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"I love Anne Coates’ books about super sleuth Hannah Weybridge, the East Dulwich journalist, mum and detective who this time enters the murky treacherous world of London theatre. Fabulous and I can’t wait for more!" David Harry
"The mysterious death of a doyen of the stage leads us into an intriguing adventure in theatrical London, with links to underworld crime. Pacey and well written, this was my first Hannah Weybridge and it won't be my last. Definitely not your ordinary detective!" J.J. Anderson
"It's been a long time since I've found a book i didn't want to put down or to end! I think this might be due to Covid fatigue, too much reading any book that happened to be available. This is the fifth Hannah Weybridge novel I've read and by now I thought the characters would have become stale and stagnated but the author, Anne Coates, manages to keep everything fresh and moving at a pace." CM
At the Old Vic, one of London’s most iconic theatres, the stage is set for one of our national treasures to tread the boards in a new, sell-out play. Joan Ballantyne, now in her sixties, has attracted a new fan base with her role in an award-winning soap, Chicory Road, and they’ve turned out in force. As the curtain rises, it reveals the strangely still body of the leading lady, slumped in an armchair. The show will not go on…
Still recovering from the attempt on her life, Hannah Weybridge is stunned. She had been collaborating with the actress on her memoir. Now she has to contribute to her obituary. Suicide is suspected, but Hannah, from the little she knows of the woman, is sceptical. As is Joan’s son, the famous TV actor, Leo Hawkins, who implores Hannah to investigate the circumstances of his mother’s mysterious death.
Hannah is drawn into the lives of those who knew Joan. But who can she trust in a world where everyone seems to be playing a part?
"The mysterious death of a doyen of the stage leads us into an intriguing adventure in theatrical London, with links to underworld crime. Pacey and well written, this was my first Hannah Weybridge and it won't be my last. Definitely not your ordinary detective!" J.J. Anderson
"It's been a long time since I've found a book i didn't want to put down or to end! I think this might be due to Covid fatigue, too much reading any book that happened to be available. This is the fifth Hannah Weybridge novel I've read and by now I thought the characters would have become stale and stagnated but the author, Anne Coates, manages to keep everything fresh and moving at a pace." CM
At the Old Vic, one of London’s most iconic theatres, the stage is set for one of our national treasures to tread the boards in a new, sell-out play. Joan Ballantyne, now in her sixties, has attracted a new fan base with her role in an award-winning soap, Chicory Road, and they’ve turned out in force. As the curtain rises, it reveals the strangely still body of the leading lady, slumped in an armchair. The show will not go on…
Still recovering from the attempt on her life, Hannah Weybridge is stunned. She had been collaborating with the actress on her memoir. Now she has to contribute to her obituary. Suicide is suspected, but Hannah, from the little she knows of the woman, is sceptical. As is Joan’s son, the famous TV actor, Leo Hawkins, who implores Hannah to investigate the circumstances of his mother’s mysterious death.
Hannah is drawn into the lives of those who knew Joan. But who can she trust in a world where everyone seems to be playing a part?
217 pages, Paperback
Published July 13, 2023
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 14, 2022
Ok, so this was my first introduction to the Hannah Weybridge series – and I do feel like I definitely would have benefitted from reading the previous books in the series prior to this one. There were a lot of people close to the main character that I felt i couldn’t get a good grip on and would have liked more of a background on them.
But, that being said it was still a good little mystery, a slow burn leading you right into the fire pit at the end where everything comes to a blow, tying up all those loose ends and questions that I had burning inside me.
At the beginning of the book I didn’t feel much of a connection to Hannah – I didn’t understand why she was the girl everyone wanted to run too to investigate the murder instead of leaving it with the police – and I know they are pretty useless and I am a sucker for the civilian investigation trope. It’s a fave of mine.
But as the story developed I found myself connecting more and more with Hannah, fearing for safety as more people she knew were being affected by the investigation she had gotten herself roped into.
