A Hollywood legend's final confession hides the secret that ruined a stranger's life.
Who drives the story
Old Hollywood icon and serial bride who trades marriages for survival while loving women off the record. She dies by overdose on her own terms, after finally telling the truth.
A young Vivant journalist with no apparent claim to the scoop, chosen because of one article on assisted suicide. She learns her father's death was staged — then writes the book anyway.
Evelyn's co-star and the love of her life, who leaves twice over betrayals and dies of emphysema at 61 in Spain.
Sunset Studios producer, Evelyn's truest friend and husband number five, secretly in love with John Braverman. He dies after the crash Evelyn stages.
Movie star and second husband, first false true love, who beats Evelyn and blacklists her when she leaves.
Also in the story
Monique's father, Harry's secret lover, killed in Harry's crash and posthumously branded a drunk driver.
How they are connected
Evelyn's co-star and the love of her life, who leaves twice over betrayals and dies of emphysema at 61 in Spain.
Sunset Studios producer, Evelyn's truest friend and husband number five, secretly in love with John Braverman.
Movie star and second husband, first false true love, who beats Evelyn and blacklists her when she leaves.
Monique's father, Harry's secret lover, killed in Harry's crash and posthumously branded a drunk driver.
Monique's father, Harry's secret lover, killed in Harry's crash and posthumously branded a drunk driver.
Go deeper
Marriage as currency · The closet as architecture · Who gets to tell the story · Bodies as assets
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
Open the summary