There's No Murder Like Show Murder, by M.S. Greene

 Publication July 23, 2024

Excellent start to a new series. Main character Tasha Weaver is a smart, detail oriented person whose life seems to center about the Eastbrook Playhouse. Perfectly content to remain out of the spotlight, she is head of the costume shop. Appropriately, the first real action in the story involves a costume flap involving the star of the current production of "Annie Get Your Gun". Having actually acted in that musical, I was definitely drawn to this story. I also spent a great deal of time in my youth in behind-the-scenes roles myself, another plus as I was delighted to see the playhouse play a central role in the story. And, hey, there's even a delightful theater cat, Hilly.

In any case, Tasha, seemingly a peacemaker of sorts, feels some guilt at inadvertently placing Kurt, the egotistical star, in the theater where he is murdered. Nope, not sharing how. You'll just have to read the book. For now, it simply serves to illustrate how important the playhouse and her playhouse family were to Tasha. This is where the story takes off and Tasha emerges as quite the amateur sleuth. The theater itself as it is on shaky financial grounds. It's Tasha's "safe-place", where she feels most at home, reasons for which are revealed smoothly within the story. While she's shaken one of the theatrical family might be a murderer, Tasha remains determined to find the killer and save Eastbrook Playhouse. While a bit disconcerting how quickly Tasha segues into asking questions, even in the presence of police, it shows her natural curiosity and attention to detail once again. In the process, we meet her theater family, including "work husband" Bruno, something that made me chuckle at the comment about "We don't talk about Bruno". Wonder how many of you will get that line? Grin.

Bottom line, I liked Tasha and the playhouse setting, not to mention her circle of friends, many of whom are surely likely regulars. There's even some romance bubbling under the surface for extra fun. Of course there is danger. Wouldn't be a cozy mystery without some danger to our inquisitive amateur sleuth, and lots of red herrings and multiple suspects, including some from Tasha's adopted theater family. Uh, oh. To top it off, you'll learn quite a bit about what goes on behind the scenes of such productions, from those on stage to those working out of the spotlight. Let's face it, there isn't a magical Fairy Godmother backstage waving a wand to create the setting, lights, costumes, and assure that the actors know their lines and "marks". Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks" for the backstage pass to meet Tasha and this new series. It's one I'm looking forward to revisiting.