Murder in Third Position:

On Pointe #3

by Lori Robbins

The Nutcracker ballet is filled with holiday cheer, but no one is happy, least of all lead dancer Leah Siderova. It’s bad enough when Maurice Kaminsky forces her to perform upon a shaky platform, which teeters high above the stage. It’s worse when the curtain opens on the first murder victim, and the scene looks more like the end of Romeo and Juliet than a child’s vision of Christmas.

The dancers were unanimous in their dislike of Maurice, and they eagerly anticipated his departure. What they didn’t foresee is that he would exit in a body bag, and not on a nonstop flight to LA.

Leah doesn’t want to get involved in the ensuing murder investigation, but when suspicion falls upon Tex, her dance partner and friend, she has no choice but to act. She enlists the Choreographers of Crime for help, but it’s her life, her career, and her complicated romance with homicide detective Jonah Sobol that’s on the line.

With opening night less than a week away, and the future of American Ballet Company hanging in the balance, can Leah save Tex in time to save the show?

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2022

About the author

Lori Robbins is the author of the On Pointe and Master Class mystery series. Her work has garnered multiple awards, including the Indie Award for Best Mystery and the Silver Falchion.

Short stories include “Accidents Happen” in Mystery Most Diabolical and “Leading Ladies” in Justice for All. She’s also a contributor to The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers Cookbook.

A former dancer, Lori performed with a number of modern and ballet companies, including Ballet Hispanico and the St. Louis Ballet. Her commercial work included featured ads for Pavlova Perfume and Macy’s. After ten very lean years onstage she became an English teacher and now writes full time.

As a dancer, teacher, and mother of six, Lori is an expert in the homicidal impulses everyday life inspires.

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series that centers around a ballet company based in Manhattan. In Murder In Third Position, Leah Siderova is cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy in "The Nutcracker" and leery about having to dance on a platform she doesn't consider safe. Then the set designer is murdered, another death follows, and a third victim in injured. Leah and her Choreographers of Crime pals set about finding the killer before he or she strikes again. Chockful of zany characters and insights into a ballerina's life, this fast-paced mystery is a delightful read. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in Third Position Earns 5+/5 Fouettés … Intriguing & Intense Gem!

Brett Cameron thought less on putting Leah in physical danger with Maurice Kaminsky’s new stage contraption, and more on his choreography career that depends on the success of his first feature-length ballet, The Nutcracker. Maurice, his husband and well-known artist, sees his creation as center to the original story and relishes being showcased in a film about his life and art by indie filmmaker Nelson Merrill. Merrill is known more for his true crime documentaries, but for this project, he seems more interested in gossip of which there is plenty. Rumors have it that Brett is slated as the new artistic director, there are cracks in the marital bliss between Brett and Maurice, and courtesy of Brett, Leah’s most scheming competitor appears poised to emerge from her understudy role and challenge Leah for Romeo and Juliet. But, problems are compounded by an anonymous delivery of a box of chocolates, a scream, discovery of Maurice’s dead body, Leah’s friend and dance partner Joaquin Texeira found covered in blood, and Olivia, Leah’s friend, yelling “It was an accident! He didn’t do it!”

Standing Ovation! Lori Robbins has set up an exciting drama punctuated with personal and professional relationships at the center of murder, and with the victim having a life outside the world of ballet, the avenues to explore go beyond the theater. There’s no delay in getting together the Choreographers of Crime (a misleading moniker, Leah adds) to hatch a plan for nosing around, and having a different rationale for involvement or perspective makes for an wide-ranging discussion. Of course, it all heats up with an additional homicide, questionable accidents, and personal peril complicating an already intriguing scenario. And again … couldn’t put it down! Adding to the complexity, Leah’s Aunt Rachel makes an appearance revealing serious sibling rivalry, a bit of narcissism, and some interference to their plans. The connection with Dr. Zach has cooled, and with Detective Sobol she’s experiencing some relationship pitfalls: suspicions, miscommunications, and the demands of their job. Encore!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder in Third Position, an On Pointe Mystery, intrigued me because of the enjoyment I experienced when reading Murder in Second Position. This third book in the series is exciting and keeps the reader guessing as to the murderer and the reasoning or connections involved in the murders. There were, however, multiple small typographical errors in the book, that at times were distracting from the story because words were missing from the text. The story is an easy read with short chapters. As in the previous book, each chapter opens with a quote about dance and/or by someone famous in the dance world. While reading the story, it was clear that the author has been, and may still be, intimately involved in the dance world. She perfectly describes the dance world regarding ethics, politics, and social attributes. She gives the reader a sense of the competitiveness of life within a famous dance company. In addition, the reader is given information about more intimate personal habits of dancers involving eating, sleeping, pain, emotional battles, the attitude of keeping the show on track, following directives, gossip, changing partners, coffee, and late nights. It was challenging to put the book down. This author gives the reader scenes that are easy to envision along with good character descriptions that allow the reader to feel as though they are a part of the story as it happens. Significant moments in this book appear to be repetitive of the previous book. There were a few times when it was difficult to tell which book was being read. As with Murder in Second Position, some multiple twists and turns keep the reader on their toes throughout the book.

