I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed Casey Sherman’s prior true crime book, so I was excited to try the next one. While I knew little about Lana Turner prior to picking this book up, I enjoyed learning more about her and diving into the scandals she found herself in, including one her partners’ connection to organized crime which led to trouble and murder. This was a very readable, easily digestible book, capturing all the lurid details of the story, albeit with hindsight and even compassion for Lana and her daughter.

I am a Bibliophile and Cinephile, I love the classics in both Genres, so I know who Lana Turner is, or I thought I did! What a horrendous story, I feel like I need a shower, Lana made poor choices that eventually led to murder, the plethora of men, the bóoze, her smoking, the money she wasted, from being the highest paid actress in Hollywood, based not on talent but on her body measurements! I have two favorite Lana Turner movies in my library, Peyton Place and Imitation of Life, which happens to be my favorite. I will now look at them in a different light. I knew about the murder in an abstract kind of fashion, she was being attacked, her daughter saved her, I believe in self - defense, so I was not affected by the story. However, this book , if true, shows Lana to be what my Mother calls "White Trash", the sex, the booze, throwing her money away, bedding men that she knew were vile shows a lack of class that no amount of studio makeup or costumes can hide, nor can this author try to make her look like a Women's Rights Activist, when she literally allowed men to walk all over her! I wish that I had not read it, I will never look at her in the same light again, I believed her to be a hardworking woman who tóok care of her Mother and truly loved her daughter, only to find a woman who had no self - respect, no head for business, and an absentee parent! If you like the dirt on Hollywood Stars, then you will love this book, if like me, you prefer the studio version, it will make you nauseous and in need of a steam shower. There was too much information about the gangster Micky Cohen, which made the story even trashier, I almost stopped reading it because of the amount of time given to his character, I understand the connection, but thought information about Lana's mindset while making each movie during this time period would have humanized Lana more, the book seemed to be about the mob more than it was about Hollywood. 3,5
Thank you #Netgalley #Sourcebooks
carolintallahassee

Don’t waste your time on this book if you are interested in Lana Turner. Instead, I recommend Lana: The Lady, The Legend, The Truth by Lana Turner or Lana Turner: Hearts & Diamonds Take All by Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince. Sherman cites these two books most often in the parts of her book actually about Lana. Between the quotes from other sources and the unrelated tangents about other players in Hollywood, A Murder in Hollywood reads like a high school paper desperate to meet a word count quota.

Sherman does a great job of telling this "old Hollywood" story. I remember my mom telling a friend about Cheryl Crane, Lana's daughter having murdered her boyfriend. This is when the Mafia was a part of the movie business and there was a lot of corruption and abuse.

Lana starts her career at 15 and Sherman tells about her many husbands and history of abuse as well as her rise to stardom. She names names and it makes for very interesting reading. If you love movies or are a movie buff, you will love this story.

A Murder in Hollywood is a sad story about Lana Turner, her daughter Cheryl and Lana’s poor choices in men. Casey Sherman includes sexual, physical and emotional abuse, violence, and murder in this true crime novel. I believe that women had a hard time breaking into Hollywood in an era where so many men felt they were entitled to sex in exchange for favors. Lana made many mistakes in choosing a man which included Johnny Stompanato who was involved in the mob.
This would be a great book club choice as it would give everyone a chance to state their opinion on who actually killed Stompanato.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for this e-ARC. The review is entirely my opinion.

A Murder In Hollywood: The Untold Story of Tinseltown’s Most Shocking Crime by Casey Sherman

This is the story of actress Lana Turner and the murder case she found herself involved in. The author takes us through Turners life, including abusive relationships with her different partners and husbands, and her association with mob bosses in Hollywood. It is through one boss, Mickey Cohen, that she meets Johnny Stampanato, Cohen’s bodyguard and Turner’s eventual boyfriend. He was abusive and controlling of Lana and she became tired and afraid of him. Their relationship comes to a violent end when Lana’s teenage daughter stabs Stampanato in defense of her mother. Cleared by the court, Cheryl, Lana’s daughter, eventually lives with her grandmother.
The author did well describing the era of Hollywood and what was going on with mobsters and movie studios controlling the artists. The writing was engaging and it almost read like a crime novel. I like the nostalgic feel of old Hollywood and Casey Sherman dove into the underbelly of the glamour of that time. Abuse and violence against women should not be tolerated, and Sherman delivers Lana’s story well in regard to what happened in her life.
Content warning: strong language, sexual assault, violence
Thank you to Sourcebooks for letting me read this early as a arc on NetGalley. Any opinions expressed are entirely my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I have always been intrigued by old Hollywood stories of lust, love, mayhem and murder. There’s something so mysterious about it and yet there’s also a sense of sadness. I’ve seen some of Lana Turner’s movies and personally I didn’t feel one way or the other about them. She was the typical movie starlet like her counterparts, Joan Crawford and later, Marilyn Monroe. She was the silver screen’s eye candy and many moviegoers flocked to see her blonde ringlets and bombshell curves. She became known as the “sweater girl,” of which she detested that title and worked hard to remove herself from it.

