What a delight to go behind the scenes in theatre, from the point of view of the costume department staff. Fair-play mystery, enough plausible suspects. Very charming. ( )

2 stars
This was an interesting mystery. But unless I missed something there is a plot thread dangling. There were two possible victims for the poison. I wasn’t sure if the attempted poisoning was meant for Brian or Lauren, even though it was Lauren who actually drank it. “She’s had an overdose of acetaminophen” That might have killed Brian but only sickened Lauren. Now later we learn that it was Deborah who stabbed Lauren, but she is seen arriving from New York city as the ambulance is leaving so I don’t see how she could have poisoned the drink even though later she stabbed the girl.

I have questions about the plot that didn’t seem resolved in the book that I put in the spoiler, if anyone has any insight into them I loved to hear from you.



Cozies Reading Challenge ( )

Elizabeth J. Duncan's new cozy mystery series, Shakespeare in the Catskills, is off to a strong beginning with the first installment, Untimely Death. Starring British born costume designer turned amateur sleuth Charlotte Fairfax, this charming novel is an intriguing whodunit with an eclectic cast of interesting characters.

Charlotte's career as a costume designer is near and dear to her heart and she is eager to teach her craft to young intern Aaron Jacobs. With rehearsals already underway for the upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet, she and Aaron are tasked with fitting the cast members wardrobe. The production is off to a bit of a rocky start for Charlotte since one of the actors is someone with whom she shares a complicated and rather unhappy history. Further complicating the beginning of rehearsals is the lead actor's drinking problem but things take a sinister turn when someone tries to poison Lauren Richmond, the lead actress in the show. When that attempt fails, Lauren is fatally stabbed a few days later during rehearsal. Although the state police and Charlotte's boyfriend (and Chief of Police) Ray Nicholson are investigating the case, she decides to do a little snooping on her own when she learns that Aaron is their chief suspect.

Despite living in the US for ten years, Charlotte is still a fairly prim and proper Englishwoman but she is very easy to like. She has a forthright manner of speaking and she sometimes gets a little carried away with lectures about the ins and outs of costume design (a charming, but sometimes annoying, character trait). While she avoids her ex as much as possible, she does not let this discomfort get in the way of doing her job and she is rather surprised by how she feels after they finally come face to face. Charlotte is in a comfortable relationship with Ray but her probe into Lauren's death eventually causes a bit of friction between them.

Since the small police force is not equipped for murder investigations, Ray has no choice but to call in the state police. Although he tries not discuss the specifics of the case with Charlotte, he reveals just enough to pique her curiosity. Fearing the police are getting tunnel vision after they zero in on Aaron, she decides to be proactive and begins trying to put the various pieces of puzzle together on her own. Charlotte's impulsive decision eventually yields results but is the damage to her relationship with Ray worth the risk?

Untimely Death is an enjoyable cozy mystery that fans of the genre will enjoy. Charlotte is quite clever and like many amateur sleuths, she sometimes makes questionable choices as she investigates the murder. The romantic aspect of the novel is low-key but it adds depth to the overall storyline. While Elizabeth J. Duncan employs a number of red herrings and misdirects, the perpetrator's identity is somewhat easy to guess but the motive behind the murder is a complete surprise. All in all, it is a thoroughly enjoyable first installment in the Shakespeare in the Catskills Mystery series that will leave readers impatiently awaiting the next book starring the very intrepid and personable Charlotte Fairfax. ( )

After reading Elizabeth Duncan's series featuring Penny Brannigan, I felt sure I would love the Shakespeare in the Catskills mysteries. I wasn't disappointed. The setting is quite lovely and really draws the reader in. The characters are charming and well developed. I loved the relationship between Charlotte and her assistant, Aaron. They make a great sleuthing team. ( )

British expat Charlotte Fairfax makes her living as the costume designer for a Shakespearean stage company based in a small Catskills hotel. In her spare time, she dates local police chief Ray. The theater company is rehearsing Romeo and Juliet when their preparations are interrupted by first the poisoning and then the stabbing of the young actress playing Juliet. When Charlotte realizes that her new apprentice, Aaron, is the favorite suspect, she takes an active interest in the investigation. Will her interference make her a hero or another murder victim?

The first book in Duncan’s new series follows a formula similar to that of her Penny Brannigan mysteries – an expat who dates the police chief and who has a job in the beauty/fashion industry that requires her to spend one-on-one time with clients in an atmosphere that facilitates the sharing of confidences. Duncan sets her series in interesting locations, she provides a sufficient variety of secondary characters, and she’s a competent plotter. These elements combine to provide a few hours of pleasure for cozy mystery fans. ( )