Nina Zero, on parole after imprisonment for a (justified) manslaughter -- for the details of which you need to read the previous two novels -- is trying hard to stay straight and make a living as a paparazza for a Los Angeles tabloid, but by now there's virtually none of the original good-girl Mary Alice Baker left. Deep down, she's a good person, but she's also quite capable of dealing with the county slammer when she gets picked up "on suspicion" (which happens to parolees on a regular basis). The first novel, _Shooting Elvis,_ was very, very good as a character study; the second one, _Killing Paparazzi,_ was okay but more of a straight detective story. This third installment sports the brand label "A Nino Zero Novel" on the front cover, which is not a good sign. The plot revolves around the death by arson of a reclusive movie star in the Malibu hills, which the cops like Nina for, since she was conveniently present. The deceased actress's estranged neice and sort-of stepfather (himself a crusty retired cop who takes a shine to Nina) want to find out whodunit and Nina, with the help of her equally crusty editor boss, needs to clear herself in order to stay on the outside. The action is complicated by additional deaths, but the real interest here is in the way Eversz draws his characters -- not only Nina but all the supporting cast. I had my doubts before whether this could survive as a series, and I still have them, but Nina is a fascinating portrait and I'll keep reading.