The Siren
Fiction
Grand Central Publishing
May 4, 2021
Hardcover
416
Free from publisher
In the midst of a sizzling hot summer, some of Hollywood's most notorious faces are assembled on the idyllic Caribbean island of St. Genesius to film The Siren, starring dangerously handsome megastar Cole Power playing opposite his ex-wife, Stella Rivers. The surefire blockbuster promises to entice audiences with its sultry storyline and intimately connected cast.
Three very different women arrive on set, each with her own motive. Stella, an infamously unstable actress, is struggling to reclaim the career she lost in the wake of multiple, very public breakdowns. Taylor, a fledgling producer, is anxious to work on a film she hopes will turn her career around after her last job ended in scandal. And Felicity, Stella's mysterious new assistant, harbors designs of her own that threaten to upend everyone's plans.
With a hurricane brewing offshore, each woman finds herself trapped on the island, united against a common enemy. But as deceptions come to light, misplaced trust may prove more perilous than the storm itself.
I'll admit, being the cover snob that I am, that this cover is fabulous! The colors are so vibrant, and the retro look to it just made me want to explore further. Once I read the synopsis, I was very excited to dive in. I had read this author's previous book The Lion's Den, which I really enjoyed, but I have to say that this one, in my opinion, is even better! There was a lot going on in this one, so the pacing was brisk (perfect for a summer read). There was the revenge plot, the resurrection of careers (a couple characters fall into this plot point), the unscrupulous behavior of the dashing actor, and perhaps even a romance or two (and they didn't even annoy me!). Take all of that and plunk it down on a Caribbean island, which as the story progresses, ends up in the path of a hurricane, and you've got yourself an addicting fun read. Told from the viewpoints of three women, with a flashback to the life of one of them, there are even tabloid articles thrown in to provide gossip fodder. Did it get a tad unbelievable at the end? Maybe, but just ignore that voice in your head saying "could this really happen?", and go with it. I loved all the characters, minus one, and the ending (while maybe a bit far fetched) was completely satisfying. This was well written, and pretty much had all the qualities of things I enjoy in an engaging, compulsive read. Was most definitely a 5 star for readability, but the ending, while satisfying, did impact it being a perfect book.
Get the sunscreen and head out to your beach chair to savor this perfect summer read.