So, imagine my surprise when I learned of this novel. It was right up my alley of things I’d want to read and what an explosive read it was! Oh my, where do I even begin?! First off, I’m amazed at how so many Hollywood stars came into their fame. Lana wasn’t any different. In fact, she was still wet-behind-the-ears and got discovered while eating ice cream in a malt shop. A well-known journalist found Lana to be so beautiful and told her she ought to be in films. It happened just like that for her.

Although she didn’t have to work at it to get where she eventually got to, Lana wanted more than just the glitz and glam of Hollywood, Lana wanted love. She wanted it so much that she eventually married four times. One would think after the second failed marriage, she should stop, but in those days, a woman in her position wasn’t afforded the life of just dating a man and/or living in sin. If you were seen dating and stating you’re in love, you had to marry. But somewhere along the way, Lana lost herself.

It was at that time she was her most vulnerable and met a man who introduced himself as John Steele. Lana later learned that wasn’t the truth. For, the truth was much more sinister than a regular ordinary name. She was in fact dating “the” Johnny Stompanato, a well-known mobster and muscleman for “the” Mickey Cohen, a boss, and the man who founded and built The Flamingo in Las Vegas before it was “Las Vegas.” This was a story that couldn’t be made up. It’s often said that truth is stranger than fiction and these words couldn’t have rung truer in Lana Turner’s case.

One fateful night on April 4, 1958, Johnny Stompanato stormed into Lana Turner’s home demanding that she not end their love affair. Lana grew tired of his violent acts and fits of rage and needed for him to leave. Well, he did just that, but not in the way either of them could have imagined. When all was said and done, Stompanato was left on Lana’s carpet with a wound to his abdomen dead. This became one of Hollywood’s most notorious murder mysteries of those times.

Sherman did a magnificent job detailing the backstory of all the mobsters and how they tied into Lana Turner’s life. I found this book mesmerizing and extremely interesting. I learned things about big time Hollywood stars that make me look at their bodies of work and them, in a completely different light. In fact, I threw some side eyes in their direction. I will never view some of those stars quite the same way as I once did. Holy cow!!! This book was quite explosive and I could not get enough. This satisfied all my cravings for a good old-fashioned murder that happened to be true. Wow!

RAVING REVIEW: A MURDER IN HOLLYWOOD takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour of Lana Turner's storied existence, blending the suspense of a thriller with the poignancy of a true-life saga. This book peels back the layers of Hollywood's golden age, revealing a world where the glitz and glamor of the screen concealed a reality marked by personal struggles and dangerous liaisons. Turner's life story is a riveting production with a star-studded cast, dramatic plot twists, and emotional depth that captivates from the opening chapter to her closing credits.

Casey Sherman skillfully navigates the highs and lows of Turner's career, from her meteoric rise to her complex relationships, notably with Johnny Stompanato. The book delivers a compelling story that explores the darker aspects of fame, illustrating how the spotlight can illuminate but also cast long shadows over one's personal life. It's a narrative that resonates with anyone who's ever pondered the price of public adulation.

Based on extensive research, Sherman highlights the figures who played pivotal roles in this Hollywood epic, such as Mickey Cohen, and their influence on the storyline of the industry and Turner’s life. The book explores the murky waters of organized crime's entanglement with Hollywood. It offers a detailed critique of how this relationship influenced the lives of its biggest stars, including Turner herself. While this is all based on research, we can assume that at least many of these stories were true.

While A MURDER IN HOLLYWOOD commands a standing ovation for its in-depth exploration and emotional resonance, it occasionally stumbles, specifically in the telling of Turner's public achievements, with her private ordeals sometimes muddying the waters and the narrative's venture into speculative territory at times may leave the audience questioning the line between fact and fiction. These moments, however, are few and far between in an otherwise meticulously crafted story.

This book is not just a biography; it's a backstage pass to the heart and soul of one of Hollywood's most enigmatic figures, presented through the lens of true crime and profound historical insight. It's a must-read for anyone drawn to the allure of Hollywood's bygone days, offering a unique perspective on the complexities of fame and the human stories behind the tabloid headlines. The golden age of Hollywood offered a world that most can only imagine; I feel that over the years of stories we’ve heard, we still have very little understanding of how this period of history was.

A MURDER IN HOLLYWOOD is a journey through Lana Turner's life, capturing the essence of an era that continues to fascinate and intrigue. It's a narrative that's as much about the backdrop of Turner's life as it is about the foreground, filled with triumphs and tragedies that underscore the enduring allure of Hollywood's days gone by. This book is a brilliant addition to the archives of Hollywood legends, spotlighting the unseen aspects of stardom and providing a comprehensive view of Turner's legacy in the annals of film history.

