One Death at a Time Summary, Characters and Themes
One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman is a captivating blend of mystery, drama, and humor set against the backdrop of Hollywood’s glamorous yet treacherous film industry. The story follows Julia Mann, a former actress whose life is in disarray, and Mason, a young woman navigating recovery from alcoholism while working as Julia’s assistant.
When a man is found dead in Julia’s pool, the events that follow expose long-buried secrets, complicated relationships, and a web of intrigue that entangles both women. Their unlikely partnership, marked by tension and vulnerability, becomes central to solving the mystery while confronting their own personal demons.
Summary
The novel opens with Julia Mann, a once-famous actress, in a state of confusion and despair. One evening, she finds a man, Tony Eckenridge, floating in her pool, dead and dressed in a suit.
Julia has no memory of how he ended up there, and her intoxicated state raises doubts about her involvement in the death. Her troubled past, marked by addiction and a series of failed relationships, looms over the situation, leaving her to question whether she’s guilty of a crime she cannot remember committing.
The narrative then shifts to Natasha Mason, a 25-year-old woman in recovery from alcoholism. She attends Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and works as Julia’s assistant, unaware at first of Julia’s troubled past.
Mason is tasked with being Julia’s interim sponsor, which leads to their complex and often strained interactions. Initially, Mason’s role is one of skepticism, particularly toward Julia, who is reluctant to embrace sobriety and help from others.
As Julia reveals more about her troubled past, including her infamous DUI and a body in her pool, Mason becomes increasingly involved in trying to help Julia through her recovery process.
Despite her resistance, Julia eventually begins to open up, sharing fragments of her personal history with Mason. Her career in Hollywood was once stellar, but her struggles with addiction and public scandals have left her life in tatters.
Julia’s relationship with Tony was once friendly, but their falling out turned bitter, with Tony now standing as an adversary. Mason begins to sense that Julia’s involvement in Tony’s death might not be as clear-cut as it appears, especially after Julia is implicated in a series of events linked to the mysterious death.
Mason’s investigation into Julia’s past uncovers various secrets, including Julia’s troubled marriage and her estranged relationships with friends and family. This journey leads to an unexpected connection between Julia’s life and the growing investigation into Tony’s death.
As Mason digs deeper, she learns of the complexities surrounding Tony’s life and the various people who could have had motives to harm him.
A key twist in the plot occurs when it is revealed that Tony had left Julia a significant inheritance in the form of a third of his film studio. The will was a surprise, adding more intrigue to the case.
Tony’s past in Hollywood, including his involvement with various people in the industry, becomes a focal point of the investigation. With Julia’s own legal assistant, Will Maier, helping to decipher the will, new questions arise about the motivations of those surrounding Tony.
Julia’s ex-husbands, his current wife, and several others who were involved with him in some way seem to have their own reasons for wanting him dead.
As the investigation unfolds, Julia’s sobriety is tested time and again, particularly as more people from her past emerge. Becky, a young woman connected to Julia through a complicated series of relationships, finds herself accused of murder.
Becky’s involvement in a murder at a strip club, where she worked, adds further complexity to the plot. Through her work with Becky, Mason begins to draw connections between the personal lives of those involved in these mysterious deaths.
Meanwhile, Julia’s addiction continues to play a role in her ability to handle the mounting pressure. Her relationship with Mason becomes one of the few stable parts of her life, even though she often resists Mason’s support.
Julia’s sharp wit and sarcasm provide moments of levity, but they also mask deeper fears about her future. Mason, too, struggles with her own demons, including the ongoing tension with her mother, a psychiatrist who constantly pressures her to reconsider her career choices.
As Mason’s investigation progresses, she uncovers the truth behind Tony’s death. It turns out that Tony was involved in a secretive and morally ambiguous part of Hollywood.
His death is ultimately tied to the power dynamics within the industry, and the people who stood to gain from his passing. The studio, once controlled by Tony, becomes a key player in the plot, as those connected to the film industry wrestle for control over his legacy.
The plot reaches its climax when Helen, a former director in Hollywood, confesses to killing Tony. Her jealousy and bitterness over Tony’s success and her years of frustration in the industry had driven her to violence.
As Mason and Julia confront Helen, the situation becomes tense, and a standoff ensues. Although Helen is eventually subdued, the investigation reveals that her motives were not just personal but deeply connected to the exploitative nature of the film business.
