Big Name Fan
Annie Mare
(Author)
21,000+ Reviews
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Description
When two A-list celebrities famous for their on-screen chemistry as TV detectives (think: sapphic Mulder and Scully, or queer Rizzoli and Isles) are reunited to investigate a real-life Hollywood murder, fans who have been ‘shipping the leading ladies for years might just get the ending they’ve always wanted…
“Great fun.” —The New York Times
Bexley Simon and Sam Farmer aren’t detectives, but they play them on TV. Well, played, past tense. The iconic cult hit that was Craven’s Daughter ended five years ago, and their friendship died along with it. Fans were disappointed that the pair’s legendary chemistry went unfulfilled—and crushed that the actual spark between actresses Bex and Sam didn’t pay off, either. The network never intended for two women to get romantic, in life or onscreen, despite the fans. But the bigger tragedy was the loss of their dear friend, makeup artist Jen Arnot, whose accidental death cast a pall over the series’ last episodes.
Now the network has decided on a reunion special, and Bex and Sam are thrust together once more as hosts of a rewatch podcast that will feature favorite episodes. Their first guest—a megawatt star who played a murder victim early on—drops a bombshell. Among the millions of pixels of fanfic written about the show online, one truly prolific author, known in the fiction world as the show’s Big Name Fan, was an insider, almost certainly someone from the cast or crew.
As the podcast moves along—and the spark between Bex and Sam threatens to burn down the studio—the pair realize they’re faced with two actual mysteries: Who is their Big Name Fan? And was Jen’s death an accident, or did someone want her dead? Sifting through clues as they question cast and crew, the duo will need to separate fact from fiction as they make their personal partnership into unmistakable
canon . . .
“Great fun.” —The New York Times
Bexley Simon and Sam Farmer aren’t detectives, but they play them on TV. Well, played, past tense. The iconic cult hit that was Craven’s Daughter ended five years ago, and their friendship died along with it. Fans were disappointed that the pair’s legendary chemistry went unfulfilled—and crushed that the actual spark between actresses Bex and Sam didn’t pay off, either. The network never intended for two women to get romantic, in life or onscreen, despite the fans. But the bigger tragedy was the loss of their dear friend, makeup artist Jen Arnot, whose accidental death cast a pall over the series’ last episodes.
Now the network has decided on a reunion special, and Bex and Sam are thrust together once more as hosts of a rewatch podcast that will feature favorite episodes. Their first guest—a megawatt star who played a murder victim early on—drops a bombshell. Among the millions of pixels of fanfic written about the show online, one truly prolific author, known in the fiction world as the show’s Big Name Fan, was an insider, almost certainly someone from the cast or crew.
As the podcast moves along—and the spark between Bex and Sam threatens to burn down the studio—the pair realize they’re faced with two actual mysteries: Who is their Big Name Fan? And was Jen’s death an accident, or did someone want her dead? Sifting through clues as they question cast and crew, the duo will need to separate fact from fiction as they make their personal partnership into unmistakable
canon . . .
Product Details
| Publisher | Kensington |
| Publish Date | February 25, 2025 |
| Pages | 320 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Hardback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781496751331 |
| Dimensions | 8.5 X 5.8 X 1.0 inches | 0.9 pounds |
About the Author
Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare are bestselling authors of more than a dozen bestselling novels between them, as well as the married co-authors of mysteries and queer romances written under the name Mae Marvel. They live in Wisconsin with two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, one glorious cat, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden. Visit them online at ruthieknox.com and anniemare.com.
