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Stage Door #2.5
A Cue to a Kill
The show must go on... but can it, when one of the actors has a cue to a kill?
Backstage at the last night performance of the murder-mystery play "Bone Chiller," a real life killer is stalking the corridors of the theater.
The Goose Meadow Bay Players' Halloween production has been declared an artistic success by enthralled audiences, but onstage and backstage the cast and crew are just a little bit bored.
On the last night, one of the actors has a great idea to liven things up and everything seems harmless enough, but then an attempt is made on one actor's life. Not long after that, another goes missing.
With the audience's laughter ringing in their ears, the cast are more intent on stardom than finding the potential murderer lurking amongst them. Can Kath keep the show running, the cast safe and make sure the killer sticks to the script?
This is a cozy mystery short read in the Stage Door series.
Backstage at the last night performance of the murder-mystery play "Bone Chiller," a real life killer is stalking the corridors of the theater.
The Goose Meadow Bay Players' Halloween production has been declared an artistic success by enthralled audiences, but onstage and backstage the cast and crew are just a little bit bored.
On the last night, one of the actors has a great idea to liven things up and everything seems harmless enough, but then an attempt is made on one actor's life. Not long after that, another goes missing.
With the audience's laughter ringing in their ears, the cast are more intent on stardom than finding the potential murderer lurking amongst them. Can Kath keep the show running, the cast safe and make sure the killer sticks to the script?
This is a cozy mystery short read in the Stage Door series.
44 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2015
115 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 10, 2018
A very short and enjoyable read. A murder mystery production at a local theatre turns into a night of actual (attempted) murder mystery. A fun read. As an amateur dramatist myself I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will be checking out the rest!
February 24, 2017
This cozy short mystery focuses on a group of actors on the final night of their most recent production and mayhem begins backstage just before the curtain rises. I enjoyed the story told from the point of view of the props manager and found the mystery a fun and easy read. Perfect for someone who is looking for an hour of good reading and a pot of tea, just like me. Lots more in this series and I would absolutely not hesitate to read more. Great fun!
July 27, 2017
I give this 3.5 stars.
This was a humorous short story centering around a small town's local theatre group and a murderous mystery. The author did a wonderful job of immersing the reader right into the thick of the action with a varied assortment of the cheery, grumpy, campy, dour characters that made up the cast. It leaves you with a taste for knowing what happens next in the series, which is what a book like this should do. An enjoyable afternoon tea read.
This was a humorous short story centering around a small town's local theatre group and a murderous mystery. The author did a wonderful job of immersing the reader right into the thick of the action with a varied assortment of the cheery, grumpy, campy, dour characters that made up the cast. It leaves you with a taste for knowing what happens next in the series, which is what a book like this should do. An enjoyable afternoon tea read.
May 22, 2017
A gripping read
This was a hard book to stop reading.
Only thing that could have been better, is if we were lead to think the killer was someone else to begin with as it did seem a bit like you knew who it was going to be from the start.
Still a good read though!
This was a hard book to stop reading.
Only thing that could have been better, is if we were lead to think the killer was someone else to begin with as it did seem a bit like you knew who it was going to be from the start.
Still a good read though!
April 27, 2022
A fun cozy mystery set behind the scenes of a mystery play
It’s hard to avoid the tongue-in-cheek nature of this story, as it has so many levels to it. It all takes place during the preparations and performance of the final night of the “whodunnit” play “Bone Chiller”. Although popular with audiences, this play is not popular with the cast or the behind-the-scenes staff, so for the final night someone swaps the stage ginger ale for hard liquor. Just when performances are getting looser than they have any right to be, there’s an attempted murder behind the scenes.
By this point in the run of the play all the cast and staff know each other very well and it falls to accidental sleuth Kath to work out what is going on before the murderer succeeds. There’s the usual collection of grudges, lies, misdirections, misunderstandings and romances, and by the end of it even the local cop is up on stage.
All in all an enjoyable short read.
It’s hard to avoid the tongue-in-cheek nature of this story, as it has so many levels to it. It all takes place during the preparations and performance of the final night of the “whodunnit” play “Bone Chiller”. Although popular with audiences, this play is not popular with the cast or the behind-the-scenes staff, so for the final night someone swaps the stage ginger ale for hard liquor. Just when performances are getting looser than they have any right to be, there’s an attempted murder behind the scenes.
By this point in the run of the play all the cast and staff know each other very well and it falls to accidental sleuth Kath to work out what is going on before the murderer succeeds. There’s the usual collection of grudges, lies, misdirections, misunderstandings and romances, and by the end of it even the local cop is up on stage.
All in all an enjoyable short read.
February 20, 2019
A fun read!!
I didn't think I would like this, but I DID! Fun and easy read. I could just see my high school group doing this in a play. Our senior play was just this much fun....without the hurting others part. I secretly replaced the medicine in our play with beer. We had a Bill that was out there too. What memories this book brought back! Smile....
