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Cue the Catastrophe: A Marnie Devlin Cozy Mystery
The chandelier was supposed to be a prop. The murder was not.
When retired English teacher Marnie Devlin loans vintage costumes to the Players Community Theater, she expects sawdust, slapstick, and a few weeks of good company. What she gets is a front-row seat to a very real death, the notoriously cruel director, dispatched by his own chandelier, in front of a laughing audience that thinks it's part of the show.
Armed with her official police consultant badge, her instinct for spotting what doesn't fit, and nine-pound Chihuahua Taco, who has never once been wrong about a person, Marnie assembles her team and starts pulling threads.
The scorned actress with a shattered engagement and a freshly padded bank account looks guilty. The silver-haired theater legend whose life's work was stolen looks guiltier. But as a second body surfaces and evidence turns up in Marnie's own boutique trunk, someone far closer is watching every move she makes.
Taco knew first. Marnie just has to catch up before the killer takes the final curtain call.
When retired English teacher Marnie Devlin loans vintage costumes to the Players Community Theater, she expects sawdust, slapstick, and a few weeks of good company. What she gets is a front-row seat to a very real death, the notoriously cruel director, dispatched by his own chandelier, in front of a laughing audience that thinks it's part of the show.
Armed with her official police consultant badge, her instinct for spotting what doesn't fit, and nine-pound Chihuahua Taco, who has never once been wrong about a person, Marnie assembles her team and starts pulling threads.
The scorned actress with a shattered engagement and a freshly padded bank account looks guilty. The silver-haired theater legend whose life's work was stolen looks guiltier. But as a second body surfaces and evidence turns up in Marnie's own boutique trunk, someone far closer is watching every move she makes.
Taco knew first. Marnie just has to catch up before the killer takes the final curtain call.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 10, 2026
This book is a stand-out from the very onset. A chaotic theater presentation of an aptly accident ridden play results in the death of the highly unpopular director. Marnie and Will are on the scene and take control pending police arrival (appropriate as their now official police consultants). With Marnie already deeply entrenched with the cast, she takes her investigative role seriously, meeting with the Murder Group regularly to process findings and determining future steps. Taco, of course, is a detective doggie dynamo, excelling in sassy sparks and clue discovery (the real star of the show!).
The secondary characters in this book are provided with depth and individual character, making them much more than simple tools or plot points. As suspect or witness, they also give shape and structure to the setting.
Smooth transitions between settings/ scenes enable the reader to remain coccooned in the creative bubble Foster has created. This series continues to exceed expectations with the complexity, number of twists, and difficulty in pinning down the guilty culprit. Can't wait to find out what Foster has in store next!!
I was gifted a copy of this book and voluntarily provided this review. Happy Reading Y'all 📚
The secondary characters in this book are provided with depth and individual character, making them much more than simple tools or plot points. As suspect or witness, they also give shape and structure to the setting.
Smooth transitions between settings/ scenes enable the reader to remain coccooned in the creative bubble Foster has created. This series continues to exceed expectations with the complexity, number of twists, and difficulty in pinning down the guilty culprit. Can't wait to find out what Foster has in store next!!
I was gifted a copy of this book and voluntarily provided this review. Happy Reading Y'all 📚
May 8, 2026
This is a story that grabs you and keeps you involved until the end. Marnie has donated the use of some of her antique clothing and she is also helping to alter them to fit the actors of the play that is being done at their local theater. The group that is putting it on have done work at some of the area theaters and so they were signed up for Willow Springs. After getting the contracts going the director that had been hired wasn't able to do it and the man that was hired had a reputation as being hard on his co-workers. Marnie is watching a rehersel when a chandelier falls and kills the director. As a comsultant for the police Marnie helps with the investigation. The consultant group met for a lot of work to figure out who was the culprit in the murder and things got interesting with Taco, the chichuahua, helping to find the clues the humans missed.
I received an arc and this is my review.
I received an arc and this is my review.
May 9, 2026
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.
Marnie stays booked and busy—retired teacher, police consultant, vintage shop owner, and full‑time super sleuth with her adorable crime‑busting sidekick, Taco. This time, the duo is pulled into the murder of Chris, the theater director, and things only get messier from there.
Marnie, her tight‑knit circle of friends, and, of course, Taco start digging through the Players Community Theater crew to figure out who had it out for Chris. Then Owen, the prop master, turns up dead, and suddenly everyone’s looking over their shoulder while a killer hides in plain sight. The question becomes: can Marnie and Taco unmask the murderer before someone else takes their final bow?
It kept me guessing the whole way through, and I loved that Taco put the pieces together before anyone else. And I always appreciate that Sloane includes a character list at the beginning—it makes jumping into the story even easier.
Marnie stays booked and busy—retired teacher, police consultant, vintage shop owner, and full‑time super sleuth with her adorable crime‑busting sidekick, Taco. This time, the duo is pulled into the murder of Chris, the theater director, and things only get messier from there.
