The Line

Deadly Ambition Collection

De: Tim Weaver

Narrado por: Kristin Atherton

A career-making rumor about a Hollywood icon could save a struggling journalist—or destroy her—in this twisting and atmospheric short story by Sunday Times bestselling author Tim Weaver.

Los Angeles, 1985. Journalist Hallie Pitney is fighting to keep her head above water selling minor stories to gossip magazines. She still dreams of her byline on something better—something that could finally launch her career.

Then a whisper reaches her: a legendary movie star may be hiding a devastating secret. For Hallie, this could be the story that changes everything. But a dark choice lurks behind Hollywood’s shuttered gates: the story of a lifetime—or everything she stands for.

Tim Weaver’s The Line is part of the Deadly Ambition collection, stories about greed, control, and the sinister side of making dreams come true. They can be read or listened to in one bingeable sitting.

©2026 by Tim Weaver. (P)2026 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Anonymous Reporter

Set in 1985 L.A., in the Dirty-Dirty world of Hollywood where dog-eats-dog world of celebrity gossip, TMZ style sleazy news and a fast spreading fatal disease that is ravaging playboys. Like Porter Sloan. He's the stuff legends are made of, 4 marriages, 100s of women on the side, a successful career behind him...is now a recluse.
Why?..well that's where the rumor mill starts humming loud and fast.
Two journalists - Hallie Pitney & Jordan Sanchez are leaked a gossip thread by an agent and they both see it as a meal ticket out of their penury and in one case- a life & death situation.
Ethics wages a war against money and guess who wins?
You'd be surprised!
There's also a monkey on their back - blackmailing dirty cop. Is there any other kind?!!
It's a caustic, sharp account of gruesome underbelly of bright lights of celebrity culture.
Narration by Kristin Atherton is brilliant and I love third person POV too
“5 stars for anonymous reporter”

Crossed Line

This is the last short story for the “deadly ambitions series” and it had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. This story is about Hallie, a struggle news reporter trying to desperately “make it”. But it has been so hard that she has had to resort to tabloid stories to make ends meet. That is, until Mousy starts telling her about a story that he says would be the biggest story ever. That may possibly give her the “big story” payday she needs to live. But there’s a catch-another colleague Jordan has had the same story for the last 48 hours. Hallie eventually reaches out to Jordan for his help with the story. Then the situation turns-and a line is crossed. What do you envision happened? Check it out for yourself and listen to what happens.

Ummmm . . . So that wasn't terrifying at all . . .

This does take place in the eighties, it makes sense that Hallie has to struggle before she's taken seriously in journalism. But this whole situation she found herself in . . . TERRIFYING!!!!

3.5 Stars

Reporting

Blast from the past as to how it might have been for another Hollywood star during this horrible time. Crossing the line on humanity.

Weird story

I do appreciate an 80s LA story but this one was really weird. It didn’t have a clear plot.