In the end, Julia and Mason’s relationship deepens as they work together to uncover the dark secrets of Hollywood. Despite the violence, betrayal, and loss, they form an unexpected bond that goes beyond their professional connection.
Julia offers Mason a permanent job as her assistant, and the two women navigate the dangers and opportunities of their intertwined lives.
The conclusion of the novel hints at more mysteries to uncover. Julia receives a letter from Tony after his death, shedding light on a deeper conspiracy tied to another mysterious death in her past.
This letter sets the stage for future investigations and ensures that the story of One Death at a Time remains unresolved, with more revelations waiting to unfold in the murky world of Hollywood.
Characters
Julia Mann
Julia Mann is a former famous actress who finds herself grappling with both personal demons and the complex web of her past. Once at the height of her fame, Julia now resides in a quieter, but no less tumultuous, existence.
Her mental state is often unstable, influenced by alcohol and past trauma. Julia’s character is defined by her sharp wit, stubbornness, and sarcastic demeanor, often using humor as a shield to protect herself from the weight of her past mistakes and the scrutiny of her public image.
Despite her fame and outward charm, Julia is profoundly lonely and struggling with her sobriety. She is also haunted by a string of strained relationships, including a troubled marriage and a complicated history with various people in her life, especially Tony Eckenridge.
Her connection to Tony becomes a central element of the story, as his mysterious death is intertwined with both her legal and emotional struggles. Julia’s journey throughout the narrative is one of resistance and reluctant self-awareness, as she slowly begins to acknowledge her flaws and vulnerabilities.
The tension in her character lies in her refusal to confront her past head-on while she continues to be pulled into a web of intrigue and danger surrounding Tony’s death.
Natasha Mason
Natasha Mason is a recovering alcoholic in her mid-twenties, trying to navigate the complexities of sobriety while also managing the pressures of life. Initially, she serves as Julia’s assistant and an interim sponsor in the Alcoholics Anonymous group, but her role evolves as the investigation into Tony’s death unfolds.
Natasha’s personality is blunt, with a sense of humor that can border on reckless, but she is deeply committed to helping others, even when those around her resist her assistance. Unlike Julia, Natasha has not yet found herself completely consumed by her past, but her own struggles with addiction and her fraught relationship with her mother reveal a deeper vulnerability.
Natasha’s personal journey throughout the book is marked by moments of tension as she works to balance her recovery with her role in helping Julia, a woman who is as much an enigma as a source of constant chaos in her life. Natasha’s relationship with Julia is complicated, as she tries to stay involved in Julia’s life and help her uncover the truth, even when Julia resists.
The dynamic between them—marked by sarcasm, empathy, and mutual dependency—forms one of the emotional cores of the book. Natasha’s own recovery process serves as a backdrop for her determination to assist Julia while uncovering the complex truth behind the deaths surrounding them.
Ben Sharp
Ben Sharp is a distressed young man who becomes entangled in the investigation surrounding Tony’s death. Ben’s connection to the case is through his sister, Becky, who is accused of murder.
His involvement introduces a new layer to the mystery, as he seeks Julia’s help to clear his sister’s name. Ben’s character represents the desperation and confusion of a person who is caught up in a larger narrative beyond their control, struggling to navigate a world of dangerous power dynamics and toxic relationships.
While he lacks the deep complexities of Julia and Natasha, Ben provides a sense of urgency to the plot. His interactions with Julia and Mason reveal his vulnerability and helplessness as he is forced to confront the harsh realities of the world around him.
His character is a catalyst for uncovering some of the darker corners of the story, particularly those that involve the blurred lines between loyalty and betrayal.
Becky
Becky is a young woman whose involvement in the mysterious death of Sam, a figure connected to the strip club scene, adds layers of intrigue to the unfolding investigation. Her emotional state is fragile, and she struggles with the guilt of having been intoxicated during the night of Sam’s death, which she claims to have little recollection of.
Becky’s character is defined by her vulnerability and the oppressive influence of her grandmother, Anna, who imposes religious and moral pressure on her life. Becky’s fear of being judged by others complicates her interactions with Mason, who works to uncover the truth behind her involvement.
Her journey is one of emotional turmoil, as she comes to terms with the consequences of her actions, all while dealing with a complicated web of family dynamics and external expectations. The contrast between her emotional fragility and the dangerous circumstances surrounding her makes Becky a poignant character, whose redemption, or lack thereof, is intertwined with the larger narrative of secrets, guilt, and survival.
