Lights Down

Hurley’s busy sixth Enora Andressen crime thriller (after 2021’s Intermission) finds Enora, a middle-aged but still sexy thespian, dividing her time between her London apartment and Flixcombe Manor, the home of her friend Haydon Prentice, a former drug lord and father of her son. Prentice has been recovering from a nasty bout of Covid and seems to be succumbing to dementia at the age of 55. Selflessly, Enora has become his main caregiver. Meanwhile, one of Enora’s favorite directors has come to ask her to star in a new TV miniseries set during WWII. It seems that Flixcombe Manor might be an ideal location for much of the action. In addition, Enora’s agent asks her to look over a titillating manuscript, supposedly a memoir written by a Shakespeare-spouting actor about her affair with a prominent Tory politician. Potential drug running, a mysterious death, a shocking suicide, and a newish lover also feature in the chaotic life of the intrepid Enora. This entry provides edifying short courses on dealing with dementia and pitching TV shows, but there’s not much in the way of suspense. This shaggy-dog story is for established fans only. Agent: Oli Munson, A.M. Heath (U.K.). (July)