Our review:

This novel gives an interesting insight into the fast-paced, cut-throat world of Hollywood, which gets nicknamed ‘Wormwood’ when absinthe-fever literally grips L.A. The bits where Pitch, the lead character, drinks absinthe are a little melodramatic, but hey, that’s the fun of the absinthe legend!

Extract:

Before sending the fax, I opened my desk drawer and arranged its contents on my desktop. The pages sat in the machine, waiting to be sent through, but I eyed the sugar cubes, the strainer spoon, the heavy triangular-shaped glass, and label-less bottle in front of me. I had my own ritual, one for which I could no longer wait. I poured four fingers of absinthe from the bottle, lay the strainer across the rim of the glass, and placed a few sugar cubes upon it. I drizzled cool water over the sugar, which began breaking down into an opaque mush and dissolved into the glass. The verdant liquid lightened in color and turned cloudy and opalescent. Stirring in more cool spring water, I removed the strainer and drank the first bracing sip. My nose opened as it would over a can of paint thinner. The substance entered my bloodstream, a high-voltage jolt of heavy alcohol and various herbs which blended to form a potent narcotic. The result was a soothing sensation that eased the knot of tension in my neck. As I drank, I previewed in my mind what would happen here tomorrow…