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.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A Murder in Hollywood by Casey Sherman is a riveting account of one of the most sensational crimes in Hollywood history: the stabbing death of mobster Johnny Stompanato by Lana Turner's teenage daughter, Cheryl, in 1958. Sherman, a New York Times bestselling author of several true crime books, draws on extensive research and interviews to reconstruct the events leading up to and following the fatal night, as well as the media frenzy and legal aftermath that ensued. He paints a vivid portrait of Lana Turner, the glamorous starlet who fell in love with the wrong man, and Cheryl, the troubled girl who tried to save her mother from a violent relationship. He exposes the dark side of Tinseltown, where fame, fortune, and power come at a high price, and where women are often exploited and abused by men. Sherman does not shy away from the controversial aspects of the case, such as the possible involvement of the notorious mob boss Mickey Cohen, the conflicting testimonies of the witnesses, and the lingering doubts about Cheryl's innocence. He discusses the lasting impact of the tragedy on the lives and careers of Lana and Cheryl, as well as the legacy of Johnny Stompanato, who became a legend in the underworld. A Murder in Hollywood is a gripping and fascinating read that will appeal to fans of true crime, Hollywood history, and human drama. It is a well-written and well-researched book that sheds new light on an old mystery and reveals the untold story of Tinseltown's most shocking crime.

I expected to read a story about a tragic event in the life of Lana Turner, but I got more than that from Casey Sherman’s new book. I was absolutely engrossed in the story and learned so much about old Hollywood. Lana Turner was one of my mother’s favorite actresses and I remember discussing the murder of Johnny Stompanato with her years ago when Cheryl Crane wrote a book about it.

Sherman’s story ties in the Hollywood mob world that Johnny Stompanato was a part of and connects it with Lana Turner and other Hollywood stars. There are also some quite spicy tidbits about stars from that era included in the story.

As for Lana, Sherman includes her family background and how she rose to stardom. Unlucky in love and child-bearing, Lana had a long and successful career. Lana and her daughter Cheryl managed to get past Johnny’s murder and go back to their lives as best they could. What was so sad to me is that Cheryl was exposed to so many of her mother’s lovers and not all were decent men.

Sad to say, but Johnny got what was coming to him and his death probably saved many others from a lot of misery.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to recommend this and give my honest review.

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, which get you right into the heart of the matter from the beginning, it’s a true life tale of deception, betrayal and suspense!

The book offers a glimpse into the investigation of the murder of a prominent Hollywood producer, it’s the darker side of the glitz of Hollywood as we follow the story, the author lays it out brilliantly for us and I found myself immersed in this glamorously dark world.

The pacing is brisk and relentless, which I enjoyed – and it ensure the tension was palpable!

Having said that, in the interests of honesty, the book is not without its flaws, and while the pacing was mostly brisk, there were some bits that definitely did drag for me personally, but this did not detract from enjoying the book and because of my interest in the subject matter, and the many positives about the authors style and research, this was a five star read for me!

With thanks to NetGalley, Casey Sherman, and SOURCEBOOKS (non-fiction) for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to read "A Murder in Hollywood: The Untold Story of Tinseltown's Most Shocking Crime" through NetGalley. As someone who appreciates true crime narratives, I found your exploration of this infamous case to be both intriguing and thought-provoking.

Your meticulous research and attention to detail are evident throughout the book, and I commend you for your ability to weave together multiple threads of investigation into a cohesive narrative. The story of Tinseltown's most shocking crime is undeniably captivating, and your exploration of the events leading up to and following the murder kept me engaged from start to finish.

However, I must offer some constructive feedback. While your storytelling is compelling, I found myself wanting more depth and nuance in certain aspects of the narrative. Specifically, I wished for greater insight into the motivations and psychology of the individuals involved. Additionally, some parts of the story felt rushed or glossed over, leaving me with unanswered questions and a sense of wanting more.

Despite these critiques, "A Murder in Hollywood" has its strengths. Your writing is clear and accessible, making even the most complex legal and investigative details easy to follow. The book also offers a fascinating glimpse into the darker side of Tinseltown, shedding light on the seedy underbelly that lurks beneath the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

In conclusion, while "A Murder in Hollywood" may not have fully met my expectations, it is still a worthwhile read for fans of true crime or those with an interest in the inner workings of the entertainment industry. Your meticulous research and engaging storytelling make for an entertaining and informative book, and I look forward to seeing more from you in the future.

I could not put this down! There are so many familiar names that I had no idea were associated with such terrible things. I'd never even heard this about Lana Turner before. Revelatory, painful, heartbreaking, and full of what feels like earned vengeance. It was a fascinating look into Hollywood history, and a sharp reminder that some things still haven't changed.

Thank you to #SourceBooks and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #AMurderinHollywood. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This is an interesting behind the scenes look at 1950's LA and the intersection of Hollywood glamour and the mob. It's the story of Lana Turner and the murder of Johnny Stompanato in her LA home. I'm a classic movie fan, but I had never heard this story. I enjoyed Lana's backstory on her discovery and rise to Hollywood Screen Queen. Sherman balanced the story with alternating chapters on the mafia characters and what was happening in the LA & Vegas at that time. Really interesting read.

I am DNFing this book at 40% but not because I feel like it is poorly written or not interesting. I feel like it is a very well researched book and is an extremely interesting book if I wanted to read about the history of mobsters in Hollywood. I definitely understand the need for the backstory behind certain people in this story and how they all played a part in what happened, but I think I wanted less of the mobster stories and more of Lana Turner's maybe? Or perhaps I wasn't expecting so much backstory and was ready to jump into the actual crime itself. Would I pick this book up again when I am wanting something like this? Yes. It just wasn't what I was expecting or what I was wanting/ in the mood for.

