Tinseltown Thrills Meet Real-Life Intrigue With Author of To Live and Die in LA
Diesel, A Bookstore will host a literary evening of intrigue and suspense on Thursday, August 7, featuring authors Thom Mount and Gerald Petievich in conversation and book signing. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. in the bookstore’s courtyard at 225 26th St., Suite 33. Admission is free, though seating is limited and can be reserved with the purchase of either author’s book.
Mount, a veteran Hollywood producer and former president of Universal Pictures, will discuss his new novel Rafferty Returns, a razor-sharp thriller set amid the chaos of a high-stakes studio crisis. The book follows Jon Rafferty, a once-disgraced PR executive turned crisis fixer, who is thrust into a deadly investigation days before the release of the studio’s most anticipated film. Featuring corrupt cops, MS-13 enforcers, and Hollywood power plays, the novel explores the cost of secrets and the price of redemption in a city built on illusion.
Joining Mount is Gerald Petievich, a former U.S. Secret Service agent and crime novelist, whose latest work, 13 Hillcrest Drive, delves into the deadly world behind Beverly Hills’ polished exterior. The story centers on Detective Michael Casey, who must unravel the mysterious murder of a fallen publicity agent while navigating a world of betrayal, buried secrets, and shifting alliances. Known for his gritty realism, Petievich draws on his law enforcement background to craft gripping narratives with cinematic flair.
Mount brings a storied background to the literary world, having produced Bull Durham, Natural Born Killers, and Tequila Sunrise, and serving as co-founder of The Los Angeles Film School. His industry legacy is widely recognized, and he has long been rumored to be the inspiration behind the fictional studio executive in The Player.
Petievich, whose novels To Live and Die in L.A. and The Sentinel were adapted into feature films, is praised for infusing his writing with authenticity drawn from years in federal law enforcement.
The event marks a rare opportunity for fans of crime fiction and Hollywood noir to hear from two insiders with deep ties to the worlds they write about.
To reserve a seat, you can purchase Rafferty Returns by Thom Mount here and/or 13 Hillcrest Drive by Gerald Petievich here.
