Encore Murder

Trixie Dolan & Evangeline Sinclair Mystery #2

by Marian Babson

Old rivalries result in murder when Evangeline Sinclair's old acting adversary, Griselda von Kirstenburg, announces her intention to write her memoirs, which will feature unflattering portrayals of Evangeline and Trixie Dolan, and steal the thunder of Evangeline's own memoirs

Genres: Mystery

Hardcover

First published October 1, 1990

About the author

Marian Babson, a pseudonym for Ruth Stenstreem, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but lived in London for the greater part of her life.

She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.

A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.

She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.

The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.

She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.

Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010

Reviews

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Babson's mysteries read like British writing despite her American roots. Here Trixie and Evangeline, aging movie starts, are back again dealing with the general bitchiness and eccentricity of the creative world. They are in London as daughter Martha is preparing to marry a producer. A liberated actress dies from a well-aimed arrow and Martha is a pro.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two female stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood live together in London. They are waiting for their next great play.
When a former rival enters the picture and someone is murdered, mayhem ensues.
Light reading and humour in this whodunit!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Babson's Trixie Dolan/Evangeline Sinclair mysteries, but this isn't the best-plotted of the series. The two retired movie queens, having shared a husband and, for a longer period, a secret now live temporarily in a maisonette in London, where Trixie's daughter, Martha, is about to marry Hugh, a wealthy producer. Their lives are complicated by Hugh's ex-wife, who has persuaded Evangeline to star in a shoestring movie of "Queen Leah," a feminist version of a famed Shakespeare play. There's also an expatriate producer, a former star who is writing her autobiography, a policeman with stars and pound signs in his eyes, and a variety of other characters. Then one of them is dead...

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Golden Age Actresses, Trixie Dolan and Evangeline Sinclair are firmly settled in London now, waiting to be cast in the new version of "Arsenic and Old Lace" by their new friend, producer, and fiance of Trixie's daughter, Martha.

Life never goes smoothly for these two 'stars' and that point is brought home when Hugh's (the producer,) ex-wife is killed by a well-aimed arrow pining her to their door. Past experience with British finest decides the two ladies to figure out the crime themselves, plus the fact that Martha is an expert with archery.

A bevy of characters, plots, and humor make this book a fun read.

[Pat Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light reading. Lots of fun.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

good char, likely villain, but hastily wrapped up at end

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the dialog in these, but once again the ending is rushed and pulled of the hat. It is close to a 3-star for me.