The Final Act

By: Lisa Gray

Narrated by: Vivienne Leheny

“Utterly thrilling, Gray paints a seedy and uncaring Hollywood that leaps off the page.”—The Sun

All she wanted was to see her name in lights. Now, her disappearance has made her front-page news.

It’s been twenty years since Madison James had any kind of success in Hollywood. Now she’s disappeared and a TikTok sleuth has found her purse discarded in a Los Angeles park. The news spreads like wildfire across a nation hungry for celebrity tragedy, and the struggling actress’s mysterious disappearance quickly becomes a national obsession.

Detectives Sarah Delaney and Rob Moreno of the LAPD Missing Persons Unit take the case. But truth is a rare commodity in Tinseltown; some people will stop at nothing to get what they want and Delaney and Moreno soon find themselves mired in Hollywood’s dark underbelly with little in the way of clues.

As revelations from the past emerge, it becomes apparent there is more going on than meets the eye. With an obsessive public watching every step of the investigation, can the police find Madison before she becomes more than just missing?

©2024 Lisa Gray (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“The Final Act is a riveting page-turner that exposes Hollywood's dark underbelly. This book is a fast-paced, nonstop thrill ride filled with scandal, intrigue, and endless twists and turns you won't see coming. If you pick this up, make sure you clear your schedule first because you won't be able to put it down!” —Lisa Regan, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author

“A gripping, compelling, pacy tale that explores the MeToo movement and the seedy side of Hollywood, showcasing how young women have historically been exploited in their ambition to become famous. Glamour, greed and gaslighting abound, this one’s a knockout!” —Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author of the Jess Lambert series

“So much more than a mystery, The Final Act exposes the wealthy and powerful who prey on the desperation of dreamers. With an emotionally bruised detective on a mission to find a missing actress, this gritty suspense explores the darkness lurking below the bright lights in the City of Angels. And just when you think you've solved the case, Lisa Gray flips the script, proving her expert talent. A beguiling thriller that will make your head spin.” —Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today bestselling author of A Friend in the Dark

Final act

Enjoyed the story as well as the narrator I would read more written by same author

Good Portrayal

I really liked how the author was able to take this topic which has been spoken and written about a lot and created a fictional story that so closely depicts how women felt back then and when the book was written. No political debate needed. The truth is, there was and continues to be a power and financial disparity between men and women and any woman is going to have feelings about it from appropriately angry to outrageously enraged. It all depends on the level of demeaning or abuse or violence she has had to endure. Great character development and side stories to build upon the main plot. Really enjoyed it.

Narration was great really capturing the many emotional ranges projected by the main and significant supporting cast.

Mediocre everything

Narrator seemed robotic at times. Generic story. Characters didn’t grab you. I struggled to finish listening.

good story

I liked the story line and the actors but it needed better editing. fitted is not the past tense of fit. drove me crazy... over and over.

Holly moly

Holy moly good to the last page!! what an incredible story and had me hooked from the beginning. highly recommend

Lots of fun

Sit down and enjoy the ride ! Runs at a high clip, Don't think, just enjoy the ultimate Hollywood fantasy

Just ok

Started out a bit strong. Writing and storyline just ok. Ending felt convoluted and rushed.

Forgettable

Almost good but sadly it just didn’t stack up. Narration was annoying and dialogue was stiff.

Just No.

I get trying to stay relevant and with the kids of today but just no. This was so bad I could not get past the first hour.

Casting Couch Thriller That Lacked Thrills

This "casting couch thriller" was a total miss for me.

The book's premise was strong:
A Hollywood has-been goes missing. Is she dead or alive?

Overall, the book suffered from too much repetitive text and a lack of thrills.

This 7-hour audiobook easily could have been a 5-hour audiobook.

Narrator Vivienne Leheny did a fine job with the narration.

SPOILER ALERT:
The book's "happily ever after" ending was contrived and disappointing.