Death and décor are the topic of the mystery novel “Die Decorator Die” by Franklin H. Levy, who will appear at Diesel, A Bookstore on Sunday to read excerpts from and sign copies of his new book.
The story involves the characters Buzz, a Yuppie Boston lawyer, and Ally, his career-savvy, interior-designer wife.
According to the book’s synopsis, “Their worlds collide only once a year when the Boston Designers Annual Show House competition descends upon them, and Buzz will do all he can to stay out of Ally’s way until the barrage of chintz and silk has subsided.”
The tale unfolds at this year’s show house when a decorator is found murdered, and another found comatose from a violent attack.
Buzz takes on the defense of a seemingly innocent suspect, who is charged with the crimes, and must solve the mystery of the crimes in order to save his client.
While Levy is a lawyer and his real-life wife is an interior designer, and he hails from Boston, he has said in an interview that is as close his real life gets to the book.
“It is a who-done-it, a lawyer-comedy genre piece,” Levy told Joshua B. Gray, I&M staff writer. “It is simply my style and I did it for fun, not wanting anything too deep or serious. I am just having fun with and putting the screws to the legal and decorating trades.”
Levy, who works as counsel to Las Vegas Sands Corporation, owner of the Venetian and Palazzo Resorts, started writing several years ago after encouragement from his wife Lynda.
Levy graduated from Yale University and received a law degree from University of Pennsylvania Law School. After practicing law in Boston for 30 years, he moved to Las Vegas in 2005 to work with the Sands Corporation. During his time in Boston he specialized in trial work and handled numerous high profile criminal, civil and probate matters.
Levy will appear at Diesel, A Bookstore Sunday at 3 p.m. 3890 Cross Creek Rd. 310.456.9961