A Play for Revenge

Starlight Cove #4

by Cynthia Ellingsen

In this emotional story from Starlight Cove, a single mother must solve the mystery of the town theater to learn why it was shut down and stop the unknown forces trying to keep it closed.

Newly divorced Lily Kimura returns to her hometown to start fresh with her daughter and her recently retired parents. She’s committed to rebuilding her life, starting with a new job at the town theater.

The Starlight Cove Playhouse has been closed for years, ever since a tragic fire took the life of the lead actress. Now, thanks to an anonymous donor, the town is finally ready for a revival. So is Lily, who wholeheartedly dives into her new duties as theater manager, including an unexpected connection with the visiting movie star playing the lead.

But strange noises, sinister messages, and a mysterious play hidden in the rafters soon make it clear that not everyone is keen to move on. Someone wants the playhouse closed for good.

With the help of an old friend turned local police officer, Dean Harrington, Lily digs into the truth behind every question, threat, and possibility presented to her. She’s just not sure if Starlight Cove will be ready for the answers, or if, as they say, the show will go on.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Romance

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2023

Reviews

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name of Book: A Play for Revenge
Series: A Starlight Cove Mystery
Author: Cynthia Ellingsen
Publisher: Lake Union Publishers
Genre: Mystery, Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: September 12, 2023
My Rating: 4+ Stars
Pages: 316

Lily Kimura is excited about and her position as director of the Tourism Council thus the theater manager, at “The Starlight Cove Playhouse’ which was founded by her grandmother in 1965 but has been closed as a tragic fire took the life of the lead actress.
However, an anonymous donation has been made with the intention of bring the theatre back to life. Lily is even more excited about movie star Arlo Majors who will be playing the lead.
The plan is to have a press conference and then a tour of the theater; Lily will introduce Ario Majors. However when it is time to introduce him she becomes star struck which actually turned out humorous and the beginning of a great opening.

However it appears that not everyone wants the playhouse to reopen.
As Lily checks around the playhouse she find unopened boxes that reveal secrets as well as questions ~ Is there a connection with Benjamin Hamilton’s daughters both dying in accidents? Lucia died in the bridge collapse and three years later Belinda died in the fire at the playhouse. The collapsed bridge was supposed to be due to a structural design flaw….Hmmm

This was such a GREAT enjoyable read!
My first Cynthia Ellingsen story and I am looking forward to another

Want to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 12, 2023.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this delightful novel and wow! What a great novel from a new to me author!
With my love of theater and music I thought I would enjoy this one and were my instincts right! I was in love since page 1!
I connected to these characters right from the start because of the theater.
Lily is a wonderful character and one that I enjoyed in getting to know.
My favorite thing about this book is the story was told from Lily's point of view.
Her grandmother in my opinion is a special character. I felt like she was my own.
There are some well written twists and turns that kept me glued to the book until Lily's story was finished.
The cover is beautiful and made me want to jump right into it!
I highly recommend this book.
Here's a favorite quote from this story and I really agree with it but sometimes it's very hard to for some people. I have a hard time because I don't do well with certain changes, but I know that they have to happen.
“You can’t change the past,” I told Kaia.
“We learn, and we move on. It’s when you can’t let go that it’s hard to live in the here and now.”“Well, I’m definitely living in the here and now,” Kaia said, her voice dry..“Wishing to speed up this chat and get to the future.”
5 stars for a job well done!
I'll be looking for more by this author.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[a i n c e r a · Rating 4 out of 5]

well...im in love.

[SuperWendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a little too much going on with this story and when the focus wasn't on the mystery of the old town theater, my attention wandered. Think of this like a small town women's fiction novel having a baby with a cozy mystery. The cozy mystery stuff I liked, the small town women's fiction stuff? I found tedious. The heroine is divorced and struggling to help navigate her daughter through a relationship with her absent father. The heroine's parents have hid a skid in their marriage post retirement. The heroine starts flirting with the local movie star in town to do summer stock...I didn't really care about any of it other than the mystery of the fire at the old theater and the dead young actress found in the ashes. Fans of the light mysteries on the Hallmark Channel should take a look, but just OK for me.

[Cynthia Ellingsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read it a few times. ;)

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of the series so far, and that's saying something! I was so impressed by Lily's story. It was so gritty and real, and sugarcoated nothing where parenting is concerned. I appreciated the way marriage and retirement were handled here - it isn't all unicorns and rainbows!