Will Maier
Will Maier is Julia’s legal assistant, whose role becomes increasingly important as the investigation into Tony’s death deepens. Will’s character provides a more grounded perspective amidst the chaos surrounding Julia, Natasha, and the others.
He plays a critical role in unraveling the legal aspects of Tony’s mysterious will, which becomes a key point of contention in the investigation. Will’s demeanor is calm, measured, and often more pragmatic compared to the more emotionally charged characters like Julia and Mason.
He serves as a stabilizing force, offering practical advice and assistance when needed. While his character may seem secondary in the grand scheme of the narrative, his insights into the legal intricacies of the case are essential to progressing the investigation.
Will’s presence is a reminder of the more procedural aspects of dealing with high-profile cases and adds depth to the exploration of loyalty, trust, and the manipulation of legal frameworks for personal gain.
Christine Greenfield
Christine Greenfield is a studio executive who plays a pivotal role in the posthumous events surrounding Tony’s death. Her arrival signals a shift in the investigation, as she pressures Julia to consider revisiting her past involvement with “The Codex,” the film that is tangled in the aftermath of Tony’s murder.
Christine presents herself as calm and collected but subtly reveals the pressures she faces as a studio executive trying to control the fallout from Tony’s death. Her relationship with Julia is marked by a mix of professional obligation and underlying tension, as Christine seeks to reassert control over the chaotic situation.
She embodies the cold, calculating nature of Hollywood, where career interests and personal ambitions often intersect in morally ambiguous ways. Christine’s character adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, particularly as she navigates the shifting allegiances in the wake of Tony’s death and the ongoing investigation into the studio’s entanglements.
Her role as a figure in the Hollywood power structure contrasts with the more personal, emotional stakes of the other characters, offering insight into the industry’s exploitation and the lengths people will go to preserve their status.
Helen
Helen is a director and one of the key antagonists in the narrative, whose jealousy and frustration over her career setbacks lead to the shocking revelation that she was involved in Tony’s murder. Her character represents the darker side of Hollywood—where ambition, rejection, and bitterness drive people to commit desperate acts.
Helen’s animosity toward Tony stems from years of feeling overlooked and disrespected in a male-dominated industry, despite her considerable talent. Her motivations for murder are rooted in a deep-seated resentment over the power dynamics in Hollywood and her belief that Tony’s success and influence were obstacles to her own career.
Her character is a tragic one, as her actions are driven by personal frustration and societal exploitation. When she is finally confronted, the tension surrounding her character’s unraveling serves as a critical moment in the narrative, shedding light on the darker truths about Hollywood’s treatment of women and the lengths people will go to exact revenge.
Themes
Addiction and Recovery
The theme of addiction and recovery is central to both Julia and Mason’s lives, profoundly shaping their actions and interactions throughout the story. For Julia, a former actress whose life was marred by alcoholism, addiction is not just a personal issue but also a public one, as it affects her reputation and the relationships she has with others.
Her struggle with sobriety is depicted as a continuous battle, influenced by both her inner demons and the external pressures of being in the public eye. Julia’s past, characterized by impulsive decisions and self-destructive behavior, makes her journey toward recovery all the more difficult, especially when faced with triggers such as guilt, shame, and the looming threat of legal consequences.
Mason, on the other hand, is in a more active phase of her recovery, attending AA meetings and working through her sobriety in a daily, almost ritualistic manner. Her humor, while sometimes reckless, serves as a coping mechanism to mask her deeper insecurities and fears about relapse.
She is also navigating the complexities of helping someone like Julia, who is resistant to the very help that Mason desperately needs herself. Mason’s role as Julia’s sponsor emphasizes the delicate balance between helping someone else and managing one’s own personal recovery journey.
Both characters must confront the trauma of their pasts, and in their complicated relationship, they reflect the messy, often non-linear process of healing. Through their connection, the story explores the duality of recovery: the progress made alongside the setbacks, and the importance of acceptance and trust in one’s ability to change.
Power and Manipulation
The dynamics of power and manipulation are evident in the relationships between characters, especially in the context of Hollywood’s competitive, exploitative environment. Julia, despite her past fame, is still seen as a commodity within the film industry, and her actions are often shaped by her attempts to reclaim control over her life and career.
The power dynamics are not limited to her professional life but extend to her personal relationships, particularly with people like Tony, who holds significant sway over her future. The revelation of Tony’s will, which leaves Julia with a third of his studio, exposes the underlying manipulations at play, as his death triggers a scramble for his wealth and influence.
