Who better to author a thriller set in the world of New York's high
fashion industry than Elsa Klensch, producer and host of "Style
with Elsa Klensch," running for more than twenty years on CNN. She
currently covers spring and fall fashion for a cable channel and
has written for numerous style magazines. LIVE AT 10:00, DEAD AT
10:15 is her first foray into fiction.
Sonya Iverson is an ambitious fashion writer, transplanted to New
York from Minnesota. She has been relegated to "fluff" coverage of
fashion events thus far in her career at "The Donna Fuller Show."
The Fashion Awards dinner is the night of her big break in the
cutthroat business of fashion coverage. She is seated at dinner
with Isaac and Harriet Franklin, owners of a prestigious New York
fashion house; retiring Leonard Novelli, former House of Franklin
designer; publicist Mari St. Clair; model Kim Kelly; Jason Sarnoff,
Novelli's replacement; and Jefferson and Grace Tyler, producers of
the new Franklin fragrance. Before the night is finished, Harriet
Franklin will be found in a powder room, murdered. Sonya quickly
involves herself in publicity surrounding the crime. Interviews
with those closest to the victim bring her closer to the
recognition she desires.
But Sonya soon discovers that each of the guests seated at her
table has multiple motives for gain from Harriet's death. Two
additional deaths further complicate the intricate network of high
fashion personalities. Motives abound. Sonya's fiery personality
and grit propel the little red-haired producer while she gets the
first "exclusive" story of her career for the TV show.
Time and day introduce each chapter. The chronological framework
dictates the momentum of the story. At times, this reader was
bogged down with too much knowledge about the fashion