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While we romanticize old Hollywood, books like this put a spotlight on the terrible lives of our beloved starlets.

I haven’t seen many Lana Turner movies but I know the name. I’ve never heard of this murder but I was immediately interested.

The book follows Turner’s arrival to Hollywood and her career leading to her meeting the man who almost took it all away. But Stompanato isn’t the only bad guy in this story. Several men in Lana’s life were absolute monsters.

Lana’s life may have appeared to be glamorous but she suffered at the hands of many men. I don’t know if this book is gospel truth in regards to the murder but it’s definitely an entertaining biography. If you enjoy true crime and old Hollywood, I recommend reading A Murder in Hollywood. Thank you to NetGalley, Casey Sherman and Sourcebooks. I have written this review voluntarily.

"A Murder in Hollywood" is the true story of Lana Taylor and the murder of her lover/abuser, Johnny Stompanato. The book traces Lana's rise against the growth of Hollywood and its crime connections, culminating in the murder and subsequent trial of those deemed responsible.

What's good: The book is interesting. I knew little of this particular crime and found the entire story, including the explanation given afterwards, fascinating. I also had a lot of sympathy for the depiction of Lana Turner here, a woman who seemed unfortunately set up to fail in relationships.

What's iffier: The book doesn't depict itself as an investigation. It presents itself as a complete story, including the inner thoughts of the very real human beings at its center. As a result, reading this book feels more like reading a somewhat flat novel than a work of nonfiction; I would have preferred to see more of how the author evaluated their evidence and came to the conclusions they did.

With gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

I've always been fascinated with Old Hollywood and any books with true stories in them especially. However, I did see another review (well, multiple) that summed up my feelings, this should have been a fiction book. The author based a lot of the storyline on speculation and opinion. He did not differentiate between his personal feelings and fact well enough. The story was well written and interesting but I don't believe anyone should ever propose fiction as truth. It should have been clear that he personally feels Lana killed John, when her own daughter, the actual killer, has never even hinted that could be true. This is more of the National Enquirer of a true crime story told.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.

This is a riveting read and tells the story of Lana Turner's turbulent life. She was married many times but seemed for a purpose, not love. On the surface, her life seems perfect: she's a film star with a beautiful daughter and a lavish lifestyle. But her reality was far different.

Lana’s relationship with mobster Johnny Stompanato would be the worst yet. After prolonged physical and emotional abuse, Turner finally had enough. When Lana was going to tell Johnny the relationship was over and to move out, Johnny Stompanato ended up dead. He was fatally stabbed by Turner's daughter Cheryl in defense of her mother. If this was what really happened, why was Lana’s first call to one of the most famous Hollywood lawyers, Jerry Giesler? Jerry Giesler was a household name in Hollywood. The question lingers…is that what really happened, or is that the story they put together?

I really enjoyed this true-crime novel. It was fast paced and easy to read. I have heard so many theories of how it was Lana who stabbed Johnny…but I thought that the book kept it to a minimum, which I appreciated. The only people that will ever know the truth, Johnny, Cheryl, Lana and Lana’s mother Mildred. I would recommend this book to all true crime lovers and readers.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, Source Books and the Author, Casey Sherman for this ARC of A Murder in Hollywood. Expected publication on February 13, 2024.

A very thorough look at Lana Turner's childhood and rise to Hollywood Royalty. Also a deep dive into Micky Cohen, his childhood and rise to a mob boss in LA during the golden age of Hollywood. I will say I enjoyed the chapters about Lana and her story a bit more than the mob storylines, simply because they were more interesting to me. The author does a great job of looking at both sides of everyone involved.

*Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for honest review.*

This is a very interesting book about how a Hollywood star is discovered and all about her movies. Lana Turner is the star! It’s about her husbands and boyfriends. She had one daughter named Cheryl with her husband, Stephen Crane. When Cheryl was 14, Lana had a boyfriend named John Stampanato who was very jealous and who used to abuse Lana. Lana’s mood used to change and Cheryl saw how Lana was afraid of John. One night when John was at Lana’s house, they argued. Cheryl said she grabbed the kitchen knife and John ended up dead on the bedroom floor. Cheryl was only 14 at the time and was too young to be charged with murder. She became a law of the court and was made to live with her grandmother. If you like books about true crime, then you would love the book. Casey Sherman did an excellent job writing this book and I look forward to reading another book by him in the future.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me a digital ARC of A Murder in Hollywood. I really enjoyed this thorough story of Lana Turner and what her life in Hollywood was like. I didn't know any of this, and thought it was so well written.

