Behind the Gates: A Beverly Hills Secrets Novel, Book 1 ~ Excerpt
By
Lisa Maliga, copyright 2026
I used to live near Beverly Hills, though not inside that prestigious 90210 ZIP code. Back then, my life revolved around writing, researching and ice skating. I worked office jobs inside the high-rises off Wilshire Boulevard. I caught bargain matinees at the historic Fine Arts Theatre. And I spent hours inside the Beverly Hills Public Library.
That library held a lot of importance to me. It was even the location of an official meeting I had with a 20th Century Fox executive to discuss writing a television series for them.
When I recently uncovered my old Beverly Hills library card, it brought back a flood of memories—including the exact moment I began writing the first draft of a story called North of Sunset.
Years
later, that manuscript has completely transformed into Behind the Gates: A
Beverly Hills Secrets Novel (Book 1).
I decided to rewrite the book from the ground up to fundamentally improve the ending, deepen the secrets, and sharpen the characters. The story explores a stark contrast: worldliness versus virtue, and the cutthroat machine of Hollywood versus a normal outsider. At its heart are Sherman Lee, a volatile, successful action movie producer, and Emily Karelin, his focused new assistant.
Emily takes the job purely to fund her expensive figure skating obsession. She has no showbiz ambition, leaving her completely unprepared for the dangerous web of control and manipulation awaiting her. Sherman is a multi-millionaire used to dictating reality. He despises the "system," gripes about taxes, and laughs off city rules—even stating that “seatbelts are for pussies.”
To capture the true essence of 1996, I chose to completely unplug while rewriting this series. Avoiding the online world, I wrote notes by hand in spiral-bound notebooks, listened to period-accurate music, and watched films made back when the Internet was still in its infancy. The result is an authentic, atmospheric time capsule of a long-gone Los Angeles.
To give you a taste of the sparks that fly when an immovable force meets an unstoppable outsider, here’s an exclusive sneak peek at Chapter 4.
[from chapter 4]
He quickly discovered that not only had she purchased everything that was on the list, but also there were no additional bottles or packages of soft drinks, chips or cookies. Sherman pulled the boxes out of the trunk and set them on the driveway. He saw a bulky black athletic bag in her trunk before he closed it.
“Do
you work out a lot?” He asked.
“No,
why?”
“Your
gym bag...”
She
smiled. “My skate bag.”
“You
skate?” He looked amused, imagining her gliding up and down his driveway.
“Ice
skate.”
He
studied her figure again. She looked healthy enough.
“Can
you lift this box?”
“Sure.”
She picked up the heavy, liquor-filled box without hesitation and carried it up
the walkway.
Amazing, he thought. Most of his
previous assistants refused to carry anything heavier than a message pad. He
picked up his own box of spirits and followed her inside.
Once
in the foyer, she gave him the receipt. He immediately began unloading the
bottles right in the middle of the floor to double-check the order.
“I
guess you’re not much of a drinker,” he commented carelessly.
“I
have no interest in the stuff.”
“You’re
a lot smarter than me.”
“No,
I have different interests.”
“You’re
telling me I have an interest in booze?” Sherman suddenly yelled, his temper
snapping instantly.
Emily
stared at the angry producer. It’d been going so well. Too well. She didn’t
know what to say. Confronted by his sudden fury, she simply held his gaze,
rendered completely speechless but refusing to look down.
Sherman
gazed back, his dark gray eyes fuming as they locked onto hers. Slowly, the
silence stretched, and his anger transformed into something else. He realized
he had met his match.
“You’re
a tough broad, Emily.”
“Is
that a compliment?”
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Success
has a price. So do secrets...
1996. Beverly Hills, California.
Inside his sprawling mansion, mega-successful action movie producer Sherman N. Lee rules his empire with a volatile temper. In his world of indulgence and excess, assistants rarely last a week.
Until Emily Karelin walks through the gates.
At thirty years old, Emily is detached from the Hollywood machine. She is a disciplined athlete, enduring Sherman’s demands solely to fund her expensive figure skating obsession. Her strong work ethic and lack of showbiz ambition make her the perfect assistant—and the ultimate target.
But midway
through their tense workplace dynamic, a piece of mail shatters the illusion of
life itself. Confronted with a cryptic warning, Sherman’s usual gripes about
taxes and city fees turn into a terrifying statement: they can't kill us
fast enough.
As the lines between professional loyalty and personal attraction begin to blur, Emily is isolated in a dark web of control and manipulation. Sherman refuses to speak the truth, but the warning signs are clear. Behind the gates of Beverly Hills, a dangerous agenda is unfolding. The only question is: who will survive the fallout?
Dive into the ultimate 90s Hollywood romantic suspense novel. Only $0.99 or FREE on KU!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0HHKD9W4T
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0HHKB3Q44
About
the Author:
Lisa Maliga is an accomplished American author of contemporary fiction, psychological thrillers, and cozy mysteries. She is the creator of a popular four-book cozy mystery series set primarily in the scenic Los Angeles neighborhoods of Brentwood and Sherman Oaks. Her deep love for creativity also shines through in her five popular dessert cookbooks and numerous crafting guides dedicated to the art of handmade bath and body products and soap crafting.
With her brand-new Beverly Hills Secrets Novel series, Lisa steps north of Sunset Boulevard into the high-stakes, nostalgic world of 1990s Hollywood. Drawing on her personal knowledge of the city—and her years spent researching and recording insightful daily journal entries—she crafts immersive, suspenseful dramas filled with sharp dialogue, glamour, and deep-seated mysteries. When she isn't weaving complex webs of psychological intrigue, Lisa can be found sharing insights on her blogs and YouTube channel.
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