**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for an honest review.**

This is the second book in the Detective by Day series by Kellye Garrett. The main character, Dayna Anderson, is a former tv commercial actress in her late 20s who lives in her best friends shoe storage 2nd bedroom. After the events in the first book in the series she is trying to learn how to be a private detective. The case in this book involves a publicist who is murdered at an ATM machine after a Hollywood event.

As in the first book I found the mystery in this to be lacking and the main character (and her friends) to be highly juvenile and unbelievable. I did like this book a little bit better then the first book so I will give it 2 stars instead of 1 but I honestly do not see myself reading any other books in the series (if any are released). I know it has a lot of positive reviews out there but sadly it was not for me.

A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

The characters were great. The plot was well written and kept me wanting to continue go read well into the night. It was an exciting read.

Go Kellye!

After reading book one in the Detective By Day series, I had to read book two. I was not disappointed at all.

First off, Dayna and Omari are going strong. And, the whole crew is back to help Dayna solve yet another Hollywood murder that hits pretty close to home.

This mystery series is modern, fun, and kept me guessing. I am team #Daymari and cannot wait to see the progression of the couple as Dayna, Aubrey, and her crew run through Hollywood. solving more murders.

I was so excited to see another book in this fun series, Dayna is an out of work spokesperson for a fast-food chain, but she's liberated herself from all the dieting and the other junk that goes along with being an actress.
Her true niche in LA is being an investigator, she got lucky last year with solving a few crimes. She has the LA tip line programmed on her I-Phone that's how she's making a living these days.
It's award season in Hollywood and her boyfriend and his series are up for the biggest award for television, The Silver Sphere Award. Her boyfriend's publicist is doing everything in her power to keep Dayna out of the works, they have a mutual dislike for one another but she's more than happy for her boyfriend.
There is a murder after the awards that opens up pandora's box regarding some major players in the Hollywood.
Dayna is found in some laugh out loud situations trying to find out who the really murdered this somewhat meek and mild publicist, unlike the tiger who ruthlessly represents her boyfriend. This case has Dayna going in so many directions and along with her good friends and Uber, she's not going to give up until she gets to the bottom of this box that's been popped open.
The witty dialog between Dayna and her friends plus her zany inconveniences such as her problem with passwords and other things that makes us all CRAZY makes me think that Dayna Anderson and Kellye Garrett are one and the same. She's a hoot and well worth getting to know.
I would like to thank Midnight Ink and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this galley in exchange for my honest review.

I have to be honest, I didn't even finish the book, it took me so long struggling through it that it expired.
It was so 'hip' that it lost me with usage of slang to appeal to a younger audience so quickly lost my interest. The main character didn't connect for me on a basic level. I even read YA books so I don't think it was a generational disconnect for me. I believe it is a writing style that I couldn't enjoy and struggled with. I didn't post a review since I don't like negative reviews if it is just personal taste, as I suspect is my case here.

Sorry this is late! I just realized I never sent it in!!

Another fun entry in the Detective by Day series. I love these characters and their adventures! A tricky mystery, too - thought for sure I had the killer figured out, but I was wrong!

Hollywood Ending: A Detective by Day
By Kellye Garrett
Midnight Ink
August 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

After ten of her fifteen minutes of fame as the catchphrase girl in the Chubby Chicken commercials, Dayna Anderson inadvertently found herself in the middle of a murder investigation and – eventually – identifying a killer. Now Dayna is capitalizing on that experience and attempting to squeeze out a living cashing in rewards from the LAPD tip lines. The money is almost worth the humiliation of being a surrogate snitch, and the prospects should be even better once her retired policeman partner fills out the paperwork to make them actual licensed private investigators. Until then, Dayna will continue to live on the fringe of Hollywood celebrity as she dates Omari Grant, the hot star of a police drama and nominated for the 18th Annual Silver Sphere Awards. The award season of cocktail parties and events has barely begun before its publicist Lyla Davis is killed during an ATM robbery, and the reward offered for the capture of the robber is enough to have Dayna determined to track down a killer.

When Dayna begins to discover that the robbery may have been focused more on homicide than just theft, she and her Instagramming friends gleefully begin investigating the less-glamourous side of Hollywood’s awards. That’s not to mean that they won’t be delving into Gift Lounges, SWAG bags, and following clues hidden within the freebies offered to those who already have the most wealth. Dayna may not always be correct on her first guess as to the culprit, but her determination and manipulation of actors’ egos will eventually lead to her success.

