'Quote/Unquote' About
Novels by Robert S. Levinson
IN THE KEY OF DEATH
“Stuffed with action, violence, sex, music-business savvy and plot…”
Kirkus Reviews
"…an ass-kicker that unravels the music industry…
Fast-paced, funny and dark, this is a whirlwind in a
bottle and turning that first page is going to let it loose."
Crimespree Magazine
“(A) private investigative thriller with an excellent late twist…The
scene in which Mr. Magic chats about the future with Billy the Kid
is chilling and sets the tone…”
The Mystery Gazette
“Pure Levinson—smart, dark and funny.
Levinson’s vision of human foible has never been sharper.”
T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times best-selling author
“A smooth and well-turned tale of music, murder and revenge...A novel
of sparkling wit and complicated characters, of keen suspense and
shocking revelations. A riveting thrill from start to finish.”
James Rollin, New York Times best-selling author
“Murder and mayhem in the music biz, by a man who knows where
all the bodies are buried...A murderous roman a G-clef.”
F. Paul Wilson, New York Times best-selling author
“A novel with realism, the charm of ‘being there’ and characters
that strike a very real chord. I loved it!”
Heather Graham, New York Times best-selling author
“A gem—fast-paced and full of surprises, with a wonderful assortment
of twists, turns and oddball characters...Superbly written.”
Michael Palmer, New York Times best-selling author
WHERE THE LIES BEGIN
“(An) ever-surprising, character-rich thriller.”
Baltimore Sun
“Tough and funny…a gang of federal double dealers who make the Hollywood press
corps look like a church choir.”
Chicago Tribune
"Robert S. Levinson's 'Where the Lies Begin' is modern L.A. noir at its finest.
An adrenalin blast from first page to last! I couldn't recommend a book more
highly."
John Lescroart, New York Times best-selling author
"Fast-paced and exciting, WHERE THE LIES BEGIN presents a dark loving
Chandleresque vision of Los Angeles. The city is as palpable a character as the
fascinating violent friendship that Robert S. Levinson depicts."
David Morrell, New York Times best-selling author
"Poetic, gritty, and touched with black humor, Robert S. Levinson's Where the
Lies Begin dissects the Machiavellian world of big-city politics, vividly
dramatizing the unbridled ambition and terrifying end-game power plays only
hinted at by today's headlines. Levinson's cool writing and hot topics are bold
and memorable. Turn on your answering machine. You're in for the night."
Gayle Lynds, New York Times best-selling author
ASK A DEAD MAN
"Robert S. Levinson writes a great read."
Nelson DeMille, New York Times best-selling author
"A novel that not only stands alone but stands tall. Writing with considerable
invention, grace and energy, the author (tells) an intricate and emotionally
potent tale of murder and double-cross…This is a dense, dark, beautifully
wrought tale of love and betrayal, sin and retribution, offering serious
suspense, terrific twists and full-blooded characters. Levinson may not have an
Irish name but he carries the soul of the Irish poets in his pen and in his
heart--only a dead man wouldn't relish this read."
Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"Genuinely exciting. . .It sinks its narrative claws into our skin and drags us
along on what proves to be an exhilarating ride. . ."
Booklist
"A book full of sex and violence, fueled with enough treachery and paranoia to
light up a small city."
Chicago Tribune
"From Belfast to L.A., the pace never slows. IRA assassins mix it up with
government agents and the LAPD in a story that Hollywood should grab at once."
Joseph Wambaugh, Edgar Award-winning MWA Grand Master
"Buckets of blood are filled and much happens. . .Not without its guilty
pleasures. . ."
Kirkus Reviews
"Talk about a story that doesn't quit until the very last page. Wow! The
plotting is incredible, the shifting POVs dazzling, the humor is delicious, the
mastery of the Irish lilt flawless, and the sheer joy in the act of writing
etched on every page...A rollercoaster of a read."
Jerry Ludwig, Writers Guild of America award-winning author
"A solid espionage police procedural thriller. . .The story line is
action-packed"
The Book Review
"Levinson's story structure, eye for detail, flavorsome style, and knack for
Hitchcockian suspense set pieces cannot be denied."
Jon L. Breen, "The Jury Box," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
HOT PAINT
". . .brilliantly-plotted and exceedingly clever telling of a subject not too
many novelists have gone into. . . A hot-paced thriller (with) a nerve-bending
series of startling discoveries in the vicious and dark side of the supposedly
sophisticated art world. . .a true insight into today's international art world.
Only Robert S. Levinson could have pulled it off so well."
Hollywood Inside Syndicate—Book of the Month Selection
"Warhol and the Holocaust? It all comes together. . .Levinson's prose snaps,
crackles and pops, with a heavy show-biz flavor; it's Entertainment Tonight with
handguns."
Charlotte (NC) Observer
"A wonderful writer, with style and wit. I recommend his books a lot."
Gayle Lynds, New York Times best-selling author.