I remember watching a thing on TV [when I was a teenager] that talked about Lana Turner and the murder of Johnny Stompanato and was so intrigued by something that seemed so awful to my young teenage self, and then I promptly forgot about it. I had not, at that point, seen any of Lana Turner's movies [and to this day, still have not], though I knew about them of course [I watched the "old" movies with my beloved Aunt, and we watched who and what she liked and apparently Ms. Turner was not a part of that like ;-) ], but she was never really on my radar. So when I saw this book was about her [and the author was someone I had read before and enjoyed], I knew I needed to request/read it.

Whoosh.

This book is a lot of a lot. I went back and forth between feeling completely sorry for Ms. Turner and then in the next moment wanting to just shake her for some of the idiotic choices she made [Johnny Stompanato being one of the biggest ones, though her marriage with Lex Barker would be disastrous for her daughter Cheryl]. My true sorrow was for her daughter Cheryl who endured so much and had to watch her mother being abused over and over and over again - she truly had no childhood and I believe she would have done anything to save her mother from death.

If you love Old Hollywood and the stars from that time, this is a really good book for you. It never shies away from all the seriously damaging things that the men who controlled Hollywood did to the women who worked for them and how that played out between the stars and then also with their relationships - it will absolutely change your perspective of that time.

Whether or not you believe that Ms. Turner was the one who really wielded the knife that day, or if it was truly Cheryl Crane, this book will lead you down the path to that day. will present all the evidence and then leave the choice up to you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Casey Sherman, and SOURCEBOOKS (non-fiction) for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fascinating account of Lana Turner, Johnny Stompanato and Mickey Cohen. In depth look at Hollywood. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for a honest review!

So I unfortunately DNF this at around 50%. This was at no fault to the story or the writers. I do find the situation interesting, I just think I didn’t realize how OLD Hollywood this was, which is 100% my own fault. I struggled to finish it simply because I didn’t have much to relate to from that time. But the writing style is very good and if you have any interest in old Hollywood, I think you’ll definitely love it.

A Murder In Hollywood: The Untold Story of Tinseltown's Most Shocking Crime by Casey Sherman is a true crime novel about screen star Lana Turner, her daughter Cheryl Crane, and the murder of Lana's mobster boyfriend Johnny Stompanato. I give this four stars!

I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts, but I don't generally read a lot of non-fiction or true crime books. However, when I saw this, I just had to request an early copy from Sourcebooks. A movie lover, I've always been fascinated by the glory days of Old Hollywood...it also helps that Imitation of Life is my mom's favorite movie, so a biography of its star was definitely a high priority for me.

The first half of the book alternates between the life, loves, and career of Lana Turner and a history of the mob. I personally could have done without the history of Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel, or most of the other details about the mob, although it does have a bearing on Lana's story. I just felt that the history could have started with Johnny Stampanato and Mickey Cohen without everything that came before them. Lana's chapters I found much more riveting, with her many marriages and budding career...but that's really the part that interests me.

Well-researched and eloquently written, I did really enjoy this and gave it four stars. Lana's daughter, Cheryl Crane, didn't have a huge part in the overall story, although there were pieces of her life that came to the forefront at different times and the trial and aftermath were explored well.

I do want to note that there are trigger warnings for (of course) murder and stabbing, but also for abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional). If you are also averse to mentions of smoking or drinking, then proceed with caution.

All in all, this was a fascinating read about Old Hollywood, family secrets, and love gone wrong. Casey Sherman tells a great story and I'm definitely going to look up his other books!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Sourcebooks for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

Lana Turner was a legendary actress whose life generated so much of Hollywood's history that she's almost as famous for her personal life as she is her film performances. There has been so many stories written on her life that you'd not expect to learn much from this latest biography......you'd be wrong. Casey Sherman has obviously done the research to so skillfully provide an indepth picture of Turner's life and career. As readers follow her rise to stardom while watching her personal life descend into violence and murder, the story holds so many revelations that I'm going to have to rethink what I knew of Turner's life. Sherman gets an easy 5 stars from this reader with the hope that his next book is as fascinating as this one.

I had heard about this story, but just the sensational headlines. I had no idea all the detail of their lives. The trauma for Lana Turner started long before she was “Lana.” It continued on in her personal life and her daughter Cheryl’s life. As perfect as her life seemed in public, it was horrific behind the scenes. It was tragic what Lana and I’m sure many other actresses had to deal with. I learned a lot about the mob in Hollywood. This was a fascinating story that I couldn’t put down.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

As a Producer, I love old Hollywood. It’s always intrigued me, and I can’t get enough of reading about Hollywood’s “golden age.” I’ve always been intrigued by Lana Turner, and was thrilled to get this book.

This story delves into more than just Lana’s life. It also discussed the mafia and how the organization had a lot of power in Los Angeles and Vegas. This was a pleasant surprise to me, and I was intrigued to learn more about this sordid history.

The one thing I can’t quite figure out about this book is that it’s considered true crime, but depicts how Lana’s boyfriend was killed in a different manner than what is on record. Without going into it too much, this book acts as if a conspiracy theory is real.

All things considered, I truly loved this story, and recommend it to anyone interested in old Hollywood. Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher, for the ARC in exchange for the honest review!