What I love so much about this series is how it highlights Dayna’s viewpoints from a Hollywood C and D-List celebrity. Witnesses and suspects are profiled as if they were on a castling list call, describing them as the jock from a high school film, the last surviving girl from a horror movie, the best guy friend who gets ignored by the lead girl. Even more fun is how Dayna and her friends use their social media to investigate their suspects, most of whom are all too willing to share their personal lives with the world. Dayna is so unique in that she gives readers an insider’s view of Hollywood celebrity, yet still remains slightly on the outside and fame-adjacent. This second in the series more than lives up to the promise of the previous debut, and I can’t wait for the next vicarious glimpse into this glamorous and often superficial celebrity culture.

Thank you to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
When I first started reading this I thought “what in the world?” I am so glad I stuck with it. I loved all the quirky characters and the solving of the crime. Dayna was so determined and funny. I laughed the whole way through. Such a fun book!!

“Forgive me, Ms. Anderson, but I find it had to believe that alleged lip syncing
is strong enough motive for a murder.”
“That’s ‘cause you’re looking at it from the point of view of a regular person. Being a celebrity is as much a brand as Coke or Pepsi. It’s a legitimate multi-million-dollar enterprise.”
Kellye Garrett, Hollywood Ending (Loc. 1462)

Tinseltown's awards season is in full swing, and everyone is obsessed with dressing up, scoring free swag, and getting invited to the biggest awards shows of the year. But when popular Silver Sphere Awards publicist Lyla Davis is killed during a botched ATM robbery, the celebratory mood comes to an abrupt halt.

Dayna Anderson—an actress turned apprentice private investigator—uncovers the killer almost immediately. Unfortunately, what starts as an open-and-shut case turns out to be anything but. Lyla's murder was no robbery-gone-wrong. Someone hired the gunman to kill her. Diving back into the investigation, Dayna gets a backstage look at the worlds of gossip blogging, Hollywood royalty, and one of entertainment's most respected awards shows—all while trying to avoid her own Hollywood ending.
Amazon.com

Reading Kellye Garrett’s A Detective By Day mystery series makes me aware that there is a fine line between fiction and promotion. One of Kellye’s characters in Hollywood Ending (Kitt) alludes to the fact that no one really cares for the truth—more important is the weaving of the good tale. And that’s what Kellye has done in this series.

In the first book, Hollywood Homicide, Kellye introduced main character, Dayna Anderson, and her best friends Sienna and Emme. The book won an Agatha Award for Best First. I interviewed Kellye on that book here. But I cast a critical eye on the second in the series to judge the strength of a writer.

Hollywood Ending combines fast-paced action with an intricate plot. Through Dayna’s eyes, readers get ring-side seats for the Hollywood show with commentary by an insider.

But Kellye also introduces a new character, who may turn into a client, but then again, he may give Omari, Dayna’s boyfriend, competition. Just guessing here, but then, I think that’s just what Kellye had in mind. I’ll definitely read the third book a soon as it is released!

Please welcome Kellye Garrett back to WWK. E. B. Davis
How did Dayna meet her best buds, Sienna and Emme?
Sienna and Day met in the bathroom at a club when Sienna told her that she was her biggest fan. They later bonded over a mutual shoe size and the constant need to always go to the bathroom.

I’m honestly not sure how Emme and Day met though I’ve been thinking about it a lot since I’m focusing on Emme in the third book. Let me know if you have any suggestions in comments.

Is Dayna jaded after her two-year notoriety promoting Chubby’s Chicken?

Definitely! She expected it to be a stepping stone to becoming this big time actress but that didn’t quite work out how she expected. She essentially got “ghosted” as the cool kids say by her manager and agent after Chubby’s dropped her contract.

Why does Dayna like being a PI?

She likes that she’s helping people and she’s good at it—in her own way.

Sienna has almost twenty-five thousand Instagram followers. Does exposure in the social media really help artists secure stature in business?

There’s a phrase called “Instagram famous” because there are literally people whose job it is to post on Instagram. They’ve amassed millions of followers because of content that can range from sexy photos to funny memes. A perfect example of someone using Instagram to secure stature in business is Cardi B. She started off just posting on Instagram, which led to her being cast on a reality show, which led to her being one of the biggest hip hop artists out right now. She was supposed to go on tour with Bruno Mars! Denzel Washington knows who she is.

Aubrey S. Adams-Parker, Dayna’s PI mentor, interacts strangely with Dayna. Is it Dayna or is it him? Is he autistic?

