This story gave a detailed insight into the workings of theatre in England. The hardships the actors and actresses faced, the attitude of the aristocracy towards the theatre world, supporting and patronizing only when it suited them and treating them with disdain for the most part.
Prudence an heiress and Geoffrey Hunter ex Pinkerton, have worked before in detective mode, and when the theatre erupts into one murder of the lead star of the play, murdered by arsenic poisoning both George and Prudence are drawn into the investigation because prudence’s friend Lydia is so troubled by the murder which both Police and the theatre producer is trying to sweep under the carpet. The lead actor Septimus was Lydia’s cousin. Going undercover as seamstresses was not very successful but they discover another victim smothered in a trunk followed by two attempts on both Lydia and Prudence’s life.
The detective work is thorough but there are many hurdles to overcome. The theatre community is tight knit and the murderer knows that they are being pursued. The number of suspects varies from day to day and in the meantime the production of the play goes on and the opening night is very successful, even though the lead actress and the producer are prime suspects. Characters were very well portrayed and the touch of romance was a nice touch.
Sent by Kensington Publishing for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.
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