A Beautiful Way to Die

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents, A Beautiful Way to Die by Eleni Kyriacou, read by Emma Gregory.

Don't miss the new novel from Eleni Kyriacou, author of BBC Between the Covers pick The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou.

'Gripping and compelling... so beautifully imagined.' LAURA MARSHALL
'Deeply atmospheric... From movie star glamour to the rotten core of fame, I couldn't put this down.' LOUISE HARE

PLAY THEIR GAME
Hollywood, 1953. Young actress Ginny Watkins is turning heads. Even the legendary – and married – actor Max Whitman can’t resist the allure of the hottest new starlet. He promises Ginny the world, in return for the right favour.

DO WHAT THEY SAY
London, 1954. Stella Hope, once the most famous actress in Hollywood, has been ousted to Ealing Studios after her divorce from the powerful Max. Just as she accepts her fate, she receives a letter, blackmailing her for a mistake she made many years ago.

OR THEY’LL BURY YOU
Two women on either side of stardom find themselves in the orbit of the same beguiling man. And one night, in the shadows of a glamorous Oscars afterparty, their lives are changed forever…

A Beautiful Way to Die delves into the decadence and depravity of the early film industry from Hollywood to London. Perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and films like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Babylon.

'Evocative, tense, seductive.' TAMMY COHEN

'Dark and gripping... Eleni’s compelling story may be set in the past but it is just as relevant today.' NIKKI SMITH

'I was utterly gripped.' LESLEY KARA

'Both dazzling and devastating.' CLARE WHITFIELD

'Shocking, moving, furious and ultimately hopeful.' NICOLA RAYNER

'Beneath the glitz and glamour of 1950’s Hollywood, lay a dark underbelly, which Kyriacou exposes with panache in this intricately plotted mystery.' LOUISE FEIN

'Outstanding... A compelling thriller with a beautiful twist to die for.' TREVOR WOOD

'A gorgeously dark slice of Hollywood noir.' LOUISE MUMFORD

'A pacy, addictive noir thriller.' GILL PAUL

Praise for Eleni Kyriacou:

'Impressive... worthy of Sarah Waters' THE TIMES
'Enthralling and wholly original' CLARE MACKINTOSH
'Immersive, gripping, authentic' ERIN KELLY
'Hugely powerful' EMMA CHRISTIE
'Compelling' GUARDIAN

Critics Review

'Superb'
Prima
'I absolutely loved A Beautiful Way to Die and raced through it – so gripping and compelling and well plotted. I loved the glimpse into the world of 50s Hollywood – so beautifully imagined.'
Laura Marshall, author of A Good Place to Hide a Body
'Another deeply atmospheric slice of 1950s noir from Eleni Kyriacou. From movie star glamour to the rotten core of fame, I couldn't put this down. A beautiful way to spend your time.'
Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City
'A dark and gripping novel set amongst the casting couches of 1950’s Hollywood and London, A Beautiful Way To Die brilliantly exposes the ruthless underbelly of an industry which appeared to be the epitome of glamour, but whose all-powerful studios were only too happy to do whatever it took to cover-up crimes against women to protect actors’ reputations. Eleni’s compelling story may be set in the past but it is just as relevant today and I have no doubt that readers are going to be as captivated by Ginny and Stella as I was.'
Nikki Smith, author of The Beach Party
'Eleni Kyriacou is a natural storyteller. From the first page to the last of this hauntingly beautiful and meticulously researched tale of the dark, seamy side of 1950s Hollywood, I was utterly gripped. I will now read every book this author writes.'
Lesley Kara, author of The Rumour
'Captivating and cruel. Unsettling. Both dazzling and devastating. A Beautiful Way to Die—where Hollywood’s golden age meets its darkest demons.'
Clare Whitfield, author of People of Abandoned Character
'A Beautiful Way to Die vividly captures the glamour and allure of 1950s Hollywood, while also taking an unflinching look at its misogynistic underbelly. Shocking, moving, furious and ultimately hopeful, it’s a novel that will stay with me for a long time.'
Nicola Rayner, author of The Girl Before You
'A dark, evocative tale that is utterly addictive. A book that draws back the curtain on all the glamour of a seductive, dangerous world. Fabulous!'
Victoria Dowd, author of The Smart Woman's Guide to Murder
'Evocative, tense, seductive. Combines Hollywood razzmatazz with murder and deception in one compelling star package.'
Tammy Cohen, author of The Wedding Party
'Outstanding... A brilliant skewering of the Hollywood dream machine but also a compelling thriller with a beautiful twist to die for.'
Trevor Wood, author of The Man on the Street
'A totally addictive thriller set against the glitz of 1950s Hollywood, where dark secrets hide behind the glamour and the real dramas begin when the cameras stop rolling. Had me gripped from first page to last.'
Frances Quinn, author of That Bonesetter Woman
'A gorgeously dark slice of Hollywood noir - this tense and pacy story expertly shows the nightmare lurking behind the Golden Age movie dream machine. And that twist! Perfection!'
Louise Mumford, author of Sleepless
'A pacy, addictive noir thriller that shines a spotlight on the seamy side of 1950s Hollywood, when corrupt producers were kings and pretty girls were disposable. The characters are complex and nuanced, the scene-setting is vivid, and the writing taut.'
Gill Paul, author of The Secret Wife
'Immerse yourself in fifties Hollywood behind the silver screen in Eleni Kyriacou’s immensely evocative and entertaining novel which shifts between the movie business on both sides of the pond. Splendour and squalor are the rule, and you dial M for murder!'
Tom Benjamin, author of A Quiet Death in Italy
'Compelling, intriguing and full of heart, A Beautiful Way to Die shines a light on Hollywood's dark side. I couldn't put it down.'
Penny Batchelor, author of My Perfect Sister
'A Beautiful Way to Die is an addictive noir thriller which had me hooked from the first page. Beneath the glitz and glamour of 1950’s Hollywood, lay a dark underbelly, which Kyriacou exposes with panache in this intricately plotted mystery. As always with her books, the author’s beautifully drawn and complex characters are so compelling, they felt utterly real. Impeccably researched and written, I adored every moment with this book.'
Louise Fein, author of Daughter of the Reich
'This addictive thriller is dripping with glitz and glamour but also captures the dark underbelly of 1950s Hollywood. It’s packed with twists and turns and kept me guessing right up until the end.'
Nicola Gill, author of Swimming for Beginners
'A Beautiful Way to Die plunges the reader into the darkness behind the glamour of 1950s Hollywood, a place where the ambition of young female starlets is exploited by men only too willing to take advantage. Struck through with fascinating period detail, this is a twisty, riveting read which starts as a mystery and turns into a tale of strong women who refuse to let their lives be dictated by the men in power - whatever the consequences.'
Caroline Bishop, author of The Other Daughter
'Intriguing, insightful and unforgettable'
Emma Christie, author of The Silent Daughter
'A Beautiful Way to Die manages to be both a page-turning, exciting, glamorous thriller and a clever commentary on the dark underbelly of Hollywood and its treatment of women. I loved every minute and couldn’t put it down. Outstanding.'
Charlotte Levin, author of If I Can't Have You
'A darkly elegant story from a master storyteller. This is a pacy, clever, classy read that I couldn't put down.'
Susan Allott, author of The Silence
This fast-paced book... will leave you dumbstruck
Cruise & Travel

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
5.0
5.0
Verity 19/07/2025

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