Reviews
Praise for Big Name Fan
“Great fun.” —The New York Times
“A fun, slam-bang paced story...a quick read with a sense of humor and personality.” —All About Romance
“A moving tribute to the power of communal stories and the bonds they create. This is an entertaining read for fans of romantic mysteries and for anyone who appreciates the messiness of love and fandom.” —Suspense Magazine
“A TV reunion is fertile ground for a queer pop culture makeover.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A pitch perfect blend of mystery, romance, and Hollywood drama.” —Bookpage
“A genre-blending novel that's full of heart...half cozy mystery, half romance, this read is entirely fun.” —Library Journal
“Knox and Mare bridge Hollywood high drama, cozy mystery, and gentle slow-burn romance in this sweetly satisfying outing...readers who love to over-analyze their favorite shows will feel especially seen. This low-heat love letter to the queer fanfic community is a gem.” —Publisher's Weekly
“Sparkling... Television nostalgia and frisson meld with dark ambitions in this Tinseltown mystery, revealing the harms wreaked by keeping certain secrets—and the joys found in revealing others.” —Foreword Reviews
“The tension between Bex and Sam was so palpable, I felt like a member of their fandom screaming, “NOW KISS!” The perfect read for any fan who never got the ending they wanted but so deeply deserved.” —Mia P. Manansala, author of the multi-award-winning Arsenic and Adobo
“An intriguing mystery wrapped in a heartwarming second-chance for the romantic leads—and for readers whose queer ships never got a happily ever after—Big Name Fan shows how powerful love can be in fueling a fight for the truth.” —Katie Siegel, author of Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective
“A mystery packed full of romance and bittersweet longing, Big Name Fan highlights friendship, love, and loss as Bexley and Sam are reunited to navigate the turbulent waters of a fraught Hollywood set, long-simmering emotions, and the death that tore everything apart. I loved every poignant moment and pointed jab. What a treat!” —Victoria Helen Stone, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Jane Doe
“Big Name Fan is big name fun—a blend of sapphic workplace romance and cold case mystery with razor-sharp observations about celebrity, fandoms, and what it means to be queer in Hollywood. You’ll be rooting for Bex and Sam as they realize the key to solving the real-life murder that ended their hit tv show—and budding relationship—lies in the fan fiction penned by a mysterious viewer who knows a lot more than they’re letting on.” —Kellye Garrett, award winning author of Missing White Woman
“Big egos, bright lights, and a behind-the-scenes murder collide in this sizzling romance/murder mystery that will keep fans—and readers—on the edge of their seats.” —Rob Osler, author of The Case of the Missing Maid and Cirque Du Slay
“Big Name Fan is a poignant, big-hearted book about the risks people take to get the stories they deserve. Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare create a sparkling celebrity cast, but love is the real star—the reason to solve this mystery, and the reward.” —Joanna Lowell, author of A Shore Thing
“Great fun.” —The New York Times
“A fun, slam-bang paced story...a quick read with a sense of humor and personality.” —All About Romance
“A moving tribute to the power of communal stories and the bonds they create. This is an entertaining read for fans of romantic mysteries and for anyone who appreciates the messiness of love and fandom.” —Suspense Magazine
“A TV reunion is fertile ground for a queer pop culture makeover.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A pitch perfect blend of mystery, romance, and Hollywood drama.” —Bookpage
“A genre-blending novel that's full of heart...half cozy mystery, half romance, this read is entirely fun.” —Library Journal
“Knox and Mare bridge Hollywood high drama, cozy mystery, and gentle slow-burn romance in this sweetly satisfying outing...readers who love to over-analyze their favorite shows will feel especially seen. This low-heat love letter to the queer fanfic community is a gem.” —Publisher's Weekly
“Sparkling... Television nostalgia and frisson meld with dark ambitions in this Tinseltown mystery, revealing the harms wreaked by keeping certain secrets—and the joys found in revealing others.” —Foreword Reviews
“The tension between Bex and Sam was so palpable, I felt like a member of their fandom screaming, “NOW KISS!” The perfect read for any fan who never got the ending they wanted but so deeply deserved.” —Mia P. Manansala, author of the multi-award-winning Arsenic and Adobo
“An intriguing mystery wrapped in a heartwarming second-chance for the romantic leads—and for readers whose queer ships never got a happily ever after—Big Name Fan shows how powerful love can be in fueling a fight for the truth.” —Katie Siegel, author of Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective
“A mystery packed full of romance and bittersweet longing, Big Name Fan highlights friendship, love, and loss as Bexley and Sam are reunited to navigate the turbulent waters of a fraught Hollywood set, long-simmering emotions, and the death that tore everything apart. I loved every poignant moment and pointed jab. What a treat!” —Victoria Helen Stone, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Jane Doe
“Big Name Fan is big name fun—a blend of sapphic workplace romance and cold case mystery with razor-sharp observations about celebrity, fandoms, and what it means to be queer in Hollywood. You’ll be rooting for Bex and Sam as they realize the key to solving the real-life murder that ended their hit tv show—and budding relationship—lies in the fan fiction penned by a mysterious viewer who knows a lot more than they’re letting on.” —Kellye Garrett, award winning author of Missing White Woman
“Big egos, bright lights, and a behind-the-scenes murder collide in this sizzling romance/murder mystery that will keep fans—and readers—on the edge of their seats.” —Rob Osler, author of The Case of the Missing Maid and Cirque Du Slay
“Big Name Fan is a poignant, big-hearted book about the risks people take to get the stories they deserve. Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare create a sparkling celebrity cast, but love is the real star—the reason to solve this mystery, and the reward.” —Joanna Lowell, author of A Shore Thing
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