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent mystery in this series. One of the things I love about the series.is that each stands alone. I hate cliffhangers! Another thing I like is the characters we see in each book. It's like catching up with old friends and being reminded of the frenemies. Zach and Jonah are a little off in most of the book, but they are men, so it's to be expected. I have to say it is very dangerous to be part of ABC, it can be more than an exciting performance.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the setting. Enjoyed Leah psyching herself up by inhabiting her roles. Ending was rushed. The supporting cast has gotten a bit unwieldy. **Content warning: As with the other two books, LOTS of talk of diet, weight, and restricted eating (in service of an ideal ballet body)—more than is needed to make the point about Leah’s sacrifices for dance & her relationship with her mother.

[Jane Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in a day! I loved it, I love going to the theatre and could picture the scenes as you were describing them. A great read, thank you.

[Mark taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got Murder in Third Position An On Pointe Mystery: Book 3 by Lori Robbins for free from BookSirens for a fair and honest review.

Once Again we are in the world of Ballet written by Lori Robbins, with yet again this time with the death of Maurice Kaminsky Leah has to help her dance partner Tex who is the number one suspect.

However with Leah’s relationship with the investigating detective going nowhere will she be as helpful to Tex as she needs to be.

Murder in Third Position is a competent cozy mystery with a reasonable cast of characters that allows the reader to emerse themselves, both in the modern world of ballet and that of an armature detective.

The main character of Leah is how the story is told is a really engaging character, for us as readers both in her role as an amateur sleuth in the vain of miss Marple, but in addition of her role as a ballerina allows the casual reader a small insight into this world.

Added to that those of her sister and mother along with Olga who is of Ukrainian decent, with a heart of gold and a dubious background these group of Ladies who help Leah in the investigation, have been joined by Leah’s Aunt who fits in with all of them.

There are times when Murder in Third Position which is the third book in the series, can seem a little written by numbers in both the series and the cozy mystery genre, however with the characters in the novel and the interesting world that this book gives access to.

Then Murder in Third Position An On Pointe Mystery: Book 3 by Lori Robbins is still worth reading.

[D.S. Marquis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori Robbins’ Murder in Third Position is a fun and clean Whodunit! Fast paced and suspenseful, set in the backdrop of backstage of a New York City ballet company and a murder on the set, this story takes its reader on a murder investigation with a determined, resilient, and perceptive female protagonist and a host of quirky and snarky supporting characters. Against police advice, Leah Siderova, leading ballerina, her friends, and comic relief mom and aunt decide to conduct their own investigation. Outside the fun plot, the story paints a realistic portrait of a ballerina’s life and its “feral conditions” (Ch.4) with entertaining references to Aristotle and philosophy, murder investigation and beautiful quotes about dance that open each chapter, like this one by Fred Astaire, “The higher up you go, the more mistakes you’re allowed.”

The book reminded me that the world of dance is a business and is as likely as any other to harbor “seemingly good people that are capable of committing horrific crimes”. (Ch.33) Good use of accent dialogue creates believable Russian and Ukrainian characters. Without tainting the fun, the story spotlights some realities of the ballet world such as sacrifice, hard work, employment harassment, and how dance normalizes anorexia and bulimia. In a nutshell, the theme of Murder in Third Position validates one of my favorite Ben Franklin quotes, “No Pain, No gain.” Lovers of mystery and detective stories will enjoy this read. I sure did!