I feel like Ellingsen took some risks with this book, and as a result, I was always kept guessing. That was a breath of fresh air, since I consider myself pretty skilled at guessing endings. I was also really surprised by how the romance played out in this one. It didn't take center stage (ha, sorry), and developed in a way I never saw coming. Another nice change from the norm!

Overall, an exceptional addition to the series. I already live in Michigan, but I still want so badly to visit Starlight Cove)!

[Stefi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yawn. ⭐️⭐️ I really wanted to like this book. A small town theatre with a tragic past that is now haunted by a mystery? Yes please. Main character who is trying to figure out her midlife chapter with many familial compications in mind? Cool. But the writing was lackluster, the ‘Hollywood storyline’ unappealing, and there really was no mystery to this story, only me being annoyed that I took so long to finish it instead of DNFing it. Just wasn’t for me - a real dramatic tragedy.

[Riley K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this emotional story from Starlight Cove, a single mother must solve the mystery of the town theater to learn why it was shut down and stop the unknown forces trying to keep it closed. Newly divorced Lily Kimura returns to her hometown to start fresh with her daughter and her recently retired parents. She’s committed to rebuilding her life, starting with a new job at the town theater. The Starlight Cove Playhouse has been closed for years, ever since a tragic fire took the life of the lead actress. Now, thanks to an anonymous donor, the town is finally ready for a revival. So is Lily, who wholeheartedly dives into her new duties as theater manager, including an unexpected connection with the visiting movie star playing the lead. But strange noises, sinister messages, and a mysterious play hidden in the rafters soon make it clear that not everyone is keen to move on. Someone wants the playhouse closed for good. With the help of an old friend turned local police officer, Dean Harrington, Lily digs into the truth behind every question, threat, and possibility presented to her. She’s just not sure if Starlight Cove will be ready for the answers, or if, as they say, the show will go on.

I love a good thriller and this definitely does not disappoint. Will recommend to others.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

With my love of all things Theatre I knew this book was for me and I was not disappointed! “A Play for Revenge” by Cynthia Ellingsen was a sheer delight. The story is about a recently divorced woman with a young teenage daughter who returns to her small home town to rebuild her life, and help reopen the recently remodeled theater that was destroyed in a suspicious fire. The theatre is part of her family legacy as her famous grandmother was the founder.. We meet all her family members one more delightful than the other, and the famous Hollywood actor who agrees to be the lead in the seasons first show. This book was a fun mystery, a quick read that had me smiling the whole time.
Thank you NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for allowing me to review this book.

[Joanne Walsh]

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters, they were very complex.

[Linda Surritte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok light read....

[Abigail Carroscia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy with a fun & sweet setting. Didn't love how the main character's romantic fling felt, well, out of character. But otherwise appreciated the character development!

[Sarah Sajadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

With characters it is so easy to fall in love with, and an incredibly engaging mystery, A Play For Revenge had me easily hooked, and unable to stop reading as I tried to puzzle out all the different questions I had. From beginning to end the characters had me enthralled and wanting to know what would happen to them next. I found myself caring for them greatly, and, beyond that, incredibly intrigued by the mystery they were trying to solve, along with all the interpersonal situations they had. My only complaint with this book is that I wish there was more of it! I would love to explore these characters more, and have a chance to see them grow in the future. Highly recommend for any fiction or mystery lovers who enjoy a small town cozy feel to their books!

[Isabela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was really slow but the last chapters were packed with action. Overall it was a good story with a nice resolution and growth of characters. I think the mystery could've been amped by a lot and maybe that's what I was missing.

[Rachael Fader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating

20 years after the death of Starlight Cove’s exceptionally talented Belinda Hamilton, and forever changes the life of the man she loved during a fire that burned the Playhouse, someone has purchased the abandoned relic and remodeled it to its former glory. But not everything is as it seems.

There’s so much to this story and I love how the author has built up each character to such perfection. I couldn’t put this down. It has everything…intrigue, mystery, action, love, heartbreak, personal growth, infatuation, murder and suspense. I will definitely be reading more from this author going forward.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily was asked to be the leader of the cove playhouse. It had been renovated after a fire that had taken place 20 years ago killing Belinda, an up and coming actress. Lily received several threats against the playhouse. Lily discovers an old play that had been written by Belinda. The play was about a real crime that accidentally killed her sister. It implicated the mayor and other people who covered up the crime. On opening night, the playhouse is set ablaze. Lily discovers the arsonist. Lily’s daughter Kaia is inside. In Lily’s hunt to find her daughter during the fire, Lily is able to find who was responsible and solves the mystery just as she collapses from smoke inhalation.