This manipulation extends beyond the film industry and into Julia’s personal life, where she is forced to navigate toxic relationships, including those with people from her past who continue to exert pressure on her.
Mason also experiences the weight of power dynamics, both in her interactions with Julia and in her broader context as a recovering alcoholic. She finds herself both empowered and disempowered by her position as Julia’s assistant and sponsor.
The tension in their relationship reflects the broader theme of power struggles—how people try to assert control over their lives, even as they are repeatedly manipulated by others. This theme becomes especially significant in the way that both characters, in different ways, attempt to break free from the constraints that have been placed on them, be it through addiction, fame, or other external expectations.
Guilt and Redemption
Guilt and the possibility of redemption are recurring themes, particularly in Julia’s journey. Her character is constantly wrestling with the guilt of her past actions, which include reckless behavior, failed relationships, and, more seriously, the death of Tony.
Julia’s inability to remember the events surrounding Tony’s death adds a layer of psychological complexity to her character. She cannot fully confront her actions or clear her name, and this lack of resolution feeds her guilt.
Throughout the novel, Julia tries to distance herself from the situation, but the weight of her past keeps pulling her back. This is evident in her resistance to take responsibility for what happened and her constant attempts to avoid dealing with the truth.
Mason, by contrast, is more open about her own guilt, as she grapples with her struggles in sobriety and the overwhelming sense of failure that comes with it. However, her path to redemption is marked by a desire to help others—particularly Julia—find their own way out of the darkness.
Through their unlikely bond, both women seek redemption, though it is never guaranteed. The notion of redemption is not portrayed as an easy or linear process but as a series of difficult choices, often involving self-forgiveness and the willingness to confront painful truths.
By the end of the story, both Julia and Mason show signs of growth, suggesting that redemption is possible, though it remains an ongoing journey. The novel suggests that redemption is not about erasing past mistakes but about learning to live with them, owning them, and trying to make better choices moving forward.
Secrets and Betrayal
The theme of secrets and betrayal is interwoven throughout the narrative, with nearly every character harboring some hidden aspect of their life that impacts their relationships and decisions. Julia’s life is a series of secrets—about her career, her relationships, and her past.
Her willingness to share only parts of her truth with Mason creates a distance between them, even as Mason becomes increasingly invested in uncovering the full story. Julia’s secretive nature reflects her need for self-preservation and the fear that revealing too much will lead to further judgment, especially given her past scandals and legal troubles.
At the same time, Mason, though more transparent about her struggles, holds her own secrets—particularly regarding her past involvement in a complicated family dynamic and her feelings of inadequacy.
Betrayal also plays a central role, particularly in the investigation surrounding Tony’s death. The people closest to Tony, including his family and colleagues, betray him in various ways, whether through greed, manipulation, or resentment.
These betrayals are not always straightforward; they often come disguised as acts of love or loyalty, making the characters’ motivations even more complicated. The murder mystery itself is propelled by these betrayals, as each revelation uncovers another layer of deceit.
The story uses betrayal as a tool to question the authenticity of relationships in a world driven by power and personal gain. In the end, the novel suggests that betrayal is not always a simple choice; sometimes, it is born out of desperation, fear, or the desire for survival.
Identity and Public Perception
Identity and the way it is shaped by public perception is another critical theme in One Death at a Time. Julia’s identity, as a former actress and a public figure, is heavily influenced by how the world sees her.
Her fame once provided her with both power and a sense of self, but as she grapples with addiction, legal issues, and a tarnished reputation, her sense of who she truly is becomes increasingly unclear. The tension between her public image and her private life creates a fractured identity, one that she struggles to reconcile throughout the story.
Julia is constantly reminded of her past mistakes, and the public’s judgment of her weighs heavily on her ability to move forward. This pressure, compounded by her feelings of guilt and shame, forces her to question her worth outside of the image that others have of her.
Mason, though not as publicly scrutinized, also deals with the complexities of identity, particularly as she navigates the role of being both an assistant and a sponsor to someone with a much more complex life. Her own identity is shaped by her recovery, but she often feels trapped by others’ expectations of what she should do next—whether that’s returning to law school or finding a more stable job.
Both women struggle to define themselves outside of the roles that society has imposed on them. The theme of identity in the novel underscores the tension between personal self-worth and the external labels imposed by others, highlighting the difficulty of asserting control over one’s life when public perception plays such a significant role.