Marnie, her tight‑knit circle of friends, and, of course, Taco start digging through the Players Community Theater crew to figure out who had it out for Chris. Then Owen, the prop master, turns up dead, and suddenly everyone’s looking over their shoulder while a killer hides in plain sight. The question becomes: can Marnie and Taco unmask the murderer before someone else takes their final bow?
It kept me guessing the whole way through, and I loved that Taco put the pieces together before anyone else. And I always appreciate that Sloane includes a character list at the beginning—it makes jumping into the story even easier.
May 13, 2026
This cosy mystery is absolutely bursting with theatrical drama and backstage chaos! I loved how the story throws you straight into the hustle and bustle of opening night preparations for Cue the Catastrophe, with the production crew and actors racing around to get everything ready!
There were alot of characters, but I didn’t find it necessary to keep track of every single one, however, there were alot that were relevant, but the main key players quickly stood out.
I had such a fun time reading this, and Taco the chihuahua completely stole the show for me with his adorable role in the investigation!
I’d definitely recommend this to any fan of cosy mysteries looking for a fun, fast-paced read with plenty of theatrical flair!
I received a free advanced reader copy and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
There were alot of characters, but I didn’t find it necessary to keep track of every single one, however, there were alot that were relevant, but the main key players quickly stood out.
I had such a fun time reading this, and Taco the chihuahua completely stole the show for me with his adorable role in the investigation!
I’d definitely recommend this to any fan of cosy mysteries looking for a fun, fast-paced read with plenty of theatrical flair!
I received a free advanced reader copy and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cue the Catastrophe is a Superb story and series about Marnie Devlin owner of a Vintage Boutique and Amateur Sleuth with her very clever dog Pet Detective Taco and Dr Will Harper Boyfriend, Ruby Gomez Employee and Best Friend . Marnie is loaning costumes for the theatre production of a comedy. Unfortunately one of the Actors dies during a performance. Detective Kate Lin comes to investigate with her team and Marnie now an Official Police Consultant and with the help from her team who have different skills. But what will they uncover and can they discover the truth?
I enjoyed reading this story very much and I highly recommend that you read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading this story very much and I highly recommend that you read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Marnie and Ruby are loaning 1920 vintage outfits from Willow Whispers for the Cue the Catastrophe being performed at the Players Community Theater.
Marnie has been asked to help Vivian, of the Costume Shop, keep the clothing the right measurements for the actors and actresses.
The play itself is a choreographed comedy. Not everything goes as planned in rehearsals.
Forgotten lines, props coming down at the wrong time, sound effects that are way off base.
The prop stagehands, Owen and Derek, work hard to get everything ready and safe for opening night.
The director, Chris, who also is the leading actor, is not the nicest person when dealing with the cast.
When the chandelier comes crashing down and squashes the person under it, the question becomes accident or intentional.
After looking at the clean cut, it was determined to be murder.
Marnie was asked to join the case as a consultant. Her and her team, Will, Ruby, Nancy, Detective Kate, and Taco, head consultant. Head to her place and the suspect board.
With a cast of suspects, including herself, how will Marnie figure out who was the killer before they struck again?
This book has surprising twists that turn into a bigger surprise twist!
Highly recommend!
Marnie has been asked to help Vivian, of the Costume Shop, keep the clothing the right measurements for the actors and actresses.
The play itself is a choreographed comedy. Not everything goes as planned in rehearsals.
Forgotten lines, props coming down at the wrong time, sound effects that are way off base.
The prop stagehands, Owen and Derek, work hard to get everything ready and safe for opening night.
The director, Chris, who also is the leading actor, is not the nicest person when dealing with the cast.
When the chandelier comes crashing down and squashes the person under it, the question becomes accident or intentional.
After looking at the clean cut, it was determined to be murder.
Marnie was asked to join the case as a consultant. Her and her team, Will, Ruby, Nancy, Detective Kate, and Taco, head consultant. Head to her place and the suspect board.
With a cast of suspects, including herself, how will Marnie figure out who was the killer before they struck again?
This book has surprising twists that turn into a bigger surprise twist!
Highly recommend!
May 9, 2026
I enjoyed this detailed small town cozy mystery with our hero Taco the detective dog helping Marnie and her friends once again solve a murder, actually murders. I love the diverse quirky characters who all come together to solve the crimes and get to the bottom of it with the help of Marnie’s handsome boyfriend. They found out in the end that revenge got the better of the murderer and I definitely didn’t guess who did it. I like the author’s writing style and have enjoyed every book I’ve read by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 8, 2026
First let me say this is my first book by Ms. Foster. I can assure you it won’t be my last. I loved the drama, the banter, the characters. A small 9 pound Taco is ready for sleuthing. Marnie is not just a vintage clothing store owner. She also does consulting for the police. So much going on behind the curtains at the local theater. She has loaned costumes for the actors, and actresses. Props are meant to be just that. When they become something else well it’s not good. A must read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a fun story. I really liked the characters and enjoyed their search for clues to find the murderer. The story kept my interest until the end. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews