Renee Patrick is a pseudonym for a married couple. Rosemarie and Vince Keenan. Rosemarie is a research administrator and a poet. Vince is a screenwriter and a journalist. Design for Dying is a 1930's detective novel set in Hollywood. The main character comes to Hollywood to be an actress but quickly turn to dress design as a way to actually make a living.
I think the authors have probably recreated the language patterns and idioms of the 1930's Hollywood film industry and detective fiction. It is also likely that the prose actually feels more like a screen play. Initially it took me a while to feel comfortable with the prose but by the end of the book I felt ready to dive back into Dashiell Hammett and black and white films. Another joy of reading the book is the use of famous Hollywood folks as characters within the story (including Edith Head).
The number of characters and potential killers can be a bit confusing. I hope in future books the authors pare down the cast a bit. I'd prefer more depth in characters possible only by cutting some out.
I am drawn to Lilian Frost, the main character. She is young but learning fast. I look forward to a second book in the series.
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