Author: Scott Lyerly
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (July 23, 2024)
Description: Featuring a neurodiverse lead living with Tourette's syndrome, Ellie Marlowe is ready for a curtain call as her latest production sells out, but when the starring male lead drops dead, and everyone in the cast is a potential suspect or the next victim, she must catch a killer before they pull another show-stopping murder.
The new production at Ellie Marlowe’s community theater could save her from financial ruin, but her overbearing lead, Reginald Thornton IV, is determined to antagonize every cast member. Nervous and with her Tourette’s syndrome flaring, Ellie is relieved when opening night seems to be going well. But then Reginald’s death scene at the end of the play turns out to be all too real.
The state police write the death off as a heart attack, but several things don't add up, and Ellie and her childhood friend, Bill Starlin, the local chief of police, begin investigating. When another person linked to the theater is attacked, they’re convinced a killer is on the loose.
As Ellie and Bill reveal connections between cast members, they uncover dark secrets and must race to find the killer before it’s curtains for someone else.
My Thoughts: Ellie Marlowe has given up her high stress job and returned to the town where she grew up to open a theater. She lives with Tourette's syndrome. Her new theater is in danger of going under if she doesn't have some financially successful performances soon.
When the star of her latest production dies in the final act, she fears that will be the end for her theater. No one liked the leading man, but Ellie needs to find out who of a host of possibilities murdered him. She is assisted by her childhood friend Bill who is now the Chief of Police. They are pretty much on their own because Bill left the State Police after exposing a scam and many of the investigators there are holding a grudge.
As Ellie and Bill look into Reginald Thornton IV's life, they find that he had many enemies and a lot of them are working on the theater's current production Murder in a Teacup. The director, who is dying of cancer, was being blackmailed by Thornton. The lead actress had been assaulted by him and was being harassed by him. Thornton had argued and belittled most of the cast and crew of the production.
Meanwhile, Ellie and Bill are dealing with other problems too. Bill's wife is jealous of his relationship with Ellie who was his sister's best friend. And Ellie and her husband are having some marital problems relating to their desire to have a child which adds more pressure to Ellie.
This was an entertaining story with interesting characters. I don't think I've ever read a story where the main character had Tourette's and appreciated the way the author included details of that syndrome.
Favorite Quote:
Favorite Quote:
She thought of it like a bread trail, with herself and Bill a Hansel and Gretel. The found a crumb and chewed on it for a bit, wondering if there were more, then suddenly spied another crumb off in the distance. All the while, they went deeper into the forest and got more lost while each crumb tasted the same--bitter.I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
I really thought the quote was apt for a detective genre novel.
ReplyDelete