South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Teen actor’s big break turns frightening, and Miami family dynamics get stirred up
Alan Orloff, who has received numerous awards and nominations for his private investigator novels, ventures into the young adult (YA) market with a rousing, character-driven story about a 16-year-old actor whose latest role puts him in danger. While YA novels are geared for ages 13 to 18, adult readers will find much to like in “I Play One on TV” for its plotting, strong friendships and look at how a teen straddles adulthood while still a kid. Teenage angst? A little, but mainly Orloff shows normal, well-balanced teens who’ve found their happy, safe place in theater.
Dalton Black has been building a career as an actor since he was in second grade — school productions, a few community-theater shows and a couple of lucrative national commercials. He’s just had his big break playing the killer in “High School Hitman,” an episode of the true crime TV series “Teen Killers.” His role as Homer Lee Varney, who murdered a classmate, is earning Dalton accolades and a role in the sequel. He’s also been able to get speaking roles for his two best friends, Trinity Thomas and Miguel “Patch” Gutierrez.
But the role has brought Dalton a stalker, who may be Homer, newly released from prison and living in a nearby town.
Dalton craves the spotlight and is passionate about being an actor, but he is not a jerk. Well-liked by his teachers and classmates, Dalton maintains a healthy relationship with his parents, though they, especially his mother, wish
that he would consider another profession.
He’s also prudent about the pay he receives, saving most of it for acting classes and college. He genuinely cares about Patch and Trinity, and wants them to succeed as well, including helping Patch overcome stage fright. And as Orloff illustrates, never underestimate the ingenuity of drama students.
Zoom with the author
Boca Raton authors Alan Orloff (“I Play One on TV) and M.E. Browning will discuss their novels in a Zoom discussion with Oline Cogdill beginning at noon Oct. 30 as part of the Broward Public Library Foundation’s Book With Brunch. The event is free for Foundation members; $15 for nonmembers. Visit bplfoundation.org/bookwith-brunch to register.
Murder, with recipes
Miami author and short story writer Raquel V. Reyes stirs up a sparkling debut with the energetic “Mango, Mambo, and Murder,” rendering a light, but well-plotted story that neatly delves into Cuban-American culture, while mixing in how food can honor one’s background and be a way of showing love.
Cuban-American Miriam Quiñones-Smith knows well that food goes beyond what’s for dinner. As a food anthropologist, she studies how food, culture and history intersect. She was working on her Ph.D. in that field, but that has been put on hold. She is now a full-time mother to adorable 4-yearold son Manny, since she and her husband, Robert, moved to South Florida for his job.
They’ve landed in Coral Shores, “a 1950s timewarped village within the city of Miami,” where Robert grew up and where his meddling, rude mother-in-law, Marjory, lives (gasp!) three blocks away. Miriam also grew up in South Florida, but in Hialeah; Coral Shores, with its lack of diversity, is a culture shock.
While her parents have moved to Dominican Republic, Miriam has reconnected with her best friend, Alma Diaz,
who’s determined to help Miriam re-adjust to South Florida, including helping her land a job as a Caribbean cooking expert on a Spanish-language TV show.
Marjory constantly belittles Miriam and her culture in front of others. Richard’s late nights at work and weekend golf outings have Miriam worried about her marriage.
But at a women’s club luncheon, a socialite sitting next to Miriam dies, followed by a second death at another event Miriam attends. When a close friend is arrested for one of the murders, Miriam turns amateur sleuth.
Reyes cooks up realistic, appealing characters. While the move has brought out Miriam’s insecurities and anxieties, Reyes allows her heroine to grow and regain her confidence.
The strong friendship between Miriam and Alma enhances “Mango, Mambo, and Murder.” Any novel about a food anthropologist must include recipes, though readers may wish there were more after the many mouth-watering scenes involving food.
Meet the author
Raquel V. Reyes will discuss “Mango, Mambo, and Murder” during an in-person event with Chantel Acevedo, author and director of the MFA program at the University of Miami, at 7:30 p.m. Oct.
12 at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables,
305-442-4408. Reyes also will discuss her novel in person and with live Zoom streaming at 4 p.m. Oct. 24 at Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore, 104 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, call 561-279-7790 or email murdermb@gate.net to register.