Tuesday, January 23, 2024

New Book Review: Murder on a TV Set

Title: Murder on a TV Set 

Author: Ava Zuma 

Date: 2020 

Publisher: Clean Tales 

Quote: "[S]he had her own apartment in the big city of Johannesburg, and that made her slightly nervous." 

Celia, fresh from university with a three-year degree in the art of TV makeup, has reasons to be nervous. A serial murderer is stalking "young girls from out of town" in Jo'burg. Her colleague Simon, who does a midmorning talk show, wants to sensationalize the story in ways that make Celia feel even more nervous. Speaking of whom, does Simon only flirt compulsively with every woman in the office because he's never learned how to talk intelligently to a woman, or is he seriously pursuing Celia, although he's married? Is Celia's boss only hostile, or also insane? And who hates Simon enough to murder him during a power outage at the TV station? 

Though young and shy, Celia is brave and intelligent. However stressful she finds being on the list of suspects in the murder, she can keep her head and find out who really did it. If you like strong, smart young protagonists, you'll like Celia. One of the policemen who keep questioning her does, too.

This novella and at least one more story about Celia have done well enough in South Africa to compete for readers in the US market. It's a tough market this season...but Murder on a TV Set is worth checking out, if you like murder mysteries with just a hint of possible romance. One of the best new books I read in December, anyway.

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