Platinum Widow: Who Killed Jean Harlow’s Husband? (ebook)
Platinum Widow: Who Killed Jean Harlow’s Husband?
NOMINATED for the 2024 RONDO AWARD
by Gregory William Mank
6x9
358 pages
ISBN 9798887711690
Porter Down, prodigal private investigator, takes a perilously deep dive into the most notorious unsolved Hollywood mystery of all time!
Award-winning author Gregory William Mank takes the reader on a wild and wicked time machine ride back to Golden Age Hollywood, and the events surrounding the shocking death of MGM producer Paul Bern, 65 days (and nights) after his marriage to Platinum Blonde Bombshell, Jean Harlow. Was it suicide? Was it murder? The novel weaves exhaustive research with fictional flourishes, including a deadly female pornographer/blackmailer. Cameo appearances from such Big Screen luminaries as Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Fredric March, Lionel Atwill, Louis B. Mayer, and Irving Thalberg abound. And what part might the notorious real-life mobster/Harlow's previous paramour and protector "Longie" Zwillman, have played in the events surrounding Bern's death?
Ultimately, the book offers a fictional – but credible – solution to Bern's demise, based on the real-life events of 91-years-ago. A sordid yet heart-breaking saga, this novel is the second of the Porter Down Hollywood Mysteries (following the acclaimed Frankenstein’s Witch: St. Lizzie, Pray for Us), and includes photographs relevant to the case and suspects.
Hollywood’s Golden Age lives again with a vengeance in this manic mix of fact and fiction!
_________________________________________
Gregory William Mank is an acclaimed film historian whose books include the first Porter Down Hollywood Mystery, Frankenstein’s Witch: St. Lizzie, Pray for Us, and the non-fiction It’s Alive! The Classic Cinema Saga of Frankenstein and Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff: A Haunting Collaboration. His recent book for BearManor, Of Mice and Men: Mental Enfeeblement, Racism, and Mercy-Killing in 1939 Hollywood, has been nominated for the Richard Wall Memorial Award annually presented by the New York Library of the Performing Arts. He has written and narrated the audio commentaries for the DVD/Blu-Ray releases of such films as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931), The Black Cat (1934), Cat People (1942), and The Lodger (1944), written scores of magazine articles, and appeared on many documentaries, including the recent theatrical release Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster (2021). Greg lives in Delta, PA with his wife, Barbara. Visit the author’s site at www.gregorymank.com.
BOOK REVIEW:
Synopsis: In "Platinum Widow: Who Killed Jean Harlow's Husband?", prodigal private investigator Porter Down, takes a perilously deep dive into one of the most notorious unsolved Hollywood mystery of all time!A work of fiction based on an historical incident, in Platinum Widow", author Gregory William Mank takes the reader on a wild and wicked time machine ride back to Golden Age Hollywood, and the events surrounding the shocking death of MGM producer Paul Bern, 65 days (and nights) after his marriage to Platinum Blonde Bombshell, Jean Harlow.Was it suicide? Was it murder? This fascinating novel weaves exhaustive research with fictional flourishes, including a deadly female pornographer/blackmailer. Cameo appearances from such Big Screen luminaries as Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Fredric March, Lionel Atwill, Louis B. Mayer, and Irving Thalberg abound.And what part might the notorious real-life mobster/Harlow's previous paramour and protector "Longie" Zwillman, have played in the events surrounding Bern's death?Critique: Ultimately (and based on the real-life events of 91-years-ago) "Platinum Widow: Who Killed Jean Harlow's Husband?" offers a fictional (but quite credible) solution to Bern's demise,. A sordid yet heart-breaking saga, "Platinum widow is the second novel in Gregory Mank's 'Porter Down Hollywood Mysteries' series (following the acclaimed "Frankenstein's Witch: St. Lizzie, Pray for Us"), and includes photographs relevant to the case and suspects. While particularly recommended as a popular addition to community library Historical Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Platinum Widow" is also available in a paperback edition (9798887711690, $33.00).
--Mary Cowper, Reviewer