It’s him. Someone actually asked me in another interview if Aubrey was on the autism spectrum. I’ll admit that I didn’t set out to write a character with autism spectrum disorder. I just wanted someone who would be a foil for Dayna because she is very self-deprecating and never serious. So Aubrey was created to be the guy who doesn’t laugh at her jokes or find her charming. Their relationship is definitely explored more in Hollywood Ending. You learn more about his backstory, which I wanted to share in the first book but didn’t have room.

Although Aubrey is a fourth-generation Angeleno, he seems out of the Hollywood loop. Are there a few people in LA who don’t get involved in the Hollywood thing?

Yep. There are more than a few L.A. residents who aren’t involved in Hollywood at all. You just don’t think they exist because they’re busy minding their business. Their only brush with fame is standing behind a celeb at Whole Foods. Entertainment is just one industry out there. There’s also aerospace, tech, health care, etc.

Are the Academy Awards the only genuine, merit-based contest for actors? Are there awards celebrities can buy?

The Academy Awards and the Emmy’s are probably by far the most respected awards for actors. You can’t buy them but you definitely can campaign for them. If you open up Variety or the Hollywood Reporter, you’ll see full-page “for your consideration” ads for actors, directors, writers, and films. Actors will also hit up a lot of events to smooze with those in the Academy.





Although Dayna seems down-to-earth, she classifies people by the roles she’d cast them in. Does she come by this perspective as a former actress, and does this help her solve cases?

When it comes to casting, all actors have a “type.” Girl next door. Tough jock. Nerd. Stoner. You’ll see it listed in what they call casting breakdowns, which list all the different roles in an upcoming production. In Hollywood Ending, I have her describe every character based on how they’d be cast in a movie. I figured it’d be a fun way to bring in the Hollywood theme while also describing what someone looked like. Plus it helped me describe the different characters as well because I suck at writing character description!

Murder is scary. But in a way, Dayna seems more terrified of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Why?
I actually think her fear of being at the wrong place at the wrong time is related to being murdered. Here’s how she explains it in the book: Just the idea that you’d done your best in life to avoid marrying any sociopaths, accidentally dropping a radio in the tub, or crossing the street without looking in both directions, and then you happen to head to an ATM at the exact same time as a money-hungry psycho with a gun.

Define:

Venmo?
App that lets you instantly pay or request money from your friends. It’s similar to PayPal but not business-focused.

Whaling?
I have no idea! I only namedropped it in the book because I wanted a throwaway line about Day eavesdropping on a convo.

A Blind?

A blind item is a piece of gossip so juicy that the blogger can’t say who it is because they don’t want to get sued. I’m obsessed with them. It’s not a coincidence they play a big role in Hollywood Ending.

Swag Bag?
Think I describe it best in the book: To call it a gift bag would be an insult. Gift bags held sweet tarts and lollipop rings that kids took when they left and begged their parents to eat in the car. This was a gift bag on steroids and it was definitely not for children. In yet another attempt to make everything sound cooler than what it is, Hollywood had even given the bag its own name: Swag Bag, aka Stuff We All Get. It held products companies donated in hopes celebs would take them home and love them so much they’d not only use them all the time, but be photographed doing so. In Hollywood, even the gift bags had ulterior motives.
Crack Pie?

A place called Momofuku Milk Bar in Manhattan sells them. Very buttery. Very dense. Very, very, very good! I’m assuming it got its name because one bite and you’re hooked. If you aren’t near a Milk Bar, you can get the recipe here: https://milkbarstore.com/recipes/crack-pie-recipe/ (Just don’t forget to send me a piece!)

Twitter Impression?

Something else I don’t understand myself. I just know that Twitter is kind enough to share my impressions whenever I log into my account. Here’s what Quora says: Impression is the total number of times tweets about the search term were delivered to Twitter streams, or the number of overall potential impressions generated. When we say "impression", we mean that a tweet has been delivered to the Twitter stream of a particular account.

Silk Press?

A silk press is a black girl term for straightening our naturally kinky hair. Normally, you start with a blow dryer then finish it up with either a hot comb or a ceramic flat iron. Don’t forget to use the heat protectant, ladies!

Here’s me with my hair pressed at Left Coast Crime:





Why does Dayna think that fame is “more a Sugar Daddy than a Soulmate?” (Loc. 550)

A Sugar Daddy is someone who buys you things to make you feel good and usually is only with you because of your looks. You’re both getting something from each other. It can be fun but you know it’s not going to last. Soulmate on the other hand is the person you’re supposed to have your happily ever after with…

When Dayna feels guilty, she eats Snickers and marshmallows. What does she eat when she’s depressed?

