,

A Murder in Hollywood is an interesting read for those curious about the Golden Age and one one of the most sensational crimes in Hollywood history.

My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I so wanted to love this book, but it just didn’t work for me.

The writing lacks emotion and depth. The weird thing is that there is a lot of detail on unimportant, tangential people and events, but a surprising lack of detail and examination of people and events that matter.

Sentence structure is often clunky, and there’s simply too much jumping around.

Also, the author provides inner thoughts and dialogue that are conjecture at best, which makes me question how much is fact and how much is actually fiction.

DNF at 39%

Lana Turner's life story is a rollercoaster that kicks off with a tragic event and her mom's quick decision to chase Hollywood dreams, hiding from a dark past. Discovered in a scene straight out of a movie, near her high school, Lana's journey from a newbie to the "sweater girl" sensation is something out of a fairy tale. But not all was glamorous in her life, especially when it came to love. Her relationships were fast and furious, leading to heartache and, in one infamous case, a scandal that rocked Hollywood. She got tangled up with Johnny Stompanato, a guy with shady connections, leading to a tragic end and a lifetime of whispers and shadows for Lana and her daughter, Cheryl. This book peels back the curtain on the glitz of Hollywood, showing the real price of fame and the quest for love in the spotlight. Lana's story makes you wonder about the true cost of glamour and whether she ever found the happiness she seemed to chase through the flashbulbs and headlines. A for sure read if you're into true crime and old Hollywood glamour!

Thanks to Sourcebooks for the ARC!

I love old Hollywood stories so when I seen this on netgalley I had to read it thank You Netgalley for letting me.
Reading about Lana Turner was so interesting a beautiful women who seemed to have it all A movie Star with a big further in front of her and a beautiful family all went away when she started dating a mobster Johnny Stompanato, soon her personal life became violent and unpredictable. Sadly her daughter Cheryl, watched her beloved mother's life deteriorate as Stompanato's intense jealousy took over. Eventually, the physical and emotional abuse became too much to bear, and Lana attempted to break it off with Johnny—with disastrous consequences. Thats just one of the people the author write about.
The research and the attention to details that the author did on this book is exceptionable. If you like reading crime stories and old Hollywood pick this up.

I had a great time! One thing I have noticed about the starlets from the old Hollywood era is that they were so lonely and just wanted to be loved so desperately that they put themselves and their children through so much trauma. It's so sad. This story was riveting! There were so many things that I did not know.

This is the second story I’ve read by this author. I enjoy true crime stories, because I’m intrigued by what people will do. I enjoyed the story also because I had grown up seeing Lana Turner in movies and television. Matter of fact, most of the people mentioned, other than the mobsters, I have watched on television and seen in movies. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys true crimes. I will also be looking for more of Mr. Sherman‘s works.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Murder! Hollywood! Shocking! Tinseltown! The words on the vivid book cover called out to me. Before requesting a n early preview copy of the book, I glanced at the description mentioning actress Lana Turner, a famous movie star of the 1940’s and 50’s. I recalled the long-ago news broadcasts and headlines about a murder, and thought I’d read more. This true crime title actually tells more about gangsters and Hollywood’s treatment of women during the times than it does about the self-defense murder of Lana Turner’s abusive gangster boyfriend. If you love that type of detailed historical background, then you will appreciate A Murder in Hollywood.

This was a very interesting story told in a narrative style that made it read like fiction. I enjoyed the back and forth format focusing on both the rise of organized crime and of Lana Turner in Hollywood. It was an engaging story that developed slowly and then resolved itself rather quickly, with very little about the aftermath of the killing, which I personally would have found interesting as well. A great read for anyone interested in the history of Hollywood, both dark and light, and of the rise of organized crime in the area.