Playing Mrs. Kingston
Tony Lee Moral, 2014
Zharmae
378 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781937365677
Summary
It’s the '50s in New York City, and Catriona Benedict has big dreams, but when her first promising gig as an actress is a flop, she has to figure out some other way to make a living in the big city.
Enter Miles Kingston, a rich and influential playboy who, for reasons of his own, asks Catriona to take on the biggest role of her life. . . as his wife. Despite her boyfriend’s misgivings about the arrangement, Catriona knows that this could easily be the most lucrative acting job she’s ever had.
All she has to do is keep up the act for a few weeks, and she’ll walk away with thousands. When tragedy strikes, the whole arrangement threatens to strangle Catriona.
She quickly realizes that living with the Kingston family is a much more delicate and dangerous affair than she ever could have guessed. And if she isn’t convincing in the role of Mrs. Kingston, much more than just her acting career will be at stake.
Author Bio
• Birth—May 5, 1971
• Where—Hastings, England, UK
• Education—BSc, University of Reading
• Currently—lives in London, England
Tony Lee Moral is an author and documentary film maker who has written three books on Alfred Hitchcock: Alfred Hitchcock's Movie Making Masterclass (2013) published by MWP books; The Making of Hitchcock's The Birds (2013) published by Kamera Books, and Hitchcock and the Making of Marnie (2005) published by Scarecrow Press.
Visit the author's website.
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Book Reviews
Playing Mrs. Kingston is a suspense thriller filled with intrigue and sizzling tension. The plot was solid and the unexpected twists and turns throughout the book will keep you on the edge of your seat. Enjoyable read!
Stephanie Lasley - The Kindle Book Review
I thoroughly enjoyed this clever and engrossing read. I highly recommend Playing Mrs. Kingston to mystery fans as well as anyone looking for a well-written and entertaining escape.
Jennifer Leigh Wells, Author of "Rebecca: The Making of a Hollywood Classic"
An entertaining romp. There is a touch of high society and a dash of the criminal underworld which all come together to provide an enjoyable few hours of escapism.
Crimesquad.com
Discussion Questions
1. What are the themes in Playing Mrs. Kingston? eg; disguise, duplicity, imitation. Consider the title of the book, what does it mean?
2. How does the art world background mirror the moods of the central characters?
3. How do you see the influence of Alfred Hitchcock in this work? In characterisation or suspense building?
4. Describe the main character of Catriona. What personality traits do you like/dislike about her?
5. What character types do you recognise in the book? eg; heroine, wrongfully accused man, psychopath
6. Has Catriona learned anything or changed by the end of the book?
7. How did the author create suspense?
8. How did the author use New York as an integral part of the plot?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)