Review:
MONEY SHOT by Christa Faust
Review by Sandra Ruttan
Christa Faust’s MONEY SHOT is the story of Gina Moretti, aka Angel Dare. Angel is a former porn star now running her own agency connecting girls with gigs. When a good friend calls in a favour, asking her to make one last film, she’s reluctant, but she learns she’d be co-starring with a pretty hot young man she’s aware of by reputation. Lust replaces logic. Angel – who we’ve gleaned is self-assured, smart and shrewd – finds herself walking into a trap.
Angel is attacked, her friend murdered, and the only thing that keeps her in the land of the living is luck. Unsure of the reason for the assault and exactly who her assailants were and what they wanted, Angel isn’t sure who she can trust. On the run from people who want to kill her, Angel is in a race against time, while the lives of the people she cares about most hang in the balance.
Although MONEY SHOT touches on the porn industry anyone thinking the book would be overloaded with sex, innuendo and cheap jokes is mistaken. Faust has done a tremendous job balancing the story. She gives enough of a glimpse into the industry to understand the characters and players who are relevant, but doesn’t overstep the boundaries with gratuitous sex. Although MONEY SHOT is hardboiled/noir at it’s core, it could also fall under the thriller label. I was hooked from the first line. MONEY SHOT is an action-packed story with twists and turns and Angel Dare is a compelling, kick-ass protagonist Faust does an incredible job of humanizing. Faust has a new fan. I think my only complaint is that I don’t know if Faust will be doing another book for Hard Case Crime – I certainly hope so.
About the Reviewer:
Sandra Ruttan's novel, WHAT BURNS WITHIN, will be released by Dorchester in May 2008, to be followed by THE FRAILTY OF FLESH November 2008. Ken Bruen declared her work "totally mesmerizing" while Clive Cussler concluded, "Ruttan has a spellbinding style." She is also an editor with Spinetingler Magazine. For more information, visit her website at www.sandraruttan.com