The Reporter (37 page)

My profound adoration to my fascinating sister
Ellie Poole,
the spiritual sister of Maxi Poole.

And always and forever, eternal love and gratitude to my sturdy bookends, Alice
Scafard,
my incredible mom, and
Kelly
Lansford,
my princess daughter.

IF YOU LIKED THE REPORTER, AND YOU’D LIKE TO SPEAK TO ME OR MAXI (WE’RE VERY CLOSE), VISIT OUR WEB SITE—
WWW.KELLY^LANGE.COM-BOTH
OF US WOULD LOVE YOUR COMMENTS AND INPUT FOR OUR ONGOING “MAXI POOLE” SERIES-(IF YOU DIDN’T LIKE THE REPORTER, IN THE WORDS
OF THAT GREAT NEWSWOMAN ROSANNE ROSANNADANA, “NEVER MIND.”)

In the inimitable tradition of Sue Grafton and Lauren Henderson, news anchor/reporter Kelly Lange presents a sparkling and
outrageous new mystery introducing feisty TV reporter Maxi Poole. Elbowing with L.A.’s rich and infamous, the intrepid journalist
takes center stage in a sensational murder case where the body count soars like the Nielsen ratings of a hot show… and where
the adventurous Maxi is in on the story of her life

Reporter Maxi Poole can’t take her eyes off the bizarre translucent coffin that holds the corpse of Jack Nathanson, the Oscar-winning
actor—and her ex-husband. Less clear than the lucite casket is who shot him in cold blood. Initial evidence points to Nathanson’s
first wife, a gorgeous Italian actress who makes a rowdy exit from the celebrity-studded funeral escorted by the L.A. County
sheriffs.

Maxi is not convinced that wife No. 1 offed their mutual ex. Using her investigative powers and insider access, she sets out
to find the real murderer and is stunned to uncover an endless list of suspects, including the mob-connected film studio exec
who was in love with Nathanson’s wife; the deranged former child actor who shared a shameful past with the deceased movie
star; the secret mistress he had promised to marry; and the last member of the exclusive ex-wives club.

Then the City of Angels is rocked by another scandal when people close to Nathanson are killed, causing half the town to frantically
call for their lawyers. Before Maxi can strap on her spike heels and grab her camera crew, a shocking series of events threatens
to turn the fantasy capital of the world into a nightmare Tinseltown Watergate.

From the beaches of Malibu to the lavish estates of Beverly Hills to the trendy hotspots of Hollywood, THE REPORTER takes
you on a virtuoso tour de force of murder and sizzling intrigue in the company of a sexy, chic, and wickedly clever sleuth.

Jim Pascoe

KELLY LANGE
is the author of
Gossip
and
Trophy wife
and is a special correspondent for
Women 2 Women,
a daily news broadcast in Los Angeles. A former news coanchor and reporter for KNBC-TV, Ms. Lange has received numerous honors
and awards, including an Emmy for Best Los Angeles News Anchorperson.

“It was a bleak fall day, one of very few in usually sunny La-La Land. Many of the Hollywood film industry’s most notable
personages stood huddled against the chill-world-famous producers, directors, writers, stars—shoulder-to-shoulder around the
spot where the translucent coffin stood on its preposterous-looking gilded bier.

“Reporter Maxi Poole couldn’t take her eyes off the bizarre transparent coffin, and the man lying inside with a smile on his
face —
her ex-husband. None of it made sense, including and especially the fact that the man was, undeniably, dead.”

“A wild, roller-coaster thrill you won’t want to miss. Kelly Lange has written a non-stop suspense adventure. Fasten your
seat belts and enjoy the ride.”

—Sidney Sheldon,auther of The Sky is Falling

“Kelly Lange is our intrepid L.A. TV reporter/anchor. Maxi Poole, her reporter/sleuth, says and does things that Kelly could
never get away with in real life and keep her job. It’s great fun!”

—Dominick Dunne, auther of Justice:Crimes, Trials, and punishment

“I couldn’t put THE REPORTER down…loved being taken into the inner workings of a newsroom…mesmerized by the twists.and turns
Maxi Poole skids through. It’s fascinating and scary, everything a really great mystery should be.”

—Gail Parent, auther of Shella Levine Is Dead and Living in New York

“Lange takes us on a delicious Chandleresque ride. Like LA, THE REPORTER is stylish and funny, dark, dangerous, and beautiful.”

—Allan Folsom, auther of The Day After Tomorrow