This book, The Lady in the Movies by Ronald R Higgins, is a page-turner that drops you right into the smoky world of 1950s Hollywood, where hard-boiled P.I. Sam Ryan returns to L.A. with more questions than answers. Between juggling a new joint home-office-garage, rekindling sparks with his whip-smart partner Kathy, and diving into a cold case about a missing actress, Sam shows us that perseverance and faith in the truth can shine brighter than any studio spotlight .
But it’s more than a detective story—it’s about the lengths we go on to protect the people we love. As Sam uncovers mob ties, old flame intrigues, and a secret daughter, the real lesson kicks in facing your past head-on, rather than hiding from it, is what sets you free.
“Ms. Langdon will collect that two-million-dollar life insurance policy from her husband, and she and her daughter will live happily ever after wherever they go. As for Mr. McDermott, they are going to send him back to New Jersey. It seems the police there want to talk to him about some past crimes.”
— The Lady in the Movies, Epilogue, p. 272.
A Silver Screen Mystery Unveiled
From the moment Sam steps off the train into sun-bleached L.A., you’re drawn into a carousel of colorful characters. There’s Kathy, once a promising Burbank cop whose keen ear (quite literally) keeps Sam on his toes, and their muscle, Lone Wolf, the Harley-riding enforcer with a heart of gold.
Then you meet “Cappy,” the aging insurance agent turned client, whose search for his missing wife, Betty Langdon—a singer in an all-girl band on the set of Some Like It Hot—sparks a chain reaction of late-night stakeouts, coded letters, and run-ins with shady players like hitman Frank Rampulla.
Along the way, Sam enlists help from old colleagues—Ms. Agnes Martin at Denny’s, prop-master Ben Wright, even a retired Detective Terrana in Newhall—proving that in this town, it takes a little grit, a few borrowed favors, and a lot of loyalty to crack a case wide open.
About The Author
Ronald R. Higgins brings real-world grit to his prose. As a long-time screenwriter and novelist published by Kravitz and Sons, he knows how to weave cinematic flair into every chapter, from neon-lit bars to clandestine warehouse showdowns. His background in film production shines through the vivid set pieces and authentic dialogue.
Ronald was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He started writing in 1981 and hasn’t stopped since. Now retired and living back near his roots in Hampton, Tennessee, Ronald still finds joy in storytelling. Before becoming a writer, he was an actor, having performed in over sixty stage plays, three movies, and even a soap opera. He spent thirty years chasing the Hollywood dream in Los Angeles, even auditioning for Happy Days in the ’70s. Without an agent, breaking into the business proved tough, so in 1981, he turned to writing. His first story, Inheritance Murders, later became Picture Them Dead, a book he self-published just recently after decades of waiting. The Lady in the Movies is its sequel. He’s currently looking for a literary agent—so keep your fingers crossed.
If you’re ready to embark on a journey that’s as much about self-discovery as it is about exploring a country-club-meets-back-alley Los Angeles, The Lady In The Movies is a must-read. The book invites you to question what really happens behind the camera, dive into a cast of unforgettable characters, and stand by the timeless truth that courage comes from facing your shadows.
The Lady In The Movies
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The Lady in the Movies
The story opens with Sam Ryan and his move to his new office in North Hollywood. The case deals with a woman that has been missing from her husband for two decades. She began as an actress that got her start in the movies in nineteen-fifty-eight. She was involved in a scandal back then that made the headlines. She had to go into hiding without telling her husband. In the movie, she portrayed one woman in the all-women band in the movie ‘Some Like It Hot.’ Sam has some issues with his girlfriend, Kathy, who was injured while helping in…