Where were you the night Princess Diana died? I was at a baseball game but Jack and Robin Firestone were in a taxi in Paris driving by the accident that tragically took the life of Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed.

Chasing Diana is a fictional account of the behind the scenes look into the deaths with just enough truth thrown in to make you wonder. Cleverly written as a screenplay, the story kept me riveted to the pages. We learn how Diana’s death and the media frenzy that follows does, affects a family that’s already experiencing personal turmoil. Throughout the whole book I wondered exactly how much was fiction and how much was reality.

This was the first screenplay style novel that I’ve read and it easy to read. I recommend this book to anyone who had any interest in Princess Diana and those who want a speedy one or two day read. ( )

Where were you when you heard the news that Princess Diana was killed?
I heard it on the radio on my way to work. Shocking and so sad.

Chasing Diana is cleverly written as a screenplay novel. This is the first time I've ever read a book written in such a manner, but from page one I was captivated.

Add one part fantasy, one part truth, and one part thrilling action, and you'll have Chasing Diana. Told through the lead characters of Rhonda and James Goodrich, this is a remarkable story.

Rhonda used to be a big star, but decided to retire and just be a wife and mother. Her father owns a large mortgage company, so she has a substantial trust fund to live on. Her husband James is consistently trying out for different actor parts and does some commercial work. James also has a drinking and drug problem.

They plan a small get-away to Paris and are entranced with the sights upon their arrival. Their son Benjamin travels with them. One evening on a night out, after a terrifying taxi ride, they are witnesses to the fatal car crash that kills Princess Diana and Dodi.

Overnight, they are in the spot-light. James loves and soaks it up, but Rhonda just wants to go home. Tired of being Diana'd (paparrazi after them wherever they go ), James finally agrees with her. Once back home, however, they are met with even more paparrazi, and talk shows wanting to interview them. Finally, Rhonda has had enough, paparrazi and James addictions. She becomes demanding, with decisions that escalate into a stunning climax.

This is a wonderful, action-packed story. Written as a screenplay, you can almost see the images in your mind as a movie plays out. Full of intrigue, irony, and adventure, Chasing Diana was a pleasant surprise.

In a nutshell: Inspired by a true story. The story was a nice quick read (once you get used to the screenplay format). I wish I knew exactly what was fact and what was fiction - the authors have presented quite a story of intrigue, including crooked French officials, assassins, and reporters willing to hound a family into giving an interview. It was a quick page-turner, and I did ultimately really enjoy the screenplay format, which helped me visualize the scenes happening throughout the book. My only complaint is the amount of cursing in the book - I really could have done without it.

My Review:
The book begins with the Goodrich family going to Paris for a vacation. While there, they accidentally take an incriminating photo of a pair of assassins, then end up in the tunnel where Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed are killed in the famous car crash. Concerned that an accidental flash of their camera may have contributed to the crash, they keep the photos under wrap.

With the assassins still pursuing them, and now the added hassel of the papparazi trying to get pictures and interviews of the family, they must make it home and adapt to a new life in the spotlight.

This gripping story kept me interested from beginning to end - I just wish there wasn't as much swearing - I always feel that bad language cheapens things!

Characters: The characters were colorful and kept me entertained. Not to sound like a broken-record, but I wish that James hadn't been quite as vulgar and "bad" (drugs/alcohol), although I guess that just makes him stronger when he chooses to overcome those issues to become closer to his wife. Rhonda was a nice character, and I really enjoyed Ben - what young adult doesn't dream of being in the center of attention?

Story-Line: The story line was interesting and fast-paced, keeping my attention throughout the book! I actually didn't want it to end.

Readability: I struggled in the beginning with the screenplay format, but ended up really enjoying it.

Overall: A page-turner from start to finish, the story is fast-paced, filled with intrigue and action. I loved the ending, which keeps readers on the tips of their toes! While I could have done without the cursing, I did enjoy the book, and had a hard time putting it down once I picked it up. ( )

Do you remember where you were when you heard that Diana had died in a tragic car accident? I do. It was two weeks before I was to get married, and I was at my parents' house on summer break from college. I don't remember what we had been doing before that moment, but I remember my dad coming to my room and telling me that I had to see what was on the TV. We sat silently, watching the news channel for hours, huddled together. That was the day my interest in Princess Diana took hold.

When I received an email last week, asking if I wanted to review Chasing Diana, I said yes without even looking closely to see what the book was about. I am not one of those people who bought and read the tabloids about Diana (I've never actually bought a tabloid at all) but I have read many books about her, my favorite being Diana: Her True Story In Her Own Words. So it was with great excitement that I cracked open this book today.

Chasing Diana, while not exactly what I expected, was an entertaining mystery screenplay, filled with both gritty reality and humor. I loved the description of the characters in the opening scene; Rhonda (the mom) is described as "movie star gorgeous" while James (the dad) is described as "handsome." If you're going to write a fictionalized account of yourself, it seems reasonable to be flattering, it just gave me a good chuckle.

Reading a screenplay was different; the bare-bone descriptions let you know what is going on (Person A hands something to Person B), but they aren't in-depth the way a novel is. Instead, you are forced to rely on the dialogue to learn more about the characters. It took a little getting used to, but after a few pages I was drawn into the plot, and was less focused on the format.

This story is completely centered around the Goodrich family. The family runs into trouble when they unknowingly photograph someone who doesn't want their picture associated with the night of Diana's death. They are chased, kidnapped and threatened, and just when they think they are safe, someone else pops up to cause them trouble.

The characters in Chasing Diana were very believable. They were much more flawed than I would have expected considering that the story is a fictionalization of a real life experience, but I can honestly say without giving anything away, that they are redeemed in the end.

This was a quick, fun read; I finished it this afternoon. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries or has an interest in the night of Diana's death. ( )