Casey Sherman

A Murder in Hollywood by Casey Sherman is a 2024 Sourcebooks publication.

In 1958, Cheryl Crane, the fourteen-year-old daughter of the glamorous actress Lana Turner, stabbed and killed Johnny Stompanato, one of gangster Mickey Cohen’s favorite associates. Stompanato and Turner were lovers- their relationship- tumultuous to say the least- eventually culminated in a night of utter horror- one that would go down in Hollywood infamy – and is still hotly debated today. Was it Cheryl, who wielded the knife? Or was it really Lana herself?

This book explores the backstory that led up to Stompanato’s death, beginning with the mob’s takeover of Hollywood, Cohen’s rise and the schemes he and Stompanato devised to extort many Hollywood leading ladies.

In alternate chapters, we learn of Lana’s rise to fame, her battles with the studio, her marriages and affairs, and her romance with Johnny, as well as Cheryl’s troubled teenage years.

This is not a new story for me. I think I even read Cheryl’s memoir many years ago. But I had not thought of this wildly scandalous Hollywood tale in many years- and since this book has mostly favorable reviews, I thought it would be interesting to revisit this old case and see if the author offered up any new insights.

This book is a quick read, briefly working through the history that not only tells Lana’s story, but the story of Hollywood in that era, as well. The book is well organized, mostly, though the switch in narratives could be awkward and jarring on occasion.

For those completely unfamiliar with this case, this book will give you a basic overview of all the players, the atmosphere in Hollywood at that time, and walk you through all the legalities that followed the stabbing and what became of everyone involved afterwards.

For those who are even marginally familiar with this saga- I don’t think you’ll find anything new here- basically a refresher course, if you will.

While the title calls Stompanato’s death a murder- and technically- the word 'homicide' is synonmous- but I’m not sure if that word is apt in this situation, per se- despite the debate over who the real doer was, it still might have been self-defense or justifiable homicide- but to this day there has only ever been one version of events presented to law enforcement, the courts, and to the general public.

Naturally, it really could have been murder- a rage killing- in the heat of the moment- but all of this will be up to the reader to decide. Still, at the end of the day, I think most many people have made up their minds about ‘whodunit’ – and I’m willing to bet I know what the consensus is, and I’d have to agree, though we may never know for sure.

Overall, a solid enough summary of one of the most shocking events in Hollywood history- even by today’s standards, this scandal is definitely one for the books!

3.5 stars… (altro)

I hate to ask this but was every man back in the day a pedophilic creep? There were so many moments that I audibly gasped in disgust, my heart going out to poor Lana and all of these Hollywood starlets that had to put up with this abhorrent behavior. It truly makes me sick to my stomach.

I didn’t really know much about Lana Turner before reading this book, but I felt so bad for her! Not to say that she was perfect by any means, but it’s obvious why she was a tortured soul as her life is incredibly tragic. I love learning about old Hollywood, though sadly the more that comes to light the dimmer the gold glistens as we see that not all is what it has seemed.

I really liked the shorter chapters and overall flow of this book. The author made this feel more like I was reading a novel and not a nonfiction. Since I did not know much about Lana Turner, I found this subject interesting and the read immersive. With not a lot of fluff, this author gets down to the nitty-gritty, keeping the facts concise and to the point, and skimming through years in just a few paragraphs. I personally love this as it keeps the pace snappy and the progression perfection.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the publisher through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.… (altro)

First sentence: Lana Turner paced the pink carpeted floor with a cigarette gripped tightly between her fingers. She took a deep drag into her lungs and blew out a cloud of smoke toward the ceiling of her spacious bedroom. Her fourteen-year-old daughter, Cheryl, was in her own bedroom, sobbing hysterically.

Premise/plot: Nonfiction with a gossipy twist--that is how I would describe this one. It gives brief biographies of Lana Turner and her immediate family (her parents, her husbands, her daughter) and brief biographies of a series of crime bosses (mob bosses) including Johnny Stompanato. The stories cross paths when Lana Turner entangles herself with Johnny Stompanato. This is a combustive relationship--for sure--leading to murder and scandal. Casey Sherman argues that it was not Lana's fourteen-year-old daughter but Lana herself who killed Johnny.

My thoughts: This book is troubling and disturbing both in content and narrative style. I'll try to explain. This one goes into great detail--graphic detail--of horrific crimes. Many of these crimes are of the SA of a minor child variety. Of course there are plenty of other crimes as well that do not involve children. But still. This is a HEAVY read that is treated perhaps a little lighter than I would personally like. The book's approach--in my personal opinion--is like gossip, gossip, give me all the gossip, spill all the tea, tell me everything. It doesn't necessarily--to me--seem respectful. The content IS shocking and NOT shocking at the same time. Hollywood is presented as an absolute nightmare. The more power and influence, the more guilty you are of horrendous crimes. Nothing glamorous or glitzy--just very horrific crimes going on and kept hush-hush by the powers that be.

This one is definitely more graphic than I like to read.… (altro)