Death at the Dress Rehearsal
Finished: June 2024
Book Source: NetGalley
Book Publication Date: June 2024
Two ageing actors attempt to solve a murder after a body is found on the set in this witty, fun whodunnit, perfect for fans of Thursday Murder Club and Death & Croissants .
In 1970, on the set of downmarket sitcom ‘Floggit and Leggit’, leading man Edward Lowe stumbles across the body of a woman, apparently the victim of a tragic drowning accident. But there’s something about her that rings the faintest of bells in Edward’s head and, convinced the woman has been murdered, he enlists the help of his co-star John le Breton to investigate further. Crossing the country and back again during gaps in filming, the two men uncover both a series of murders in the modern day, and links to another unfortunate death during the War. As the body count mounts, Edward and John face a race against time to save the innocent victims of a serial killer…
Trigger Warnings:
Murder, Dog dies
My Review
Edward stumbles upon a body while filming for a sitcom he thinks is beneath his talent. Frustrated with the police ruling the death an accident, Edward and his costar John decide to investigate on their own.
Murder at the Dress Rehearsal seemed to be pitched as a cozy mystery, but it fell short of my expectations. The premise was intriguing, but the ending and the description of the murders detracted from the cozy feel I was anticipating. The book was marketed for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, but it lacked the cleverness and charm that I love about that series.
My experience was likely impacted by the description that set me up with different expectations. Additionally, the frequent flashbacks to the characters’ ‘glory days’ during the war felt overdone.
Overall, Murder at the Dress Rehearsal had potential with a solid plot line for the mystery itself, but didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Give it a try though if you enjoy twisty plot, older sleuths, war time plots, and a solid writing style by the author. I’ve seen reference to Dad’s Army with this book, which I have not seen – so if you liked that, this may be for you also!
Spoilers/Summary:
SPOILERS BELOW. Stop here if you do not want to read spoilers.
Madge’s dad was killed at war and she sees the video. She decides to murder the loved ones of the people that had anything remotely to do with her dad’s death in the war.
[…] Book Review with Spoilers | ARC Review | Death at the Dress Rehearsal by Stuart Douglas Book Review with Spoilers | ARC Review | Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne Book Review with Spoilers | ARC Review | The Love Algorithm by Camilla Isley […]