[Gabrielle George · Rating 5 out of 5]

So you think you can dance? It’s going to take more than a perfect pirouette to make it in Lori Robbins' brutally realistic ballet company, where one misstep can end in murder. Ballerinas are notoriously strong physically, mentally, and emotionally, but in Robbins' MURDER IN THIRD POSITION, the usual blood, sweat and tears hidden behind the curtains are ratcheted up to a life-and-death crescendo. The mystery of why this series has been nominated for and won major industry awards was solved in the first 2 pages of this book— Brilliant characters, deviously deceptive plotting, delivered deftly with wry humor, and a setting to die for— A backstage pass to the fascinating world of dance that few of us ever have the opportunity to infiltrate and even fewer would survive. 5 enthusiastic stars.

~ Gabrielle St George, author of the Ex-Whisperer Files Mystery series, HOW TO MURDER A MARRIAGE and HOW TO KILL A KINGPIN

[Kerry Peresta · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In life as in dance, appearances are deceptive."

In the third installment of the On Pointe series, Leah siderova, plucky, driven, ballerina manages to stick her nose into another investigation, with heart-pounding results! When a set designer is found murdered, Leah's dance partner is implicated in the homicide, and of course, Leah cannot let that happen! Much to the consternation of her mother and her on-again, off-again, romantic interest, Detective Jonah Sobol...she muddies the waters in her inimitable style, leaving mayhem and confusion in her wake in her quest for the truth. As always, the gritty, authentic, portrayal of New York City and the American Ballet Company act as the golden thread that weaves this story together. I love Robbins' protagonist, Leah, whose quirky personality can be summed up in her own words: "Stab first. Ask questions later." -Kerry Peresta, Author of the Olivia Callahan Suspense series, and Back Before Dawn

[Ruth McDaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author.

While I did read the entire story, it took me a long time to finish it. I kept putting it down and not go back to it until a day or so later. I can't quite put my finger on what I think abt this story. I did not know who the murderer was until it was revealed. That part was well done.

I think there was too much time spent on her mother and aunt and their relationship and of course, Barbara with her constant talk abt the right clothing, the right shoes, etc etc. I found all that quite tedious and unnecessary and I also felt that it detracted from the story. Just a lot of fluff filler.

I didn't dislike this book, but I can't say that it was great, either. So for this, I give this story 3 stars.

I received an ARC of this book for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Susan Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in Third Position is a perfect cozy mystery for anyone who loves the ballet. Lori Robbins takes us behind the scenes for a convincing peek into the life of a professional dancer. Her descriptions are powerfully written - from the physical pain a ballerina endures, to the joy she feels during a stage performance before a devoted audience.

But the story isn't all about ballet. While most cozies take place in small towns, this one embraces the vibrancy of New York City. The characters are engaging -- from the prima ballerina Leah Siderova, to her perfect sister and her well-intentioned mother. And, of course, the two handsome men vying for her attention.

Robbins is a skilled storyteller. She teases us with a lighthearted humor, yet still delivers on a murder mystery that calls for an encore performance. I loved it.

[NIna Wachsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the first two books in this series and I love the character of Leah Sideris, prima ballerina, swimming among the sharks. Robbins offers a look behind the curtain of one of the most magical ballets,since this book is set during the preview of a newly choreographed Nutcracker, with Leah dancing the role of the Sugar Plum fairy. Leah must dance around a complicated new set and a gruesome murder, while she faces off against enemies within the company and around it. I also enjoy Leah's team of investigators,especially her mystery-writing mother and her brainy sister, who are on hand to help. It took me so long to read it because I didn't want to fin1ish it!

[RM LAHIFF · Rating 3 out of 5]

shorter

This book in the series was shorter than the first 2 books. I think it lacked somewhat because of its length. I also continuously repeated scenes and info from the first 2 books; there by trying to have the 3rd book be a standalone book. I feel it did just the opposite.

[Harlequin Books]

Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
An On Pointe Mystery