West of Sunset

More about the book

Alice Arlington, the widow of writer Hugo Arlington, is forced to give up her lavish lifestyle after her husband's death. She moves to a drab and gloomy neighborhood west of Sunset, populated mainly by immigrants and former refugees from Europe. These residents, including the Russian countess Irina Miratova and her servant Mouse, the overworked English professor Nettles and his foster daughter Lea, and filmmaker Dubrovnik, cling to memories of better times. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they are all connected by fragments of Hugo Arlington's life. It becomes clear that Alice is not the only one haunted by her husband's death. When English author Jonathan Pool, visiting Los Angeles in hopes of adapting his bestseller into a film, reunites with Alice, the truth about Hugo begins to surface. He was far from the Golden Man he appeared to be, and more people are revealed to be aware of the dubious games and macabre fantasies he indulged in. This revelation forces the characters to reevaluate their past, leading to decisions that culminate in a horrific climax.