This
novel was my introduction to Isobel Spice, aspiring actress and
accomplished sleuth. I like her character and the unusual setting of
a regional theater.
Isobel
had obtained a role in an upstate New York theater production of a
musical based on the life of Sousa. Before the opening night, strange
things happen. Are they pranks or is someone trying to stop the show?
And then the action on stage turns deadly.
Lessner
has crafted an engaging novel about the workings of theater. Not
having read the previous novels in the series and not being familiar
with theater, I was at a loss sometimes with the terminology. That
did not detract much from my enjoyment of this mystery, however. I
did learn quite a bit about the workings behind the scenes, including
the personnel, the props and costumes, and the emotional condition of
the participants.
Isobel is my kind of sleuth. She's able to keep her focus under pressure. She's the understudy for the leading lady and when that star collapses onstage, Isobel has to step up. She becomes the primary suspect when it is determined the star was murdered. Isobel is a strong character, managing to do a smashing job on stage while concentrating on finding the real killer.
Isobel is my kind of sleuth. She's able to keep her focus under pressure. She's the understudy for the leading lady and when that star collapses onstage, Isobel has to step up. She becomes the primary suspect when it is determined the star was murdered. Isobel is a strong character, managing to do a smashing job on stage while concentrating on finding the real killer.
This
novel has lots of action with an emphasis on character interaction. I
would have liked a little more description of scenes so I could
better imagine the action going on. Nonetheless, I found this novel
to be an engaging one. The characters are well crafted and the plot
satisfying. Readers who enjoy mysteries, theater, musicals, or the
opera will enjoy this one.
You
can read an excerpt here.
I
am taking part in a blog tour of this book. Click here to view the 'Offed Stage Left by Joanne Sydney Lessner' Tour Participants.
My
rating: 4/5 stars.
Joanne
Sydney Lessner is the author of Pandora's Bottle, a novel
inspired by the story of the world's most expensive bottle of wine
(Flint Mine Press), and The Temporary Detective, Bad
Publicity, and Justice for Some, featuring Isobel Spice.
No stranger to the theatrical world, Joanne enjoys an active
performing career in both musical theater and opera. With her
husband, composer/conductor Joshua Rosenblum, she has coauthored
several musicals. Her play, Critical Mass, received its Off Broadway
premiere in October 2010 as the winner of the 2009 Heiress
Productions Playwriting Competition. Joanne is a regular contributing
writer to Opera News and holds a B.A. in music from Yale University.
You can find out more at her website and follow her on Twitter and
Facebook.
Book
Details:
Genre:
Mystery, Amateur Sleuth
Published
by: Dulcet Press
Publication
Date: Late October 2016
Number
of Pages: 260
ISBN:
9780998133201
Series:
Isobel Spice, 4. Each is a stand alone mystery.
You
can get your copy of Offed Stage Left at Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
Kobo, Smashwords, and add it to your GoodReads list.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment