Do Tell

Lynch’s glittering debut, written from the perspective of its protagonist looking back on the past, examines 1930s Hollywood’s seductive but sordid underbelly. Edie O’Dare tries her hand at being a film star, but she only manages to land bit parts. Edie has long supplemented her income by selling juicy tidbits to the gossip columns, so when her contract with FWM Studio ends, she decides to start a column of her own. While at a party, she befriends 16-year-old up-and-coming actress Sophie Melrose; upon learning that Sophie was assaulted by an A-list actor, Edie prints the story in her column. The piece sets off a chain of events, resulting in a highly publicized rape trial. Meanwhile, Edie follows the antics of a high-profile FWM threesome, getting the details of their scandalous relationship all wrong, but the truth is only revealed long after the damage to their careers has been done. From producers and directors to costume designers and extras, Lynch paints a picture of human foibles and frailty. Narrator Lisa Flanagan provides an engaging reading of Edie’s fictional retrospective, employing excellent pacing and evocative character voices and accents.