J.I. Baker's debut novel, The Empty Glass, offers the reader a thrilling noir adventure. It's narrated by Ben Fitzgerald, a Los Angeles County deputy coroner called to the home of Marilyn Monroe on August 5, 1962. Upon arrival, he finds the world's most adored movie star lying naked in her bedroom, dead from an apparent overdose--and he takes her diary, known as "The Book of Secrets," when he leaves.
When Fitzgerald learns of the unexpected results of Marilyn's autopsy--no sign of pills in the stomach, unexplained bruises at the hip and back, an abnormal colon and markings to suggest the body had been moved after death--he begins to suspect a cover-up and embarks on a rousing and dangerous quest to unravel the mystery surrounding her death. In a clever parallel plot twist, Fitzgerald's movement toward the truth mirrors a struggle described by Marilyn within The Book of Secrets regarding her own involvement in a conspiracy involving sex, politics and power.
Though some readers might initially be confused by the voice of the narrator (Fitzgerald's recollections are targeted to a therapist, referred to as "you" in the book) and use of both flash-forward and flashback scenes, it all becomes clear soon enough. Buckle up--the trip through The Empty Glass is an exciting ride. --Roni K. Devlin, owner, Literary Life Bookstore