Swingin' in the Rain Book

This is my quick review of Eileen Davidson’s book “Diva Las Vegas”, which was written in 2011. It is her fourth soap opera mystery novel. Ms. Davidson currently plays Ashley Abbott McCall on the Young and the Restless, but she has also appeared as Ashley on The Bold and the Beautiful. She also appeared in roles on the soap operas Days of Our Lives (Kristen, Susan and more), and Santa Barbara (Kelly Capwell). My summary/review does spoil some information, but does not give away the killer.

Early in the story, two soaps were cancelled the same day. With that tidbit, it is evident the book was written with the events of last year in mind. Alex’s alibi was that she was working on her soap The Bare & The Brazen. They had an overnight shoot in the park with fake rain and mud. She found out about the death of her ex, via text message, before the last take.

In this book, Alexis Peterson finds out that her former husband Randy is dead. At first, it was assumed it was a mudslide that ended his life, but it was actually murder. She isn’t sure how to tell their daughter Sarah. It is revealed that Randy became a swinger sometime after his marriage to Alex ended. While that kind of activity is mentioned, it is implied more than discussed in detail. Patti one of the makeup artists at the program was a member of the club, and takes Alex and her best friend George into that world. Tonja, Alex’s new neighbor also becomes involved in the mystery.

Frank Jakes is still a police detective for the LAPD, and seriously dating Alex. Due to what is going on, he gets put on leave, and is not working on the force. So in this book, he is able to help her completely, though he cannot use the police resources he is used to having. Like the other books, Alex’s life is in peril, but she gets through it like a champ. In the life of her soap character, she’s acting amnesia, and has fallen in love with her daughter’s man. There is a segment, where Eileen writes about what sex scenes are really like and how the salaries aren’t what they used to be in the old days.

The end of the novel reveals the killer along with the conspiracy behind it. The story was wrapped up cleanly with Alex happy and no longer in danger, so it is possible that this is the last book in the series. That’s my review of the fourth Soap Opera Mystery: Swingin’ in the Rain.