Snickers and marshmallows! Those are good for any occasion. At least they are for me.

Why does Emme claim that “Google is the Internet equivalent of God?” (Loc. 1735)

Google is all seeing and all knowing.

The difference between LA residents and visitors is that the residents pretend they don’t see celebrities. True?

Definitely. You never bug them. You just take a note of everything they’re wearing or doing so that you can one day mention it in casual conversation whenever the person’s name comes up. For instance, I once saw Nicole Richie while getting crepes at the Farmers Market by the Grove. Whenever someone mentions Nicole Richie to me, I bring this up and then give my unsolicited opinion on what she looks like. (She looks great in person, by the way.)

A gossip blogger created Tomari, as if Toni, Emme’s sister, and Omari, Dayna’s boyfriend, were romantically involved. At first, Dayna ignores the situation, but at what point does Dayna start to care?

If we’re being honest, I think Day always cared about Tomari but just didn’t admit it. It starts to bug her more in the second book though when it looks like Omari’s publicist is using the fake relationship for publicity purposes and Omari doesn’t care because he’s a guy. Guys never care about stuff like that.

Is Lyft LA’s version of Uber?

Nope. They’re pretty much everywhere. I personally use Lyft over Uber so of course my main character does too. Write what you know. Or in this case what you ride in. 

Z defines himself as a “problem solver” not a “fixer.” What is the difference?
Day would say they’re one in the same. They’re both who big-time celebs call when they had a major problem like a baby on the way from someone who isn’t their wife, or being caught red-handed in a den of iniquity. In short, they fix problems and make them go away.
Emme has more virtual friends than in real life. Do you think this is a symptom of our times or has the definition of “friend” changed?

I don’t consider it a symptom as much as the internet has expanded our abilities to connect with people—in both good and bad ways. I’ve been lucky to build a huge, supportive writing community that includes people I’ve never met and people I literally only see in person at conferences. That’s why Malice Domestic feels like a family reunion to so many of us.

If given another role that would enable Dayna to continue her career as an actress, would she give up being a PI?

What a good question. I’m not going to answer that solely because I think it’s something I might want to explore in another book if given the opportunity to write more.

My biggest questions regarding the next book: Will Dayna get a reward for solving the crime? Will she be able to buy a new car since her twelve-year-old, hot pink Infinity is definitely shot? So—what’s next for Dayna?

I’d prefer not to answer the first question because it’s kind of a spoiler. And yes, she does have a new car in the third book, which starts with Dayna trying to uncover the person who hacked a celeb’s iPhone for naked pics.

I just needed to figure out a way to do it without going in guns
blazing screaming bloody murderer. During my limited PI experience,
I’d quickly learned most people didn’t respond well to that.”
Kellye Garrett, Hollywood Ending (Loc. 2456)

I’ve just found a new cozy series to love! A smart, funny heroine investigating in Hollywood giving us behind the scenes info becomes a wonderful story in this author’s hands. I will go back to read the first one in the series and will anxiously await more by this author. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Entertaining and amusing mystery. I enjoyed the locale and theme. While the story didn't keep me on the edge of my seat, it did interest and surprise me.

HOLLYWOOD OR BUST!

Dayna Anderson, former Hollywood commercial darling is back and eager to partner up with Aubrey on a potential new case. When a high profile publicist is murdered, Dayna tries to convince Aubrey that this case will put them on the map. Aubrey's focus is elsewhere so Dayna relies on the generosity of her friends to keep her one step ahead of a killer that is determined to remain at large. This series is a must read.

Book provided by Midnight Ink via Netgalley

“Hollywood Ending” by Kellye Garrett is written as a first person narrative by Dayna Anderson aspiring actor and up-and-coming private investigator. Readers get to know her well in the first few pages.

“You’d probably cast me in a group of black friends getting together for a fun vacation movie. I’d play the cute, annoyingly sweet girl currently dating the object of the main character’s affections.”

The story starts with a series of encounters that explain what she is doing. “I’m here for the freaking reward money from the LAPD. I’m not a snitch and I’m not an actor. I’m a private investigator.” Of course, an apprentice former cop turned-investigator Aubrey S. Adams-Parker apprentice, but an investigator nonetheless. She was serious about becoming an investigator and was anxious to work her way up in the profession. Of course, needing money, she checks the LAPD Crime Stoppers tip line page for new cases. If there was a reward, she had a case.

