Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse

by Mike Befeler

When a staged murder at a mystery dinner playhouse turns into a real poisoning death‚ recently retired detective Gabe Tremont is called back to solve the crime and discovers the playhouse director‚ the cast and a spy from a competing theater all have reasons to want the murdered man dead.

Genres: Mystery

265 pages, Hardcover

First published February 11, 2015

About the author

Mike Befeler writes the humorous Paul Jacobson "Geezer Lit" mystery series featuring an ocotgenarian protagonist with short-term memory loss. The series includes: Retirement Homes Are Murder, Living With Your Kids Is Murder, Senior Moments Are Murder, Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder, Care Homes Are Murder and Nursing Homes Are Murder. His other books include Unstuff Your Stuff, Death of a Scam Artist, The Tesla Legacy, The Best Chicken Thief in All of Europe, Court Trouble, Murder on the Switzerland Trail, Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse, The V V Agency, The Back Wing, The Front Wing, Paradise Cort, Coronavirus Daze, and Old Detectives Home. Mike retired from the computer data storage industry to write full time. He's past president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

Reviews

[Cheryl Landmark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light, fun mystery with a likeable main character and a cozy, Agatha Christie-like feel to it. Nice to see a detective with a solid, untroubled marriage and a good relationship with his wife, although his inability to find something to occupy his retirement time put a bit of a strain on that relationship! His so-called "retirement list" and attempts at fulfilling it were silly and ridiculous, but still quite humourous. I can't believe anyone would give up quite so easily and quickly on something they failed at on the first try, but it did make for some comic relief. The mystery itself was fairly good, with a lot of suspects and viable motives. I would definitely read another book by this author.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as a mystery, it's an exercise in how not to retire. Our retired detective, after one week of leisure, doesn't know what to do with himself because he never planned a post-retirement life. Unlike me, who had lots of plans and is busier than ever, he is driving his wife crazy. He and his wife create a list of possible retirement activities and the humor is what happens as he tries each one.

The mystery itself reminds me of an Agatha Christie because every one is a suspect. I'm not saying Mike's writing is equal to that of the Queen of Mysteries, but the theme is. I did guess the "who done it", but did not guess "who done it" in the play that is being performed--and that answer is also Christie-type twist.

This is an enjoyable book, not my favorite of the author's (I really like his paranormal books), but a good afternoon's read.

[BJ Magnani · Rating 5 out of 5]

What? Retire?

Detective Gabe Tremont thought he was retired when he is unexpectedly pulled in to solve a murder at a local dinner theater. Though this senior detective struggles with aging and retirement—guided by his wife and interesting community neighbors—he’s a policeman first and foremost. And getting back to what he knows best is like walking in old, comfortable shoes.

'Mystery of the Dinner Playhouse' showcases Mike Befeler’s easy writing style of creating characters with a sense of purpose and place. Descriptions generate a world of people that will pull you into the story. Be sure to keep track of the clues. This mystery harkens to classic Agatha Christie with multiple suspects—all potential murderers. And don’t discount the intuition of a seasoned detected. I thoroughly enjoyed this. You will, too.

[Alonzo Church · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lightweight mystery that succeeds in its aim of being a middle of the road entertainment and nothing more than that. It’s like an episode of Matlock. The aspirations are low, but amiably met, and the solution is even mildly clever. The comedy routines around the detective’s purported retirement list are — well, harmless. The style is pleasantly old-fashioned throughout. The setting of a mystery dinner theater is pretty well realized, but the Colorado setting is pretty invisible.

It is odd that there is so much gentle, unthreatening literature around murder. I wonder what a future century’s social historian will make of that.

[Brigitte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed that this was not part of his Geezer series as a tablemate at a event I was at recently had recommended him for that particular series. That said, it was still a pleasant, quick read (only 224 pages). Reminded me of a typical Agatha Christie or P. D. James book where all the suspects are in one location and some slight overtones of a cozy. Different ending insofar as the individual "who done it," though. Would recommend if you need a break from a more intense thriller and need something light.