[Anita C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent story set in Starlight Cove

The first book had an interesting historical background, but was also focused on the building relationship between the main characters. In the next three books, Cynthia gave us stories with surprising depth and breadth, dealing with several different industries and giving us a glimpse into what people who work in those areas experience. There is a hint of romance to come, but the focus was more on the issues that the characters had to deal with, which I liked. All 4 books are enjoyable reads with endearing characters.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish the story had been more mystery and less middle-aged woman trying to discover what went wrong and that she was still competent/desirable/etc. I'd have liked to read a little more about Lily's background to discover why she was so qualified that she could jump from one (head/in charge) position to another. There was a great story on the bridge (or building) collapse and theater fire that just wasn't developed. However, from the look of the ratings that seems to be what a lot of readers were looking for.

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small town mystery combined with some family drama and a bit of romance.

I found the family drama amusing at times and the mystery aspect was really good! I found the romance story a bit contrived and cringey though.

The pace was very slow at the start and I was struggling to carry on as it wasn’t appealing to me, but it was a pleasant read and when the pace got going towards the end, the story really upped it’s game.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel with some mystery and some romance elements is set on the coast of Michigan. The long abandoned theater in the little town of Starlight Cove has been renovated by an unknown donor and is preparing for a summer season. Divorced Lily Kimura and her twelve-year-old daughter have recently returned to town, living with Lily's newly retired parents. All of the family members are still adjusting when Lily is offered the position of theater manager, which she happily accepts. But mysterious occurrences and anonymous emails hint at danger. Fascinating story that is hard to put down.

[Chris Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A move back home after a tough divorce. Our heroine goes from working at the tourism board to manging her hometowns playhouse after it is renovated. Years before a terrible tragedy claimed a young girls life. An angry father, a scarred young man, his mother and a narcissitic actor are just some of the suspects in this fun American cozy mystery. The twist ending was surprising and fulfilling. The characters are engaging and you root for almost all of them. I found this book fun and enjoyable.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great giveaway for me! I didn't have to read the rest of the series to know what waa going on, and it had my attention from the beginning. It was mysterious and sweet. I felt like I was inside the house with this family going through the worries and excitement. I was in love in a new relationship, I was a worried mom and daughter, and I was navigating a divorce. Thanks for letting me take this little journey. Now, excuse me as I go back to the beginning of Starlight Cove.

[Michelle Castaneda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Play for Revenge by Cynthia Ellingsen is a Starlight Cove Novel. This book was not what I expected— it was so much more! I loved the characters and their circumstances. Everything about this book from the setting and the history— all of it pulled me quickly into the story. This author is new to me and I hope to read more from her soon. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

[Barbara Keane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Story

I liked everything about this story. I’ve read other Starlight Cove stories, but it has been quite a while. Still, the setting seemed friendly and familiar, the plot had enough twists to keep me guessing and up late at night, and there was a happy ending. I look forward to the next installment. It is probably chick lit, so I would recommend it to book clubs and women. Sorry guys!

[Erin Zweizig · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this series of books has been the fact that there was both romance and mystery. I feel as though the romance portion of this book was lacking. There was build up of two different possible outcomes for the main characters romantic life, and neither seemed to be completed by the end of the book. I loved how the mystery of the play concluded and how most of the storylines came to a close. Still loved the book! And would definitely recommend.

[Marsha Nelson-Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't Judge a book by the cover

Seriously ,I almost didn't select this book because the cover was so dark and foreboding. I was totally hooked before I got to the second chapter.I've read other books in this series And had a sort of expectation of what Would be coming And I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have a clue what would be coming.This was a great plot And I hope others will enjoy it as much as I did

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes a book pull your emotions, and in the end makes you happy? I don’t have an answer, except to say this book did that for me. This is a small town America cosy murder mystery, that has family lives and issues at its heart. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Teresa Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. It was an easy, engaging read with a wholesome family feel to it. I love it when a small town/community all look out for one another. It had me on my toes throughout thinking who was behind all the mysterious happenings. I love the theatre so this was certainly one for me. Definitely worth a read and i will undeniably pick another book by this author.

[Morgan Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a true dream for anyone who loves a small town theater and some mystery! The characters are lovable and their emotions are palpable. Has just enough mystery and drama to keep it page turning but with a cozy small town vibe. Theater lovers will rejoice at the rise and fall of the starlight cove theater and its revival!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was really good but I have loved the whole series. It's nice that they all stand well on their own. I got tickled because the first thing my husband did when he retired was put crown molding in our living room. My grandmother was the queen of her retirement home just like the grandmother in this book. It was just a really enjoyable book.