In 1955, grande dame authoress Edna Ferber is visiting LA for the filming of her epic novel, Giant. Edna is looking forward to meeting Rock Hudson, Liz Taylor, and especially the film’s gifted young breakout star, James Dean.

A charismatic rebel, Dean attracts attention, devotion, and trouble wherever he goes. Now he is being blackmailed by a young extra from the movie who accuses him of getting her pregnant. The studio fears that the negative publicity will jeopardize the film’s release. Then the actress is found murdered, and James Dean is the prime suspect.

Employing her honed character instincts and her sharp nose for subtext, Edna decides to investigate the murder, determined to clear Dean’s name. But as she uncovers the dark underside of glittering Hollywood, she fears that the truth may be worse than she could have imagined.