The best of the series. I wish there were more. ( )

3rd in "Where Are They Now?" Mysteries

Sensuality: innuendo

Main Character: Tilda Harper, freelance journalist specializing in the formerly famous

Setting: Modern day - Cape Cod

I had not read the prior two entries in this series but was able to jump right in and understand Tilda and her work easily. Tilda typically writes articles on formerly famous people in the "Where are They Now" features, but this time she is given the golden oportunity to interview John Laryea who is filming his latest movie. Tilda's ex-boyfriend's father owns the company handling security for the location filming and arranged for her to get a prime interview. Laryea had gotten his start on a Saturday morning kid's show.

The producer and director of the film are impressed with Tilda and ask if she would help them out. The movie is based on a comic book that only had 12 issues but has a strong cult following. The fans are already mad, claiming the movie isn't true enough to the original comic. They ask Tilda to please find the elusive writer who did his own illustrations cryptically named Leviathan.

Tilda makes a deal to do her best to find the original comic book author/artist in exchange for some interviews and a pass to the filming. This is why Tilda is still at the five-star resort Glenham Bars Inn when she witnesses Laryea and his assistant run down on the road. The assistant is killed and one of the security company employees is blamed. But Tilda doesn't think so and partners with her ex-boyfriend to prove it.

I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I was drawn into the story. Even Tilda's search for the elusive comic book author/artist was interesting with the comic fandom brought to life. The setting of Cape Cod and Monomoy lighthouse was a good backdrop. The descriptions of filming and the harried tension to get a shot of a sunrise etc add to the overall story.

Tilda is a character I easily liked, she is self-disciplined and observant, which pays off for her. Tilda's keen insights into people play well as a writer and a sleuth. I didn't like her roommate and felt the home struggles didn't add to the story. It seemed counter to Tilda's character to be self-disciplined enough to make a living as a freelance writer and yet get a rather flaky roommate who brings nothing but conflict.

The character of her ex-boyfriend Nick is just realistic enough, a bit awkward at times but they are good to each other without petty baggage. The movie star John Laryea was interesting, a good measure of spoiled and insulated while showing a vulnerability that only Tilda seems to have figured out. Even the man blamed for the hit and run, Pete, is well drawn as a recovered alcoholic who fell off the wagon and is tagged as the culprit.

The confrontation of the killer has some good suspense to it. I had suspected who the killer was, but I mostly just sat back and enjoyed the journey. The wrap up had several good revelations - who the real Leviathan was and a door opens concerning Tilda and Nick to keep the reader coming back.

This was a very enjoyable read with a good mix of plot and characters against a great backdrop of Cape Cod. Give it a try, it might surprise you.

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http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com/ ( )

Freelance writer Tilda Harper's specialty is tracking down former stars and writing profiles of what they are doing at present. But when she's offered the opportunity to observe the filming of Pharos, a graphic novel-turned live action film, she jumps at the chance. The lead actor, John Laryea, may be popular now, but as a child he did star in a popular Saturday-morning kids show.

Then she realizes that the driver of the limo that picks them up at the airport is another of the stars of that show, though he's not admitting it. When she meets the film's director, Joni, Tilda is surprised to be asked to track down the reclusive creator of the graphic novel that is the basis of the film, known only as "Leviathan".

The investigator in Tilda accepts eagerly (besides, she's getting a free pass to Comic-Con!), but even she runs into a brick wall.

Tilda is such a well-realized character, and her relationships with her friends and family are so incredibly human and honest and funny. It's a pity that Ms. Kelner is so busy writing short stories and editing collections, because it prevents the amazing writer from creating more novels.

Short stories are just so ... short!

*FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a copy of the book for review purposes. ( )

I snapped up BLAST FROM THE PAST a day after publication--lucky me. Toni's series starring Tilda Harper, who knows everything about old pop culture, has been consistently good, but this one is the best. Tilda tries to find a mysterious comic book artist, the secretive "Leviathan," while trying to solve a series of accidents and deaths around the filming of Leviathan's masterful PHAROS. Toni Kelner knows her comics and filmmaking--there are a lot of in-jokes for fans--but if you don't know a thing about either, this deftly plotted romantic thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat. Agatha-winner Toni keeps busy co-editing NY Times bestselling anthologies with Charlaine Harris, but here's hoping she'll have time for many more Tilda Harper novels as well. ( )