Tom Cruise

An unauthorized biography of Tom Cruise, released today, has put the Church of Scientology back in the news.

Andrew Morton, who has made a name for himself writing biographies of Princess Diana, Madonna and Monica Lewinsky, spent two years researching on Cruise. He concluded that Cruise is the second-highest ranking person in the church.

Cruise’s rep has called Morton’s book a “false, vicious and bigoted attack.” In anticipation of Morton’s interview this morning on the Today show, the church issued a press release denying many of the book’s claims.

There’s no question that the $100 million defamation lawsuit filed Tuesday by former books publisher Judith Regan has news value.

But the 70-page complaint also has literary value, as well.

Though it’s bogged down in places with legal terms, it’s still a Judith Regan style page-turner, complete with scenes of betrayal, confrontation and deception.