this was a wonderful period crime mystery set in 1930s. Bertie Carroll’s last minute decision to see a very small production of one of his lesser known plays at The Palace Theatre causes him to be witness and then investigator to a real life murder. I loved the cast of characters among the play’s actors as well as our main protagonist Bertie and his friend Chief Inspector Chapman. The setting was wonderful and I learned so much about theatre and the tricks and magic of early twentieth centre staging. This book really scratched my cosy crime itch and I cannot wait to read Bertie’s next escapade when it is released.