"The latest in a string of best-selling novels (proves) Levinson is a man prone
to sharing fascinating fictitious affairs and attracting a steadily growing
readership."
Mystery Readers Journal
"It is truly a great mystery."
Clive Cussler, New York Times best-selling author
THE JOHN LENNON AFFAIR
"Wonderful dialog, great plotting, plentiful Hollywood tidbits, and literate
prose; strongly recommended."
Library Journal (Starred Review)
"The author, relying on personal memories (from his years as a rock ‘n’ roll
publicist) along with an apparently vivid imagination, pulls out all the stops
for a tale spanning the decades separating Lennon’s murder and a fictional
contemporary music festival. . .The first two series entries (were) fast-paced
adventures. Without discarding that Thin Man mood, Levinson has crafted a richer
and more poignant novel."
Los Angeles Times
"The celebrity-rich tale will definitely appeal to the People magazine crowd
eager for even fictional details about the lifestyles of the rich and famous. .
."
Booklist
"A fascinating and reliable trip down memory lane for the baby boomer
generation, bringing back a special place in the hearts of the over forty crowd.
The shoot-them-up action scenes add a sense of adventure to the well-articulated
and subtly-executed novel. The romance between the two lead characters adds a
lot of spice to a very enthralling thriller. Robert S. Levinson enchants the
reader with his magical writing ability."
Midwest Book Review
"Pros: Excellent mixture of music, history and crime; Cons: None; The Bottom
Line: Like Rock Music? You’ll eat this one up! Recommended: Yes. . .a serpentine
plot that involves real and just-barely fictional stars, mobsters and
politicians. . .great nostalgic celebratory fun."
Chicago Tribune
"Levinson knows the treacherous territory of the entertainment industry, with
all its pomp, insincere flattery, betrayals, hyped promises and self-disgust.
His insider's view is perfect Hollywood, both grimly jaundiced and overtly
sentimental."
Providence(R.I.) Sunday Journal
"Every page, every person, every place snaps with the electricity of absolute,
sometimes gritty, sometimes sad, sometimes hilarious reality. . .Wonderfully
wrought secondary characters weave their way through the story. . .They give the
story depth and the kind of tension that makes this a read you can't put down."
Lip Service Magazine
THE JAMES DEAN AFFAIR
Los Angeles Times #1 Bestseller
An MSNBC Book of the Month selection
"Fans of Hollywood history and trivia will have a blast with the serpentine
plot. . ."
Publishers Weekly
"Mr. Levinson takes a well-known Hollywood legend and creates a quirky and funny
tale with a decidedly bent twist."
Romantic Times
"Once you take a sip of this page-turning concoction, you'll keep sipping until
you get to the bottom of the story."
Digby Diehl, New York Times best-selling author
THE ELVIS AND MARILYN AFFAIR
"Stylish and droll. . .A glorious assortment of characters. . .The hunt for the
real murderer and the chase for the letters doesn't stop until the last page."
Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"A smart, sassy fast-paced crime read that is funny, inventive, and hard to put
down. . .Levinson's debut should leave many ardently hoping that it just begins
what ought to be a most entertaining series."
Booklist (Starred Review)
"A deliciously-twisted story with an offbeat sense of humor and an edge of
cynicism towards showbiz…An unexpected find."
Romantic Times
"Full of action, intrigue, and beautiful women. . .Who could ask for more?"
Clive Cussler, New York Times best-selling author
"Take The Aspern Papers, add plenty of sex talk about Marilyn and Elvis,
sprinkle in some dead bodies, and you get a first novel brimming with brio,
self-confidence, and nostalgia for vanished idols of Hollywood's various Golden
Ages."
Kirkus Reviews
"One of the funniest, sexiest, and best-written novels to come along in years."
Nelson DeMille. New York Times best-selling author
"A hoot of a book. Great fun. A quick, clever read. A throwback in tone to those
giddy old forties detective films with a twist of the fifties and sixties on the
side. The idea and the mixed flavors of time and place would carry this one
alone, but Levinson's light-hearted approach and clean style make it even
better."
Joe R. Lansdale, MWA Edgar Award-winning best-selling author of The Bottoms
"Reads like Raymond Chandler, with a touch of the Marx Brothers. This book is a
lot of fun. Fast moving and sexy, Elvis and Marilyn will turn over in their
graves. . .and do."
Peter Lefcourt, New York Times best-selling author of The Deal, The Dreyfus
Affair
"Move over, Elmore Leonard, we've got Levinson now, dazzling us. . .grabs you on
Page One and refuses to let go until you've been taken on a taut, tense, and
terrific rollercoaster ride through Tinseltown in the days when the tinsel was
real, the dialogue biting, and love was filled with intrigue, murder and
suspense. The denouement will stun you. This is a must read."
Ernest Lehman, Academy Award-winning author of
Sweet Smell of Success, North By Northwest.
ROBERT S. LEVINSON
Post Office Box 292393
Los Angeles, CA 90029
www.robertslevinson.com
boblevinson@robertslevinson.cvom