SUMMARY

"Challinor, who often modernizes and repurposes golden-age mystery ploys, this time takes the further step of recruiting the stars of those classic novels to help solve the case."—Kirkus Reviews

"Fans—and there are many—will be shouting, 'Bravo!'"—Booklist

A flawless murder is performed on stage, but it's no act

Rex Graves and his new wife, Helen, attend the opening night of a play in which five famous literary sleuths of a bygone era are invited to Pinegrove Hall to solve the mystery of a missing heirloom. When the heroine meets with a sinister end, the audience applauds, unaware that the real drama has only just begun.

As a Scottish barrister and private detective, Rex is called upon to help discover who among the cast and crew staged the death of the beautiful young actress. But this challenging mystery has unexpected complications waiting in the wings, and Rex must use all his skills to unmask the true culprit.

Praise for the Rex Graves Mysteries:

"Satisfying . . . Smooth prose will keep cozy fans turning the pages."—Publishers Weekly

"Nicely mixes procedural detail and village charm and will appeal to fans of Deborah Crombie and Anne Cleeland."—Booklist

"C.S. creates devilishly complex characters, keeping the reader on edge until the final page."—Suspense Magazine

AVAILABLE EXCERPTS

• Upstaged by Murder