Temptation - by Douglas Kennedy (Paperback)

About the Book

From a "New York Times"-bestselling author comes the brilliant, breathtaking story about a Hollywood screenwriter whose overnight success brings about his biggest downfall. Suddenly a major power player, David Armitage begins to reinvent himself at breakneck speed. Enter multibillionaire film buff Philip Fleck, who proposes an unsavory collaboration to the screenwriter.

Book Synopsis

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of Five Days and The Blue Hour, "a racy page-turner" (London Daily Express) about a Hollywood screenwriter whose overnight success brings about his biggest downfall.

I always wanted to be rich. I know that probably sounds crass, but it's the truth. A true confession. Like all would-be Hollywood screenwriters, David Armitage wants to be rich and famous. But for the past eleven years, he's tasted nothing but failure. Then, out of nowhere, big-time luck comes his way when one of his scripts is bought for television. Before you can say "overnight success," he's the new toast of Hollywood as the creator of a hit series. Suddenly a major player, he finds that he's reinventing himself at a great speed, especially when it comes to walking out on his wife and daughter for a young producer who worships only at the altar of ambition.

But David's upward mobility takes a decidedly strange turn when a billionaire film buff named Philip Fleck barges into his life, proposing a very curious collaboration. David takes the bait and suddenly finds himself inadvertently entering into a Faustian pact and an express ride to the lower depths of the Hollywood jungle.

Review Quotes

"As Kennedy continues to tackle the theme of upended lives, Temptation demonstrates a literary confidence that lifts his stories above much of the competition." --Ron Hogan, Shelf Awareness

"Kennedy is a skillful and very entertaining writer.... A page-turner with real emotional heft." --Booklist

"Kennedy's books are scrumptious page-turners but with more fiber and better writing than your typical late-night read; buy accordingly." --Library Journal

"Riveting." --Publishers Weekly

"Two hours and 300 pages later, the glass was empty, the fire was ashes and I was finished. And I thought: Oh, that's why people read this stuff." --Jesse Kornbluth, Headbutler.com