From Courtroom to Chaos: "Malevolence" by Britt Lind Brings the Heat in This Gripping Hollywood Mystery
- Kim Bartosch
- 10 hours ago
- 5 min read
Mystery lovers, buckle up—Malevolence (A Hollywood Mystery) by Britt Lind delivers a compelling ride through the underbelly of Hollywood, fueled by political drama, personal stakes, and a protagonist who’s really come into her own. Published by Bublish and featured on iRead Book Tours, this second installment in the series not only improves upon its predecessor (Deception) but makes a strong case for being the true start of the saga.
Thank you to the author for the book and my honest review. Be sure to read my full review and enter the giveaway below!
At the center of the story is Rosemaria Baker—a former cop turned prosecutor—who’s still adjusting to her new role putting away criminals in court rather than on the street. While her professional life grows more complex, her personal life with singer-songwriter boyfriend Josh Sibley seems like it's on stable ground. But of course, in classic crime-fiction fashion, things don’t stay peaceful for long. After one of the young girls Rosemaria previously rescued is murdered, and the other two are marked for death, chaos descends again. Add in a vindictive coworker, courtroom drama, and high-stakes twists, and you’ve got a page-turner that keeps the tension taut.
One of the strongest aspects of Malevolence is how much more grounded and natural the storytelling feels compared to the first book. The pacing is smoother, the stakes are clearer, and Rosemaria’s voice feels more authentic and engaging. This book truly feels like an episode of Law and Order, with some of the gritty, emotional complexity of SVU—and Rosemaria channels some real Olivia Benson energy. She’s tough, smart, and evolving in a way that feels satisfying and earned.
Rosemaria’s growth is really at the heart of this book. Her ability to juggle danger, work pressure, and personal demons while staying committed to justice makes her an easy protagonist to root for. She’s not perfect—her relationship with Josh still feels a bit forced, though more believable than in Deception. Their love and support for each other is emphasized, but it occasionally feels like the emotional glue binding them is more told than shown. That said, it’s a small critique in an otherwise well-rounded character arc.
Fans of the first book will appreciate the return of Noor the panther and the mountain lion—wild companions from Deception who get a brief but satisfying cameo here. It’s a subtle but effective way to tie the series together and maintain some of the unique charm that Britt Lind brought to the first installment.
The mystery itself is well crafted. There are red herrings sprinkled just enough to throw you off the scent without feeling manipulative, and the final twists are both surprising and satisfying. Lind has clearly hit her stride with this plot, and the result is a story that hooks you early and keeps you guessing.
While not without its flaws—primarily in the romantic subplot—Malevolence is a solid step forward for the series. It's more polished, more emotionally resonant, and far more gripping than the first book. Honestly, it feels like this could (and maybe should) have been the series opener. Everything is just a bit tighter: the stakes, the pacing, the characters.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re a fan of character-driven mysteries with a hint of Hollywood glam and political intrigue, Malevolence is well worth your time. It’s got all the makings of a bingeable crime drama—just in book form. Whether you're returning from Deception or jumping in fresh, you’ll find yourself rooting for Rosemaria, dodging danger, and staying up too late to turn the next page.
My Verdict:
A strong, suspenseful mystery with a fierce heroine and a story that keeps getting better. Let’s hope Book 3 builds on this momentum.
About the book:
Publisher: Bublish
Release Date: May 2022
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
Rosemaria must solve the murder of a young girl in Malevolence-A Hollywood Mystery. Politics play a part, but who and why will keep readers up at night! Highly recommended! -- Chanticleer Reviews
Rosemaria Baker, a cop whose blood runs true blue, has become a prosecutor who now gets to put the perpetrators in jail instead of just arresting them. She is blissfully happy living with the love of her life, Josh Sibley, who is about to make a major breakthrough in his career as a singer-songwriter. But real life interrupts their perfect world when two girls who Rosemaria rescued from the streets of Hollywood become the targets of ruthless assassins after a third girl is murdered. Rosemaria must arrange protection for the girls, continue working her caseload at the courthouse, investigate the murder, and deal with a coworker who seeks to destroy her career. Through it all, the love and support Rosemaria and Josh have for each other is unfailing. When it finally seems that some semblance of order is falling into place, Rosemaria faces an unexpected, terrifying threat, and she must depend on those who love her to rescue her from certain death.
Meet the author:
Britt found out she had a passion for acting, singing, and writing as early as grade school. While attending junior college in Monterey she was discovered by Clint Eastwood when she was playing the lead in a dinner theatre play in Carmel and was cast in Clint's first directorial effort Play Misty for Me. A few years later, Britt headed for L.A. to attend UCLA and to start her acting career. She obtained featured roles in dramatic series and worked her way up to guest starring roles in shows like Vegas, Columbo, Crazy Like a Fox, the miniseries How the West Was Won and worked on the daytime dramas General Hospital, Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless. She moved to New York where she sang with a gospel group in venues such as Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, Town Hall, and Carnegie Hall. Family matters forced her to head back to her hometown of Seattle for what she thought was a temporary move and there was cast in an independent movie Family Hayes. She was also featured in a Showtime movie shot in Seattle, Nowheresville, played the lead in two Equity plays, Someone's Knocking, and The Good Doctor, and worked in Vancouver, BC on U.S. Productions, Sliders and For Hope. Her memoir Learning How to Fly recounts her journey from Norway to Hollywood and from animal lover to animal activist and anti-vivisectionist. She has written four Hollywood Mysteries: Deception, Malevolence, A Fate Worse Than Death, and Avarice.
Britt is president of the non-profit group Kindness and Science in Action. She can be reached at britt@kindnessandscience.org For animal lovers, Britt asks that you check out www.kindnessandscience.org and sign up for the mailing list. Her website is brittlind.com
Giveaway:
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