This was a nice, cosy little mystery for me and now I have seen what Hannah is capable of I definitely see myself backtracking over her journey and ordering the previous books in the series.
But, that being said it was still a good little mystery, a slow burn leading you right into the fire pit at the end where everything comes to a blow, tying up all those loose ends and questions that I had burning inside me.
At the beginning of the book I didn’t feel much of a connection to Hannah – I didn’t understand why she was the girl everyone wanted to run too to investigate the murder instead of leaving it with the police – and I know they are pretty useless and I am a sucker for the civilian investigation trope. It’s a fave of mine.
But as the story developed I found myself connecting more and more with Hannah, fearing for safety as more people she knew were being affected by the investigation she had gotten herself roped into.
This was a nice, cosy little mystery for me and now I have seen what Hannah is capable of I definitely see myself backtracking over her journey and ordering the previous books in the series.
February 13, 2022
Well, it’s the 5th yes 5th book in the Hannah Weybridge series, and what a series it has been!!
I felt like there was a different feel to the book and it had been a while since I have caught up with Hannah, so a lot of the past events I couldn’t remember. I was wracking my brains with some references, but in the end, I just read the story without worrying. You can read this book as a standalone but I wouldn’t, I would read the series.
It was nice to see Hannah take a different take on life and help to write someone’s memoir instead of getting herself into trouble…well…this is Hannah!!
The only thing that did annoy me with Hannah, is that she didn’t appreciate being photographed without her knowledge and being spied on….but then she did the exact same thing! Tsk Tsk
It was nice to see the characters from previous instalments and as much as I am still disappointed in Tom, I liked Leo as a new character, hopefully, he will be there in the next one. I loved Janet and Claudia’s side stories, they put a smile on my face!
I always love getting lost in a story by Anne, she has created this world that is dark, and gritty and where you are forever rooting for the good guys. I have said it before and will say it again, I love the fact that these are set in the 90s and everything is done old school. Just makes me smile, something about the innocence of it all. Please keep writing more Hannah!!!
I felt like there was a different feel to the book and it had been a while since I have caught up with Hannah, so a lot of the past events I couldn’t remember. I was wracking my brains with some references, but in the end, I just read the story without worrying. You can read this book as a standalone but I wouldn’t, I would read the series.
It was nice to see Hannah take a different take on life and help to write someone’s memoir instead of getting herself into trouble…well…this is Hannah!!
The only thing that did annoy me with Hannah, is that she didn’t appreciate being photographed without her knowledge and being spied on….but then she did the exact same thing! Tsk Tsk
It was nice to see the characters from previous instalments and as much as I am still disappointed in Tom, I liked Leo as a new character, hopefully, he will be there in the next one. I loved Janet and Claudia’s side stories, they put a smile on my face!
I always love getting lost in a story by Anne, she has created this world that is dark, and gritty and where you are forever rooting for the good guys. I have said it before and will say it again, I love the fact that these are set in the 90s and everything is done old school. Just makes me smile, something about the innocence of it all. Please keep writing more Hannah!!!
January 20, 2022
Hannah weybridge is a fantastic character and here we see her becoming involved in another investigation this time set around the world of the theatres I love this series of books as you keep returning to the characters and seeing them develop it’s almost like returning to old friends. I have the Great privilege of being a character in this book and it’s always intriguing to see yourself in fiction I’m significantly more glamorous in this than I am In real life. 4.5* from me and long May this series continue
February 1, 2022
As someone who adores the theatre, I had to read this. Wowies the drama did not disappoint, This starts with a bang and doesn't let up.
Hannah is a great character who seems to get involved in the off stage drama quite by accident. She's feisty and independent and I think she's brilliant.
I was suspicious of most of the other characters which means it must be written well if you trust no-one.
Plenty of twists, action packed.
Hannah is a great character who seems to get involved in the off stage drama quite by accident. She's feisty and independent and I think she's brilliant.
I was suspicious of most of the other characters which means it must be written well if you trust no-one.
Plenty of twists, action packed.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews