I was absorbed in the world Ava Barry concocted in Double Exposure to the point where I found myself irritated when I had to do other tasks that took me away from reading. And yet, when the big reveal arrived, I was annoyed — largely at myself, for not seeing what was coming, and especially for not picking up on Barry’s reliance on noir conventions ... The red flags are not just visible, they’re waving wildly ... The writing is evocative, especially when Rainey narrates her tortured past, her longing for normalcy and especially her propensity for self-sabotage.
... contains many evocative passages on Hollywood old and new—on the culture and personalities of a region whose mix of fact and contrivance creates a unique atmosphere. The book’s late-stage twists may tax a reader’s credulity, but its melodramatic conclusion should prove satisfying nonetheless.
The plot of this exhilarating and intricate novel ebbs and flows between fast-paced action and relaxed moments of narrative exposition. Rainey is a formidable protagonist, and her steadfast and honest relationships with her two female partners are well developed and refreshing to read. Recommend this one to fans of Robert Galbraith and Jennifer Wolfe.
