The Lure of Hollywood Leads to Danger in The Close-Up

After being touted as the next great thing, Zoe Ann Weiss is in crisis. Her first novel, Fractured, was hailed as a triumph, crowning her as a breakout talent. She was quickly signed to a two-book deal and paid a $250,000 advance. But when Fractured bombs, Zoe suffers a setback, unable to come up with an idea for her second novel. After several deadlines pass, she’s back to working a dead end job in a florist shop. Her father in England wants her to return home. But that advance is gone and if she doesn’t deliver another book, she’ll be forced to go into debt to pay it back.

Zoe’s first novel was inspired by the man she dated for a short time, Zach Hamilton, who was a bartender when they met, but now has become a huge star with his first film coming out soon. Zoe had been seeing one of Zach’s fellow bartenders, Will, who broke up with her in a very public fashion. His last words as he stormed out of the bar were that she come and get her stuff out of his apartment. Zach came to her rescue, consoling her and going with her to pick up her things. They soon become an item until Zach disappears, ghosting her without telling her why.

Zoe’s friend and boss, Veronica Santos, Vee, slips on a wet floor and sprains her ankle. She asks Zoe to make the next delivery which happens to be at Zach’s home. Not only does he recognize her, but invites her to a party. When she says she has plans, he says he wants to introduce her to a producer who might be interested in optioning her novel. (Fractured was optioned, but that deal has now expired.) Against Zoe’s better judgment, she agrees. Perhaps lightning can strike again. Zach once was her muse for Fractured. Perhaps being with him again will help her break through her writer’s block. 

Before she can be with Zach, his manager requires her to sign an NDA, non-disclosure agreement. Because Zoe envisioned using scenes from his life in her book, she knows this might be tricky. But she has no choice and signs.

The party turns out to be a bust and she decides to leave. But Zach convinces her to go back to his place. They have a few drinks and then he takes off his clothes and jumps into the pool, inviting her to join him. She does and before too long he’s embracing and kissing her. But when photos and videos of their time in the pool – with small black squares covering her nipples – appear online, Zoe becomes a target. Someone is stalking her, someone who has read Fractured and is reconstructing some of the more horrific scenes in the novel, like leaving a bloody heart on Zoe’s windshield. And the Internet chatter is brutal, criticizing Zoe’s book and her appearance. Why, several posters ask, would the world’s sexiest man alive date her?

When the stalking accelerates, Zoe goes to the police, but because of the NDA can’t tell them about Zach. The police advise her to keep a log and change her routine, logical but not helpful. Soon the stalker is gaining access to her apartment, even though there’s a locked gate. When she tells Zach what’s happening, he has Carlos follow her around. But is Carlos protecting her or is he helping the stalker? 

Pip Drysdale (Photo Credit: Katie Kaars)

Zoe starts writing her second book, but the entries are disjointed and confusing. Her agent, Barbara, keeps pressuring her to hand in a summary and something more coherent that she can show to Zoe’s editor. Zoe’s afraid to tell Barbara and her editor about the stalking, knowing they might believe she’s become unhinged and drop her. She’s also getting pressure from her father who has seen the online photos of her and Zach and wants her to come home. And someone from her writer’s group not only stole one of Zoe’s ideas for a novel, but managed to land Barbara as her agent. Zoe’e world is falling apart and she can’t find a way to put thing right.

Pip Drysdale’s The Close-Up is a compulsive read. It’s every woman’s fear to be followed and placed in danger. While Zoe’s anxieties are real, when people around her begin to doubt what she’s seeing, she feels isolated and endangered. The NDA prevents her from confiding in friends who could help, while those who claim to be protecting her are suspect. Drysdale builds up the suspense and the ending – actually several endings – do not disappoint. 

The Close-Up
Pip Drysdale

Top photo: Bigstock

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