Take a Ph.D. candidate fresh off an academic trip to study the Wantayo tribe of South America, add in hallucinogenic ayahuasca potion, employers that may not be who they seem and confident storytelling in the vein of Tom Robbins or Elmore Leonard. This solid third novel from movie producer and journalist James Polster follows a young man destined for, if not greatness, then at least a spot at the table for the interesting tales he can bring.
First-person narrator Blackwell James, who describes himself as not quite ready for a life outside of academia, somehow ends up in the jungles of Hollywood at a primatology study, a project run by some movie producers. What follows is a surprisingly compelling tour of the ins and outs of producing mass entertainment at a Hollywood studio, as well as a solid thriller/murder mystery without a specific murder plot. James seems to fall in easily with everyone he meets (especially women--a significant infatuation, never consummated, with his partner's wife plays a larger role in the book), while absolutely loathing a former academic, Jeffrey Hatchlo, a pompous and bumbling daddy's boy who plays a pivotal role in the climax of the book.
The novel rocks along at a page-turning pace, chock full of cleverly rendered set pieces and intelligent, clever use of language and insight. I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a quick yet smart read for anyone with an interest in movie making, academic research or well-written satire. --Rob LeFebvre, freelance writer & editor