Billed as the shocking story of Lana Turner’s murder of her lover Johnny Stompanato. Lana makes her way in Hollywood based on her body. She was discovered in a malt shop and becomes the “sweater girl.” She doesn’t even think she has any talent. Her mother is her only support system and they are dependent on Lana’s salary which is huge–she is the star of the town. She hangs with all the other celebrities and sleeps with just about anyone. Along with her rise to fame is the growth of the mob which she becomes involved with. When Johnny continues to abuse her, her 14 year old daughter allegedly stabs him in the stomach and he dies on the bedroom floor. Her attorney suggests that the daughter will not get jail time as opposed to Lana because she’s a minor and it’s self-defense and the coroner agrees. Lana continues her career and she and her daughter step out to applause. There was lots of detail on the mob lives of Bugsy Seigel and Mickey Cohen. which adds context but I found a bit too much.. None of the characters are likeable.

A Murder In Hollywood by Casey Sherman was a joy to read. I was young when this event took place but have heard/read much about it through the years. I loved Sherman’s mixture of true facts, conjecture, suggested dialog and different thoughts on who was the real murderer. In the novel you also get a glimpse into how the Hollywood star system worked back then and learn some new and interesting information about several Hollywood figures. Into this mix throw Mickey Cohen and the rackets in Hollywood and you have a great read. I would recommend this book.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. As someone who likes to read and write about Hollywood history, I was disappointed in this book. It was supposed to focus on the violent affair between screen icon, Lana Turner, and her gangster boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, who was murdered in Turner's bedroom. I am not sure exactly how author Casey Sherman drew his conclusions, but it seemed to me that the story was filled with salacious items that may or may not be true. I understand that it is hard to fact-check everything, but to give credence to autobiographies such as Errol Flynn's 'Wicked, Wicked Ways', seems unfair. Flynn was notorious for making up stories--the more scandalous, the better. Therefore, I question some of the stories that appear in this book. The background given on Stompanato and the other mobsters who invaded Hollywood was very interesting, but did Turner kill him or was it her daughter, fourteen-year-old Cheryl Crane who stabbed him? Crane, herself, wrote a detailed memoir and claimed she did it in an attempt to save her mother from Stompanato's wrath. What happened to her afterward, wasn't pretty, and having a mother like Lana Turner didn't help. There was also a problem with all of the dialogue involved. Unless the author was a witness to the conversations how did he know what was said exactly? Lana Turner certainly led a colorful life, but she was no innocent babe. Most of the players are no longer here to defend themselves so I had to take it all with a grain of salt. If you are looking for scandal, this book may be for you, but if you are looking for the truth, you may want to look elsewhere.

So I didn’t realize when I requested the book from Netgalley that I actually tried to read another book by the author. It was also true crime but I DNFd because he sensationalized the case and it was so inappropriately written. I almost decided to just not even bother with this because I was worried it would be the same but knew I should give Sherman a fair chance. So far the book wasn’t as sensationalist as Helltown…BUT

I looked up other reviews and the facts of the case, since I had bad luck with another Sherman book and sure enough he weaves fiction into true crime. He states as if it’s fact that Lana Turner killed Stompanato when in fact it was Cheryl, her daughter! I get having theories that Lana did it and Cheryl lied to protect her but then present it as such? And Cheryl has written her own book, not the first time of which, she admits to the murder and her mother having zero part in it.

He is writing as if what he says as truth with zero evidence to back it up.
Get this man away from true crime because he clearly doesn’t know that if he wanted sensationalized conspiracy theories he could write a crime thriller book instead 🙃 This is an author that ends up just discrediting everything he writes-how can I rely on your research and “knowledge” if you purposely fictionalize a story and pass it off as non fiction?!

The 1950s in Tinseltown was a time of glamour and hits, a time when the studios reigned supreme and the world clamored for their movies and tidbits on the lives of their favorite stars. It was also a period of time where behind the scenes mobsters and gangsters were gaining a foothold. Starlet Lana Turner seemed to have it all, a thriving career, glittering jewels, avid fans. Her beautiful life began to tarnish however when she started dating handsome Johnny Stompanato unaware of his ties to Mob boss Mickey Cohen.. Devilishly handsome he looked great with her on his arm at local hot spots. In private however he was violent and abusive and her teenage daughter Cheryl was caught in the crossfire of their unpredictible affair. On a fateful January night Johnny lies dead on their bedroom floor stabbed with a kitchen knife. In the headline murder trial of the year the jury feels that Cheryl's fatal protection of her mother was warranted. This well researched non fiction narrative was compelling with its detailed annotation and bilbiograohy. it read like a novel. I don't think I have even seen a film of Lana Turner but this informative story of her troubled life and historical tidbits of the Golden era of Hollywood was interesting. I recommend this to any reader who enjoys true crime and history. A very engaging read.