by Sarah E. Burr

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

Phyllida Bright takes the 1930s London Theater District by storm as our intrepid amateur detective returns for a thrilling encore performance. Colleen Cambridge’s Murder Takes the Stage is an atmospheric delight that pulls the curtain back on the historic West End.

Phyllida, Agatha Christie’s fictional housekeeper, finds herself at odds with her latest assignment when Dame Agatha and Mr. Max descend on London for an extended stay. Phyllida is prepared to lord over the rented Gantry House and its new chef—the hilariously ornery Monsieur Chardonnay—when she is summoned to the Adelphi Theater to inspect the dead body of the show’s star. While the acclaimed actor is believed to have died of natural causes, Phyllida is forced to reconsider her findings once another dead man is discovered at the Belmont Theater. The theater community is spooked, and it’s up to Phyllida to catch a cunning killer before the curtain comes down on her…permanently.

I loved being back in Phyllida’s world. Her no-nonsense approach to the world is so refreshing; she knows what she wants and how to get it. While she rules the household staff with an iron fist, she deftly interrogates her suspects with a gentle hand. She investigates with such poise and style; as an avid mystery reader, I appreciate how her analytical mind works.

Experiencing the London theater scene through Phyllida’s eyes was also fun and engaging. What surprised me most was that readers got another viewpoint in this installment. I don’t want to spoil things, but let’s just say I am very happy with the way Phyllida’s personal relationships are progressing in this series. Cambridge walks a perfect line of romantic intrigue while keeping Phyllida focused on the mystery. This cast has so many wonderful supporting characters, and they shine as an ensemble.

London’s West End comes alive in Murder Takes the Stage, and Phyllida navigates this enchanting environment with grace and flair. Readers also get some long-awaited answers about her past, and I cannot wait to see what challenges await Phyllida in her next case!

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

To enter to win a copy of Murder Takes the Stage, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “stage” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen November 16, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Sarah E. Burr is the award-winning author of the Glenmyre Whim Mysteries, Trending Topic Mysteries, the Book Blogger Mysteries, and the Court of Mystery series. She is the producer and co-host of It’s Bookish Time TV, a web series featuring live-streamed author interviews. When she’s not spinning up stories, Sarah reads everything from mystery to manga, plays video games, and enjoys walks with her dog, Eevee.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.