[KenandSue Bonvallet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Imagine assigning your high school freshman English class to write a murder mystery. You provide an outline:
Chap 1--the murder
Chap 2--detective identifies the suspects (6)
Chap 3-8--Discuss each suspect
Chap 9--Gather the suspects in a room and identify the culprit

This is how this book reads: straitforward, no misdirection, end

[Erin Grigson Baylis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really sucked into this book! The whodunnit was good and while I did predict the ending, it was still a good story.
I liked the characters and they were all very unique, so there wasn't any confusion as to who did what even though there were a lot of characters.
I think 8/10 is fair. Easy mystery read!

[Ollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like murder mysteries, theater, and stories based in Colorado, I would highly recommend this book. This book was even better than I thought it was going to be. It was an easy read, and every time I put it down, I didn't want to. Totally recommend it!

[Jan Sjostrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

good mystery very likable characters kept one guessing till end

[Bear · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book felt kind of all over the place. It felt like so many ideas were going at once and it just felt as if someone wasn't fully finishing a single thought.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read

Mike Befeler is good with character relationships as well as keeping the reader guessing. A pleasant read for a pleasant evening.

[Millie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars! This book was a classic murder mystery with a funny sort of spin on it. I just feel like there’s a lot of extra/unnecessary information. Of course I predicted who did it correctly 😏

[Donna Woodard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, authentic, likable.

[Peggy Stockdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and fun mystery to read!

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gabe Tremont has just retired from his job as detective with the Bearcrest, Co police department. To celebrate, his wife takes him to a Mystery Dinner Playhouse. During the performance, the actor who usually dies actually does. Gabe spends the rest of the book figuring out who done it, and also trying to figure out which activity he should take up for retirement. That part of the book got old really quickly. Nobody can be that inept and still be a successful detective. Also, who gives up on a hobby after one failed attempt? The book was readable, but I've read much better mysteries.

[Courtney Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun murder mystery. Recently retired myself, I could identify with Gabe's dilemma trying to find something to replace his love of detective work. Fortunately, he gets drawn back in when there is a murder at the dinner playhouse. This is a whodunit in the tradition of Agatha Christie where you get to try to figure out the culprit along with the detective. And the side mystery (will Gabe ever find anything on his retirement list he can enjoy) makes a delightful diversion and makes Gabe and Angie lovable characters to know.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Newly retired police detective Gabe Tremont is driving his wife crazy. He just doesn't know what to do with himself. So Angie drags him to a mystery dinner theater, hoping that will pique his interest. When one of the actors dies for real, Gabe is called back to take the case, since no one else is available. In and around his investigation, he tries to find an interest that will keep him happy in retirement.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a light fun read. I also enjoyed that the author is from Boulder and I live just down the "turnpike" in Aurora. So it's always fun to read about places you know. It's a novel that feels like you might be reading a script for a play. It also kind of reminds me of The Westing Game. Glad I picked it up at the library on a whim.

[Doug]

I liked the story which fills some vacant time but I found the fact that a retired police officer had such a hard time trying to determine what to do in his retirement and the process that he used and the results rather simplistic and unreal.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Befeler has achieved a winner in this delightful mystery. If you are a fan of Mystery Dinner Theater or just love mysteries you will love this book and its interesting characters! I highly recommend this book to all readers!!!

[Marg Corjay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid clean cozy mystery. No language, abusive situations, or excessive graphic violence. Realistic interesting characters.

[John Sargent · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting characters. very fast read. not a great plot but lite and enjoyable

[Lynda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull and plodding. Avoid this one.

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot sidetracked by detective looking for some hobby when He retires,slowed the plot down and did not help the book.

[Penney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the author's description of his writing as "Geezer - lit." Good promise, but ultimately a shallow plot, banal dialogue and forgettable characters.