I didn't think I would like this, but I DID! Fun and easy read. I could just see my high school group doing this in a play. Our senior play was just this much fun....without the hurting others part. I secretly replaced the medicine in our play with beer. We had a Bill that was out there too. What memories this book brought back! Smile....
December 10, 2018
Hysterically funny
The end was an absolute riot: my hysterical laughing literally woke up my kids in the next room! It's been a long time since I has so much fun reading a murder story. Keep up the good work!
The end was an absolute riot: my hysterical laughing literally woke up my kids in the next room! It's been a long time since I has so much fun reading a murder story. Keep up the good work!
October 18, 2020
This book was a nice fun cozy. It was a quick read but there was a murder too. Bonus!! The characters were interesting, and well written as was the story. Parts of it made me feel like I was in the theatre.
August 28, 2017
I've heard the phrase, " The show must go on," but when there is even the slightest chance there is a killer on the lose; it's time for the curtains to close and authorities to be called.
January 13, 2018
Exactly what i wanted. Cozy and fun ^^
November 26, 2018
A cute who donit
This was fun to read in spite of the fact that the bad guy was so obvious. Have fun reading.
This was fun to read in spite of the fact that the bad guy was so obvious. Have fun reading.
January 7, 2019
An interesting premise and an overall well written story. However, it starts out really slow, which is especially harmful for such a short story. The ending, however, is rushed and anticlimactic.
March 15, 2020
Hour of my time I won't get back again
September 11, 2020
Australian author, however it is not a particularly Australian story.
A quick read with an obvious culprit; however, it is good fun.
A quick read with an obvious culprit; however, it is good fun.
September 23, 2016
The Goose Meadow Bay Players are putting on the murder-mystery play "Bone Chiller," and it's their final night... Tech crew backstage is a bit bored, playing cards between cues and scenes, but then the drama heats up. Someone switches out the "ginger ale subbing in for alcohol" with the real deal, to lighten the mood, but then everyone's a bit tipsy by Act II. One actress is pushed down the stairs, one is tied up backstage before her scene, and there's someone running around with a knife...not a prop knife, either. Will Kath keep it together or will Lori cancel their final performance?
Seemed to be a spot-on representation of local theater.
Seemed to be a spot-on representation of local theater.
February 24, 2025
This short cozy mystery is a hoot. It involves a theater company putting on a murder mystery, while someone keeps trying to kill one of the actresses...for real. It reminded me very much of the movie "Clue" with all the running around from one end of the theater to the other; trying to keep actors on cue (it's the last night of the play and they're drunk); figuring out who is trying to murder Marlene...and where is the cook that was hung, but does a reappearance at the end...oh, the actress Tamara I mean. This is not a die (excuse the pun) hard murder mystery, but it sure does make the reader laugh.
January 27, 2016
I have a theatrical background and laughed my head off at this charming quick read! Except for the call "Beginners" instead of "Places" this is the most accurate theatre set book I've ever read! And that is just because the author hails from Australia not the USA! Amusing but at a break neck pace and humor filled, this is a terrific read.
December 19, 2016
A humorous story that kept me entertained throughout. An interesting look at the backstage shenanigans of a community theater group that get more and more out of control as the actors get drunk. Very well written, good dialog, interesting characters. If the mystery had been stronger, I would have given it five stars.
October 13, 2015
Okay
The title is very misleading, I expected something totally different but it was a bad thing. This tale was humorous, the antics of the cast when on stage was hilarious. Good read.
The title is very misleading, I expected something totally different but it was a bad thing. This tale was humorous, the antics of the cast when on stage was hilarious. Good read.
November 2, 2015
"Cozy and warm."
An interesting premise, but a little laboured getting to the final inevitable denouement. You'll come to no harm reading it though; it has its moments of humour to brighten your day.
An interesting premise, but a little laboured getting to the final inevitable denouement. You'll come to no harm reading it though; it has its moments of humour to brighten your day.
July 15, 2015
Simple mystery with lovable characters - well written .
July 22, 2015
Fun short mystery that had me laughing at the onstage antics of the cast. I could totally picture the scenes as the story was well written. Will be reading more in this series.
August 5, 2015
Predictable, awful
September 22, 2015
A tad bit cheesy but it was a short read.
September 27, 2015
very enjoyable short!
June 7, 2016
Light hearted theater mystery
I really enjoyed this book. The setting was great and the characters interesting. I kind of figured out who did it early on, a quick read!
I really enjoyed this book. The setting was great and the characters interesting. I kind of figured out who did it early on, a quick read!
August 6, 2016
Quick read. Good plot. Didn't need to read the first one to understand.
April 7, 2017
Easy read.
Quick little mystery. Read it in one evening. Enjoyed the humor. I will definitely read more stories from this author.
Quick little mystery. Read it in one evening. Enjoyed the humor. I will definitely read more stories from this author.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews