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Sebastian Barth #3
Stage Fright
First there were mysterious messages.
Someone who knows a lot about movie star Michaele Caraway's past is sending her unsigned notes. At first they appear to be innocent fan letters, but then they turn threatening.
Next the accidents started happening.
To someone as superstitious as Michaele, it seems as if her new play is jinxed. But Sebastian Barth knows the backstage mishaps aren't accidents at all.
Who's out to get the movie star?
Sebastian has to find the answer, or opening night may mean the final curtain for the star.
Someone who knows a lot about movie star Michaele Caraway's past is sending her unsigned notes. At first they appear to be innocent fan letters, but then they turn threatening.
Next the accidents started happening.
To someone as superstitious as Michaele, it seems as if her new play is jinxed. But Sebastian Barth knows the backstage mishaps aren't accidents at all.
Who's out to get the movie star?
Sebastian has to find the answer, or opening night may mean the final curtain for the star.
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1990
1 person is currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
James Howe
218 books460 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 26, 2017
Another book off my TBR from the 80s. I have one more book of James Howe's to read and it will have to wait until I'm back at my parents house another time. I have enjoyed this Sebastian Barth series. I don't feel this book was quite as good as the others have been. I am a musical theatre person - love it, so the face that this story is set in the theatre really makes me happy.
The mystery is set around a play that Michaele the famous actress is preforming. Of course there is a secret admirer who turns dark and Sebastian has to figure it out. There are few clues and I have to say that again, I didn't figure this one out until the end.
James Howe does great writing. I'm not sure it would translate to today's teens. It is not fast paced like todays books and the action is not hyped. It's about people and a good mystery. I'm sure there are kids who still appreciate that. It is a safe story and nothing really bad or scary happens. Still, it's a good story and I hope teens would read it. It's solid with good writing.
The mystery is set around a play that Michaele the famous actress is preforming. Of course there is a secret admirer who turns dark and Sebastian has to figure it out. There are few clues and I have to say that again, I didn't figure this one out until the end.
James Howe does great writing. I'm not sure it would translate to today's teens. It is not fast paced like todays books and the action is not hyped. It's about people and a good mystery. I'm sure there are kids who still appreciate that. It is a safe story and nothing really bad or scary happens. Still, it's a good story and I hope teens would read it. It's solid with good writing.
January 5, 2017
This was another cute book in the series. Although it's listed as #3, at the end of the book is a preview of his "next mystery" which is listed as book #2. Fortunately, it doesn't make any difference which order in which the books are read. I did enjoy this title and recommend it.
May 6, 2009
I loved the Sebastian Barth Mysteries when I was in elementary so I thought I'd re-read them again. Inventive and fun.
September 19, 2016
Loved this book
November 19, 2021
First off, all other sources and websites call this the second book in Howe's Sebastian Barth series. I don't know why Goodreads lists it as #3? Not as good as the first in this series, but still an enjoyable and engaging read. Lots of characters to juggle. A fun diversion.
For all the theatrical lore and superstitions I'm surprised that author Howe, who knows his way around a theatre, has the SM Mintsy wish the cast "good luck" on page 130 instead of "break a leg."
For all the theatrical lore and superstitions I'm surprised that author Howe, who knows his way around a theatre, has the SM Mintsy wish the cast "good luck" on page 130 instead of "break a leg."
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews