I enjoy the way a detective novel can introduce me to the details of a particular way of life or job choice which is very a theatre complex in Calgary, Canada. She shows through her experiences the topsy turvy time scale of her working life, the humdrum administration and the unromantic contrast between the front of the house and the working areas behind.
This is a thriller about Kate’s stubborn refusal to be deterred from investigating the murder of a man in the theatre toilet during a performance. The unknown murderer escalates his or her efforts to discourage her to a level of physical attack as well as of anonymous threats. The book centres on Kate’s experiences and, even though candidates for the murderer are introduced, she is so vivid a character that most of them do not impinge on one’s mind. Kate’s domination of the story as things happen to her is a weakness in the development of the mystery. Furthermore the implacable determination of Kate seems not just pigheaded but very foolish as she experiences various attacks.
The theatre complex is fascinating with innumerable back corridors which look
alike, complicated security which makes it very hard to move freely around -
even a key may open only a limited part - and the stage itself with all its
machinery. The atmosphere of the city is well described and the fantastic Canadian
scenery shown as weekend distraction for the heroine contrasts well with the
claustrophobic theatre complex
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Jennifer S. Palmer
This is the first book about Kate Carpenter and is described as the first of
a series on the jacket.