Cherry Pye is a 22-year-old pop star addicted to drink and drugs. She was born Cheryl Bunterman; her “shamelessly porny” professional name was invented by her ambitious mother, Janet. Ann DeLusia is an actress hired by Janet as a double to stand in when the real Cherry is too Pye-eyed to be seen in public. Bang Abbott is a seedy paparazzo obsessed with Cherry. He kidnaps her — and is dismayed to find that he has snatched the wrong girl. Janet, meanwhile, cares less about negotiating Ann’s release than she does about the success of Cherry’s next tour. This is a witty satire on the culture of celebrity and also a nail-biting thriller.
Star Island by Carl Hiaasen, published by Sphere, (405pp), £14.99. To buy this book for £13.49 visit thetimes.co.uk/bookshop or call 08452712134