The tone of Dayna’s narrative is irreverent and casual, and it reflects her devil may care attitude. Underneath that superficial public persona is someone who really cares about her friends.
Every page is filled with Hollywood geography, people characters, and attitude. The paparazzi, social media, and “show biz” are shown at their best and worst. Only in a book about Hollywood, would there be a red-carpet celebrity tour bus and swag bags as clues.

I received a copy of “Hollywood Ending” from Kellye Garrett, Midnight Ink and NetGalley. I know show business has a sordid side, but it can also be hysterically funny. The pace is quick, and there is never a dull moment with Dayna Anderson on the case. Sometimes one just needs a book with laughs to go along with the crime and murder.

Hollywood Ending is a fast paced page turner with well developed characters and a story line that has a nice twist. Garrett has a fun and energetic writing style that kept me engaged for the entire story.

If you are looking for an entertaining and very modern detective series with a smart but still not totally together African American female investigator the Detective by Day series is one that I would highly recommend picking up. Dayna Anderson is very much the millennial finding her way in the world, but she still feels relatable and likable. I'm am so looking forward to being on the journey of her developing her talents and becoming more secure in her abilities.

Kellye Garrett is genius!! I loved everything about this book. Dayna Anderson is so easy to relate to and funny. She's beautifully written and lovably full of flaws. She's mouthy, completely lacking tact when she's flustered, and not afraid to eat a chili burger in the midst of Hollywood. Omar is equally wonderful and her friends are simply the best! Now, how can I get me some Hollywood Swag bags? Or crash a Gift Lounge?

I was positive I had the whole thing figured out and I was delighted to be absolutely wrong! The thing is, I spent most of the book telling it who was guilty and why (which made those around me think I was a little nuts - which could be true) and when the big reveal came, I actually gasped. That's unusual for me.

This book had a little of everything and it was so good. If you're looking for a cozy that's a little different, this is definitely where you should go. I had a blast casting the characters in my head. I am full on stalking this author from now on. No question about it.

Thank you to Midnight Ink, NetGalley, and Kellye Garrett for allowing me the opportunity to read this book and share my thoughts and opinions with others.

I liked this book even more than the first in the series (and I really enjoyed the first one). There were some fun twists and turns in this book that really kept me on my toes. I love being surprised in a cozy (it doesn’t happen all that often) and I was surprised in this one. Day is such a fun protagonist and you are cheering for her one minute and trying to shout through the pages for her to not do the silly thing she is about to do the next. The book leaves you with some questions and I cannot wait to see where this series goes next!

Things are looking up for our hero, Dayna Anderson. Day is a former spokesperson for the Chubby’s Chicken franchise who had until recently, when she was unceremoniously let go, her own fame and fortune. Now she’s the girl that people think they remember from high school.
But losing her job didn’t get slow Day down. She and the love of her life, the up and coming actor Omari Grant, are now together. Her BFF and roommate, the reality star Sienna a/k/a Ms. Lady of the Red Vine, upgraded to a nicer apartment providing Day with a new and improved “bloset” (bedroom/shoe closet). The former cop and quirky guy, Aubrey S. Adams-Parker, whom she met in HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE, has agreed to form a private investigating firm with her. And she has fabulous shoes.
In HOLLYWOOD ENDING, the publicist Lyla Davis was murdered at an ATM late one night after a party. Together with Aubrey, Sienna, and the former child star now recluse computer geek, Emma, Day treks through the glitter and glam of a Hollywood award season complete with pre-awards swag parties, appearances, and media interviews while Day’s arch nemesis, Omari’s publicist Nina Flynn, positions and connives to get him nominated for an award. Nina’s efforts are the perfect cover for Day’s investigations, if only Nina didn’t hate her, so Day is forced to walk a thin line as she tries to please and/or avoid Nina long enough to get her foot in the door.
Kellye Garrett, the self-described “recovering TV writer”, uses her inside knowledge of the entertainment business’ behind-the-scenes machinations to provide an authenticity and excitement to these Hollywood tales. Her protagonist, Dayna, is spunky, intelligent, resourceful, and downright laugh-out-loud funny and someone whom I look forward to following as this series continues. Hoorah for Hollywood!

Only in Los Angeles. Dayna is an actress turned private investigator who finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation. She's also a hoot. I did not read the first book so I might have missed some nuance but Garrett does a good job with both the characters and plot. This has twists, turns, red herrings, and commentary on Hollywood. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one for a forceful female amateur detective.

TBH I got to 60% and skimmed to the end. I was just... tired and wanted to know how it ended. I don't know if there were too many characters or the story line just feel apart for me.

Kellye is a fresh face in mystery writing, so I'm excited to see where these books take her.